Iron-based alloys containing 15% chromium, 2-3% molybdenum and 0.02-1.7% carbon, consisting of M23C6 and M6C carbides in an austenitic matrix were oxidised at 8500C to study their oxidation resistance and a precipitate-free zone formation. Alloy design was carried out using a thermodynamic software Thermo-Calc. Carbides in these alloys were expected to dissolve during oxidation, releasing chromium required for the protective oxide formation. Decarburisation of the matrix was expected to trigger the carbide dissolution, and form a precipitate-free zone. Transformation of the austenitic into ferritic matrix in the precipitate-free zone was expected be essential for providing a fast chromium supply to the oxide/alloy interface. Upon exposure to pure oxygen, most of the alloys oxidised non-protectively due to the fast oxidation attack and low chromium content in the matrix, while carbide dissolution was too slow. The alloys were then pre-oxidised in H2+10%H2O to grow a purely chromia scale. In this low oxygen partial pressure environment, carbides in the alloy's sub-surface dissolved and formed a ferritic precipitate-free zone. The precipitate dissolution model developed by previous investigators was then tested and proven to be valid in this iron-based alloy system. The endurance of the pre-formed chromia scale with its underlying precipitate-free zone was then tested in pure oxygen environment. All of the alloys that had successfully developed a ferritic precipitate-free zone in the pre-oxidation stage, survived the subsequent oxidation in pure oxygen up until 3 weeks observation. Although x-ray diffraction found some minor iron oxides, the oxide consisted of mainly Cr2O3. Since iron activity had increased and iron oxides had become stable after the pure oxygen gas was introduced, the growth of the precipitate-free zone had to compete with the rate at which it was consumed by oxidation. It was concluded that the transformation from austenite to ferrite at the subsurface region of the alloy could be achieved provided that the volume fraction of the carbides did not exceed 0.2. Evidence indicated that the chromia scale grew by chromium provided by the dissolving carbides. Pre-oxidation led to a promising use of the alloys at atmospheric oxygen pressure.

An 18-month study (July 2009 – December 2010) was conducted to determine the influence of four dams located in series along the Perak River, in Malaysia: Temengor, Bersia, Kenering and Chenderoh dams. The framework for investigation centered around the Serial Discontinuity Concept (SDC) and the Cascading Reservoir Continuum Concept (CRCC). In addition to reservoir, tailwater and riverine reach characteristics, the interacting influences of tributary streams and watersheds were addressed. Variables included in-situ environmental physical parameters, nutrients, seston concentration and transport, and fish assemblage characteristics. In-situ variables, water and seston samples, were recorded/collected monthly from all four reservoirs, their associated riverine sections, and their primary tributaries. Fish samples were collected by using experimental gill nets in reservoirs. Fish were enumerated taxonomically and total length and weight were measured for the bony-lipped barb, Osteochilus hasselti (Valenciennes, 1842). Hypotheses were tested using analyses of variance with permutations. Relationships were determined using correlation, and multivariate and regression analyses. The integrated influences of discontinuity and cascading on nutrient and seston transport dynamics and fish assemblages (except for relative condition and biomass of O. hasselti) were operative in dynamic juxtaposition along the river’s continuum, and depended on distance between dams and presence and size of tributary streams. However, principal tributaries along the four serial dams in the Perak River appeared to have little spatial influence on their respective system’s nutrient and seston dynamics due to dilution effects of mainstem discharges. Among all tributaries, only the Rui River depicted reversal of the serial discontinuity trend in its system. Even so, its influence on its system was limited. Effects of ecosystem fragmentation along the river’s continuum on in-situ, nutrients and seston transport dynamics, and fish assemblages existed, but not necessarily in line with the SDC nor in line with the CRCC. The dynamics of in-situ, nutrient, seston and fish assemblage parameters were more associated with land use, reservoir surface area and dam discharge. Results from this study generated a hypothesis that submerged woody vegetation in the reservoirs may augment and compensate lost nutrients, thereby minimizing functional impacts of serially-arranged dams.