Alfeu Saraiva Ramos

FeNbP in ultra-low carbon Nb-added steel containing high P

Precipitation of FeTIP is reported to occur in TI-added IF steels containing high P during thermomechanical processing. An ultra-low carbon (ULC) Nb-added steel ingot containing a higher P content (<0.8 wt-%) was produced via aluminothermic reduction of Fe2O3 followed by double electron beam melting (EBM). FeNbP coarse precipitates were observed in the as-cast microstructure. After soaking at 1050°C for 1 h, the plate was hot-rolled from 31 mm down to 7 mm in thickness (total reduction of 77%). During cold rolling of these hot bands we oberved embrittlement. We believe that this embrittlement can be attributed to the presence of the FeNbP precipitates. Light optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS) were used to characterize the microstructure of this ULC steel.

Effect of Molybdenum on the Formation of Ti6Si2B in Mechanically Alloyed Ti-Mo-Si-B Powders

This paper discusses on effect of molybdenum on the Ti6Si2B formation in mechanically alloyed and hot-pressed Ti-xMo-22Si-11B (x= 2, 5, 7 and 10 at%) alloys. High-energy ball milling and hot pressing were utilized to produce homogeneous and dense materials, which were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, electron dispersive spectrometry, and Vickers hardness. The excessive agglomeration during milling was more pronounced in Mo-richer powders, which was minimized with the formation of brittle phases. Hot pressing of mechanically alloyed Ti-xMo-22Si-11B powders produced dense samples containing lower pore amounts than 1%. Ti6Si2B was formed in microstructure of the hot-pressed Ti-2Mo-22Si-11B alloy only. In Mo-richer quaternary alloys, the Ti3Si and Ti5Si3 phases were preferentially formed during hot pressing. Oppositely to the ternary phase, the Ti3Si phase dissolved a significant Mo amount. Vickers hardness values were reduced in hot-pressed Ti-xMo-22Si-11B alloys containing larger Mo amounts, which were dissolved preferentially in Ti solid solution.

Structural Evaluation of Mechanically Alloyed Ti-Nb Powders

This work discusses on the structural evaluation of mechanically alloyed Ti-Nb powders. The Nb amount was varied between 20 and 50 wt-%. The milling process was carried out in a planetary Fritsch P-5 ball mill under Ar atmosphere. The structural evaluation was conducted by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and energy dispersive spectrometry. During ball milling it was noted an excessive agglomeration of ductile Ti-Nb powders on the balls and vial surfaces, and the final amount of remaining powders was then drastically reduced into the vials. This fact was more pronounced with the increased Nb amount in starting powders. Typical lamella structures were formed during ball milling, which were refined for the longest milling times, and fine and homogeneous structures were formed in Ti-Nb (Nb=20-50wt-%) powders. XRD results indicated that the full width at half maximum values of Ti peaks were continuously increased while that the crystallite sizes were reduced for longer milling times due to the severe plastic deformation provided during ball milling of Ti-Nb powders. However, the EDS analysis revealed the presence of Nb-rich regions in Ti-Nb powders after ball milling. The critical ball milling behavior of ductile Ti- Nb powders contributed for reducing the yield powder and increasing the structural heterogeneity.

Effect of Milling Parameters on the TiB and TiB2 Formation in Ti-50at%B and Ti-66at%B Powders

This work discusses on the effect of milling parameters on the TiB and TiB2 formation in Ti-50at%B and Ti-66at%B powders, respectively. Both powder mixtures were processed in a planetary ball Fritsch P-5 ball mill under Ar atmosphere, varying the milling parameters: rotary speed (150 and 200 rpm), size of balls (10 and 19mm diameter) and ball-to-powder weight ratio (2:1 and 10:1). In order to obtain the equilibrium structures the milled powders were heated at 1200oC for 1h. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermal analysis (DSC). XRD results indicated that extended Ti(B) solid solutions were formed during ball milling of Ti-50at%B and Ti-66at%B powders. After milling for 170h it was noted the TiB and TiB2 formation in Ti-50B and Ti-66B powders processed under higher-energy condition. DSC analysis revealed that the TiB2 formation was completed during heating of mechanically alloyed Ti-66at%B powders only. After heating at 1200oC for 1h, a large amount of TiB and TiB2 was found in Ti-B powders milled under higher energy condition.

Physicochemical Analysis of Ti-Si-B Powder Alloys

Titanium alloys of Ti-Si-B system were manufactured by blended elemental powder method using Ti, Si and B powders as starting materials. It was found that uniaxial and isostatic pressing followed by hot pressing at around 1000°C, for 20 minutes, provided good densification of such alloys. The physicochemical studies were performed by means of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and microindentation/wear tests. The investigations revealed a multiphase microstructure formed mainly by α-titanium, Ti6Si2B, Ti5Si3, TiB and Ti3Si phases. The phase transformations after pressureless sintering at 1200°C was also studied by X-ray diffraction for the Ti-18Si-6B composition. As stated in some other researches, these intermetallics in the α-titanium matrix provide high wear resistance and hardness, with the best wear rate of 0.2 mm3/N.m and the highest hardness of around 1300 HV.

On the Phase Transformation in Mechanically Alloyed Ni-Nb and Ni-Ta and Ni-Nb-Ta Powders

This paper reports on the phase transformation during the preparation of Ni-25Nb, Ni-25Ta, Ni-20Nb-5Ta and Ni-15Nb-10Ta (at-%) powders by high-energy ball milling from elemental powders. The milling process was performed in a planetary ball milling using stainless steel balls and vials, rotary speed of 300rpm, and a ball-to-powder of 10:1. To minimize contamination and spontaneous ignition the powders were handled under argon atmosphere in a glove box. The milled powders were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction techniques. Results indicated that the Ni atoms were preferentially dissolved into the Nb (and/or Ta) lattice at the initial milling times, which contributed to change the relative intensity on the diffraction peaks. After the dissolution of Nb (and/or Ta) into the Ni lattice, the Ni peaks were moved to the direction of lower diffraction angles in Ni-25Nb, Ni-25Ta, Ni-20Nb-5Ta, Ni-15Nb-10Ta powders, indicating that the mechanical alloying was achieved. .

On Ti-18Si-6B and Ti-7.5Si-22.5B powder alloys prepared by high-energy ball milling and sintering

B composition. The present study concerns the preparation of titanium alloys that contain such phase mixed with α-titanium and other intermetallic phases. High-purity powders were initially processed in a planetary ball-mill under argon atmosphere with Ti-18Si-6B and Ti-7.5Si-22.5B at. (%) initial compositions. Variation of parameters such as rotary speed, time, and ball diameters were adopted. The as-milled powders were pressureless sintered and hot pressed. Both the as-milled and sintered materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectrometry. Sintered samples have presented equilibrium structures formed mainly by the α-Ti+Ti

Efficiency Evaluation of ZrB2 Incorporation in the MgB2 Matrix Phase Using High-Energy Milling

The present study suggests the use of high energy ball milling to mix (to dope) the phase MgB2 with the AlB2 crystalline structure compound, ZrB2, with the same C32 hexagonal structure than MgB2, in different concentrations, enabling the maintenance of the crystalline phase structures practically unaffected and the efficient mixture with the dopant. The high energy ball milling was performed with different ball-to-powder ratios. The analysis of the transformation and formation of phases was accomplished by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), using the Rietveld method, and scanning electron microscopy. As the high energy ball milling reduced the crystallinity of the milled compounds, also reducing the size of the particles, the XRD analysis were influenced, and they could be used as comparative and control method of the milling. Aiming the recovery of crystallinity, homogenization and final phase formation, heat treatments were performed, enabling that crystalline phases, changed during milling, could be obtained again in the final product.

Preparation of Ta-12.5Si-25B Powders by Mechanical Alloying

The present work reports on the preparation of the Ta5SiB2 compound by highenergy ball milling and subsequent heat treatment from elemental Ta-12.5at%Si-25at%B powder mixture. The milling process was carried out at room temperature in a planetary ball mill under argon atmosphere. Following the milling process, the powders were heat-treated at 1200oC for 4h under Ar atmosphere in order to obtain the equilibrium microstructure. The milled and heat-treated powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results indicated that the Si peaks disappeared after milling for 1h. It was noted that the broadening and the reduced intensity of Ta peaks occurred continuously up to milling for 10h, suggesting that the Si and B atoms were preferentially dissolved into the Ta lattice during ball milling to form a supersaturated solid solution. A halo was formed in Ta-12.5at%Si-25at%B powders milled for 100h, suggesting that an amorphous phase was achieved. No intermetallic phase was formed in powders milled for 200h. A large amount of Ta5SiB2 was formed after heat treatment at 1200oC for 4h. In addition, peaks of TaB and another unknown phase were also identified.

Formation of Ni3Ta, Ni2Ta and NiTa by High-Energy Ball Milling and Subsequent Heat Treatment

The present work reports on the formation of Ni3Ta, Ni2Ta and NiTa by high-energy ball milling and subsequent heat treatment. The elemental Ni-25Ta, Ni-33Ta and Ni-50Ta (at.-%) powder mixtures were ball milled under Ar atmosphere using stainless steel balls and vials as well as 300 rpm and a ball-to-powder weight ratio of 10:1. Following, the as-milled samples were uniaxially compacted and heat-treated under Ar atmosphere at 1100°C for 4h. The characterization of as-milled and heat-treated samples was conducted by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectrometry techniques. Supersaturated solid solutions were formed during ball milling of the Ni-25Ta, Ni-33Ta and Ni-50Ta powders. A large amount of Ni3Ta, Ni2Ta and NiTa was formed in the mechanically alloyed heat-treated Ni-25Ta, Ni-33Ta and Ni-50Ta alloys, respectively.