Thesis (M.Sc.(Metallurgy))--University of the Witwatersrand, Science Faculty, 1990. / A study of phase relations and thermodynamic properties in iron, tin, sulphide system was conducted, [Abbreviated abstract. Open document to view full version] / MT2017

An investigation was conducted to determine if Sn atoms could be substituted for Si atoms in the compound Cr₃Si. Prom size factor considerations, the feasibility that this substitution should occur seemed reasonable. However, attempts to make the substitution were unsuccessful. A model of the Cr₃O-type compounds, of which Cr₃Si is a representative, is proposed. From this model substitution of a Sn atom for a Si atom would require the formation of a double bond. The possibility of this double bond being unable to form may explain the unsuccessful attempts to make the above substitution. / Master of Science

M.S.

Steven Michael Ford, do hereby declare that this thesis is my own unaided work. This thesis has not been submitted in part or in full at this or any other university. This report is submitted in fulfilment of the degree of Master of Science in Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand. / Aluminium, although often possessing adequate strength and toughness for a specific application, may be deemed unsuitable due to a less than satisfactory corrosion resistance. This unacceptable behaviour is especially prominent in the local mining industry where aluminium alloys corrode severely in the high chloride and sulphate containing waters. Of notable importance and the major motivating force for this research was the historically poor perfomance of aluminium alloy mine cages, which are suited to the task excepting for their unsatisfactory corrosion resistance. Of general importance however, is that the mining sector in South Africa represents a sizeable portion of the economy and could thus become a much greater consumer of aluminium if the metal's corrosion resistance could be improving Apart from varying the composition of the alloy, the other basic technique of increasing a metal's resistance to an environment is by applying a coating of some sort. This research looks into the use of aluminium-based metal sprayed coatings as a form of protection for various aluminium and steel substrate alloys. The purpose of a metal sprayed layer is not merely to isolate the substrate from the environment, hut also to act as a sacrificial anode at regions where the substrate is exposed. Previous work suggested that alloys of aluminium/zinc/indium produced excellent sacrificial anodes and were thus selected for this research. The zinc and indium were always alloyed with pure aluminium, with the percentage zinc varying between 0 and 12%. All the coating alloys were sprayed on a AA6261 and AA5083 aluminium alloys, a metal matrix composite and a mild steel alloy, Various electrochemical and immersion trials were then carried out in several synthetic mine waters and other corrosive media. The basic conclusion to be drawn from the results achieved is that the optimum coating for a particular substrate alloy is the one that provides the greatest potential difference between it and the substrate, while still lasting the required lifetime of the component. The reason for this is that the greater the potential difference, the better the sacrificial protection and hence the better the protection offered to any exposed areas on the surface. The fact that the coating corrodes away with time means that a balance must be found between sacrificial behaviour and required lifetime. / Andrew Chakane 2018

Turnbull’s transient nucleation theory, when applied to the transformation that takes place when high purity aluminum-copper alloys are quenched directly to the aging temperature, explains the incubation period that precedes steady state nucleation. This incubation period arises from the comparatively slow rate of diffusion of solute atoms in forming the equilibrium concentration of critical size embryos which must be achieved before steady state nucleation can proceed. This rate of diffusion is a function of the temperature, degree of supersaturation, number of critical size embryos and plastic deformation. / Master of Science

The use of chlorine dioxide as an oxidant and/or disinfectant for drinking water treatment has been an alternative considered when utilities seek to control trihalomethane concentrations. However, concern regarding residual concentrations of chlorite and chlorate have resulted in limitations on applied chlorine dioxide dosages. This study describes the use of ferrous iron as a possible reducing agent for the elimination of residual chlorite from drinking water. / Master of Science

Stress-corrosion cracking of austenitic alloys in an oxygen-free carbon dioxide environment containing chloride ions was studied under static conditions. Stiffness and X-ray measurements supported results obtained from SEM photomicrographs indicating that the CT specimens loaded to a stress intensity of 22 ksi-in^.5 were not susceptible to SCC in this environment. These alloys were also evaluated for their SCC resistance in boiling MgCl₂ and NaCl solutions. Results of this study indicated that alloys containing higher nickel contents were more resistant to chloride SCC. / Master of Science