Mechanical Alloying of Nitrogen into Iron Powders

Mechanical alloying of nitrogen into bcc-fe powder is a very effective and efficient means of obtaining very high concentration of nitrogen in micron-size iron particles. Mechanical alloying increases the concentration of nitrogen in the iron powder far in excess of the bcc-Fe lattice low nitrogen solubility, however most of the infused nitrogen resides on the nano-size grain boundaries and in nano-size bct-fe that forms during mechanical alloying

Nitrogen as a friendly addition to steel

Interstitial alloying with nitrogen or carbon is a common means of enhancing properties of iron-based alloys. Interstitial nitrogen addition to fcc-phase Fe-Cr-Mn/Ni alloys results in improved mechanical properties, whereas addition of carbon can result in the formation of unwanted carbides. Carbon addition to low alloy, bcc-phase iron alloys significantly improves strength through the formation of carbides, whereas addition of nitrogen in bcc-phase iron alloys can result in porous casting and reduced mechanical properties. This study will show that alloying iron-based alloys with both nitrogen and carbon can produce positive results. Nitrogen addition to Fe-C and Fe-Cr-C alloys, and both nitrogen and nitrogen-carbon additions to Fe-Cr-Mn/Ni alloys altered the microstructure, improved mechanical properties, increased hardness, and reduced wear by stabilizing the fcc-phase and altering (possibly eliminating) precipitate formation

Abrasion and Erosion Testing of Materials Used in Power Production From Coal

ABSTRACT The Albany Research Center (ARC) has a long history of studying abrasive wear, related to mineral testing, handling, and processing. The center has also been instrumental in the design and development of wear test procedures and equipment. Research capabilities at ARC include Pin-on-Drum, Pin-on-Disk, and Dry Sand/Rubber Wheel abrasion tests, Jaw Crusher gouging test, Ball-on-Ball Impact test, and Jet erosion tests. Abrasive and erosive wear studies have been used to develop both new alloys and improved heat treatments of commercial alloys. As part of ARC's newest iteration on wear testing to evaluate materials for use in new and existing pulverized coal combustion and gasifier power systems, the ARC has designed and constructed a new High Temperature Hostile Atmosphere Erosion Wear Test (HAET). This new piece of test apparatus is designed for erosive particle velocities of 10-40 m/sec and temperatures from room temperature (238C) to 800+°C, with special control over the gas atmosphere. A variable speed whirling arm design is used to vary the impact energy of the gravity fed erosive particles. The specimens are mounted at the edge of a disk and allow a full range of impingement angles to be selected. An electric furnace heats the specimens in an enclosed retort to the selected temperature. Tests include both oxidizing conditions and reducing conditions. A range of gases, including CO, CO 2 , CH 4 , H 2 , H 2 S, HCl, N 2 , O 2 , and SO 2 can be mixed and delivered to the retort. During the erosion testing a stream of abrasive powder is delivered in front of the specimens. This apparatus is designed to use low abrasive fluxes, which simulate real operating conditions in commercial power plants. Currently ~270 µm SiO 2 particles are being used to simulate the abrasive impurities typically found in coal. Since operators are always striving for longer lifetimes and higher operating temperatures, this apparatus can help elucidate mechanisms of wastage and identify superior materials. This talk will present some initial results from this new environmentally controllable erosion test apparatus

Steam turbine materials and corrosion

Ultra-supercritical (USC) power plants offer the promise of higher efficiencies and lower emissions. Current goals of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Power Systems Initiatives include power generation from coal at 60% efficiency, which would require steam temperatures of up to 760°C. This project examines the steamside oxidation of candidate alloys for use in USC systems, with emphasis placed on applications in high- and intermediate-pressure turbines. As part of this research a concern has arisen about the possibility of high chromia evaporation rates of protective scales in the turbine. A model to calculate chromia evaporation rates is presented

Reactive synthesis of Ti-Al intermetallics during microwave heating in an E-field maximum

The time-resolved X-ray diffraction synchrotron radiation technique was used in combination with E-field microwave heating to study in situ the kinetics of intermetallic phase formation in the Ti-Al system. The reaction of Ti with Al is triggered by the melting and spreading of Al onto the surface of Ti particles. The tetragonal TiAl 3 phase is the primary reaction product, formed by instantaneous nucleation at the interface between the unreacted Ti cores and the Al melt. The growth of TiAl 3 layers is diffusion-controlled. These preliminary results demonstrate that microwave heating can be used to rapidly synthesise intermetallic phases from high-purity elemental powders. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.This work has been supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Grant 20PA21E-129193).Vaucher, S.; Stir, M.; Ishizaki, K.; Catalá Civera, JM.; Nicula, R. (2011). Reactive synthesis of Ti-Al intermetallics during microwave heating in an E-field maximum. Thermochimica Acta. 522(1):151-154. doi:10.1016/j.tca.2010.11.026S151154522