Continuous Thermogravimetry under Cyclic Conditions

Thermogravimetry during cyclic oxidation of metallic alloys is described. A methodology is given in order to determine the Net Mass Gain, the GrossMass Gain, the total mass of spalled oxide, the rate of metal consumption and the average oxide scale thickness as a function of the number of cycles. The fraction of oxide scale which spalls at each cycle can be also calculated, and the parabolic constant can be estimated at each cycle. Two examples are given: the cyclic oxidation of a NiAl single crystal in flowing oxygen at 1150xC, and the cyclic oxidation of alloy P91 at 800xC in laboratory air. Advantages and disadvantages of this technique are discussed in regards to classical interrupted tests in crucibles. Thermogravimetry during cyclic oxidation appears to be a powerful tool in order to model and quantify the cyclic oxidation test which is of great interest in order to qualify the resistance of materials to oxidation in conditions close to their actual use, but a specific aspparatus need to be developed in order to obtain data in an efficient and economical manner. A new apparatus designed for this purpose is described briefly

Mechanical behavior of entangled materials with or without cross-linked fibers

Entangled materials can be manufactured using fibers made from various materials, such as carbon, glass or steel. The mechanical properties of these low-density materials are linked to their architecture (fiber orientation, number of contacts, etc.). Specimens can be produced with and without cross-links between fibers by sintering for steel wool or by using epoxy spraying for carbon or glass fibers. Experimental mechanical compression tests were performed on these materials. The results were analyzed taking into account the architecture thanks to the relationships existing between morphological data and macroscopic mechanical behavior

Experimental data about mechanical behaviour during compression tests for various matted fibres

A specific experimental device has been set up to test compressive mechanical behaviour of an assembly of fibres. Simple compression, as well as cyclic loading experiments and relaxation tests were performed. The experimental set up also allows to record the evolution of the mat fibre electrical resistance while testing. Experimental results are presented for a variety of fibrous materials. Despite the very different nature of each of these individual fibres, it appears that the mats exhibit a very similar mechanical behaviour. This common behaviour has been observed during monotonic single compression tests, as well as during cyclic or relaxation experiments. These experimental results are discussed in terms of different parameters such as the intrinsic mechanical properties of individual fibres and moreover the tangle intrinsic parameters (effect of fibre length, effect of geometrical position of fibres in the sample, fibre surface modifications. . .). The influence of the contact points between fibres is discussed in regard of the electric resistivity measurement

Numerical simulation of cyclic oxidation kinetics with automatic fitting of experimental data

This paper proposes a model, based on a Monte Carlo method, to assess cyclic oxidation tests. The numerical code fits automatically the experimental net mass change curves. Oxidation kinetics are identified as well as the relationship between spalling and local oxide thickness or time. The modelling is applied to cyclic oxidation of NiPtAl single crystals at 1150 °C in dry air

Rafting microstructure during creep of the MC2 nickel-based superalloy at very high temperature

Directional coarsening of the single-crystalline nickel-based superalloy MC2 has been investigated by means of tensile creep tests at 1100 ◦C. Two specific specimen geometries were designed in order to generate a variety of stress and strain states. Different coarsening microstructures are observed: N- and P-type classical rafting but also coarsening oriented 45◦ away from the load axis. The comparison of microstructure maps with the local mechanical state evaluated by finite element calculations shows that the 45◦ directional coarsening appears in case of very high cumulated strain values (above 10%), independent of the stress sign. Transmission electron microscopy investigations showthat the dislocation microstructure is similar in both N-type and 45◦ coarsened areas

Al-Pt MOCVD coatings for the protection of Ti6242 alloy against oxidation at elevated temperature

Results on isothermal oxidation at 873K for 90 h of Al-Pt coatings on Ti6242 coupons are reported. These coatings were obtained by low temperature, low pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition using Me3(MeCp)Pt(VI) and dimethylethylamine alane. Three coating architectures were investigated, namely pure Al, Pt and Al sequential sublayers, and co-deposited Al and Pt. Oxidation kinetics revealed a strong transient oxidation regime followed by a diffusion driven parabolic one. Such coatings allow to decrease oxidation kinetics more than one order of magnitude compared with those of the bare Ti6242. Scanning electron microscopy, second ion mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy revealed that these coatings present a rough surface morphology. They are dense, they develop scales composed of γ-Al2O3 and δ-Al2O3 and they prevent titanium diffusion from the alloy to the surface. It is concluded that coatings produced by this process show promise for use as effective protection against oxidation of Ti6242 alloys and consequently they may raise the maximum operating temperature tolerated by corresponding parts in helicopter turboengines

Mechanical behavior of entangled fibers and entangled cross-linked fibers during compression

Entangled fibrous materials have been manufactured from different fibers: metallic fibers, glass fibers, and carbon fibers. Specimens have been produced with and without cross links between fibers. Cross-links have been achieved using epoxy spraying. The scope of this article is to analyze the mechanical behavior of these materials and to compare it with available models. The first part of this article deals with entangled fibrous materials without crosslink between fibers. Compression tests are detailed and test reproducibility is checked. In the second part, compression tests were performed on materials manufactured with cross-linked fibers. The specific mechanical behavior obtained is discussed

Microstructural characterization of creep anisotropy at 673K in the M5® alloy

Zirconium alloy tubing is used in pressurized water nuclear reactors in order to prevent fissile material from leaking into the coolant. It can be the first safety wall of nuclear fuel, and is submitted to complex thermomechanical loadings. In consequence, new Nb-modified alloys, such as the M5 alloy, and fine numerical models are being developed to guarantee a better and longer mechanical integrity of these tubes. To identify the physical mechanisms that could be considered in such models, an experimental approach, combining creep tests with electron backscattered diffraction and Transmission electron microscopy investigations, was carried out. Tubular specimens were submitted to multiaxial creep tests at a temperature of 673 K. Seven ratios between the axial and hoop applied stresses were investigated. It enabled a macroscopic evidence of the creep anisotropy. Besides, EBSD analyses on a mesoscopic- sized non deformed area led to the characterization of the variation of the average Schmid factor with the direction of loading. Finally,TEM observations were done on seven crept samples, corresponding to the seven directions of loading tested mechanically. The variations of the different parameters investigated (activated slip systems, dislocation densities, curvatures of the dislocations) can be seen as the effects of the creep anisotropy at a microscopic scale. The correlation between results is then discussed in a multiscale frame

Creep and tensile behaviour of austenitic Fe–Cr–Ni stainless steels

The control of creep behaviour during service of reformer tubes made of HP-40 austenitic stainless steels is still limited by the knowledge of creep mechanisms in these alloys. Two different HP-40 alloys modified with a low-level addition ofNbwere studied. Creep testswere carried out at 980 and 1050 ◦C with different stress levels, in the range of 20–50MPa, and their resultswere plotted in a Norton-type diagram. Also, low strain rate tensile tests were performed at temperature of 950, 980 or 1000 ◦C. As low strain rate tensile tests showed a plateau at nearly constant stress for a given strain rate, they could be somehow linked with creep tests. Accordingly, tensile and creep results were plotted together on a Larson–Miller (LMP) diagram. The fracture modes of tensile and creep samples were investigated and the effect of different parameters such as sample dimensions, temperature and atmosphere, was also studied

Microstructure evolution of HP40-Nb alloys during aging under air at 1000 °C

Two as-cast HP 40 alloys provided by different manufacturers were aged at 1000 °C under laboratory air. They had the same as-cast microstructure consisting of austenite dendrites delineated by a network of eutectic Nb-rich MC and Cr-rich M7C3 carbides. After aging for several months, they showed similar microstructures in the bulk materials, though M7C3 carbides have been replaced by M23C6 carbides. As expected, a sub-surface zone depleted in chromium has appeared where a tetragonal CrNbC could be identified in both materials. However, the composition of the transition zones between the surface and the bulk materials differed, mainly because one of the materials underwent significant nitrogen pick-up with associated precipitation of M6(C,N) and M2(C,N) phases. On the contrary, the other alloy did show only one intermediate zone with a mix of CrNbC, M23C6 and MC carbides. A full account of the microstructures observed in the aged materials is given