The effect of laser welding process parameters on the mechanical and microstructural properties of V-4Cr-4Ti structural materials.

This paper reports on a systematic study which was conducted to examine the use of a pulsed Nd:YAG laser to weld sheet materials of V-Cr-Ti alloys and to characterize the microstructural and mechanical properties of the resulting joints. Deep penetration and defect-free welds were achieved under an optimal combination of laser parameters including focal length of lens, pulse energy, pulse repetition rate, beam travel speed, and shielding gas arrangement. The key for defect-free welds was found to be the stabilization of the keyhole and providing an escape path for the gas trapped in the weld. An innovative method was developed to obtain deep penetration and oxygen contamination free welds. Oxygen and nitrogen uptake were reduced to levels only a few ppm higher than the base metal by design and development of an environmental control box. Effort directed at developing an acceptable postwelding heat treatment showed that five passes of a diffuse laser beam over the welded region softened the weld material, especially in the root region of the weld

Selection of non-adsorbing alkali components

This project consists of three phases of laboratory experimental study. In phase I (screening), eight candidate materials, 304SS (serves as a base material for comparison), Hastelloy C-276, Hastelloy X, Haynes No. 188, Allonized 304SS, Pt-coated 304SS, and ceramic-coated 304SS, will be subjected to atmospheric TGA study under the simulated PFBC (oxidizing) environment with and without alkali vapor doping. Each candidate material will be evaluated for its resistance toward alkali-vapor capture. In addition, a post-test metallographic characterization of the sample will be performed to obtain a better understanding of the alkali capture mechanism and material behavior. The material(s) with little or no alkali-vapor adsorption will be selected as the promising material(s) for the Phase II study. In Phase II, the promising material(s) will be further tested in the TGA under elevated pressure to simulate the PFBC environment (in terms of temperature, pressure, and gas composition). The effect of pressure on the extent of alkali-vapor adsorption will be evaluated, and the test samples will be metallographically characterized. The most promising candidate material(s) will be identified and recommended for further tesfing in the actual PFBC environment. In Phase III, four materials will be selected from the eight candidate materials screened in the PFBC environment and will be evaluated for their alkali-vapor capture by atmospheric TGA under the coal gasification fuel gas (reducing) environment. The tested samples will also be metallographically characterized. The most promising material(s) will be identified and recommended for further testing in the actual coal gasification environment

Microstructural and mechanical characterization of alumina scales thermally developed on iron aluminide alloys

Several alumina-forming Fe-Al intermetallic alloys have been oxidized in oxygen for 100 h at 1000 C to understand the scaling kinetics, scale morphology, scale adhesion, and strain accommodation in the scales. Oxidation studies were conducted by thermogravimetry, followed by analyses of the surfaces of oxide scales. In addition, samples were cooled to 77 K and then fractured; then, their scale/metal interfaces were analyzed. Some of the scales were adhesion-tested by applying a tensile load to pull the scale away from the substrate. Finally, ruby fluorescence was used to measure in-plane strains in the oxide scales and values correlated with scale microstructures

The effect of laser welding process parameters on the mechanical and microstructural properties of V-4CR-4TI structural materials.

V-Cr-Ti alloys are among the leading candidate materials for the frost wall and other structural materials applications in fusion power reactors because of several important advantages including inherently low irradiation-induced activity, good mechanical properties, good compatibility with lithium, high thermal conductivity and good resistance to irradiation-induced swelling and damage [1]. However, weldability of these alloys in general must be demonstrated, and laser welding, specifically, must be developed. Laser welding is considered to be an attractive process for construction of a reactor due to its high penetrating power and potential flexibility. This paper reports on a systematic study which was conducted to examine the use of a pulsed Nd:YAG laser to weld sheet materials of V-Cr-Ti alloys and to characterize the microstructural and mechanical properties of the resulting joints. Deep penetration and defect-free welds were achieved under an optimal combination of laser parameters including focal length of lens, pulse energy, pulse repetition rate, beam travel speed, and shielding gas arrangement. The key for defect-free welds was found to be the stabilization of the keyhole and providing an escape path for the gas trapped in the weld. An innovative method was developed to obtain deep penetration and oxygen contamination free welds. Oxygen and nitrogen uptake were reduced to levels only a few ppm higher than the base metal by design and development of an environmental control box. The effort directed at developing an acceptable postwelding heat treatment showed that five passes of a diffuse laser beam over the welded region softened the weld material, especially in the root region of the weld

Performance of MHD Insulating Materials in a Potassium Environment

The objectives of this study are to evaluate the compatibility of the MHD insulating materials boron nitride and silicon nitride in a potassium environment at temperatures of 1000 and 1400{degrees}F (538 and 760{degrees}C, respectively) and to measure the electrical conductivities of the specimens before and after exposure to potassium. Based on the test results, an assessment is to be made of the suitability of these materials for application as insulator materials in an MHD channel

Comparative effects of 18 antipsychotics on metabolic function in patients with schizophrenia, predictors of metabolic dysregulation, and association with psychopathology: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Antipsychotic treatment is associated with metabolic disturbance. However, the degree to which metabolic alterations occur in treatment with different antipsychotics is unclear. Predictors of metabolic dysregulation are poorly understood and the association between metabolic change and change in psychopathology is uncertain. We aimed to compare and rank antipsychotics on the basis of their metabolic side-effects, identify physiological and demographic predictors of antipsychotic-induced metabolic dysregulation, and investigate the relationship between change in psychotic symptoms and change in metabolic parameters with antipsychotic treatment. METHODS We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO from inception until June 30, 2019. We included blinded, randomised controlled trials comparing 18 antipsychotics and placebo in acute treatment of schizophrenia. We did frequentist random-effects network meta-analyses to investigate treatment-induced changes in body weight, BMI, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose concentrations. We did meta-regressions to examine relationships between metabolic change and age, sex, ethnicity, baseline weight, and baseline metabolic parameter level. We examined the association between metabolic change and psychopathology change by estimating the correlation between symptom severity change and metabolic parameter change. FINDINGS Of 6532 citations, we included 100 randomised controlled trials, including 25 952 patients. Median treatment duration was 6 weeks (IQR 6-8). Mean differences for weight gain compared with placebo ranged from -0·23 kg (95% CI -0·83 to 0·36) for haloperidol to 3·01 kg (1·78 to 4·24) for clozapine; for BMI from -0·25 kg/m2 (-0·68 to 0·17) for haloperidol to 1·07 kg/m2 (0·90 to 1·25) for olanzapine; for total-cholesterol from -0·09 mmol/L (-0·24 to 0·07) for cariprazine to 0·56 mmol/L (0·26-0·86) for clozapine; for LDL cholesterol from -0·13 mmol/L (-0.21 to -0·05) for cariprazine to 0·20 mmol/L (0·14 to 0·26) for olanzapine; for HDL cholesterol from 0·05 mmol/L (0·00 to 0·10) for brexpiprazole to -0·10 mmol/L (-0·33 to 0·14) for amisulpride; for triglycerides from -0·01 mmol/L (-0·10 to 0·08) for brexpiprazole to 0·98 mmol/L (0·48 to 1·49) for clozapine; for glucose from -0·29 mmol/L (-0·55 to -0·03) for lurasidone to 1·05 mmol/L (0·41 to 1·70) for clozapine. Greater increases in glucose were predicted by higher baseline weight (p=0·0015) and male sex (p=0·0082). Non-white ethnicity was associated with greater increases in total cholesterol (p=0·040) compared with white ethnicity. Improvements in symptom severity were associated with increases in weight (r=0·36, p=0·0021), BMI (r=0·84, p<0·0001), total-cholesterol (r=0·31, p=0·047), and LDL cholesterol (r=0·42, p=0·013), and decreases in HDL cholesterol (r=-0·35, p=0·035). INTERPRETATION Marked differences exist between antipsychotics in terms of metabolic side-effects, with olanzapine and clozapine exhibiting the worst profiles and aripiprazole, brexpiprazole, cariprazine, lurasidone, and ziprasidone the most benign profiles. Increased baseline weight, male sex, and non-white ethnicity are predictors of susceptibility to antipsychotic-induced metabolic change, and improvements in psychopathology are associated with metabolic disturbance. Treatment guidelines should be updated to reflect our findings. However, the choice of antipsychotic should be made on an individual basis, considering the clinical circumstances and preferences of patients, carers, and clinicians. FUNDING UK Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust, National Institute for Health Research Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre