No description available.

Cordierite was adhered to molybdenum using various metallic interlayers of copper, nickel, and chromium. The development of a coating adhesion test methodology was required to choose between interface designs. An indentation method was chosen because of ease in testing and availability of fracture mechanics interpretations of test data. The interfacial fracture toughness was determined from indentation load vs. crack length data by examining the residual stress and critical buckling load of the ceramic coatings. The interfacial fracture toughness values obtained using a slightly different indentation analysis agree with those in the literature. Quantitative chemical analysis of the interface microstructure was used to explain differences in interfacial fracture toughness values for samples with different metallic interlayer designs. The best interface design for adhering cordierite glass-ceramic coatings to molybdenum was found to be molybdenum / 2 μm copper / 4 μm chromium / cordierite. / Master of Science

Titanium carbonitride (Ti(C,N)) cermets have become more popular in recent research due to their mix of high hardness, high hot hardness, good ductility, chemical stability, and low densities. These mechanical properties make Ti(C,N)-cermets especially desirable as a replacement for current ‘hardmetals’, such as tungsten carbide cobalt (WCCo), as it is known that WC-Co exhibits poor mechanical behaviour at elevated temperatures. Additional interest and research has been conducted in reference to binders which enhance the cermet’s capability to retain strength at high temperatures while remaining ductile. One such binder, Ni3Al actually increases in yield strength up to a temperature of ~900°C. In this thesis, the production method utilizing melt infiltration for TiC, Ti(C0.7,N0.3), Ti(C0.5,N0.5), and Ti(C0.3,N0.7)-based cermets with Ni3Al binder contents of 20, 30 and 40 vol. % have successfully been developed and utilized. This process produced high density samples at each nitrogen content for all binder contents, excluding Ti(C0.3,N0.7). Ti(C0.3,N0.7)-Ni3Al samples at 20 and 30 vol. % suffered from poor infiltration and could not be tested. The reciprocating wear mechanisms were examined, using a ball-on-flat test, utilizing WC-Co spheres with a diameter of 6.35 mm as a counter-face, and test parameters of 20 Hz, 2 hrs., and applied loads of 20, 40, 60 and 80 N. The wear tracks were examined using optical profilometry, SEM, and EDS to determine the volumetric wear rate, and the dominant wear mechanisms. The wear volume, and wear mechanisms were compared with the effect of binder content, nitrogen content, and applied load.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, August, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

Les propriétés idéales d’un matériau de blindage sont la combinaison d’une extrême dureté pour casserles noyaux des projectiles et d’une grande ductilité pour résister à l’impact et arrêter les fragments du projectile. Or cettecombinaison de propriétés est incompatible avec un matériau unique. Pour pallier ce problème, les concepteurs de blindageassocient un matériau dur (céramique) à un matériau ductile (métal). Une autre solution serait de réaliser un matériauprésentant un gradient de propriétés mécaniques : dans le cas présent, d’une très grande dureté de la face avant à une grandeductilité de la face arrière. Les technologies non conventionnelles de frittage telles que le Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS)permettent d’assembler ou de fritter/assembler des matériaux aux caractéristiques aussi différentes et complémentaires. Ils’agit donc d’étudier les conditions d’assemblage ou de cofrittage de tels matériaux (dans le cas présent, Al2O3 et Ti) ainsique l’influence de la microstructure résultante de l’ensemble sur sa performance balistique.La première partie de ce travail a porté sur la caractérisation de l’alumine et du titane. Cinq poudres d’alumines ontété étudiées d’un point de vue comportement au frittage. Trois d’entre elles sont retenues en raison de leurs microstructuresintéressantes, proches en termes de densité et de taille de grains. Ces alumines ont été caractérisées mécaniquement (dureté,ténacité, résistance à la rupture) et balistiquement pour n’en garder qu’une dans la deuxième partie du travail. Le titane, frittédans les mêmes conditions que l’alumine, a montré qu’il n’avait malheureusement pas les propriétés attendues (absence deductilité).La seconde partie du travail a montré que l’obtention de MGFs sains à partir de Al2O3 et Ti uniquement est délicate,que ce soit avec un intercalaire sous forme de monocouche ou de multicouche. La forte affinité du titane avec l’oxygène(formation d’oxyde ou en insertion) et le carbone (formant des carbures), ainsi que sa réactivité avec l’alumine (produisantdes intermétalliques) rend le MGF fragile et incapable d’accommoder les contraintes résiduelles d’élaboration. L’insertiond’une faible proportion de nickel (plus ductile et moins réactif vis-à-vis de l’oxygène que le titane) dans les composites apermis d’obtenir des MGFs sains, dont le comportement balistique a pu être évalué. / The objective is to improve ballistic performance of armors. A perfect armor combines ductility to resistto the impact and high hardness to stop projectile’s fragments. However, such an association of properties is inconsistent witha single material. The solution is to perform a functionally graded material (FGM) with a ductile metal at the back side of thesample and a hard ceramic on the top side. Non-conventional technologies like Spark Plasma Sintering allow joining orsintering all types of materials with different and additional properties. Furthermore, with this technique, high heating ratescan be achieved, limiting grain growth and resulting in a fine microstructure. The goal is to study joining conditions or cosinteringof such materials (in this case, Al2O3 and Ti), as well as the resulting microstructure on the ballistic efficiency.The first part of the study focused on the characterization of alumina and titanium. Five powders of alumina werestudied from a sintering point of view. Three of which were selected because of their interesting microstructures, close indensities and grain sizes. These ceramics have been characterized mechanically (hardness, toughness and strength) andballistically. One of them is adopted to realize FGM. Titanium, sintered with the same conditions, unfortunately, doesn’t haveexpected properties (absence of ductility).The second part of the work showed that the preparation of FGM without cracks from Al2O3 and Ti only ischallenging, with an interlayer with one or more layers. The strong affinity of Ti with oxygen (formation of oxides orinsertion) with C (forming carbides) and its reactivity with alumina (forming intermetallics) make the FGM brittle and enablethe release of residual stresses during the process. By adding a low amount of nickel (more ductile and less reactive withoxygen and titanium) in composites, FGMs almost without cracks were obtained. The latter were evaluated ballistically.

Ce travail s'inscrit dans le cadre du développement des piles à combustible à céramique conductrice protonique (PCFC) opérant dans le domaine de température 400 – 600 °C et concerne l'optimisation des composants de la cellule élémentaire. L'optimisation du matériau électrolytique consiste à rechercher le meilleur compromis entre stabilité chimique et conductivité élevée. Le matériau BaCe0.9Y0.1O2.95, synthétisé par la voie flash combustion, présente la conductivité protonique la plus élevée (10-2 S.cm-1 à 600 °C) mais réagit fortement avec le CO2. La substitution partielle du cérium par le zirconium (BCZY) et le niobium (BCYN30) a conduit à une amélioration significative de la stabilité chimique tout en conservant une conductivité de l'ordre de 5 × 10-3 S.cm-1 à 600 °C. En ce qui concerne les électrodes, l'enjeu est de développer des matériaux présentant une conductivité électronique élevée, une porosité suffisamment importante et une bonne tenue mécanique. L'approche a consisté en la mise au point de stratégies d'élaboration (synthèse en une étape, utilisation de porogène) permettant le contrôle de la microstructure des matériaux anodiques afin de minimiser les résistances spécifiques surfaciques (ASR). Comme dans le cas des SOFC, les matériaux cathodiques sont conducteurs mixtes ionique-électronique (MIEC). Le développement de cathodes composites MIEC-électrolyte a permis de réduire significativement les ASR. Les tests en pile de cellules élémentaires PCFC ont révélé que les performances dépendaient essentiellement de la nature et de l'épaisseur du matériau électrolytique et de la mise en œuvre de matériaux d'électrode de morphologie contrôlée et architecturée. L'optimisation des assemblages a permis d'accroître sensiblement les performances (156 mW.cm-2 à 600 °C). / Materials components for a Proton Conducting Fuel Cell (PCFC) operating in the 400 – 600 °C temperature range have been optimised. Electrolyte material optimisation involved finding the best compromise between chemical stability and conductivity. BaCe0.9Y0.1O2.95, synthesised by flash combustion, exhibits the highest protonic conductivity (10-2 S.cm-1 at 600 °C) but reacts strongly with CO2. Partial substitution of cerium by zirconium (BCZY) and niobium (BCYN30) led to a significant improvement of the chemical stability without drastic effect on the conductivity (5 × 10-3 S.cm-1 at 600 °C). The aim for the electrodes is to develop materials which exhibit high electronic conductivity, sufficient degree of porosity and good mechanical properties. The approach comprised the development of elaboration strategies (one-step synthesis, use of porogen) that allow the control of microstructure in order to minimize area specific resistances (ASR) at the anode. As in the case of SOFCs, cathodic materials are mixed ionic-electronic conductors (MIEC). Development of composite cathodes MIEC-electrolyte led to a significant reduction of ASR. PCFC single cell tests showed that performance was mostly dependent on electrolyte thickness and composition, and on the characteristics of nanostructured electrodes with controlled architecture and porosity. Optimisation of assemblies led to fuel cells performances of 156 mW.cm-2 at 600 °C.

The master thesis focuses on the preparation of nickel coating on ceramic (Al2O3) substrate. The deposition of nickel was carried out by the electroless plating method in bath at various kinetic conditions. An impact of varied size, shape and roughness on the quality of the coated surface was investigated. The main goal was to find optimized conditions of the plating process of the thin metal coatings. Prepared nickel coatings were analysed by SEM, EDX analysis, mechanical profilometry and the plating bath was analysed by UV-VIS spectrophotometry. The continuous nickel coatings were achieved by modifying the deposition process, and the kinetic mechanism of experimental conditions was described.

Ceramic metal matrix composites (CMMCs) are materials generally created by mixing of hard ceramic particles in a metal matrix. They were expected to combine the ductility and toughness of the metal with the high strength and elastic modulus of the ceramic. MMCs have potential applications in automotive, aeronautical and aerospace industries. Hence, a simple and economical method for fabricating MMCs is an area of intense research. In MMCs, damage evolution starts preferentially at particle matrix interface or at particle clusters in the matrix. This is due to the different physical and mechanical properties of the particle and matrix. Higher local particle volume content leads to higher stress triaxiality making it a preferential site for damage nucleation. Problems with lowering of ductility, fatigue, fracture and impact resistance, agglomeration of ceramic phase and issues related to the predictability of properties of MMCs have been the major issues that have limited their use. In order to overcome some of these shortcomings, the use of nano particles has been attracting increasing attention. The reason is their capability in improving the mechanical and physical properties of traditional MMCs. The dispersion of a nanoscale ceramic phase is needed in order to overcome the problems related to fatigue, fracture toughness, and creep behaviour at high temperatures. However, manufacturing costs, preparation of nano composites and environmental concerns have to be addressed. Agglomeration of nano particles, when produced by the melt stir casting route, the primary route to produce MMCs, is a serious issue that limits the use of nano-particles to produce MMCs with good properties. To avoid agglomeration of the ceramic phase MMCs/nano MMCs have been produced through the powder metallurgy route. Agglomeration is avoided as this is a solid state process. Secondary processing, such as extrusion and rolling are often needed to fully consolidate materials produced in this manner. A high extrusion ratio is often required to get MMCs without porosity. A new method of making nano-ceramic MMC using a polymer derived ceramics (PDC) has been reported. A polymer derived ceramic is a material that converts itself into a ceramic when heated above a particular temperature. In the PDC method a polymer precursor is dispersed in the metal and then converted in-situ to a ceramic phase. A feature of this process is that all the constituents of the ceramic phase are built into the organic molecules of the precursor (e.g., polysilazanes contain silicon, carbon, and nitrogen); therefore, a reaction between the polymer and the host metal or air is not required to produce the ceramic phase. The polymer can be introduced through casting or powder metallurgy route. In the casting route, the polymer powder is directly added to molten metal and pyrolyzed in-situ to create castings of metal-matrix composites. These composites have shown better properties at elevated temperatures but the problem of agglomeration of particles due to Van der Waal's forces and porosity still remains. In the powder method, the organic precursor was milled with copper powder and then plasma sprayed to produce a metal matrix composite. It is reported that these composites retains its mechanical strength close to the melting point of the copper. However, getting a nano sized distribution is difficult through this route as the plasma spray route is a melting and solidification method. Solid state processing by powder metallurgy is possibly a better method to produce well dispersed nano-MMCs. However, powder metallurgy routes are much more expensive and only parts of limited sizes can be produced by this method. Another solid state process Friction Stir Processing (FSP) has successfully evolved as an alternative technique to fabricating metal matrix composites. FSP is based on the principles of Friction Stir Welding (FSW). In FSW, a rotating tool with a pin and a shoulder is inserted into the material to be joined, and traversed along the line of the joint. The friction between the tool and the work piece result in localized heating that softens and plasticizes the material. During production of MMCs using FSP method, the material undergoes intense plastic deformation resulting in mixing of ceramic particles and the metal. FSP also results in significant grain refinement of the metal and has also been used to homogenize the microstructure. FSP technology has also been used to fabricate surface/bulk composites of Al-SiC, friction stir surfacing of cast aluminum silicon alloy with boron carbide and molybdenum disulphide powders and to produce ultra-fine grained Cu-SiC composites. A major problem in the FSP of MMCs is severe tool wear that results from abrasion with hard ceramic particles. The progressive wear of the tool has been reported to increase the likelihood of void or defect development. This change in geometry has been reported in the friction stir welding of several MMCs. The problems concerning the tool life has become a serious issue in the application of FSP for producing MMCs. In the present work the advantages of the PDC method and FSP have been combined to produce polymer derived nano ceramic MMCs. This method mainly consists of three steps. In the first step, a polymer, which pyrolysis to form a PDC at temperatures lower than the melting point of the metal, is dispersed in the metal by FSP. This step is different from the melt route where the PDC forms at temperatures above the melting point of the metal. In the second step, external pyrolysis of the polymer dispersed material is carried out. Since this is a solid state process at stresses much higher than the shear or fracture of the polymer is expected to get evenly and finely distribution in the metal. This is done by heating the polymer dispersed material to a temperature above the pyrolysation temperature of the ceramic but lower than the melting point of the metal matrix. It should be mentioned that some pyrolysis of the polymer is possible during the FSP process itself. In the third step FSP is carried out on the pyrolised material for removing porosity that would form due to gas evolution during pyrolysis and to get a more uniform dispersion of polymer derived ceramic particles in the matrix. This method will produce nano-scale metal matrix composites with a relatively high volume fraction of the ceramic phase. This method can be extended to big sheets or a particular region in a sheet with no or low wear of tools. The material selected for the present study were pure Copper (99.9%) and Nickel Aluminum Bronze (NAB) copper alloy. The polymer precursor was poly (urea methyl vinyl) silazane, which is available commercially as CERASET. The polymer consists of silicon, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen atoms. The liquid precursor was thermally cross-linked into a rigid polymer, which was milled into a powder. This powder, having angular shaped particles of an average size of 10 µm, was used as the reinforcement. The polysilazanes convert into a highly refractory and amorphous ceramic upon pyrolysis and is known as polymer-derived silicon carbonitride which consists principally of silicon, carbon and nitrogen. The in-situ process is feasible because copper melts above the temperature at which the organic phase begins to pyrolise. The polysilazanes pyrolise in the temperature range of 973 to 1273 K, which lie below the melting temperature of copper, 1356K.The precursor has a density of approximately 1 gcm-3 in the organic phase and approximately 2 gcm-3 in the ceramic state. In the present work, we seek to introduce approximately 20 vol% of the ceramic phase into copper. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the developed copper-based in-situ polymer derived nano MMCs have been characterized in detail to understand the distribution of particles. The microstructure of the as received, processed as well as the FSP composite material was characterized using Optical Microscope (OM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Electron Probe Micro Analyzer (EPMA) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). OM and SEM microstructural observations show that PDC particles are distributed uniformly with a bimodal (submicron+micron) distribution. In addition, TEM micrographs reveal the formation of very fine PDC particles of diameter 10-30 nm. X-ray diffraction and Thermo-gravimetric analysis confirms the presence of ceramic phase (Si3N4/SiC) in the matrix. Significant improvement in mechanical properties of the FSP PD-MMCs has been observed. This in-situ formed Cu/PDC composites show five times increase in micro-hardness (260Hv - 2.5GPa) compared to processed copper base metal and in-situ NAB/PDC composite shows two times increase in micro-hardness (325Hv- 3.2GPa) compared to NAB matrix. The Cu-PDC composites exhibited better tensile strength at room temperature. In-situ formed Cu-PDC composite’s yield strength increased from 110MPa to 235MPa as compared to processed base metal, where as ultimate tensile strength increases from 246MPa to 312MPa compared to processed base metal at room temperature. This strengthening could be attributed to the presence of in-situ formed hard phases and the concomitant changes in the microstructure of the matrix material such as reduction in grain size and contribution from Orowan strengthening. In the present work, we have observed tool wear by observing tool after each FSP pass and apart from producing a significantly harder material with higher elastic modulus, possibly for the first time, the issue of tool wear has been overcome. This is due to the fact that the composite is made by the polymer route and that the ceramic fractures easily till it reaches the nano-size. Wear studies of this composite was carried out in a pin-on-disc machine by sliding a pin made from the composite against an alumina disc. The wear rate of the FSP PD-MMC composites increased from 1.63×10-5 to 5.72×10-6 mm3/Nm. Improved wear resistance could be attributed to the presence of the in-situ formed hard nano-phase.

Ce manuscrit de thèse porte sur l’élaboration de nouveaux matériaux pour la protection balistique grâce à l’apport du procédé de frittage flash. Il s’agit, en effet, d’associer deux composés possédant des températures de frittage éloignées, tels que l’alumine et l’aluminium, matériaux de référence utilisés dans la protection balistique.La première voie testée était un assemblage bi-matériau, réalisé par frittage d’une poudre d’aluminium sur un plot d’alumine préalablement fritté. Cette étude a permis d’observer la formation de la liaison alumine/aluminium par microscopie électronique à balayage et en transmission et d’optimiser les paramètres d’assemblage pour l’obtention d’un bi-matériau possédant une forte cohésion interfaciale. Des outils de caractérisation adaptés (diffraction des rayons X et indentation Vickers) ont mis en évidence des contraintes résiduelles dans la céramique qui résultent de la différence de coefficients de dilatation thermique entre les deux composés lors du refroidissement du bi-matériau. Ces assemblages ont également fait l’objet d’essais statiques (essais de traction indirects) et d’essais dynamiques (tirs balistiques). Ces essais ont démontré la très grandec ohésion des assemblages et ont permis de valider la pertinence de l’étude de matériaux de protection balistique par des essais statiques, qui sont plus faciles à mettre en oeuvre.L’autre voie envisagée était de fritter en une seule étape un matériau à gradient de composition, de l’alumine pure à l'aluminium pur avec une interphase constituée de mélanges alumine/aluminium. D’un point de vue technique, le frittage flash a démontré sa capacité à générer un gradient de température de plusieurs centaines de degrés à l’intérieur d’un échantillon de quelques millimètres de haut, grâce à l'utilisation d'un moulede forme spécifique. Malheureusement, la mauvaise mouillabilité de l’alumine par l’aluminium n’a pas permis d’abaisser la température de frittage des mélanges alumine/aluminium par rapport à l’alumine pure. Elle a au contraire conduit à augmenter la température de frittage des mélanges de ~200 °C, empêchant l’élaboration du matériau à gradient de composition. Cette voie a tout de même permis l’élaboration de composites denses (>99 %) à matrice d'alumine avec de faibles quantités d'aluminium, de l'ordre de 5 % en masse. / This dissertation describes the synthesis of new components for ballistic protection with the assistance of flash sintering. Indeed, the objective is to associate two compounds showing very different sintering temperatures – such as alumina and aluminum, two reference materials for ballistic protection applications.The first synthesis method tested was the elaboration of a bi-material via the sintering of aluminump owder on alumina bulks. This study permitted to observe the formation of the alumina/aluminum bonding by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and to optimize the assembly parameters in order to obtain a bimaterials howing a strong interfacial cohesion. Adapted characterization techniques (X-rays diffraction and Vickers indentation) revealed residual stresses inside the ceramic that stemmed from the difference of thermal expansion coefficients between the two compounds during the cooling of the bi-material. Moreover, these assemblies have been tested with static (indirect tensile) tests and dynamic (ballistic) tests. These tests evincedthe very strong cohesion of the assemblies and permitted to confirm the relevance of static tests, which are easierto set up, for the evaluation of materials for ballistic protection.The other synthesis method considered was the one step sintering of a material displaying a gradient of composition, from pure alumina to pure aluminum with an interphase constituted by alumina/aluminum combinations. From a technical point of view, the flash sintering process proved capable of generating a thermal gradient of several hundreds of degrees inside a sample a few millimeters high, thanks to the use of a specific shape die. Unfortunately, the limited wetting of alumina by aluminum prevents the sintering of the alumina/aluminum mixtures from temperatures being lower than that of pure alumina. On the contrary, this limited wetting leads to an increase in the sintering temperature of the composites of ~200 °C and prevents the preparation of a material showing a composition gradient. Nevertheless, this method permits the synthesis of dense alumina composites (<99 %) containing ~5 wt.% aluminum.

<p dir="ltr">A current engineering challenge is to understand and validate material systems capable of maintaining structural viability under the elevated temperature and environmental conditions of hypersonic flight. One aspect of this challenge is the joining of multiple materials with thermal expansion mismatch, which can lead to residual stress, resulting in debits in component lifetime under in-service loading. The focus of this work is a series of studies focused on a ceramic-metal composite (WC/Cu), a zirconia coating applied to a carboncarbon (C/C) composite, and a silicide (R512E) coating applied to a Nb-based alloy (C103). Each of these material systems are candidates for elevated temperature applications in which dissimilar constituents result in residual stress in the material. Each study leveraged experimental residual strain measurements, with the primary focus on the use of synchrotron X-ray diffraction, in conjunction with representative models, and microscopy to illuminate the active mechanisms in the development and evolution of residual stress in the bulk material. The combination of experimental and modeling predictions provides a framework to inform the viability and lifing of material systems exhibiting dissimilar expansion properties.</p>