Characteristics of a production route for filamentary Nb3Sn superconductors based on a reaction between niobium and Nb6Sn5

Monofilamentary Nb3Sn superconductors have been made by application of a reaction between Nb6Sn5 powder and niobium. The layer thickness of Nb3Sn shows a parabolic time dependence, implying diffusion-controlled layer growth. The activation energy for diffusion is 268 kJ mol−1. The critical temperature Tc is about 17.5 K and the overall critical current density Jc is about 5 × 108 A m−2at 8 T, both after annealing at 675 °C. These values are comparable with those obtained for so-called ECN-type superconductors, which are based on a reaction between NbSn2 powder and niobium. An advantage of the use of Nb6Sn5 powder in comparison with NbSn2 is the kinetics of growth of Nb3Sn, which allows a lowering of the reaction temperature to 600–625 °C for filament diameters of about 30 μm

Fatigue fracture surface analysis in C45 steel specimens using X-Ray fractography

X-Ray fractography is a useful technique to analyse the mechanisms operating in fracture and involves an examination of the fracture surface. In the present investigation, this technique has been employed to study the fatigue fracture behaviour of a medium carbon steel of C45 grade in different heat treated conditions. The different trends observed in the residual stress (σr) and diffraction profile full width at half maximum intensity (B) relationships with the maximum stress intensity factor (Kmax) on the fracture surface have been correlated to the differences in flow characteristics of these materials. The root mean square value of microstrain , and the coherent domain (particle) size, D, were determined through single line diffraction profile (Voigt's) analysis. It has been observed that contribution of microstrain to profile broadening is more significant than that due to domain size. However, at higher Kmax values an influence of D was found on line broadening, to a small extent. Results of sub-surface stress measurements were compared in two conditions. A good correlation was noticed between the depths below the fracture surface, designated as ymax, at which the measured σr, reaches the base material value and the corresponding monotonic plastic zone size (rp) obtained by calculation. The observed depths below the fracture surface (ypeak) at which an increase in σr or a decrease in B was noticed, appear to be related to the conditions of the near-tip regions where the material has undergone severe fatigue damage and cyclic softening

Crystal structure changes in Ni3Al and its anomalous temperature dependence of strength

The existence of a structural transformation in Ni3Al alloys established earlier through X-ray diffraction, dilatometry and TEM investigations are summarised. The results obtained are discussed through a model proposed. The L12 structure appears to transform to another L12 or to a DO22 structure during heating. Such a transformation starts at around 700°C and seems to complete around 1100°C. In the temperature range 700-1100°C both phases coexist. This causes a tetragonal distortion of the L12 lattice giving rise to a tweed morphology in TEM observations. The flow stress studies indicate that the anomalous strengthening behaviour is not only due to the dislocation kind of mechanism as proposed in the literature but also due to the structural changes noticed in this work

Thermal evidence for the structural instability in Ni3 Al alloys

The thermal expansion coefficient (¿) and calorimetric data were obtained as a function of temperature in order to clarify some of the significant variations reported with regard to these values in the literature. Stoichiometric and off-stoichiometric compositions of Ni3Al alloys (with and without boron addition) were investigated. Dilatometric experiments were performed on all the alloys and the ¿ values were estimated over the temperature range from ambient to 1000°C. Two runs were made on each sample under different initial conditions and differences in ¿ values were noticed. The results were analysed based on our earlier X-ray diffraction results. Additional isothermal dilatometric tests were also carried out and a significant volume change was noticed (0.45% contraction) when the alloy quenched from 1000°C was heated to 600°C and held for a long duration. The calorimetric data were obtaindd over the same range of temperature and enthalpy changes, though less distinct, were noticed at around 360, 660 and 900°C. The variations seen further augment our earlier results on the instability of the L12 structure and the existence of a structural transformatio

Laser-induced prenucleation of alumina for electroless plating

This paper deals with the deposition of palladium from decomposition of a thin palladium acetate layer on rough and porous alumina ceramic surfaces by irradiating it with a UV excimer laser. The palladium acetate layer was formed from a combination of propyl glycol methyl ether acetate solvent and photoresist, and the undecomposed material was removed with the photoresist remover. The discontinuous palladium cluster film formed by the technique was used as seed for electroless coatings. Different patterns were obtained using point focus as well as projection pattering method and subsequently plated with adhesive layers of electroless Ni-B coating

Selective metallization of alumina by laser

Nickel has been selectively deposited on an alumina substrate without any pretreatment from a flow of a nickel acetate solution using the focused beam of an excimer laser. Nickel spots as well as nickel lines were drawn and subsequently plated with an electroless Ni-B coating. Excellent adhesion of the metallized layers was achieved, since with laser irradiation, both etching and deposition took place simultaneously

Recrystallization at grain boundaries in deformed copper bicrystals

The role of specific grain boundaries in the nucleation of recrystallization textures is demonstrated by experiments on copper bicrystals. It is deduced that the major part of the recrystallized grains that have nucleated at the grain boundary can be traced back to having nucleated in {100} <001>, {210}<001> or {210}<120> orientations. These orientations do not exist in the bicrystals after deformation but can easily be accounted for by the <112>-slip nucleation mechanism proposed by Verbraak. X-ray strain measurements support this conclusion. Finally, on the basis of the observation of near-CSL misorientation relationships between deformed matrix and recrystallized grains, a suggestion is made for a more general nucleation mechanism

Some studies on the influence of stress ratio and test temperature on X-ray fractography observations in C45 steel specimens

This paper deals with additional ¿X-ray fractography¿ observations made on C45 steel, subsequent to the earlier work [K. Rajanna, B. Pathiraj and B. H. Kolster, Fatigue fracture surface analysis in C45 steel specimens using X-ray fractography. Engng Fracture Mech. 39, 147¿157 (1991)]. Fatigue crack: growth tests were carried out at 20°C on CT samples prepared from this steel using different stress ratios (0.1R, 0.5R and 0.7R). Tests were also carried out at different temperatures (¿20°C, 20°C and 115°C) using a stress ratio of 0.1. The fractured surfaces were analysed for their residual stress state. The influence of the test conditions on the residual stresses developed is discussed

The influence of additives on the current carrying capacity of bulk YBa2Cu3OX

We studied the influence of using different powders and several additives on the shaping process and critical current density of sintered bulk YBa2Cu3OX. It was found that all additives used facilitated the shaping process. Silver and most organic additives influenced the critical current density only little, Zinc reduced it to zero, but an ethylenebisstearoylamide compound doubled the critical current density as compared to samples without additives