Welding characteristics and microstructure of an industrially processed Fe-Mn-Al-Ni shape memory alloy joined by tungsten inert gas welding

Iron-based shape memory alloys have recently attracted increased attention due to their low material costs combined with good workability and high transformation strains. They show excellent welding properties, as shown by several studies and compared to non-iron-based shape memory alloys, and are potential candidate materials for large-scale application as damping elements in building structures. Since subsequent heat treatment is only possible to a limited extent for large-scale components, it is necessary to minimize the effects of processing and welding operations on the shape memory properties. Therefore, a suitable microstructure must be established in the heat-affected zone and the fusion zone during the welding process. Thus, industrially processed polycrystalline Fe-Mn-Al-Ni was joined by tungsten inert gas welding with matching filler material. The phases formed upon welding with different parameters were investigated using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Shielding gas composition as well as mean arc linear energy have a huge impact on the γ-phase precipitation. Intercrystalline cracking can be supressed by increasing the γ content. Further, the α-fraction and grain size in the fusion zone can be controlled by the welding parameters. Ultimately, a hardness value of the fusion zone equal to heat-treated material was achieved which suggests that the fusion zone may be able to transfer the stress required for martensitic transformation

Failure stress of epitaxial silicon thin films

Ultra-thin silicon wafer have to withstand forces and stresses during handling procedures without breakage. Here we investigate the failure stresses of ?30 ?m thick monocrystalline silicon films produced with the porous silicon process by use of a three line bending setup. We use a finite element simulation in order to evaluate the experiments and conclude that the porous silicon layers break at stresses comparable to those of silicon wafers with standard thickness. The edge preparation has a large impact on the failure stress. For samples with manually cleaved edges the failure stress surpasses 600 MPa, which is the largest stress that is accessible with our testing setup

Elevated Temperature Mechanical Characteristics and Fracture Behavior of a Novel Beta Titanium Alloy

In the present work, the elevated-temperature deformation characteristics and microstructural evolution of a Ti-5V-5Mo-5Cr-4Al alloy in solution-treatment conditions were studied under a tensile load at temperatures in the range of 25 to 550 °C and strain rates between 0.001 and 0.1 s-1. The results obtained indicated that, essentially, dynamic recovery (DRV) was the dominant softening mechanism in the case of the regimes considered. An analysis based on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the assessment of the mechanical behavior of the solution-heat-treated Ti-5V-5Mo-5Cr-4Al alloy revealed that dynamic precipitation (DPN) only took place at a strain rate of 0.001 s-1 and at temperatures of 450 °C and 500 °C. Void coalescence occurred upon an increase in the deformation temperature and a decrease in the strain rate due to a higher rate of diffusion and the provision of sufficient time for growth, respectively. The results obtained in the present study pave the way for the robust processing of this novel ß titanium alloy. Depending on the deformation parameters, the deformation characteristics can be governed by either DRV (at moderate temperatures) or DPN (at moderate temperatures and at low rates of deformation)

Structural and superelastic properties of Fe–Mn–Al–Ni shape memory alloy sheets produced on industrial process routes by hot rolling

In the present study the structural and functional properties of Fe–Mn–Al–Ni shape memory alloy sheets produced on an industrial process route focusing on hot rolling were investigated. The as-processed condition is characterized by a high fraction of the non-transforming γ-phase, which ensures good workability, but is associated with poor superelasticity. The alloy shows good structural properties with a yield strength of about 600 MPa, which is well above the usual transformation stress related to the martensitic phase transformation for the investigated alloy composition. After solution annealing, a microstructure showing no preferred orientation being characterized by distinctly larger grains is present. The results obtained reveal that the previous thermo-mechanical processing had no impact on the subsequent texture, however, provided a sufficient amount of driving force for abnormal grain growth. Imposed by a cyclic heat treatment, oligocrystalline structures with grain sizes above 10 mm can be achieved in the industrially processed material, which show superelastic properties similar to material processed in small batches in the laboratory

Residual Stress Analysis in Injection Moulded Polycarbonate Samples

Abstract. The current paper presents results of residual stress measurements in injection moulded polycarbonate samples, which have been processed in various ways to introduce different residual stress states. The hole drilling as well as the ring-core method were used and methodological developments as compared to measurement procedures applied on metallic samples are outlined. In this context the time dependent viscoelastic behaviour of the investigated material as well as temperature fluctuations during testing are of high importance. It is demonstrated that manufacturing parameters, i.e. mould temperature and injection rate, have a significant impact on the resulting residual stress states. A frame made of aluminium was used to induce pronounced tensile residual stresses in the sample by preventing shrinkage. Holes of different diameters were drilled in order to get information at different depths from the surface. Introduction Injection moulding is a widely used manufacturing process for components made of plastics. The process comprises three stages: filling, packing and cooling. Each stage affects the materials properties of the moulded product and contributes to the formation of residual stresses. Many investigations deal with their analysis by testing and/or simulatio

Laser Powder Bed Fusion Processing of Fe-Mn-Al-Ni Shape Memory Alloy - On the Effect of Elevated Platform Temperatures

In order to overcome constraints related to crack formation during additive processing (laser powder bed fusion, L-BPF) of Fe-Mn-Al-Ni, the potential of high-temperature L-PBF processing was investigated in the present study. The effect of the process parameters on crack formation, grain structure, and phase distribution in the as-built condition, as well as in the course of cyclic heat treatment was examined by microstructural analysis. Optimized processing parameters were applied to fabricate cylindrical samples featuring a crack-free and columnar grained microstructure. In the course of cyclic heat treatment, abnormal grain growth (AGG) sets in, eventually promoting the evolution of a bamboo like microstructure. Testing under tensile load revealed a well-defined stress plateau and reversible strains of up to 4%

Fatigue and cyclic deformation behavior of non- and boronized austenitic stainless steel AISI 304 at room and elevated temperatures

A thermochemical surface treatment, the powder-packed boronizing process was optimized and then performed on an austenitic stainless steel, AISI 304. Afterwards, boronized specimens were cyclically loaded at ambient and elevated temperatures (350, 550 and 650 °C). Then the results were compared with the behavior in non-boronized condition. Nonstatistically evaluated S-N curves and cyclic deformation curves were investigated and are discussed. It was found that the boronizing process only improved the high cycle fatigue (HCF) properties of the austenitic stainless steel AISI 304 at room temperature. An endurance limit of about 340 MPa was observed in the boronized condition, whereas a fatigue strength of about 300 MPa was detected for the non-boronized condition. However, at elevated temperatures boronizing was not associated with enhanced fatigue performance of this steel

Presence and Diversity of Different Enteric Viruses in Wild Norway Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Abstract: Rodents are common reservoirs for numerous zoonotic pathogens, but knowledge about diversity of pathogens in rodents is still limited. Here, we investigated the occurrence and genetic diversity of enteric viruses in 51 Norway rats collected in three different countries in Europe. RNA of at least one virus was detected in the intestine of 49 of 51 animals. Astrovirus RNA was detected in 46 animals, mostly of rat astroviruses. Human astrovirus (HAstV-8) RNA was detected in one, rotavirus group A (RVA) RNA was identified in eleven animals. One RVA RNA could be typed as rat G3 type. Rat hepatitis E virus (HEV) RNA was detected in five animals. Two entire genome sequences of ratHEV were determined. Human norovirus RNA was detected in four animals with the genotypes GI.P4-GI.4, GII.P33-GII.1, and GII.P21. In one animal, a replication competent coxsackievirus A20 strain was detected. Additionally, RNA of an enterovirus species A strain was detected in the same animal, albeit in a different tissue. The results show a high detection rate and diversity of enteric viruses in Norway rats in Europe and indicate their significance as vectors for zoonotic transmission of enteric viruses. The detailed role of Norway rats and transmission pathways of enteric viruses needs to be investigated in further studies.Peer Reviewe

In situ characterization of the functional degradation of a [001] orientated Fe–Mn–Al–Ni single crystal under compression using acoustic emission measurements

Acoustic emission (AE) measurements were conducted in situ during cyclic compressive loading on an [ 00 1 over line ] orientated single crystal of Fe-Mn-Al-Ni shape memory alloy to study functional degradation of its superelastic response. The acoustic investigations were corroborated by optical microscopy, employing video imaging, and transmission electron microscopy. The analysis of acoustic emissions recorded during repeated loading and unloading sessions revealed two categories of AE signals that are differed by their characteristics in time and frequency domains. These two distinct types of AE signals were related to two underlying mechanisms: (i) the nucleation and reverse transformation of stress-induced (twinned) martensite, and (ii) the lateral growth and shrinkage of one dominant martensite variant and related dislocation activities, respectively. In addition, an asymmetry in the AE activity during forward and reverse transformation during mechanical loading and unloading was detected. In particular, an unexpected high AE activity was observed during the superelastic unloading of martensitic microstructure from the point of maximum load/strain. This effect was attributed to the reverse transformation of small, tiny areas of martensite as well as to unpinning and annihilation effects related to dislocations. (c) 2021 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved