Bruno Bacci Fernandes

Syntheses of the Ni3Ti, NiTi, and NiTi2 Compounds by Mechanical Alloying

The aim of this work is to prepare the Ni3Ti, NiTi, and NiTi2 compounds by mechanical alloying from elemental Ni-25at.%Ti, Ni-50at.%Ti, and Ni-66.6at.%Ti powder mixtures. The milling process was carried out in a planetary ball mill under argon atmosphere using a rotary speed of 200rpm, stainless steel balls (10 and 19 mm diameters) and vials (225mL), and a ball-to-powder weight ratio of 10:1. Following, the milled powders were heat treated at 900oC for 1h in order to attain the equilibrium microstructures. The milled powders were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and microanalysis via EDS. Similar ball milling behavior of Ni-Ti powders was noted in this work, e.g., a pronounced cold-welding between ductile powders occurred during the initial milling times. The Ni3Ti, NiTi, and NiTi2 compounds were synthesized after milling for 30h. Atomic disordering of the NiTi and NiTi2 compounds was achieved, and amorphous structures were then formed in Ni-50Ti e Ni-66.6Ti powders milled for 60h and 210h, respectively. Homogeneous matrixes constituted by the Ni3Ti, NiTi, and NiTi2 phases were formed in Ni-Ti powders after heat treatments at 900oC for 1h. Iron contamination lower than 2 at-% was measured by EDS analysis in heat-treated Ni-Ti alloys.

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.

Phase Transformations in Mechanically Alloyed and Sintered Ti-XMg-22Si-11B (X = 2 and 7 at.-%at) Powders

This work reports on effect of magnesium addition on the Ti6Si2B stability in Ti-xMg-22Si-11B (x = 2 and 6 at.-%) alloys prepared by high-energy ball milling and subsequent sintering. Ball milling was conducted under Ar atmosphere in stainless steel vials and balls, 300 rpm, and a ball-to-powder weight ratio of 10:1. Following, the powders milled for 10 h were axially compacted in order to obtain cylinder samples with 6 mm diameter. To obtain the equilibrium structures the green samples were sintered at 1100°C for 4 h under Ar atmosphere. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometry were used to characterize the as-milled powders and sintered samples. Extended Ti solid solution were found in the Ti-2Mg-22Si-11B and Ti-7-Mg-Si-B powders milled for 20 min and 60 min, respectively, whereas an amorphous halo was produced on Ti-2Mg-22Si-11B powders milled for 420 min. The increase of Mg amount in the starting powder mixture has inhibited the Ti6Si2B formation in the mechanically alloyed and sintered Ti-7Mg-22Si-11B alloy.

High-Energy Ball Milling and Subsequent Heat Treatment of Ti-Cu-Si-B Powders

Metal matrix multicomponent alloys and others based on the Ti+Ti6Si2B phases are potentially attractive for structural applications. However, there is limited information in literature on the effect of alloying in stability of the Ti6Si2B compound, which presents its single-phase region close to Ti-22Si-11B alloy composition (at.-%). In this sense, this work discusses on the effect of copper addition on the stability of the Ti6Si2B compound. Elemental powder mixtures were used to prepare the Ti-xCu-22Si-11B (x=2 and 6 at.-%) alloys by high-energy ball milling and subsequent heat treatment (1100oC for 240 minutes). The as-milled Ti-Cu-Si-B powders and heat-treated samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Similar behavior was noted during ball milling of Ti-Cu-Si-B powders, i.e., the Ti5Si3 phase was formed after milling for 180 minutes. The mechanically alloyed and heat treated Ti-2Cu-22Si-11B alloy presented a matrix of Ti6Si2B dissolving close to 2 at.-% Cu. Precipitates of Ti5Si3 and other unknown Cu-and Fe-rich phase were also identified in microstructures of these quaternary alloys, whose amounts were increased in the mechanical alloyed and heat treated Ti-6Cu-22Si-11B alloy.

High-Energy Ball Milling of Ni-Ti and Ni-Ti-Nb Powders

This work reports on the preparation of Ni-50Ti and Ni-40Ti-10Nb and Ni-30Ti- 20Nb (at.%) powders by high-energy ball milling and subsequent heat treatment. The milling process was carried out at room temperature in a planetary ball mill under Ar atmosphere. The as-milled powders were than heat-treated at 900oC for 1h under Ar atmosphere. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and microanalysis via energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to characterize the milled and heat-treated powders. A metastable phase was initially formed in Ni-50Ti and Ni-40Ti-10Nb powders milled for 1h. Following the ball milling, the B2-NiTi compound was formed in these powder mixtures. The disordering of the B2-NiTi compound occurred owing the internal lattice strain after milling for 30h. Two phases were identified in Ni-50Ti and Ni-40Ti-10Nb powders milled for 60h: the metastable phase previously reported, and an amorphous phase. In Ni-30Ti-20Nb powders, it was noted the presence of an amorphous halo only. A structural relaxation of the B2-NiTi phase occurred in heat-treated Ni-50Ti, Ni-40Ti-10Nb, and Ni-30Ti-20Nb powders. A small amount of Ni3Ti and NiTi2 was also formed after heat treatment at 900oC for 1h, and an iron contamination lower than 2at.% was found.