Agnieszka T. Krawczynska

Nanostructure Formation in Austenitic Stainless Steel

Samples of 316LVM stainless steels were hydrostatically extruded in a multi-step process to a total true strain of 1,84 and subsequently annealed at different temperatures. The structural changes occurring as a result of HE and annealing were observed using a transmission electron microscope. The microhardness of the samples was measured using a load of 200g. The results show that hydrostatic extrusion results in a uniform microstructure characterized by a high density of nano-twins. Subsequent annealing at 600°C produces a partial transformation to a nano structure of average grain size 54 nm. At an annealing temperature of 700°C a fullyrecrystallized uniform microstructure consisting of 68 nm diameter nano-grains was formed. It should be noted that 700°C is much lower than that required to recrystallize a micro-grained alloy of the same composition. The microstructural changes which occurred during annealing have a significant effect on the mechanical properties. The microhardness after HE increased following annealing at 500°C. However, annealing at 800°C resulted in a drop in microhardness, indicating the occurrence of grain growth.

STEM study of Li4Ti5O12 anode material modified with Ag nanoparticles

Comprehensive scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) analysis of Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) powder modified by deposited Ag nanoparticles was performed. Nanocomposite powders with Ag content of 1 wt.%, 4 wt.%, 10 wt.% were fabricated in a chemical process from suspensions of Ag and LTO. Apart from the STEM results, the presence of pure silver on the surface of the ceramic powder was confirmed by XRD and XPS analyses. The silver particles deposited on the LTO particles were characterized using the EDS mapping technique. The quantified results of the EDS mapping showed a relatively homogenous distribution of silver nanoparticles on the powder surface for every metal content. The mean diameter of the nanoparticles deposited on the LTO powder was about 4 nm in all cases. An increase in the Ag content during chemical surface modification did not cause changes in the microstructure. Focusing on an analysis of the metallic nanoparticles on the ceramic powder, electron tomography was used as an investigative technique. A very precise analysis of three‐dimensional nanostructures is desirable for a comprehensive analysis of complex materials. The quantified analysis of the Ag nanoparticles visualized using electron tomography confirmed the results of the size measurements taken from the two‐dimensional EDS maps.

Floral features of two species of Bulbophyllum section Lepidorhiza Schltr.: B. levanae Ames and B. nymphopolitanum Kraenzl. (Bulbophyllinae Schltr., Orchidaceae)

Two representatives of section Lepidorhiza, previously sometimes considered conspecific, Bulbophyllum levanae and Bulbophyllum nymphopolitanum, demonstrated both similarities and differences in floral features. There were significant differences in the length of sepals and micromorphological features of the labellum. In both species, osmophores are located on the extended apices of sepals and possibly on petals. An abundance of proteins in tepals is probably associated with the unpleasant scent of the flowers, whereas the thin wax layers on the epidermis are probably involved in the maintenance of the brilliance of floral tepals, which strongly attracts flies. In all tepals of both species, we noted the presence of dihydroxyphenolic globules in the cytoplasm after staining with FeCl3. Comparison with ultrastructure results revealed that they were associated with plastids containing plastoglobuli. The most remarkable feature was the presence of a prominent periplasmic space in the epidermal cells of both investigated species. Furthermore, in the labellum of B. levanae, the cuticle contained microchannels. The combination of periplasmic space and microchannels has not previously been recorded.

Recrystallization in Nanostructured Austenitic Stainless Steel

Recrystallization and grain growth were studied in an austenitic stainless steel 316LVM processed by hydrostatic extrusion (HE) to a total true strain of 2. HE processing produces in this material the microstructure which consists of nanoscale twins on average 19 nm in width and 168 nm in length. The samples after HE were annealed at various temperatures for 1 hour. The structural changes were investigated using TEM. The heat induced changes in nanotwinned austenitic steel are significantly different when compared to the ones in a conventionally deformed material. Microstructural changes take place at lower annealing temperature. Annealing at 600°C brings about a partial a nanostructure reorganization into nanograin of average size 54 nm. An uniform microstructure with nanograins of 68 nm in equivalent diameter was obtained after annealing at 700°C whereas conventional 316LVM steel fully recrystallizes after annealing at 900°C for 1h. Annealing at higher temperatures results in grain growth.

Floral nectary and osmophore of Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz (Orchidaceae)

The analysis of flowers collected at different stages of anthesis provides strong evidence to conclude that the shell-shaped hypochile and the knobs of epichile form a nectary. The scent comes from the aromatic constituents of nectar and the epichile tissue and the apices of all tepals (osmophores). The comparison between pollinated and unpollinated flowers revealed that the anthesis of unpollinated flowers lasted up to the 16th day. The nectariferous secretory cells formed single-layered epidermis and several layers of underlying parenchyma built by small, isodiametric cells with thin walls and dense cytoplasm, relatively large nuclei, supplied by collateral vascular bundles. During the floral lifespan, the residues of secreted material were higher on the hypochile cells. The lipoid-carbohydrate material and lipid globules in the cell walls and in the cytoplasm were localised. The abundance of starch grains was observed at the beginning of anthesis and their gradual reduction during the flower lifespan. At the end of anthesis in unpollinated flowers, the lipoid-carbohydrate-phenolic materials have been demonstrated. The phenolic material was the same as in plastoglobuli. The features such as irregular plasmalemma, the secretory vesicles that fuse with it, fully developed dictyosomes, numerous profiles of ER indicate vesicle-mediated process of secretion. The substances could be transported by vesicles to the periplasmic space via granulocrine secretion and then to the external surface. Both micro-channels and slightly developed periplasmic space were visible in the hypochile epidermis. This is the first time for anatomical survey of secretory tissue in pollinated and unpollinated flowers of E. helleborine.

Microstructural characterization and residual stress distribution in a nanostructured austenitic stainless steel

Abstract In this paper, residual stress distribution is investigated by a novel X-ray cosα diffraction technique in a nanostructured austenitic stainless steel after hydrostatic extrusion processes. Hydrostatic extrusion performed at 20°C and with a total true strain of 2.3 leads to the creation of a nanostructure consisting of nanotwins and shear bands. The results reveal that the greatest compressive residual stresses of −1 GPa are found 3 mm from the surface of the nanostructured austenitic stainless steel. These compressive residual stresses restrict crack growth into the material, thereby preventing catastrophic failure.