On the atomic masses (weights?) Of the elements

Atomic masses (weights?) is an essential information for mining and metallurgy. The paper discusses four subjects around this problem. First, the classification of all the elements is suggested into 4 classes, based on their isotope features, determining the accuracy of their known atomic masses. As part of that, the class of elements is discussed with uncertain atomic weights in accordance with the 2009 IUPAC recommendations. A better (easier to use) format of atomic weights is presented for this class of elements. Third, it is found not informative to leave empty spaces instead of approximate atomic weights for elements with unstable isotopes. Fourth, the term atomic weight vs the term atomic mass is discussed shortly, in agreement with the SI system of units and in contrary to the questionable IUPAC convection

The management of surface quality of metal with nano and submicrocrystalline structure during machining

The behaviour features of the nano- and submicrocrystalline metals affected by the temperature factor incipient during cutting are considered. The metals are processed by methods of severe plastic deformation. The operations consistency in order to get the rational machining conditions is presented. The rational machining conditions will ensure the conservation of the initial metal structure and high workpiece surface quality after cutting. The rational machining conditions for the same metals with nano- and submicrocrystalline are suggested.Розглянуті особливості поведінки нано- та субмікрокристалічних металів, отриманих методом інтенсивної пластичної деформації, під впливом температурного чинника, виникаючого у процесі механічної обробки заготовок. Представлена послідовність дій для отримання раціональних умов обробки, які забезпечать збереження вихідної структури металу та високу якість поверхневого шару після механічної обробки. Запропоновані раціональні умови обробки для деяких металів з нано та субмікрокристаллічною структурою

Surface grain coarsening and surface softening during machining of ultra-fine grained titanium

Experiments are run to show that different machining conditions applied to ultra-fine grained pure titanium lead to different levels of grain coarsening and softening near the machined surface. Under “hard” machining conditions the upper 40 microns of the machined surface are altered with a decreased microhardness. The experimental results are reasonably reproduced by model calculations. Expanding the parameter field of the model calculations, the surface coarsening diagram and the surface softening diagram due to machining are presented, showing the region of technological parameters, under which neither grain coarsening nor softening takes place along the machined surface

EFFECT OF WETTING AGENT AND CARBIDE VOLUME FRACTION ON THE WEAR RESPONSE OF ALUMINUM MATRIX COMPOSITES REINFORCED BY WC NANOPARTICLES AND ALUMINIDE PARTICLES

Aluminum matrix composites were prepared by adding submicron sized WC particles into a melt of Al 1050 under mechanical stirring, with the scope to determine: (a) the most appropriate salt flux amongst KBF4 , K2 TiF6 , K3 AlF6 and Na3 AlF6 for optimum particle wetting and distribution and (b) the maximum carbide volume fraction (CVF) for optimum response to sliding wear. The nature of the wetting agent notably affected particle incorporation, with K2 TiF6 providing the greatest particle insertion. A uniform aluminide (in-situ) and WC (ex-situ) particle distribution was attained. Two different sliding wear mechanisms were identified for low CVFs (≤1.5%), and high CVFs (2.0%), depending on the extent of particle agglomeration

Interfacial Design for Joining Technologies: An Historical Perspective

This paper gives an historic perspective of the concept of "Interfacial Design” in joined (e.g. soldered, brazed, diffusion bonded) assemblies. During the course of history, the awareness grew that the interface in a material joint can be perceived at different length scales. With the continuing development of joining materials and technologies, it became evident that the performance of assemblies is critically dependent on the structure and composition of the multiple internal interfaces in the material joints. Resulting trends in the microstructural design of soldering, brazing, and other bonding materials by smart engineering of internal interfaces, as driven by increasingly complex technological requirements, are briefly addressed

Gallium transformation under femtosecond laser excitation: Phase coexistence and incomplete melting

The reversible phase transition induced by femtosecond laser excitation of Gallium has been studied by measuring the dielectric function at 775 nm with ~ 200 fs temporal resolution. The real and imaginary parts of the transient dielectric function were calculated from absolute reflectivity of Gallium layer measured at two different angles of incidence, using Fresnel formulas. The time-dependent electron-phonon effective collision frequency, the heat conduction coefficient and the volume fraction of a new phase were restored directly from the experimental data, and the time and space dependent electron and lattice temperatures in the layer undergoing phase transition were reconstructed without ad hoc assumptions. We converted the temporal dependence of the electron-phonon collision rate into the temperature dependence, and demonstrated, for the first time, that the electron-phonon collision rate has a non-linear character. This temperature dependence converges into the known equilibrium function during the cooling stage. The maximum fraction of a new phase in the laser-excited Gallium layer reached only 60% even when the deposited energy was two times the equilibrium enthalpy of melting. We have also demonstrated that the phase transition pace and a fraction of the transformed material depended strongly on the thickness of the laser-excited Gallium layer, which was of the order of several tens of nanometers for the whole range of the pump laser fluencies up to the damage threshold. The kinetics of the phase transformation after the laser excitation can be understood on the basis of the classical theory of the first-order phase transition while the duration of non-thermal stage appears to be comparable to the sub-picosecond pulse length.Comment: 28 pages, including 9 figs. Submitted to Phys. Rev. B 14 March 200

Microstructure And Mechanical Properties Of Al-WC Composites

The scope of the research work is the production and characterization of Al matrix composites reinforced with WC ceramic nanoparticles. The synthesis process was powder metallurgy. The produced composites were examined as far as their microstructure and mechanical properties (resistance to wear, micro/macrohardness). Intermetallic phases (Al12W and Al2Cu) were identified in the microstrucutre. Al4C3 was not detected in the composites. Adding more than 5 wt% WC to the aluminum, microhardness and wear resistance exceed the values of Al alloy. Composites having weak interface bond performed the highest wear rate

Orbital free ab initio study of static and dynamic properties of some liquid transition metals

Several static and dynamic properties of liquid transition metals Cr, Mn and Co are studied for the first time using the orbital free ab-initio molecular dynamics simulation (OF-AIMD). This method is based on the density functional theory (DFT) which accounts for the electronic energy of the system whereas the interionic forces are derived from the electronic energy via the Hellman-Feynman theorem. The external energy functional is treated with a local pseudopotential. Results are reported for static structure factors, isothermal compressibility, diffusion coeffcients, sound velocity and viscosity and comparison is performed with the available experimental data and other theoretical calculations

Engineered nanomaterials: toward effective safety management in research laboratories

It is still unknown which types of nanomaterials and associated doses represent an actual danger to humans and environment. Meanwhile, there is consensus on applying the precautionary principle to these novel materials until more information is available. To deal with the rapid evolution of research, including the fast turnover of collaborators, a user-friendly and easy-to-apply risk assessment tool offering adequate preventive and protective measures has to be provided.Results: Based on new information concerning the hazards of engineered nanomaterials, we improved a previously developed risk assessment tool by following a simple scheme to gain in efficiency. In the first step, using a logical decision tree, one of the three hazard levels, from H1 to H3, is assigned to the nanomaterial. Using a combination of decision trees and matrices, the second step links the hazard with the emission and exposure potential to assign one of the three nanorisk levels (Nano 3 highest risk; Nano 1 lowest risk) to the activity. These operations are repeated at each process step, leading to the laboratory classification. The third step provides detailed preventive and protective measures for the determined level of nanorisk.Conclusions: We developed an adapted simple and intuitive method for nanomaterial risk management in research laboratories. It allows classifying the nanoactivities into three levels, additionally proposing concrete preventive and protective measures and associated actions. This method is a valuable tool for all the participants in nanomaterial safety. The users experience an essential learning opportunity and increase their safety awareness. Laboratory managers have a reliable tool to obtain an overview of the operations involving nanomaterials in their laboratories; this is essential, as they are responsible for the employee safety, but are sometimes unaware of the works performed. Bringing this risk to a three-band scale (like other types of risks such as biological, radiation, chemical, etc.) facilitates the management for occupational health and safety specialists. Institutes and school managers can obtain the necessary information to implement an adequate safety management system. Having an easy-to-use tool enables a dialog between all these partners, whose semantic and priorities in terms of safety are often different