No description available.

Hypereutectic Al-Si alloys are of increasing interest for applications that require a combination of light weight and high wear resistance, such as pistons, liner-less engine blocks and pumps. The wear resistance of this class of alloys is due to the presence of hard primary Si particles formed during casting. The objective of this work was to develop one or more methods of refining primary silicon in cast hypereutectic Al-Si alloys to compete with the conventional process of adding phosphorous and to achieve the simultaneous modification of silicon in the Al-Si eutectic. A robust sampling/casting technique was developed to minimise macro-segregation of primary silicon during solidification of hypereutectic Al-Si alloys by using water cooled steel mould with cooling rate in excess of 15 K/s. The morphology of silicon phases was found to change with increasing melt temperature and cooling rate. The high cooling rate and superheat temperature produces a good distribution of polyhedral primary silicon particles in a refined lamellar eutectic matrix in solidification of commercial purity Al-Si alloys. Removing Ca by fluxing with K2SiF6 prior to casting can improve the refinement and modification effect of Mg and Sb respectively. Effects of various inoculants were studied. Microstructural analysis showed that Mg and ZnS refined primary Si whereas MgO, CaO and Na2S coarsened the primary Si together with a modification effect on the eutectic Si. Adding Zn had no effect on morphology of Si phases. Refinement of both primary and eutectic silicon phases was observed for the Al-15Si alloy with Mg content ≤ 0.3 wt%. P-doped γ-Al2O3 was found to be a potent substrate to nucleate primary silicon whilst good modification of the eutectic matrix is retained during solidification of hypereutectic Al-Si alloys. On using P-doped γ-Al2O3 could be a perfect and clean source of P without additional impurities. A new solid-liquid duplex casting process was devised to achieve simultaneous refinement and modification of Si phases in hypereutectic Al-Si alloys with improvement in mechanical properties. The static mechanical properties of Al-Si produced by the solid-liquid duplex casting process are significantly better than conventionally cast untreated Al-Si and slightly better than conventionally cast Al-Si treated with P and/or Sr. A novel Al-ZnS master alloy was developed by in situ reaction of Zn and Na2S in the Al melt. The results from this study leave little doubt that this novel Al-ZnS master alloy is a promising refiner in solidification of hypereutectic Al-Si alloys. It refines primary silicon to the same extent as that achieved by adding P via Cu-P following the same refinement mechanism.

L’optimisation des microstructures de surface est un facteur primordial pour améliorer les propriétés et la durée de vie des matériaux. Pour le traitement des aciers inoxydables, la nitruration est un procédé adéquat permettant l’augmentation de la dureté et de la résistance à l’usure par formation d’une austénite «expansée» sursaturée en azote. Des travaux récents ont suggéré que l’activation de surface par un traitement mécanique préalable permettait d’augmenter les cinétiques de diffusion de l’azote. Avec des traitements « duplex » de ce type, il doit donc être possible (i) d’augmenter l’épaisseur des couches nitrurées pour un temps de nitruration donné et/ou (ii) de diminuer la température de nitruration et éviter ainsi la formation de nitrures nuisibles à la tenue à la corrosion. La littérature montre toutefois qu’une couche de pollution issue du prétraitement peut affecter l’efficacité de la nitruration. L’objectif de ce travail était d’aider à l’optimisation de la maitrise de différents traitements « duplex » impliquant, avant une nitruration assistée plasma, les traitements mécaniques ou thermomécaniques suivants : le grenaillage ultrasonore (SMAT pour Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment), le laminage et le traitement par faisceau d’électrons pulsé (HCPEB pour High Current Pulsed Electron Beam). La combinaison des traitements mécaniques et thermochimiques a été essentiellement testée sur deux nuances de l’acier inoxydable austénitique 316L (avec et sans sulfures) et, dans une moindre mesure, sur l’acier AISI 660. Afin de mieux caractériser l’effet des différents paramètres du procédé d’hyperdéformation SMAT (diamètre des billes, durée du traitement, amplitude de vibration, etc.) sur l’évolution de la microstructure, une procédure de caractérisation des couches écrouies utilisant l’EBSD a été proposée. Cette technique, basée pour partie sur l’évolution des Dislocations Géométriquement Nécessaires (GNDs), permet d’évaluer quantitativement l’épaisseur des différents types de couches formées en fonction des paramètres du procédé SMAT. Les natures des pollutions de la surface et leurs origines ont aussi été analysées. Une analyse de l’efficacité des différents types de traitements duplex a ensuite était réalisée en comparant systématiquement des résultats obtenus après nitruration sur des échantillons avec et sans activation de surface. Des analyses par diffraction des rayons X, des observations en microscopies électroniques, des mesures de microdureté ainsi que la mesure des profils de concentration en azote par SDL (Spectrométrie à Décharge Luminescente) ont été mises en œuvre pour quantifier les effets des traitements combinés. Les résultats ont montré la complexité des modifications de structures et la complexité des phénomènes mis en jeu / Optimizing the surface microstructure and properties is very important to obtain high performance behaviour. Applying appropriate mechanical and thermochemical treatments has been the prime objective of metallurgists. More recently, and particularly for the stainless steels, the Plasma Nitriding was found to be an efficient technique for enhancing the hardness and wear resistance. However, as the nitriding temperature is about 500 °C, the formation of nitrides on the surface leads to a decrease of the corrosion resistance of these alloys. Recent works have shown that using a mechanical pre-treatment allows to decrease the treatment temperature and duration, and also to enhance the nitrogen diffusion within the stainless steels surfaces. In the present work, performances of different Duplex treatments (mechanical + thermochemical) are studied. The Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment (SMAT), cold rolling and the High Current Pulsed Electron Beam (HCPEB) are used as surface activators prior to plasma nitriding of stainless steels. Before studying the effect of surface activation on the nitrogen diffusion, the effect of the different SMAT parameters (balls size, balls nature, treatment duration … etc.) on the microstructure is analysed. A new technique based on the notion of Geometrically Necessary Dislocations (GND) is used to depict the thickness of the different SMAT-induced layers and compare the effect of the processing parameters. Then, comparative analysis of the results obtained after nitriding of mechanically deformed samples leads to quantify the effect of the different Duplex treatments. X-Ray Diffraction, Secondary Electron Microscopy associated with Electron BackScattered Diffraction (EBSD), hardness measurement and chemical composition analysis by Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy (GD-OES) showed the importance of the surface microstructure and deformation state on the nitrogen diffusion

A corrosão é um dos problemas mais graves enfrentados pela indústria petroquímica, pois o desgaste de máquinas e equipamentos, decorrentes do processo corrosivo, acarreta um grande impacto tanto em termos econômicos, como operacionais e de segurança. A combinação de boas propriedades mecânicas e de resistência à corrosão dos aços inoxidáveis duplex, especialmente em ambientes agressivos, tem sido o principal atrativo para sua crescente utilização na indústria petroquímica. Estes aços possuem estrutura mista de austenita e ferrita cujo arranjo e distribuição influenciam suas propriedades. A formação de fases intermetálicas durante o processo de solidificação e de tratamentos térmicos destes aços é um ponto decisivo no seu desempenho, podendo impedir a obtenção ou provocar a degradação das suas propriedades. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a evolução microestrutural do aço inoxidável duplex SAF 2205 na condição bruta de solidificação após tratamento térmico de solubilização em diferentes condições. O intuito foi detectar os efeitos produzidos na microestrutura e sua influência tanto na dureza como na resistência à corrosão do aço, com a variação do tempo de solubilização e da forma de resfriamento. A avaliação dos resultados se baseou em análises microestruturais, espectrometria de energia dispersiva, difração de raios X, determinação de dureza e ensaios eletroquímicos. Observou-se que o tratamento de solubilização afeta a homogeneidade da microestrutura do aço, e a forma de resfriamento promove a precipitação de fases intermetálicas. O resfriamento lento, em forno, levou à precipitação das fases intermetálicas, sigma e ’. A solubilização por 240 minutos possibilitou a obtenção de uma razão favorável entre as fases ferrita e austenita, o que beneficiou o processo de passivação do aço. Além disso, os resultados mostraram que para tempos maiores de solubilização combinados com um resfriamento lento, em forno, ocorre um aumento da dureza e reduz significativamente a resistência à corrosão do aço, devido ao aparecimento das fases sigma e ’. / Corrosion is one of the most serious problems faced by the petrochemical industry, because the wear of machinery and equipment, resulting from the corrosion process, entails economic, operational and safety impacts. The combination of good mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of duplex stainless steels, especially in harsh environments, has been the main attraction for its increasing use in the petrochemical industry. This steel has a mixed structure of austenite and ferrite whose arrangement and distribution influence its properties. The formation of intermetallic phases during the heat treatment of this steel is a crucial point in its performance, may avoid the obtainment or lead to degradation of its properties. This study investigates the SAF 2205 duplex stainless steel as-cast and its microstructural evolution after solution annealing treatment under different conditions. The aim was to detect the effects on the microstructure and its influence both in hardness and corrosion resistance of the steel, with the variation of the solution aneealing duration and the way of cooling. The evaluation of the results was based on the microstructural analysis, energy dispersive spectrometry measurements, X-ray diffraction, hardness and electrochemical tests. It was observed that the solution annealing treatment affects the microstruture homogeneity, and the way of cooling promotes the intermetallic phases’ precipitation. The slow cooling, in furnace, induces the precipitation of intermetallic phases, sigma and '. The solution annealing during 240 minutes allowed obtaining a favorable ratio between ferrite and austenite phases, which improve the steel passivation process. Besides, the results showed that the increase of the solution annealing duration combined with a slower cooling, in furnace, increase the hardness and decrease significantly the corrosion resistance of steel due to the precipitation of the sigma and ’ phases. / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar o comportamento da junta para diferentes parâmetros de soldagem em um processo inovador de soldagem por fricção em tubos utilizando um anel rotativo. O material do tubo utilizado neste trabalho foi o aço inoxidável duplex SAF 2205 (UNS S31803).Utilizou-se o método estatístico Taguchi para reduzir a quantidade de juntas soldadas e verificar quais os melhores parâmetros de soldagem. O processo avaliou 3 parâmetros variando em máximo e mínimo, resultando em 4 condições de soldagem. Três juntas soldadas foram produzidas para cada condição de soldagem, o que acabou gerando 12 juntas. A obtenção da melhor condição de soldagem foi realizada através da análise de “quanto maior melhor” para o resultado de resistência à tração para as amostras. Nesta análise,a condição ótima de soldagem coincidentemente foi a condição de soldagem 4. Paralelamente à análise Taguchi, foram realizados ensaios de qualificação para todas as 4 condições de soldagem de acordo com a norma DNV-OS-F101:2013: teste de tração, dobramento, dureza, porcentagem de ferrita e porcentagem de intermetálicos Adicionalmente aos ensaios exigidos pela norma DNV-OS-F101:2013, foram realizados testes de impacto Charpy-V e EBSD para a melhor condição de soldagem obtida pela método Taguchi (condição 4). Os resultados indicaram que, de acordo com os requisitos da norma DNV-OS-F101:2013, apenas a condição de soldagem quatro (0,10 mm/s; 7,50 kN/s/ 10,0 mm) foi integralmente qualificada. Valores insuficientes de resistência obtidos nos ensaios de tração, bem como divergências nas porcentagens ótimas de fases desqualificaram as outras três condições de soldagem. Como resultado adicional para a condição de soldagem qualificada, testes de impacto Charpy apresentaram valores de energia absorvida superiores àqueles encontrados para processos convencionais de soldagem. / The present work had as objective to investigate the joint behavior for different welding parameters in an innovative process of welding by friction in tubes using a rotating ring. The material of the tube used in this work was duplex stainless steel SAF 2205 (UNS S31803). The Taguchi statistical method was used to reduce the amount of welded joints and to verify the best welding parameters. The process evaluated 3 parameters varying in maximum and minimum, resulting in 4 welding conditions. Three welded joints were produced for each welding condition, resulting in 12 joints. The best welding condition was obtained by the analysis of "the greater the better" for the result of tensile strength for the samples. In this analysis, the optimum welding condition coincidentally was the welding condition 4. Parallel to the Taguchi analysis, qualification tests were performed for all 4 welding conditions according to DNV-OS-F101: 2013: tensile test, bending, hardness, percentage of ferrite and percentage of intermetallics In addition to the tests required by the DNV-OS-F101: 2013, Charpy-V impact tests and characterization by EBSD were performed for the best welding condition obtained by the Taguchi method (condition 4). The results indicated that, according to the requirements of DNV-OS-F101: 2013, only the welding condition four (0.10 mm/s, 7.50 kN/s; 10.0 mm) was fully qualified. Insufficient values of strength obtained in the tensile tests, as well as divergences in the optimal percentages of phases, disqualified the other three welding conditions. As an additional result for the qualified welding condition, Charpy impact tests showed absorbed energy values higher than those found for conventional welding processes.

Este trabalho buscou avaliar a técnica ultrassônica de Tempo de Voo da Onda Difratada (TOFD - Time-Of-Flight-Diffraction) para o monitoramento de trincas de fadiga nucleadas no interior de tubos de aço Superdúplex. Para isso, foram fabricados corpos de prova do tipo single edge bending SE(B) a partir de um tubo de aço Superdúplex sem costura. Estas amostras foram ensaiadas em fadiga, e o crescimento de trinca foi monitorado com as técnicas de TOFD, de Flexibilidade no Descarregamento (Compliance) – durante os ensaios, foram dadas sobrecargas mecânicas que causaram deformação plástica. As deformações serviram de pontos de referência para analisar o crescimento de trinca. Para aferir a validade os resultados obtidos com o TOFD nos ensaios de fadiga e fazer uma correlação com o monitoramento em campo de defeitos em tubos de aço Superdúplex, foi fabricado um padrão que simulou um tubo com defeito interno conhecido. Este padrão foi inspecionado com o TOFD, empregando os mesmos equipamentos e parâmetros utilizados nos ensaios de fadiga. Foi possível monitorar o crescimento de trinca em fadiga utilizando a técnica de TOFD e houve forte correlação entre os dados obtidos com o TOFD e o Compliance. A inspeção no tubo padrão manteve uma diferença entre a medida real e a obtida com o TOFD proporcional às encontradas durante o monitoramento dos ensaios de fadiga. / This study aimed to evaluate the ultrasonic technique Time-Of-Flight-Diffraction (TOFD) in monitoring fatigue nucleated cracks within super duplex steel pipes. In order to do it, single edge bending SE (B) specimens were manufactured using a super duplex steel seamless pipe. These samples were tested in fatigue and crack growth was monitored with two different techniques: TOFD and Flexibility in Unloading (Compliance). During the tests, it was used mechanical overloadings so deformation would be cause on the steel pipes. The deformations caused by that served as reference points to analyze the cracking growth. Thus, to assess the validity of the data obtained with the TOFD in fatigue tests, it was made a pattern that simulated a tube with known internal defect. This pattern was inspected with the TOFD, using the same equipment and parameters used in the fatigue tests. A correlation with the monitoring of defects field super duplex steel pipes was also made. The experiment has shown it is possible to monitor the cracking growth fatigue using the TOFD technique. Figures indicate, as well, there is a strong correlation between results obtained with the TOFD and Compliance. The inspection of the standard steel pipe maintained a difference between the actual measurement and obtained measurement. That difference was proportional from TOFD data and those found during the monitoring of the fatigue tests.

No description available.

We study a wireless full-duplex network with imperfect interference cancellation and solve the routing and power allocation problem in this network. We use a model that focuses on the effects of full-duplex by including residual self-interference and one hop interference while other interfering signals are considered negligible in comparison. We first solve the optimal power allocation for a fixed route. We then propose a priority-first search algorithm to find the joint route and power allocation to maximize throughput. The algorithm proposed has a non decomposable priority metric, but is efficiently evaluated by our solution for a fixed route. We analyze the performance of our solution in a more realistic model by deriving bounds between optimal solutions in both models. Through simulations we show that, even with imperfect interference cancellation, full-duplex achieves a higher throughput than half-duplex or direct transmission for moderate transmission power.

One of the primary sources of inefficiency in today's wireless networks is the half-duplex constraint - the assumption that nodes cannot transmit and receive simultaneously in the same band. The reason for this constraint and the hurdle to full-duplex operation is self-interference: a node's transmit signal appears at its own receiver with very high power, desensitizing the receiver electronics and precluding the reception of a packet from a distant node. Recent research has demonstrated that full-duplex can indeed be feasible by employing a combination of analog and digital self-interference cancellation mechanisms. However, two glaring limitations remain. The first is that the full-duplex state-of-the-art requires at least two antennas and extra RF resources that space-constrained mobile devices may not be able to accommodate. The second limitation is range: current full-duplex demonstrations have been for ranges less than 10~m. At longer distances nodes must transmit with higher power to overcome path loss, and the power differential between the self-interference and the signal-of-interest becomes more that the current cancellation mechanisms can handle. We therefore present engineering solutions for answering the following driving questions: (a) can we leverage full-duplex in a network consisting mostly of half-duplex mobiles? and (b) can we extend the range of full-duplex by achieving self-interference suppression sufficient for full-duplex to outperform half-duplex at ranges exceeding 100 m? In answer to the first question, we propose moving the burden of full-duplexing solely to access points (APs), enabling the AP to boost network throughput by receiving an uplink signal from one half-duplex mobile, while simultaneously transmitting a downlink signal to another half-duplex mobile in the same band. In answer to the second question we propose an AP antenna architecture that uses a careful combination of three mechanisms for passive suppression of self-interference: directional isolation, absorptive shielding, and cross-polarization. Results from a 20 MHz OFDM prototype demonstrate that the proposed AP architecture can achieve 90+ dB total self-interference suppression, enabling >50% uplink rate gains over half-duplex for ranges up to 150 m.

Stainless steels are high-alloyed, usually with multiple components and often also dual matrix phases, as for duplex stainless steels. This make predictions and calculations of alloying effects on equilibria and transformations complicated. Computational thermodynamics has emerged as an indispensable tool for calculations within these complex systems with predictions of equilibria and precipitation of phases. This thesis offers examples illustrating how computational methods can be applied both to thermodynamics, kinetics and coarsening of stainless steels in order to predict microstructure and, to some extent, also properties. The performance of a current state-of-the-art commercial thermodynamic database was also explored and strengths and weaknesses highlighted. / <p>QC 20130429</p>