abstract: In this dissertation, micro-galvanic corrosion effects and passivation behavior of single-phase binary alloys have been studied in order to formulate new insights towards the development of “stainless-like” lightweight alloys. As a lightweight material of interest, Mg-xAl alloys were studied using aqueous free corrosion, atmospheric corrosion, dissolution rate kinetics, and ionic liquid dissolution. Polarization and “accelerated” free corrosion studies in aqueous chloride were used to characterize the corrosion behavior and morphology of alloys. Atmospheric corrosion experiments revealed surface roughness and pH evolution behavior in aqueous environment. Dissolution in absence of water using choline-chloride:urea ionic liquid allowed for a simpler dissolution mechanism to be observed, providing additional insights regarding surface mobility of Al. These results were compared with commercial alloy (AZ31B, AM60, and AZ91D) behavior to better elucidate effects associated with secondary phases and intermetallic particles often present in Mg alloys. Aqueous free corrosion, “accelerated” free corrosion and ionic liquid dissolution studies have confirmed Al surface enrichment in a variety of morphologies, including Al-rich platelet and Al nanowire formation. This behavior is attributed to the preferential dissolution of Al as the more “noble” element in the matrix. Inductively-coupled mass spectroscopy was used to measure first-order rate reaction constants for elemental Mg and Al dissolution in aqueous chloride environment to be kMg= 9.419 x 10-6 and kAl = 2.103 x 10-6 for future implementation in kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. To better understand how “stainless-like” passivation may be achieved, Ni-xCr alloys were studied using polarization and potential pulse experiments. The passivation potential, critical current density, and passivation current density were found to decay with increasing Cr composition. The measured average number of monolayers dissolved during passivation was found to be in good agreement with percolation theory, with a fitted 3-D percolation threshold of p_c^3D=0.118 compared with the theoretical value of 0.137. Using these results, possible approaches towards achieving passivation in other systems, including Mg-Al, are discussed. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Materials Science and Engineering 2018

Neste trabalho foram obtidos filmes de polianilina (PAni) por eletropolimerização (voltametria cíclica) sobre aços inoxidáveis austenítico (AISI 304), ferrítico (AISI 430) e martensítico (AISI 420), em meio de ácido oxálico. Os filmes de PAni foram preparados a partir de solução aquosa de ácido oxálico 0,3 mol L-1 contendo 0,1 mol L-1 de anilina a 50 mV s-1. Os valores de carga anódica total obtidos durante os estágios de eletropolimerização evidenciaram diferenças mecanísticas na polimerização da anilina sobre os diferentes aços. Os materiais poliméricos foram caracterizados por resposta eletroquímica, espectroscopias de impedância eletroquímica (EIS), de ultravioleta-visível (UV-vis-NIR), de infravermelho (IV), difração de raios X (DRX), além de microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Os filmes de PAni sobre aço AISI 420, em relação aos demais aços, apresentam diferenças significativas de morfologia. Adicionalmente, pode também ser observado que os aços com maior quantidade de cromo em sua composição, minimizam a formação de uma camada de oxalato de ferro, a qual é intermediária entre o metal e o filme de PAni. A camada de oxalato de ferro diminui as interações galvânicas entre o polímero e ferro do metal, promovendo a formação de filmes de PAni porosos e menos aderentes. A viabilidade de aplicação dos filmes de PAni dopados e desdopados, na proteção contra a corrosão dos aços inoxidáveis foi observada mediante polarização potenciodinâmica em solução aquosa de NaCl. Os parâmetros eletroquímicos extraídos das curvas demonstraram que o filme de PAni, no estado desdopado, é o que protege mais efetivamente os aços AISI 304 e AISI 430 contra a corrosão. A partir dos ensaios de corrosão e análises de EIS, foi proposto um mecanismo de deposição da PAni, o qual evidencia que a natureza do substrato metálico tem forte influência na formação dos filmes de PAni, quando a composição e a microestrutura dos aços são diferentes. / In this work were obtained polyaniline films from electropolymerization for cyclic voltammeter, on different stainless steels: (AISI-304) austenitic, (AISI-430) ferritic and martensytic (AISI-420), in oxalic acid media. PAni-films were prepared from 0.3 mol L-1 oxalic acid containing 0.1 mol L-1 aniline at 50 mV s-1. The values of total anodic charge obtained during polymerization stages demontrated difference mechanistic in the aniline polymerization on different steels. Polymeric materials were characterized for electrochemistry response and different techniques: electrochemistry impedance (EIS), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis-NIR), infrared (IR), ray-X diffraction spectroscopes and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). PAni films on AISI-420 steel demonstrated significant differences in the morphology, when compared another steels. Also, can be observed that the steels with chromium high content in your composition minimize the formation of iron oxalate layer, which is intermediary between the metal and PAni films. Iron oxalate layer diminishes both the galvanic interactions between the polymer and iron ions of metal and it promotes both the porous PAni films formation and lower adherence. The application viability of PAni films, in both doped and undoped states, for the protection against corrosion of stainless steels was investigated for potentiodynamic polarization in NaCl aqueous solution. The electrochemistry parameters extracted of curves demonstrated that undoped PAni films protect the AISI-304 and AISI-430 against corrosion, more effectively. With the corrosion assays and EIS analysis can be proposed a mechanism of PAni deposition, which evidence that the metallic substrate nature has strong influence on PAni films electropolymerization when both the composition and the steels microstructure differ between them.

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PhD / Abstract: The objective of this research is to investigate the interaction of local and overall flexural buckling in cold-formed stainless steel columns. Literature study exposes a lack of understanding of this subject and a need for experimental data, particularly on the local-overall interaction buckling of stainless steel open sections. Two separate experimental programs were therefore carried out. The first program included 36 tests on pin-ended lipped channel columns. Three alloys were considered: AISI 304, AISI 430 and 3Cr12. The specimens were designed to fail by local-overall interaction buckling in the inelastic stress range, thus highlighting the non-linear behaviour of stainless steel. Half of the specimens were tested under a concentric load. The other half had the load applied with a nominal eccentricity of Le/1500. The test results demonstrate the imperfection sensitivity of local-overall interaction buckling and illustrate the shift in effective centroid in pin-ended columns with singly symmetric cross-section. The second experimental program studied local-overall interaction buckling in 24 pin-ended stainless steel I-section columns. The specimens consisted of plain channels connected back-to-back using sheet metal screws. Two alloys were considered: AISI 304 and AISI 404. Local and overall imperfections were carefully measured in both experimental programs. Extensive material testing was carried out on the alloys employed in the experimental program, in order to determine tensile and compressive material properties, anisotropic parameters and enhanced corner properties. A detailed finite element model is presented, which includes non-linear material behaviour, anisotropy, increased material properties of the corner areas and local and overall imperfections. The model was verified against the two aforementioned experimental programs and against additional data available in literature on stainless steel SHS columns. The model yielded excellent predictions of the specimen failure mode, ultimate strength and load-deformation behaviour. The finite element model was used to generate additional data for stainless steel columns with lipped channel, plain channel, SHS and I-shaped cross-section, failing by local-overall interaction buckling. The parametric studies covered the practical ranges of overall and cross-sectional slenderness values. The Australian/New Zealand, European and North American standards for stainless steel were evaluated using the available data. The comparison reveals an inability of the design codes to properly account for the interaction effect as the cross-sectional slenderness increases. Predictions are unsafe for I-section columns with intermediate or high cross-sectional slenderness. A direct strength method is proposed for stainless steel columns, accounting for the local-overall interaction effect. The method offers a simple design solution which fits within the framework of the current Australian and North-American standards.

No description available.

No description available.

Marketing not merely refers to selling, advertising, sales promotion and public relation, but also includes various perspectives which shows solid knowledge and sturdy ability. Marketing relates to corporate operation and public daily lives intensively as well. However, it is difficult for corporation to implement diversified marketing activities due to confined product features. Marketing programs are particularly restricted to narrower scopes within the boundary of market characteristic and industry common practices for conventional industry. In virtue of the price fluctuation of international steel products in recent years, how to increase market share with more innovative marketing programs is an important strategic concern of steel industries. Hence, marketing innovation has become the breakthrough point that conventional industry needs to pursuit. This study profoundly analyzes the H-company, which has carried out its traditional sales practices for more than thirty years, by literature review and case study methodology. After recognizing the target market and focusing on meeting customers¡¦ needs, we developed the innovative marketing strategies containing product, price, place and promotion aspects. Next, we integrated marketing techniques of horizontal and vertical alliances, financial instruments as well as marketing concepts. Then, by thoroughly executing ISO quality policy ¡§ pragmatic quality, customer satisfaction¡¨ which H-company has exercised to build its new competition strategies and target of growth and profit. Based on these integrated concepts, we constructed an innovative marketing model. Finally, the in-depth interviews were made to verify the feasibility of this innovative marketing model from customers¡¦ perspective. The sample comprised two direct clients and two intermediary agents, were selected from customers of H-company. The research reached the conclusions that the innovative marketing model proposed by this study has not only verified its market feasibility through clients¡¦ in-depth interview, but also modified from customer¡¦s perspective to fit customer needs. The ultimate target of the modified model is creating high customer value through high quality consistency, pricing based on customer value, forming closer partnership relationship, delivery reservation system, trustworthy business image, integrated service combining constructional reinforced steel bar forming industry or concrete industry, and marketing-finance integration service. The verification via deep customer interviews also demonstrates that the revised innovative marketing model can best approach customer needs and acquire high marketing achievements. Last but not least, the study was done in research methodology and provided some strategic implications, making up its contributions to both academic and practical aspects.

In recent years, the engineering community has focused attention on selecting durable and low maintenance materials. As a result of recent advances in steel fabrication technologies, stainless steel has risen as a valuable alternative to regular carbon steel for heavy structural elements in addition to the traditional light gage structural elements of common use. The objective of this investigation is to summarize the existing literature concerning on the behavior of cold formed and hot rolled, annealed stainless steel members undergoing axial compression forces. Research related to the subject will be summarized as well as available design practice codes, from where applicable expressions will be investigated and used to perform practical examples.

This investigation examines a novel means of integrating high-performance ZnO piezoelectric thin films with a flexible stainless steel substrate (SUS304) to fabricate a double-sided piezoelectric transducer. The double-sided piezoelectric transducer is constructed by depositing ZnO piezoelectric thin films on both the front and the back sides of SUS304 substrate. The titanium (Ti) and platinum (Pt) layers were deposited using a dual-gun DC sputtering system between the ZnO piezoelectric thin film and the back side of the SUS304 substrate. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction of ZnO piezoelectric films reveal a rigid surface structure and highly c-axis-preferring orientation. To fabricate a transducer with a resonant frequency of about 80 Hz, a cantilever length of 1 cm and a vibration area of 1 cm2 are designed, based on the cantilever vibration theory. The maximum open circuit voltage of the power transducer is approximately 18 V. After rectification and filtering through a 33 nF capacitor, a specific power output of 1.3 £gW/cm2 is obtained from the transducers with a load resistance of 6 M£[.

In this study, a conductive polymer is used as tool electrode in machining the stainless steel surface by electrochemical buffing. Using a very small working current of this conductive polymer, the material of the workpiece is dissolved, and the peaks on the workpiece surface is buffed by the abrasive simultaneously. A mirror-like surface can be achieved with high efficiency using this novel method. In the micro-electrochemical machining experiments, the initial surface roughness of the workpiece is about Rmax = 1.645 £gm, the average speed of electrode 25 mm/sec, the machining time 10 min, the electrolyte temperature 25¢J, and the stroke 10 mm. The variable conditions are given as follows: the sodium nitrate (NaNO3) electrolyte of 0 to 40 wt%, the normal load of 0 to 20 N, and the working current of 0 to 100 mA. Experimental results show that the minimum surface roughness of the workpiece can be achieved to about Rmax = 0.3£gm at the electrolyte concentration of 20 wt%, the working current of 25 mA, and the normal load of 10N, which is selected as the optimum operative parameters in the following. The silicon carbide with average particle size of 9.5£gm is added to conduct the electrochemical buffing experiments. Compared with the micro-electrochemical machining method, results show that the maximum machining depth increases to about two times, and the surface roughness decreases to about 50%. In this condition, the mirror-like surface of the workpiece with the working depth of 1.5£gm and Rmax of 0.15£gm can be achieved.