Structure-tribological property relations have been studied for five high entropy alloys (HEAs). Microhardness, room and elevated (100°C and 300°C) temperature sliding friction coefficients and wear rates were determined for five HEAs: Co0.5 Cr Cu0.5 Fe Ni1.5 Al Ti0.4; Co Cr Fe Ni Al0.25 Ti0.75; Ti V Nb Cr Al; Al0.3CoCrFeNi; and Al0.3CuCrFeNi2. Wear surfaces were characterized with scanning electron microscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy to determine the wear mechanisms and tribochemical phases, respectively. It was determined that the two HEAs Co0.5 Cr Cu0.5 Fe Ni1.5 Al Ti0.4 and Ti V Nb Cr Al exhibit an excellent balance of high hardness, low friction coefficients and wear rates compared to 440C stainless steel, a currently used bearing steel. This was attributed to their more ductile body centered cubic (BCC) solid solution phase along with the formation of tribochemical Cr oxide and Nb oxide phases, respectively, in the wear surfaces. This study provides guidelines for fabricating novel, low-friction, and wear-resistant HEAs for potential use at room and elevated temperatures, which will help reduce energy and material losses in friction and wear applications.

ZnO and ZnO-TiO2 ceramics have intriguing electronic and mechanical properties and find applications in many fields. Many of these properties and applications rely on the understanding of defects and defect processes in these oxides as these defects control the electronic, catalytic and mechanical behaviors. The goal of this dissertation is to systematically study the defects and defects behaviors in Wurtzite ZnO and Ilmenite ZnTiO3 by using first principles calculations and classical simulations employing empirical potentials. Firstly, the behavior of intrinsic and extrinsic point defects in ZnO and ZnTiO3 ceramics were investigated. Secondly, the effect of different surface absorbents and surface defects on the workfunction of ZnO were studied using DFT calculations. The results show that increasing the surface coverage of hydrocarbons decreased the workfunction. Lastly, the stacking fault behaviors on ilmenite ZnTiO3 were investigated by calculating the Generalized Stacking Fault (GSF) energies using density functional theory based first principles calculations and classical calculations employing effective partial charge inter-atomic potentials. The gamma-surfaces of two low energy surfaces, (110) and (104), of ZnTiO3 were fully mapped and, together with other analysis such as ideal shear stress calculations.

This work outlines the transformation behavior of the Fe-Mn alloy system based on two different processing methods with varying composition ranges. Fe-Mn alloys rely on the body-centered cubic to hexagonal-close packed martensitic transformation that occurs at high pressures to accommodate large amounts of strain. This phase transformation is associated with an atomic volumetric contraction which can be altered by controlling the amount of manganese in the alloy. In this thesis, using synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction with in-situ diamond anvil cell induced loading, the high-pressure induced phase transformation in two different processing conditions of the Fe-XMn system was tracked: where X = 0.75, 1.38, and 2.08 wt.% Mn for the powdered alloy and X = 4, 7, and 11 wt.% Mn for the bulk alloy. The resulting Debye-Scherrer and stacked 1-D integrated diffraction patterns show the phase transformation for each of the Fe-Mn alloys at high pressures, along with the evolution of the phases as decompression occurs. The pressure-volume plot for Fe-11Mn is also presented in this thesis. The results in this thesis provides insight into the microstructural changes of the chosen alloy system in a high-pressure environment and outlines the method for the processing and preparation of samples purposed for in-situ synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction with diamond anvil cell induced load.

This research investigated the binder jet additive manufacturing (BJAM) of WC-10 wt.%Co, emphasizing the evolution of phase and microstructure throughout BJAM densification techniques. The BJAM process was first optimized by setting a layer thickness of 124 μm and a binder saturation level of 60%. Initial samples were fabricated using coarse WC particles (D50 - 28 μm) and fine Co particles. Printed parts underwent a curing step at 200°C to enhance green density, enabling part stability. Subsequently, debinding removed the binder to eliminate any residuals before densification techniques. BJAM densification techniques included sintering, hot isostatic pressing (HIP), and pack carburizing. The phases and microstructure in the fabricated parts were examined via X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and hardness measured by Vickers hardness testing. BJAM printed WC-10 wt.%Co samples achieved 77% and 82% density following sintering and HIP, respectively. XRD revealed the presence of undesirable η phases after sintering and sinter+HIP. Moreover, EBSD observations confirmed the grain coursing during the densification techniques. The pack carburizing step effectively decomposed the η phase, reverting it to the desirable WC phase. This transformation also resulted in improved hardness for carburized samples compared to sintered and sintered+HIPed samples. However, there was no significant change in the density after pack carburizing. This study demonstrated the feasibility of using BJAM for WC-Co alloys, highlighting the effectiveness of pack carburizing in refining phase composition by η phase decomposition into the WC phase.

Corrosion of all aluminum microchannel heat exchangers present a challenge in automotive and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industries. Reproducibility of Salt Water Acetic Acid Test (SWAAT) has been questioned and a need to new corrosion tests with better reproducibility has risen. Cyclic polarization, that is an electrochemical test, was explored for its suitability for the assessment of AA 3102 tube material that is currently a popular aluminum alloy used in manufacturing of heat exchanger. Corrosive electrolytes containing 3.5 % sodium chloride with 0.5 % ammonium sulfate (high chloride) or 0.5 % sodium chloride with 3.5 % ammonium sulfate (high sulfate) at their pH or acidic (pH=4) were used to measure corrosion potential (Ecorr), protection potential (Epp), pitting potential (Epit), Tafel constants (βa and βc), corrosion rate (mpy). Corrosive electrolyte used in SWAAT test (4.2% Sea Salt at pH 2.9) was also used to compare corrosion resistance of AA 3102 in SWAAT electrolyte compared to the other electrolytes used in this research. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe and document sample surface corrosion damage after each electrochemical test on all samples. Results of the cyclic polarization tests indicated that SWAAT electrolytes was the most aggressive electrolyte resulting in highest corrosion rates compared to all other electrolytes used in this investigation. SEM results indicated AA 3102 alloy exhibited higher pitting tendency in electrolytes with high sodium chloride whereas high sulfate electrolytes cause appearance of uniform corrosion surface damage on this alloy. Both high sulfate and SWAAT electrolytes showed intergranular corrosion but high chloride electrolyte showed severe pitting of AA 3102. Mohammad Navid Dorreyatim- Cyclic Polarization of AA 3102 in Corrosive Electrolytes Containing Sodium Chloride and Ammonium Sulfate. Master of Science (Mechanical and Energy Engineering), December 2016, 98 pp., references, 31 titles.

The aim of this thesis is to provide microstructural and mechanical characterisation of α-β titanium alloys exposed to a range of thermo-mechanical conditions, in particular under-going high rate deformation at elevated temperatures, representative of the Linear Friction Welding (LFW) manufacturing process. Three α-β titanium alloys provided by Rolls-Royce are studied: Ti-64 blade, disc and Ti-6246 disc. Ti-64 and Ti-6246 show complex deformation behaviour with strain, strain rate and temperature, especially near the transus temperature, where the low temperature α phase is transformed into the high temperature β phase. The microstructure and mechanical properties evolve in an interconnected fashion, and understanding this mutual influence is necessary to better predict the behaviour of these alloys. Characterisation of the mechanical properties was performed through uniaxial compression tests at strain rates from 0.001 to 3000 s^-1, using an Instron screw-driven machine at quasi-static rates, a servo-hydraulic machine at medium rates and a Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar and a drop-weight tower at high strain rates. The tests were performed over a range of temperatures from room temperature to 1300 °C. The main focus was on high strain rate and high temperature tests, with the development of a gravity driven direct impact Hopkinson bar, referred as a drop-weight system, which is intended to evaluate the mechanical response of metals to high strain rate loading at temperatures up to c. 1300 °C. The design and principles of operation of the system are presented, along with calibration and validation data. Preliminary tests were performed on stock Ti-64, heated at two rates: 1 and 20 °C s^-1. The evolution of the mechanical properties was analysed, focussing on the strain rate, temperature and phases dependencies. Characterisation of the microstructure was realised by performing interrupted compression tests, first at room temperature, three plastic strains, 4%, 10% and 20%, and two different strain rates, 0.001 and 2000 s^-1; then at 4% plastic strain, a strain rate of 2000 s^-1 and three elevated temperatures, 700, 900 and 1100 °C. A better understanding of the microstructure evolution with strain, strain rates and temperature, including the macrotexture and microtexture of the specimens, was obtained using Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) to characterise the texture of the undeformed and deformed materials. The better understanding of the flow stress and microstructural evolution of both Ti-64 and its individual α and β phases with various strain rates and temperatures is intended to be used in the development of more accurate models representing the behaviour of these alloys. Predicting the microstructure evolution and then the mechanical properties of a material is essential to optimise the final mechanical properties of the alloys when welded by manufacturing processes such as the LFW process.

The recent advancements in electronics and the advents of small scaled instruments has increased the attachment of life and functionality of devices to electrical power sources but at the same time granted the engineers and companies the ability to use smaller sources of power and batteries. Therefore, many scientists have tried to come up with new solutions for a power alternatives. Piezoelectric is a promising material which can readily produce continuous electric power from mechanical inputs. However, their power output is dependent upon several factors such as, system natural frequency, their position in the system, the direction of vibration and many other internal and external factors. In this research the working bandwidth of the system is increased through utilizing of two different piezoelectric beam in different directions. The dependency of output power with respect to rotation angle and also the frequency shift due to the rotation angle is studied.

Magnesium alloys are a popular research topic for structural applications because they have a lower density than conventional structural materials, including steel, titanium, and aluminum; however, the reliability and safety of their mechanical properties must be further proven. An important mechanical property for this purpose is fracture toughness, which is the measure of the material's resistance to crack propagation. In this study, a model of an experiment to investigate the fracture toughness of a magnesium alloy WE43 before and after friction stir processing (FSP) is developed, and the results are compared to those produced by a digital image correlation (DIC) system during an experiment from another paper. The model results of the material before FSP matched well with the DIC results, but the model of the material after FSP only partially matches the DIC results. In addition, a theoretical approach to calculating the standard fracture toughness value, KIc, from the modeling results is proposed, and is found to be a conservative approach.

A fully oxidized state of graphene behaves as a pure insulating while a pristine graphene behaves as a pure conducting. The in-between oxide state in graphene which is the controlled state of oxide behaves as a semiconducting. This is the key condition for tuning optical band gap for the better light emitting property. The controlling method of oxide in graphene structure is known as reduction which is the mixed state of sp2 and sp3 hybrid state in graphene structure. sp2 hybridized domains correspond to pure carbon-carbon bond i.e. pristine graphene while sp3 hybridized domains correspond to the oxide bond with carbon i.e. defect in graphene structure. This is the uniqueness of the graphene-base material. Graphene is a gapless material i.e. having no bandgap energy and this property prevents it from switching device applications and also from the optoelectronic devices applications. The main challenge for this material is to tune as a semiconducting which can open the optical characteristics and emit light of desired color. There may be several possibilities for the modification of graphene-base material that can tune a band gap. One way is to find semiconducting property by doping the defects into pristine graphene structure. Other way is oxides functional groups in graphene structure behaves as defects. The physical properties of graphene depend on the amount of oxides present in graphene structure. So if there are more oxides in graphene structure then this material behaves as a insulating. By any means if it can be reduced then oxides amount to achieve specific proportion of sp2 and sp3 that can emit light of desired color. Further, after achieving light emission from graphene base material, there is more possibility for the study of non-linear optical property. In this work, plasmonic effect in graphene oxide has been focused. Mainly there are two kinds of plasmon effects have been studied, one is long range (surface) and short range (localized) plasmon. For long range plasmon gold thin film was deposited on partially reduced graphene oxide and for short range plasmon silver nanoparticles have used. Results show that there are 10-fold enhancement in light emission from partial graphene oxide coated with gold thin film while 4-fold enhancement from reduced graphene oxide solution with silver nanoparticles. Chemical method and photocatalytic method have been employed for the reduction of graphene oxide for the study of surface plasmon and localized plasmon. For the characterization UV-Vis spectrometer for absorption, spectrofluorophotometer for fluorescent emission, Raman spectrometer for material characterization, photoluminescence and time resolved photoluminescence have been utilized. Silver and gold nanoparticles are spherical of average size of 80 nm and 40 nm have been used as plasmons.