THEORETICAL-EXPERIMENTAL POSSIBILLITIES OF MICROSTRUCTURE QUANTIFICATION OF DISPERSION STRENGTHENED MATERIALS

The present paper is devoted to the possibilities to classify the spatial arrangement of the elements (features) of a stochastic process with geometrical objects. The fundamental quantities describing point processes were introduced. Experimental possibilities of structural objects determination, possibilities of evaluation of the size distribution of the secondary phases, testing of planar point structures (estimation of the process intensity, square method and characteristics of the second order) were estimated. Interparticle distances, namely mean interparticle distance, mean minimum distance, mean visibility and mean path of spherical contact were defined. Selected processes were described and demonstrated from simulated realizations on Al-Al4C3 dispersion strengthened material, prepared by a powder metallurgy method of reaction milling. Interparticle distances of Al4C3 particles were evaluated. Polygonal methods and quadrant counts method were used for characterization of the particle arrangement.

THEORETICAL-EXPERIMENTAL POSSIBILLITIES OF MICROSTRUCTURE QUANTIFICATION OF DISPERSION STRENGTHENED MATERIALS

<p>The present paper is devoted to the possibilities to classify the spatial arrangement of the elements (features) of a stochastic process with geometrical objects. The fundamental quantities describing point processes were introduced. Experimental possibilities of structural objects determination, possibilities of evaluation of the size distribution of the secondary phases, testing of planar point structures (estimation of the process intensity, square method and characteristics of the second order) were estimated. Interparticle distances, namely mean interparticle distance, mean minimum distance, mean visibility and mean path of spherical contact were defined. Selected processes were described and demonstrated from simulated realizations on Al-Al₄C₃ dispersion strengthened material, prepared by a powder metallurgy method of reaction milling. Interparticle distances of Al₄C₃ particles were evaluated. Polygonal methods and quadrant counts method were used for characterization of the particle arrangement.</p>

Mechanochemical synthesis of Co3C carbide with carbon nanotubes

Nanoscaled (about 15 nm of size) metastable carbide Co3C was synthesized in a high-energy planetary ball mill by mechanical alloying of a mixture of powder cobalt (75 at. %) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT, 25 at. %). Phase transformation takes place at reaction milling according to the reaction hcp-Co + CNT ® Co3C (reaction time is 120 - 220 min). The crystal structure of the Co3C carbide formed in the milling products was studied by X-ray diffraction method. It has revealed that the Co3C phase crystallizes in a Fe3C-type structure with a = 0.4982(3) nm, b = 0.6715(6) nm, c = 0.4457(7) nm, Pnma space group. The reliability factor RB is equal to 0.065 for 48 reflections presented at diffraction pattern. It is found that the crystal structure of the Co3C carbide obtained by reaction milling of the Co-CNT charge is significantly internally deformed (distortion degree of the CCo6 octahedron is 3.67 %) and contains the reduced interatomic Co-C distances (up to 0.188 nm). It was shown that the use of carbon nanotubes instead of graphite substantially reduces the duration of the Co3C carbide synthesis.