Chemical compatibility issues related to use of copper as an interfacial layer for SiC fiber reinforced Ti3Ai+Nb composite

The reaction of Cu, a potential interfacial compliant layer for the Ti3Al plus Nb/SiC composite, with SiC, SCS-6 fiber, and the Ti3Al plus Nb matrix was examined at two temperatures: 1223 and 1273 K. Reaction of Cu with SiC resulted in the formation of a CuSi solution and free carbon, the reaction product being molten at 1273 K. Hot pressing the SCS-6 fiber in a Cu matrix at 1273 K resulted in cracking and delamination of the outer carbon-rich coating, thus allowing the Cu to penetrate to the SiC-carbon coating interface and react with SiC. In contrast, no such damage to the outer coating was observed at 1223 K. There was excessive reaction between Cu and the Ti3Al plus Nb matrix, the reaction product being molten both at 1223 and 1273 K. An interlayer of Nb between Cu and Ti3Al plus Nb matrix prevented the reaction between the two

Critical current and stability effects between 0 and 6 tesla in mono and multifilamentary NbTi conductors having a CuNi matrix

We investigated the current carrying capacities of ten NbTi superconductors having a CuNi matrix with diameters between 50 and 300 ¿m as function of an applied magnetic field of 0 to 6 tesla. The effects of the method of wire fixation and the electrical connections were studied. The results are compared to those obtained with two common conductors with Cu matrix. We observed large differences of a factor 2 between the critical current densities of the various CuNi matrix conductors. Furthermore, it is remarkable that the best CuNi matrix conductors have critical current densities which are much higher than those in Cu matrix conductors

Tungsten fiber reinforced copper matrix composites: A review

Tungsten fiber reinforced copper matrix (W/Cu) composites have served as an ideal model system with which to analyze the properties of metal matrix composites. A series of research programs were conducted to investigate the stress-strain behavior of W/Cu composites; the effect of fiber content on the strength, modulus, and conductivity of W/Cu composites; and the effect of alloying elements on the behavior of tungsten wire and of W/Cu composites. Later programs investigated the stress-rupture, creep, and impact behavior of these composites at elevated temperatures. Analysis of the results of these programs as allows prediction of the effects of fiber properties, matrix properties, and fiber content on the properties of W/Cu composites. These analyses form the basis for the rule-of-mixtures prediction of composite properties which was universally adopted as the criteria for measuring composite efficiency. In addition, the analyses allows extrapolation of potential properties of other metal matrix composites and are used to select candidate fibers and matrices for development of tungsten fiber reinforced superalloy composite materials for high temperature aircraft and rocket engine turbine applications. The W/Cu composite efforts are summarized, some of the results obtained are described, and an update is provided on more recent work using W/Cu composites as high strength, high thermal conductivity composite materials for high heat flux, elevated temperature applications

Extra-matrix Mg\u3csup\u3e2+\u3c/sup\u3e Limits Ca\u3csup\u3e2+\u3c/sup\u3e Uptake and Modulates Ca\u3csup\u3e2+\u3c/sup\u3e Uptake-independent Respiration and Redox State in Cardiac Isolated Mitochondria

Cardiac mitochondrial matrix (m) free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]m) increases primarily by Ca2+ uptake through the Ca2+ uniporter (CU). Ca2+ uptake via the CU is attenuated by extra-matrix (e) Mg2+ ([Mg2+]e). How [Ca2+]m is dynamically modulated by interacting physiological levels of [Ca2+]e and [Mg2+]e and how this interaction alters bioenergetics are not well understood. We postulated that as [Mg2+]e modulates Ca2+ uptake via the CU, it also alters bioenergetics in a matrix Ca2+–induced and matrix Ca2+–independent manner. To test this, we measured changes in [Ca2+]e, [Ca2+]m, [Mg2+]e and [Mg2+]m spectrofluorometrically in guinea pig cardiac mitochondria in response to added CaCl2 (0–0.6 mM; 1 mM EGTA buffer) with/without added MgCl2 (0–2 mM). In parallel, we assessed effects of added CaCl2 and MgCl2 on NADH, membrane potential (ΔΨm), and respiration. We found that \u3e0.125 mM MgCl2 significantly attenuated CU-mediated Ca2+ uptake and [Ca2+]m. Incremental [Mg2+]e did not reduce initial Ca2+uptake but attenuated the subsequent slower Ca2+ uptake, so that [Ca2+]m remained unaltered over time. Adding CaCl2 without MgCl2 to attain a [Ca2+]m from 46 to 221 nM enhanced state 3 NADH oxidation and increased respiration by 15 %; up to 868 nM [Ca2+]m did not additionally enhance NADH oxidation or respiration. Adding MgCl2 did not increase [Mg2+]m but it altered bioenergetics by its direct effect to decrease Ca2+ uptake. However, at a given [Ca2+]m, state 3 respiration was incrementally attenuated, and state 4 respiration enhanced, by higher [Mg2+]e. Thus, [Mg2+]e without a change in [Mg2+]m can modulate bioenergetics independently of CU-mediated Ca2+ transport

Metal Distributions, Efficient n-Type Doping, and Evidence for in-Gap States in TiNiM_<i>y</i>Sn (M = Co, Ni, Cu) half-Heusler Nanocomposites

XNi1+ySn nanocomposites consisting of a XNiSn half-Heusler (HH) matrix with segregated XNi2Sn Full Heusler (FH) inclusions promise improvements in thermoelectric efficiencies. We extend recent research by reporting on TiNiMySn (0 ≤ y ≤ 1) nanocomposites with M = Co (3d9), Ni (3d10) and Cu (3d104s1). Neutron powder diffraction reveals that the Ni and Cu series produce a matrix of TiNiSn with nanosegregated TiNi2Sn and TiNi1+dCu1–dSn, respectively. For the Co series, the Co inserts into both phases to obtain a TiNi1–yCoySn matrix with nanosegregated TiNi2–yCoySn. Systematic changes in Seebeck coefficient (S) and electrical resistivity (ρ) are observed in all three series. For M = Ni, changes in S and ρ are attributed to in-gap states arising from the nanosegregation. The M = Co composites show a complex interplay between the hole doped TiNi1–yCoySn matrix and similar in-gap states, where the p- to n-type transition temperature increases but the maximum S remains unchanged at +30 μV K–1. The 4s1 electron for M = Cu is delocalized in the HH matrix, leading to metal-like ρ(T) and up to 100% improved thermoelectric power factors compared to TiNiSn (S2/ρ = 2 mW m–1 K–2 at 600–700 K for y = 0.025). These results broaden the range of segregated FH phases that could be used to enhance HH thermoelectric performance

Microstructure Controlled Shear Band Pattern Formation and Enhanced Plasticity of Bulk Metallic Glasses Containing in situ Formed Ductile Phase Dendrite Dispersions

Results are presented for a ductile metal reinforced bulk metallic glass matrix composite based on glass forming compositions in the Zr-Ti-Cu-Ni-Be system. Primary dendrite growth and solute partitioning in the molten state yields a microstructure consisting of a ductile crystalline Ti-Zr-Nb β phase, with bcc structure, in a Zr-Ti-Nb-Cu-Ni-Be bulk metallic glass matrix. Under unconstrained mechanical loading organized shear band patterns develop throughout the sample. This results in a dramatic increase in the plastic strain to failure, impact resistance, and toughness of the metallic glass

Hubbard-U calculations for Cu from first-principles Wannier functions

We present first-principles calculations of optimally localized Wannier functions for Cu and use these for an ab-initio determination of Hubbard (Coulomb) matrix elements. We use a standard linearized muffin-tin orbital calculation in the atomic-sphere approximation (LMTO-ASA) to calculate Bloch functions, and from these determine maximally localized Wannier functions using a method proposed by Marzari and Vanderbilt. The resulting functions were highly localized, with greater than 89% of the norm of the function within the central site for the occupied Wannier states. Two methods for calculating Coulomb matrix elements from Wannier functions are presented and applied to fcc Cu. For the unscreened on-site Hubbard $U$ for the Cu 3d-bands we have obtained about 25eV. These results are also compared with results obtained from a constrained local-density approximation (LDA) calculation.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, 5 table

Simulating the galvanic coupling between S-Al2CuMg phase particles and the matrix of 2024 aerospace aluminium alloy

Study of the corrosion behaviour of a magnetron sputtered Al–Cu/Al–Cu–Mg model alloy couple in sulphate solutions has been undertaken to gain insight into the galvanic coupling between the matrix and SAl2CuMg particles in the 2024 aluminium alloy (AA2024). Polarisation curves and local electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements (LEIS) were performed on the individual alloys and on the model alloy couple. SEM enabled correlation of electrochemical phenomena to the observed damage. The corrosion behaviour of the sputtered alloys was shown to be representative of the AA2024, with the Al–Cu–Mg alloy part undergoing localised corrosion and the Al–Cu alloy part remaining passive

Competitive segregation of gallium and indium at heterophase Cu–MnO interfaces studied with transmission electron microscopy

This paper concentrates on the possible segregation of indium and gallium and competitive segregation of gallium and indium at atomically flat parallel {111}-oriented Cu–MnO interfaces. The segregation of gallium at Cu–MnO interfaces after introduction of gallium in the copper matrix of internally oxidized Cu–1 at.%Mn could be hardly detected with energy-dispersive spectrometry in a field emission gun transmission electron microscope. After a heat treatment to dissolve indium in the copper matrix, gallium has a weak tendency to segregate, that is 2.5 at.% Ga per monolayer at the interface compared with 2 at.% in the copper matrix. The striking result is that this gallium segregation is observable because it does not occur at the metal side of the interface but in the first two monolayers at the oxide side. Using the same heat treatment as for introducing indium in the sample, but without indium present, gallium segregates strongly at the oxide side of the Cu–MnO interface with a concentration of about 14.3 at.% in each monolayer of the two. In contrast, the presence of gallium has no influence on the segregation of indium towards Cu–MnO interfaces, because the outermost monolayer at the metal side of the interface contains 17.6 at.% In, that is similar to previously found results. This leads to the intriguing conclusions, firstly, that, in contrast with antimony and indium, gallium segregates at the oxide side of the interface and, secondly, that the presence of indium strongly hampers gallium segregation. The results from analytical transmission electron microscopy on gallium segregation are supported by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy observations.