Sergey Suslov

Deformation-induced martensite and nanotwins by cryogenic laser shock peening of AISI 304 stainless steel and the effects on mechanical properties

Laser shock peening (LSP) of stainless steel 304 was carried out at room and cryogenic temperature (liquid nitrogen temperature). It was found that the deformation-induced martensite was generated by LSP only when the laser-generated plasma pressure is sufficiently high. Compared to room temperature laser shock peening (RT-LSP), cryogenic laser shock peening (CLSP) generates a higher volume fraction of martensite at the same laser intensity. This is due to the increase in the density of potential embryos (deformation bands) for martensite nucleation by deformation at cryogenic temperature. In addition, CLSP generates a high density of deformation twins and stacking faults. After CLSP, an innovative microstructure, characterised by networks of deformation twins, stacking faults and composite structure (martensite and austenite phases), contributes to material strength and microstructure stability improvement. The combined effect of higher surface hardness and a more stabilised microstructure results in greater fatigue performance improvement of the CLSP samples compared to that of the RT-LSP samples.

A Reusable Unsupported Rhenium Nanocrystalline Catalyst for Acceptorless Dehydrogenation of Alcohols through γ-C–H Activation†

Rhenium nanocrystalline particles (Re NPs), of 2 nm size, were prepared from NH4ReO4 under mild conditions in neat alcohol. The unsupported Re NPs convert secondary and benzylic alcohols to ketones and aldehydes, respectively, through catalytic acceptorless dehydrogenation (AD). The oxidant- and acceptor-free neat dehydrogenation of alcohols to obtain dihydrogen gas is a green and atom-economical process for making carbonyl compounds. Secondary aliphatic alcohols give quantitative conversion and yield. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Re K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), and X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data confirmed the characterization of the Re NPs as metallic rhenium with surface oxidation to rhenium(IV) oxide (ReO2). Isotope labeling experiments revealed a novel γ-CH activation mechanism for AD of alcohols.

Colloidal Plasmonic Titanium Nitride Nanoparticles: Properties and Applications

Abstract Optical properties of colloidal plasmonic titanium nitride nanoparticles are examined with an eye on their photothermal and photocatalytic applications via transmission electron microscopy and optical transmittance measurements. Single crystal titanium nitride cubic nanoparticles with an average size of 50 nm, which was found to be the optimum size for cellular uptake with gold nanoparticles [1], exhibit plasmon resonance in the biological transparency window and demonstrate a high absorption efficiency. A self-passivating native oxide at the surface of the nanoparticles provides an additional degree of freedom for surface functionalization. The titanium oxide shell surrounding the plasmonic core can create new opportunities for photocatalytic applications.

Nucleation of Highly Dense Nanoscale Precipitates Based on Warm Laser Shock Peening

Warm laser shock peening (WLSP) is an innovative thermomechanical processing technique, which combines the advantages of laser shock peening (LSP) and dynamic aging (DA). It has been found that a unique microstructure with highly dense nanoscale precipitates surrounded by dense dislocation structures is generated by WLSP. In order to understand the nucleation mechanism of the highly dense precipitates during WLSP, aluminum alloy 6061 (AA6061) has been used by investigating the WLSP process with experiments and analytical modeling. An analytical model has been proposed to estimate the nucleation rate in metallic materials after WLSP. The effects of the processing temperature and high strain rate deformation on the activation energy of nucleation have been considered in this model. This model is based on the assumption that DA during WLSP can be assisted by the dense dislocation structures and warm temperature. The effects of the working temperature and dislocation density on the activation energy of precipitation have been investigated. This model is validated by a series of experiments and characterizations after WLSP. The relationships between the processing conditions, the nucleation density of precipitates and the defect density have been investigated.

Deformation induced martensite in NiTi and its shape memory effects generated by low temperature laser shock peening

In this study, laser shock peening (LSP) was utilized to generate localized deformation induced martensite (DIM) in NiTi shape memory alloy. The DIM was investigated by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The effects of temperature and laser intensity on DIM transformation were investigated. It has been found that higher laser intensity and lower processing temperature leads to higher volume fraction of DIM. This is attributed to the increase of the chemical driving force and the increase in the density of potential martensite variant for martensite nucleation at low temperatures. The localized shape memory effect in micrometer scale after low temperature LSP has been evaluated.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of copper subjected to cryogenic laser shock peening

In this study, an innovative materials processing technique, cryogenic laser shock peening (CLSP), is investigated. Copper is processed by laser shock peening (LSP) at the cryogenic temperature and compared with LSP at room temperature (RT-LSP). The microstructure of copper after processing is characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Nanotwins were observed in copper after CLSP due to the effect of cryogenic temperature. In addition, more energy is stored in the material as defects (dislocations) by CLSP compared to RT-LSP. Because of these unique microstructure changes, it is found that high material strength with good thermal stability is achieved after CLSP. The mechanical properties after CLSP, RT-LSP, and as-received are compared.

Surface amorphization of NiTi alloy induced by Ultrasonic Nanocrystal Surface Modification for improved mechanical properties

We report herein the effects of Ultrasonic Nano-crystal Surface Modification (UNSM), a severe surface plastic deformation process, on the microstructure, mechanical (hardness, wear), wettability and biocompatibility properties of NiTi shape memory alloy. Complete surface amorphization of NiTi was achieved by this process, which was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The wear resistance of the samples after UNSM processing was significantly improved compared with the non-processed samples due to increased surface hardness of the alloy by this process. In addition, cell culture study demonstrated that the biocompatibility of the samples after UNSM processing has not been compromised compared to the non-processed sample. The combination of high wear resistance and good biocompatibility makes UNSM an appealing process for treating alloy-based biomedical devices.

Mechanism of Fatigue Performance Enhancement in a Laser Sintered Superhard Nanoparticles Reinforced Nanocomposite Followed by Laser Shock Peening

This study investigates the fundamental mechanism of fatigue performance enhancement during a novel hybrid manufacturing process, which combines laser sintering of superhard nanoparticles integrated nanocomposites and laser shock peening (LSP). Through laser sintering, TiN nanoparticles are integrated uniformly into iron matrix to form a nanocomposite layer near the surface of AISI4140 steel. LSP is then performed on the nanocomposite layer to generate interaction between nanoparticles and shock waves. The fundamental mechanism of fatigue performance enhancement is discussed in this paper. During laser shock interaction with the nanocomposites, the existence of nanoparticles increases the dislocation density and also helps to pin the dislocation movement. As a result, both dislocation density and residual stress are stabilized, which is beneficial for fatigue performance.

Effect of Diameter Variation on Electrical Characteristics of Schottky Barrier Indium Arsenide Nanowire Field-Effect Transistors

The effect of diameter variation on electrical characteristics of long-channel InAs nanowire metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors is experimentally investigated. For a range of nanowire diameters, in which significant band gap changes are observed due to size quantization, the Schottky barrier heights between source/drain metal contacts and the semiconducting nanowire channel are extracted considering both thermionic emission and thermally assisted tunneling. Nanowires as small as 10 nm in diameter were used in device geometry in this context. Interestingly, while experimental and simulation data are consistent with a band gap increase for decreasing nanowire diameter, the experimentally determined Schottky barrier height is found to be around 110 meV irrespective of the nanowire diameter. These observations indicate that for nanowire devices the density of states at the direct conduction band minimum impacts the so-called branching point. Our findings are thus distinctly different from bulk-type results when metal contacts are formed on three-dimensional InAs crystals.

Cryogenic ultrahigh strain rate deformation induced hybrid nanotwinned microstructure for high strength and high ductility

Nanocrystalline metallic materials prepared by severe plastic deformation often possess high strength but low ductility due to the low dislocation accumulation capacity of the nanograins. Here, we report a unique process, namely, cryogenic laser shock peening (CLSP), to generate gradient nanotwinned microstructure that leads to high strength while preserving the ductility. It was observed that gradient structure was generated in copper. Near the top surface, nanocrystalline with high dense nanotwins have been observed; with the depth increasing, the fraction of the twin boundaries reduces and more heavily dislocated subgrains are observed. It has been demonstrated that CLSP can significantly improve material strength while preserving the ductility. The mechanism of the formation of gradient microstructure and high dense nanotwins near the surface was discussed. The reason behind the improvement in strength and ductility was investigated.