Thermodynamic and kinetic features of the formation of amorphous state in films during quenching from the vapor state

The method of modernized ion-plasma sputtering produced metastable states, including nanocrystalline and amorphous phases in films, even in alloys whose components do not mixed in the liquid state. The effective rate of energy relaxation at different modes of precipitation is theoretically estimated to be 1012 -1014 K/s during ion-plasma sputtering of atoms. On thermodynamic and kinetic states, different active and passive parameters for amorphization during sputtering are analyzed. The receiving expressions are in good agreement with the experimental results and contribute to the determination of further steps to obtain an amorphous state.

X-ray Total Scattering Study of Phases Formed from Cement Phases Carbonation

Carbonation in cement binders has to be thoroughly understood because it affects phase assemblage, binder microstructure and durability performance of concretes. This is still not the case as the reaction products can be crystalline, nanocrystalline and amorphous. The characterisation of the last two types of components are quite challenging. Here, carbonation reactions have been studied in alite-, belite- and ye’elimite-containing pastes, in controlled conditions (3% CO2 and RH = 65%). Pair distribution function (PDF) jointly with Rietveld and thermal analyses have been applied to prove that ettringite decomposed to yield crystalline aragonite, bassanite and nano-gibbsite without any formation of amorphous calcium carbonate. The particle size of gibbsite under these conditions was found to be larger (~5 nm) than that coming from the direct hydration of ye’elimite with anhydrite (~3 nm). Moreover, the carbonation of mixtures of C-S-H gel and portlandite, from alite and belite hydration, led to the formation of the three crystalline CaCO3 polymorphs (calcite, aragonite and vaterite), amorphous silica gel and amorphous calcium carbonate. In addition to their PDF profiles, the thermal analyses traces are thoroughly analysed and discussed.

Pulse Electrodeposited Ni-26 at. %Mo—A Crossover from Nanocrystalline to Amorphous

A Ni-26 at. %Mo alloy with a composite structure of nanocrystalline and amorphous was synthesized by pulse electrodeposition. The composite structure was composed of mixed regions of amorphous and nanograins divided by a nanocrystalline interface network, which significantly suppressed grain coarsening and shear banding that would otherwise deteriorate mechanical properties of extremely fine nanograined metal. Plastic strain induced significant crystallization accompanied by Mo diffusion from mixed regions to nanograined interfaces. As a result, the Ni-26 at. %Mo alloy exhibited a superior hardness to its nanograined counterparts. The present work demonstrates an example of enhancing mechanical performance with hybrid structures crossover from nanocrystalline to amorphous.

Effects of Milling Variables in Amorphous Phase Formation of Fe78Si9B13 Alloy Produced by Mechanical Alloying

In this study, amorphous Fe78Si9B13 alloy was successfully synthesized by mechanical alloying (MA) of pure elemental powders which were milled under an argon gas atmosphere. Effects of milling time on the phase transformation, microstructure and morphological evolution were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), laser diffraction (Granulometry), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results showed that by increasing the milling time, the nanocrystalline and amorphous phase content increases and alloys with good properties are obtained at 100 h of milling.

Influence of Alumina Particles on Tribology of Autocatalytic Ni-P Coatings at High Temperature

The present work considers the effects of incorporation of hard Al2O3 particles on the structure, microhardness, and tribological behavior of electroless Ni-P coatings at room temperature and elevated temperature. Ni-P (9% P) coating shows a typical amorphous structure that changes to a mixture of nanocrystalline and amorphous structure due to the addition of alumina particles. The incorporation of Al2O3 particles is found to enhance the overall hardness and wear resistance of the Ni-P coating. Exposure to high temperature during tribological tests acts as brief heat treatment, initiating microstructural changes in the coating which further increases the hardness of the deposit. The scanning electron micrograph of the worn surface of the coating reveals both abrasive and adhesive wear phenomena governing the wear mechanism at elevated temperature. The development of the oxide layer is another important characteristic of the coatings examined under high temperatures (around 500°C).