The study of formation and reversion of the strain induced alpha-prime martensite in duplex and super duplex stainless steels

No presente trabalho foram estudados os fenômenos de encruamento e, principalmente, a formação e reversão da martensita alfa-linha (a\', cúbica de corpo centrado, CCC, ferromagnética) induzida por deformação em um aço inoxidável dúplex UNS S31803 e um super dúplex UNS S32520. Inicialmente, as microestruturas dos dois materiais na condição solubilizada foram caracterizadas com auxílio de várias técnicas complementares de análise microestrutural. Foram determinadas fração volumétrica, estrutura cristalina, composição química, tamanho e morfologia das duas fases (ferrita e austenita). Posteriormente, os dois aços foram deformados por dois métodos: a laminação a frio, dividida em vários estágios, com menores graus de deformação e a limagem, sendo que o cavaco limado resultante apresenta altos graus de deformação. Algumas amostras deformadas foram recozidas. Os fenômenos de encruamento, formação e reversão de martensita induzida por deformação na austenita, recuperação, recristalização da austenita e da ferrita no cavaco limado foram estudados predominantemente por difratometria de raios X e usando o método de Rietveld. A difratometria de raios X também foi utilizada para determinação das microdeformações residuais e tamanhos de cristalito (subgrão), calculadas a partir do alargamento dos picos de difração causado pelas deformações. Desta forma, puderam-se comparar os níveis de deformação da laminação e limagem. Qualitativamente, a formação e reversão da martensita induzida por deformação também foi estudada por meio de medidas magnéticas utilizando-se dados de saturação magnética das curvas de histerese obtidas com o auxílio de um magnetômetro de amostra vibrante. Observou-se que para o aço inoxidável dúplex, tanto a laminação quanto a limagem causaram a formação de martensita induzida por deformação e para o aço inoxidável super dúplex, apenas a limagem promoveu essa transformação. Em comparação com o aço dúplex, o aço super dúplex apresentou maior resistência à formação de martensita induzida por deformação, pois apresenta uma austenita mais rica em nitrogênio e uma maior propensão à formação de fase sigma durante o recozimento, pois apresenta uma ferrita mais rica em cromo e nitrogênio.In the present work the phenomena of strain hardening, formation and reversion of the strain induced alpha-prime martensite (a\', body centered cubic, BCC, Ferromagnetic) in an UNS S31803 duplex and UNS S32520 super duplex stainless steels have been studied. Firstly, the microstructures of both materials in the solution annealed condition were characterized with the aid of several microstructural analysis complementary techniques. The volume fraction, crystalline structure, chemical composition, size and morphology of the two phases (ferrite and austenite) have been determined. Further, both steels were deformed by two methods: cold rolling, divided into several stages, with lower strain levels than filing, which the chips resulting had higher strain levels. The phenomena of strain hardening, formation and reversion of strain induced martensite in the austenite phase, recovery and recrystallization of austenite and ferrite phases have been studied, mainly using X-ray diffraction and the Rietveld method. X-ray diffraction was also used to determine the residual microstrain and crystallite size (sub grain), calculated from the diffraction peak broadening caused by straining. Thus, the levels of cold rolling and filing strains could be compared. Qualitatively, the formation and reversion of strain induced martensite was also studied by magnetic measurements using data from magnetic saturation of hysteresis curves obtained with the aid of a vibrating sample magnetometer. It has been observed that for the duplex stainless steel, both filing as well as cold rolling promoted strain induced martensite. On the other hand, for the super duplex stainless steel, just filing promoted this transformation. In the comparing with duplex, the super duplex stainless steel austenite is more stable that is why is richer in nitrogen, so, the strain induced martensite formation is more difficult. The easier sigma phase precipitation during annealing as well in the super duplex stainless steel is due higher levels of chrome and molybdenum than the duplex stainless steel

Obtaining Ultrafine Dispersions of Silver Particles in Poly(vinyl Alcohol) Matrix Using Mechanical Alloying

Mechanical alloying was performed to obtain a composite material with a homogeneous dispersion of silver particles in a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix. Silver is a bactericidal material, and PVA is a widely used biocompatible polymer. Therefore, this mix can lead to a potentially functional biomaterial. This study focuses on the combination of both materials, processed by mechanical alloying, which has a promising application potential. The silver (Ag) used was ultrafine, measuring between 200 and 400 nanometers, produced from silver nitrate (AgNO3) redox. The Attritor high–energy, water–cooled ball mill was used to mill PVA for 4 h, at 600 rpm speed rotation and 38:1 power milling. Mechanical alloying was demonstrated to cause particle refinement in PVA with a timespan of 1 h. A slight additional particle decrease occurred for long–time milling. A milling time of 4 h was used to disperse the silver particles in the polymer matrix homogeneously. Hot pressing films were produced from the obtained dispersion powders. The microstructural features were studied using several material characterization techniques. Antimicrobial Susceptibility Tests (AST), conducted in an in–vitro assay, showed a hydrophilic character of the films and a protection against bacterial growth, making the process a promising path for the production of surface protective polymeric films