Effects of different scanning patterns on nickel alloy-directed energy deposition based on thermal analysis

A novel and comprehensive evaluation index considering various processing parameters in additive manufacturing with four different scanning patterns was proposed. The relationship between the evaluation index and the performance of parts made by directed energy deposition was established and verified by experiments. The differences of thermal evolution between four scanning patterns were analysed. Comprehensive evaluation indices corresponding to different scanning patterns were calculated by integrating the contributions of various parameters, such as delamination, warping, porosity, heat accumulation, cooling rate, dendrite spacing, and deposition efficiency. The comprehensive evaluation indices off our scanning patterns were ranked in the following order (from lowest to highest): single-track zigzag, single-track, bi-direction, and spiral inward patterns. The performance of the single-track zigzag pattern was the best, and that of the spiral inward pattern was the worst. The single-track and bi-direction patterns showed intermediate performances under the same conditions. The closer the index is to zero, the better the performance. This index can be used for the quantitative evaluation of process quality and prediction of performance. It provides guidance for additive manufacturing process development and optimisation, reduces workload, and provides a new idea for quantitative performance evaluation and prediction of parts fabricated by additive manufacturing

Investigation of corrosion behavior, tensile and cyclic fracture mechanism of EH36 steel welded joints

This work systematically revealed the static-dynamic corrosion failure behavior of EH36 joints under air, simulated seawater and cathodic protection in seawater. The result indicated that the seawater environment affected tensile performance slightly but acted a critical role in the fatigue behavior. Specifically, the corrosion pit and cyclic stress would respectively induce high-stress concentration and corrosion current density, significantly decreasing the fatigue strength of joints. The application of cathodic protection on joints in seawater would decrease the tensile behavior, but would continuously provide electrons for the surface and crack tip to prevent corrosion damage, improving fatigue performance of EH36 joints

Additive manufacturing of high-performance 15-5PH stainless steel matrix composites

The consolidation of ceramic particles into the metallic matrix is promising to translate their exceptional properties from the micro-scale to the macro world. Herein, four different 15-5PH stainless steel (SS) matrix composites: 15-5PH/TiB2, 15-5PH/TiN, 15-5PH/TiC and 15-5PH/WC were fabricated by directed energy deposition (DED). The introduction of TiB2 particles substantially refines the martensite grain size, however, fails to achieve the performance improvement due to the elemental segregation of Cr and formation of considerable macro- and micro-cracks. The TiN composite realises a simultaneous enhancement of strength and ductility due to grain refinement, however, fails to enhance the corrosion resistance due to the Cr element segregation. The WC and TiC composites achieve the balance between the improved strength and ductility coupled with simultaneous enhancement of corrosion resistance. This work demonstrates the substantial potential in developing martensitic SS matrix composites with excellent strength-ductility synergy and corrosion resistance

Grain refinement of laser-arc hybrid welded 2219 aluminum alloy by introducing TiB2 particles employing laser pre-cladding

Laser-arc hybrid welding of 2219 aluminum alloy was carried out employing TiB2 particles. By pre-cladding a wide layer, the particles were easy to arrive weld edge, promoting the columnar grains neighboring the fusion line transferred to equiaxed, and the average grain size was reduced by about 50%

Fusion boundary evolution, precipitation behaviour, and interaction with dislocations in an Fe–22Cr–15Ni steel weldment during long-term creep

A tungsten inert gas welded joint between a novel heat-resistant austenitic steel and ERNiCrCoMo-1 weld metal was investigated before and after creep in this study. The evolution of the microstructures in the base and weld metals was discussed based on the electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. The preferred orientations of the fusion boundary after creep revealed the influence of the applied stress on creep deformation mechanism. A cooperative nucleation process of M23C6 carbides in the base metal was proposed. The finely distributed Cu-rich phase was cut off by the dislocations during creep, leading to increased mean size and reduced amount of the nano-Cu phase. A modified triple-precipitate hardening model was constructed based on TEM observations of the interactions between the particles and the dislocations in the base metal after creep at 200 MPa. The evolution of a μ phase in the weld metal involved epitaxial growth and dissolving into the matrix. Keywords: Heat-resistant steel weldment, Creep, EBSD, Nucleation mechanism, Nano Cu-rich phas

ACE2-independent SARS-CoV-2 virus entry through cell surface GRP78 on monocytes – evidence from a translational clinical and experimental approachResearch in context

Summary: Background: SARS-CoV-2 infects host cells via an ACE2/TMPRSS2 entry mechanism. Monocytes and macrophages, which play a key role during severe COVID-19 express only low or no ACE2, suggesting alternative entry mechanisms in these cells. In silico analyses predicted GRP78, which is constitutively expressed on monocytes and macrophages, to be a potential candidate receptor for SARS-CoV-2 virus entry. Methods: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients were characterized regarding their pro-inflammatory state and cell surface GRP78 (csGRP78) expression in comparison to healthy controls. RNA from CD14+ monocytes of patients and controls were subjected to transcriptome analysis that was specifically complemented by bioinformatic re-analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) datasets of COVID-19 patients with a focus on monocyte/macrophage subsets, SARS-CoV-2 infection state as well as GRP78 gene expression. Monocyte and macrophage immunohistocytochemistry on GRP78 was conducted in post-mortem lung tissues. SARS-CoV-2 spike and GRP78 protein interaction was analyzed by surface plasmon resonance, GST Pull-down and Co-Immunoprecipitation. SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus or single spike protein uptake was quantified in csGRP78high THP-1 cells. Findings: Cytokine patterns, monocyte activation markers and transcriptomic changes indicated typical COVID-19 associated inflammation accompanied by upregulated csGRP78 expression on peripheral blood and lung monocytes/macrophages. Subsequent cell culture experiments confirmed an association between elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and upregulation of csGRP78. Interaction of csGRP78 and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with a dissociation constant of KD = 55.2 nM was validated in vitro. Infection rate analyses in ACE2low and GRP78high THP-1 cells showed increased uptake of pseudovirus expressing SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Interpretation: Our results demonstrate that csGRP78 acts as a receptor for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to mediate ACE2-independent virus entry into monocytes. Funding: Funded by the Sino-German-Center for Science Promotion (C-0040) and the Germany Ministry BMWi/K [DLR-grant 50WB1931 and RP1920 to AC, DM, TW]

Creep-induced heterogeneous precipitation of Laves phase with two morphologies in tempered martensite ferritic steels

We report two typical morphologies (elongated- and blocky-shaped) of the Laves phase in tempered martensite ferritic steels during creep process, originating from the two independent formation paths, i.e. along grain boundaries (GBs) and neighboring M23C6. This is attributed to the multi-element segregation (Cr, Mn, Si and W) at GBs and adjacent M23C6 that serves as suppliers of Laves phase formers. Furthermore, the subsequent different growth mechanisms play crucial roles in the two typical morphologies. Our findings improve the understanding of Laves phase heterogeneous precipitation and provide new insights for the innovation of novel heat-resistant steels with superior creep strength