Daniele Casari

Zernike phase contrast in high-energy x-ray transmission microscopy based on refractive optics

The current work represents the first implementation of Zernike phase contrast for compound refractive lens based x-ray microscopy, and also the first successful Zernike phase contrast experiment at photon energies above 12 keV. Phase contrast was achieved by fitting a compound refractive lens with a circular phase plate. The resolution is demonstrated to be sub-micron, and can be improved using already existing technology. The possibility of combining the technique with polychromatic radiation is considered, and a preliminary test experiment was performed with positive results.

A comparative study on the effects of three commercial Ti–B-based grain refiners on the impact properties of A356 cast aluminium alloy

The effect of three commercial Ti–B-based grain refiners on the impact properties of the A356 cast aluminium alloy was assessed. The impact tests were performed by means of an instrumented Charpy pendulum. During impact testing, the maximum load and the total impact energy, as well as its complementary contributions, the energy at maximum load and the crack propagation energy, were measured. Impact properties were studied as a function of size and shape of the main microstructural features, which were analysed by means of optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the influence of grain refinement on microstructure involves beneficial and detrimental concurrent effects which strongly affect impact properties. The total impact energy decreases with the addition of all the grain refiners due to a shift from a mixed transgranular–intergranular fracture mode to a more severe transgranular mode. Crack initiation and propagation occur mainly through the fracture of Fe-intermetallics and brittle Si particles, and the mechanism of void coalescence. No direct correlation between grain size and impact properties is found. Moreover, the aspect ratio of eutectic Si particles does not change with grain refinement, implying that there are no mutual poisoning effects between Sr and B. Total impact energy is found to depend on both SDAS and β-platelets size. The concurrent effects of SDAS and β-platelets average maximum length on total impact energy can be taken into account by the multiple regression analysis technique.

Correlation between Aging Effects and High Temperature Mechanical Properties of the Unmodified A356 Foundry Aluminium Alloy

In this study, the effect of aging on the mechanical properties of unmodified A356 aluminium casting alloy with trace additions of Ni or V was investigated. Trace elements were added in concentrations of 600 and 1000 ppm of Ni and V, respectively. Samples from sand and permanent mould castings in as cast and T6 heat-treated conditions were tested. Tensile tests were performed at both room and high temperature (235 °C). Taking into account the results from both testing conditions, Vickers hardness was measured in order to endorse the hypothesis of artificial aging occurring during high temperature tensile tests. In order to study this effect, a series of specimens was aged at 235 °C for different aging times, and aging curves were plotted. The occurrence of static and dynamic aging was evaluated by comparing hardness values of tensile specimens and aged samples, particularly in the range of 5-20 min, as this range corresponds to the time necessary for pre-heating and testing of the tensile samples. A basic correlation between tensile strength and hardness is also given.

Morphological Transition of α-Mg Dendrites During Near-Isothermal Solidification of a Mg–Nd–Gd–Zn–Zr Casting Alloy

Microstructure evolution in the Mg–Nd–Gd–Zn–Zr commercial casting alloy Elektron21 and in a Zn-free alloy variant, solidified under near-isothermal conditions at six constant cooling rates, has been studied via in situ X-ray radiography. In the Zn-free alloy, equiaxed α-Mg primary dendrites are always observed to develop with a steady growth rate. Conversely, in the Elektron21 alloy, primary dendrites undergo a morphological transition after nucleation and an initial transient growth for cooling rates \( \dot{T} \) ≤ 0.075 K/s. Such transition leads to a change in the growth morphology from volume spanning 3D to anisotropic sheet-like growth occurring mainly along \( \left\langle {11\bar{2}0} \right\rangle \) directions, with 4–5 times increase in the growth velocity. Experiments and simulations highlight the pivotal role of Zn, indicating that the morphological transition occurs due to the formation of ordered rare earth-zinc arrangements in the \( \{ 10\bar{1}1\} \) pyramidal and \( \{ 0001\} \) basal planes of the α-Mg lattice within a layer extending a few micrometres from the solid-liquid interface into α-Mg.