Brazing Behaviour of Ag-Cu Filler Materials

Ecological brazing rods (cadmium free) represent a technical solution particularly useful for joining metallic or non-metallic components, providing the required mechanical and functional characteristics obtained in reproducible manufacturing conditions and at reasonable costs. The new class of coated rods for brazing must provide high deposition efficiency, chemical compatibility in relation to a number of metals and alloys currently used in industry and high corrosion resistance in different media. Such diverse characteristics can be obtained by achieving a special coating that contains a mixture of materials having a role of chemical activation and catalyst effects, as well as contributing to increasing the adherence to unmolten interfaces. This chapter presents some results obtained by using experimental brazing filler materials for different types of materials and applications. There are briefly highlighted some aspects on the diffusion effects of chemical elements in the soldering interface, the bonding of ceramics and some issues related to the effects of chemical elements from the brazing material

Characterization and Testing of High-Entropy Alloys from AlCrFeCoNi System for Military Applications

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) can be obtained using various metallurgical processes such as vacuum arc remelting (VAR), induction melting, powder metallurgy, additive manufacturing, plasma sintering of powders, etc. Among these methods, the obtaining process in the VAR plant provides superior homogeneity characteristics for metal matrices, simultaneously with advanced purity, due to the high level of protection of the melts. The chapter presents a series of results on alloys with high entropy from the AlCrFeCoNi system, which can be used for various applications, including in the military field, for the realization of high-speed penetration protection panels. Experimental alloys were obtained by melting in electric arc under an argon atmosphere, using high-purity raw materials (greater than 99.5 wt%), and homogenization is ensured by successive five-times remelting of mini-ingots. The obtained alloys were subjected to microstructural analyses, mechanical tests, and also dynamic impact tests using incendiary perforation projectiles. At the same time, some tests were carried out on ballistic packages made of different materials, including high-entropy alloys. The results obtained in mechanical tests revealed high values of microhardness (over 600 HV0.1) as well as compressive strengths above 2000 MPa. The mechanical characteristics of these alloys can undergo substantial changes by applying several heat treatments

High Entropy Alloys for Medical Applications

A wide variety of metallic biomaterials have been developed so far, including various types of alloys. However, there is a strong need in the medical field for new solutions in what concerns metallic biomaterials with superior biocompatibility and mechanical properties in order to meet future requirements, including the recently developed high entropy alloys (HEAs). This chapter presents some characteristics of high entropy biocompatible metallic alloys produced in an electric-arc remelting furnace in argon inert atmosphere. The effects of the chemical elements used, the microstructural features, and some mechanical characteristics, both in the cast state or after some heat treatments, are highlighted

Dissimilar Laser Welding of AISI 321 and AISI 1010

This paper presents the dissimilar laser welding of AISI 321 stainless steel and AISI 1010 carbon steel thin sheets in butt joint geometry using a 1 kW diode laser. Influence of the welding speed on the geometry and microstructure of the joints is discussed. Structural characterisation of the welds is realised through optical, electron microscopy and EDS analysis, observing distinct mixed and unmixed areas in the weld bead because of the high cooling rate. The weld bead presents an austenitic-martensitic-ferrite structure, characterized by austenitic twin grains with ferrite particles precipitated on grain boundaries, and islands comprising a ferrite-martensite structure. Chromium and nickel migration in the weld bead area was observed. Good tensile behaviour of the dissimilar joints was obtained, as all the specimen failure occurs far-off the weld zone

Design, synthesis, and preliminary evaluation for Ti-Mo-Zr-Ta-Si alloys for potential implant applications

Considering the future trends of biomaterials, current studies are focused on the corrosion resistance and the mechanical properties of new materials that need to be considered in the process of strengthening alloys with additive non-toxic elements. Many kinds of titanium alloys with different biocompatible elements (Mo, Si, Zr, etc.,) have been recently developed for their similar properties with human bone. Four new different alloys were obtained and investigated regarding their microstructure, mechanical, chemical, and biological behavior (in vitro and in vivo evaluation), the alloys are as follows: Ti15Mo7Zr15Ta, Ti15Mo7Zr15Ta0.5Si, Ti15Mo7Zr15Ta0.75Si, and Ti15Mo7Zr15Ta1Si. There were changes with the addition of the silicon element such as the hardness and the modulus of elasticity increased. An MTT assay confirmed the in vitro cytocompatibility of the prepared alloys

Superficial hardened layer of cut surface by turning

One of research methods in metal cutting process is to measure hardness in the contact zone between cutting tool and workpiece. The objective of the performed research was to determine thickness and hardness of the superficial layer of cut surface due to cutting process, both orthogonal and complex cutting. The most important finding was that thickness of the superficial hardened layer is very thin under considered conditions, less than 0.01 … 0.02 mm. This research should be continued

Factors that influence the quality constant of the manufacturing process for asphalt milling knifes

The quality constant for mill knifes used to strip asphalt is significantly influenced by the quality of the reinforcement which, in its turn, is influenced by the thermic brazing process and by manufacturing the protection system at blockage through welding when it spins around its axis. It’s also influenced by the quality of the intelligent wear and blocking self-protection systems that in their turn are influenced by oxidation and diffusion processes of W and C that make simmered carbides from the reinforcement and brazed joints. Overheating during welding and brazing of the knife reinforcement and/or blockage self-protection reinforcement favours the oxidation of the W carbides leading to a fast degradation of the affected zones, even in exploitation. Exceeding optimum temperature during brazing of the reinforcement in the low chromium alloyed steel support leads to Zn evaporation in certain areas from the brazing material and lowers the brazed joint resistance to wear this causes the knife reinforcement to detach from the support. Taking into consideration the above mentioned facts it is recommended that the production stages of the mill knifes are done mechanized and/or automatic constantly monitoring the execution parameters

Study on the Weldability of Copper—304L Stainless Steel Dissimilar Joint Performed by Robotic Gas Tungsten Arc Welding

The welding process of dissimilar metals, with distinct chemical, physical, thermal, and structural properties, needs to be studied and treated with special attention. The main objectives of this research were to investigate the weldability of the dissimilar joint made between the 99.95% Cu pipe and the 304L stainless steel plate by robotic Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), without filler metal and without preheating of materials, and to find the optimum welding regime. Based on repeated adjustments of the main process parameters—welding speed, oscillation frequency, pulse frequency, main welding current, pulse current, and decrease time of welding current at the process end—it was determined the optimum process and, further, it was possible to carry out joints free of cracks and porosity, with full penetration, proper compactness, and sealing properties, that ensure safety in operating conditions. The microstructure analysis revealed the fusion zone as a multi-element alloy with preponderant participation of Cu that has resulted from mixing the non-ferrous elements and iron. Globular Cu- or Fe-rich compounds were developed during welding, being detected by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Moreover, the Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX) recorded the existence of a narrow double mixing zone formed at the interface between the fusion zone and the 304L stainless steel that contains about 66 wt.% Fe, 18 wt.% Cr, 8 wt.% Cu, and 4 wt.% Ni. Due to the formation of Fe-, Cr-, and Ni-rich compounds, a hardness increase up to 127 HV0.2 was noticed in the fusion zone, in comparison with the copper material, where the average measured microhardness was 82 HV0.2. The optimization of the robotic welding regime was carried out sequentially, by adjusting the parameters values, and, further, by analyzing the effects of welding on the geometry and on the appearance of the weld bead. Finally, employing the optimum welding regime—14 cm/min welding speed, 125 A main current, 100 A pulse current, 2.84 Hz oscillation frequency, and 5 Hz pulse frequency—appropriate dissimilar joints, without imperfections, were achieved

Effect of Diffusion on Dissimilar Welded Joint between Al0.8CoCrFeNi High-Entropy Alloy and S235JR Structural Steel

This research focused on the investigation of the metallurgical behavior of the Al0.8CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy and S235JR structural steel, welded with (Ni, Fe)-rich filler metal, by the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) method. The electric arc and the welding pool were protected against the contamination with gases from the environment, by employing high-purity Ar 4.8 inert gas that plays an important role in reducing the oxidation effects and the development of cracks in the weld and the adjacent areas. The microstructure and microhardness analysis did not reveal the existence of fragile phases, cracks, inadequate penetration, or other imperfections, showing an appropriate adhesion between the deposited metal and the substrates. At the interface between the Ni-rich weld metal and the high-entropy alloy, a higher hardness (448 HV0.2) than in the base material (358 HV0.2) was measured. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS), performed at the interface between the weld metal and the base materials, did not show significant modifications of Co, Fe, and Cr percentages. However, during the investigation, significant variations in Al and Ni concentrations were observed, caused by the fast diffusion of chemical elements, and the development of hard (Ni, Al)-rich compounds. In some areas of the deposited metal, located at a distance of about 10 µm from the interface, the percentages of Ni and Al were higher than in the high-entropy alloy base material, being around 41% by weight Ni and over 13% by weight Al, while the concentrations of the Co, Cr, and Fe elements proportionally decreased (i.e., approximately 14% by weight Co, 12% by weight Cr, and 17% by weight Fe). The development of Ni3Al and NiAl compounds was also noticed, whose formation was determined by the local chemical concentration and the temperature reached in the vicinity of the diffusion zone. The XRD analysis showed a group of X-ray peaks in the Al0.8CrFeCoNi alloy that corresponded to both α-type—BCC and FCC phases. The crystallite size of the high-entropy alloy investigated was found to be 22.05 nm. Despite the diffusion phenomenon, if filler materials and process parameters are appropriately selected, quality joints of high-entropy alloys and structural steels can be carried out under good welding conditions