Abstract: The substitution of Cr3+ and Mn3+ for Fe3+ in the Bi4Fe6O13F oxyfluoride featuring the magnetically frustrated pentagonal Cairo lattice is reported. Bi4Fe4.1Cr0.9O13F and BiFe4.2Mn0.8O13F have been prepared using a solid state reaction in inert atmosphere. Their crystal structures were studied with transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and Fe-57 Mossbauer spectroscopy (S.G. P4(2)/mbc, a = 8.27836(2)angstrom, c = 18.00330(9) angstrom, R-F = 0.031 (Bi4Fe4.1Cr0.9O13F)), a= 8.29535(3)angstrom, c= 18.0060(1)angstrom, R-F = 0.027 (Bi4Fe4.1Cr0.9O13F)). The structures are formed by infinite rutile-like chains of the edge sharing BO6 octahedra (B transition metal cations) linked by the Fe2O7 groups of two corner-sharing tetrahedra. The"voids in thus formed framework are occupied by the Bi4F tetrahedra. The Fe-57 Mossbauer spectroscopy reveals that Cr3+ and Mn3+ replace Fe3+. exclusively at the octahedral positions. The Mn- and Cr-doped compounds demonstrate antiferromagnetic ordering below T-N =165 K and 120 K, respectively. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Homogenised and quenched Ni65Al35 samples were heated and studied in situ in a CM20 electron microscope up to 900 degrees C. The Ni5Al3 phase first forming around 550 degrees C in the quenched L1(0) microtwinned martensite starts to decompose around 800 degrees C yielding B2 precipitates in a twinned L1(2) matrix. The latter twinning is a remainder of the microtwinning in the original room temperature martensite. Also the crystallographic relations between precipitates and matrix can be traced back to the original formation of twinned martensite plates within the austenite. Some aspects of the dynamics of the process are discussed on the basis of snap shots and video recordings.

Abstract: Nano-width martensite plates in a fully martensitic Ni50Ti50 alloy are indexed successfully by using the off-axis transmission Kikuchi diffraction in scanning electron microscope (i.e., SEM-based TKD). The data obtained by SEM-TKD are effectively interpreted using an improved approach based on the framework of the theoretical groupoid structure method, where the equivalent variants transformed from the monoclinic variants are introduced to calculate all theoretical axis/angle pairs of rotation, and to formulate a complete list of source martensite to target martensite pairs. Consequently, B19' monoclinic martensite variants in NiTi alloys are identified unambiguously, by using numerical comparison between the experimental and theoretical rotation components, without the reference of retained parent phase. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Despite the enormous interest in the properties and applications of porous silica matrix, only a few attempts have been reported to deposit metal and metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) inside the porous silica matrix. We report a simple approach (i.e. sol-gel hot injection) for insitu synthesis of ZnO NPs inside a porous silica matrix. Control of the Zn:Si molar ratio, reaction temperature, pH value, and annealing temperature permits formation of ZnO NPs (<= 10 nm) inside a porous silica particles, without additives or organic solvents. Results revealed that a solid state reaction inside the ZnO/SiO2 nanocomposites occurs with increasing the annealing temperature. The reaction of ZnO NPs with SiO2 matrix was insignificant up to approximately 500 degrees C. However, ZnO NPs react strongly with the silica matrix when the nanocomposites are annealed at temperatures above 700 degrees C. Extensive annealing of the ZnO/SiO2 nanocomposite at 900 degrees C yields 3D structures made of 500 nm rod-like, 5-7 pm tube-like and 35 pm needle-like Zn2SiO4 crystals. A possible mechanism for forming ZnO NPs inside porous silica matrix and phase transformation of the ZnO/SiO2 nanocomposites into 3D architectures of Zn2SiO4 are carefully discussed. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: The design of high-strength martensitic stainless steels requires an accurate control over the stability of undesired phases, like carbides and ferrite, which can hamper strength and ductility. Here, the ferrite to austenite transformation in Fe-11Cr-0.06C has been studied with a combined experimental-modelling approach. Experimental observations of the austenization process indicate that austenite growth proceeds in multiple steps, each one characterized by a different transformation rate. DICTRA based modelling reveals that the dissolution of the M23C6 Cr-rich carbides leads to Cr partitioning between austenite and parent phases, which controls the rate of transformation through (i) a soft-impingement effect and (ii) consequent stabilization of the ferrite, which remains untransformed inside chromium-enriched-zones even after prolonged austenization stage. Slow heating rate and smaller initial particle sizes allow the design of ferrite-free microstructure.

Abstract: Binary ZrCu nanocomposite amorphous films are synthetized by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) under vac-uum (2 x 10-3 Pa) and 10 Pa He pressure, leading to fully amorphous compact and nanogranular mor-phologies, respectively. Then, post-thermal annealing treatments are carried out to explore thermal stability and crystallization phenomena together with the evolution of mechanical properties. Compact films exhibit larger thermal stability with partial crystallization phenomena starting at 420 degrees C, still to be completed at 550 degrees C, while nanogranular films exhibit early-stage crystallization at 300 degrees C and com-pleted at 485 degrees C. The microstructural differences are related to a distinct evolution of mechanical

Abstract: We have prepared tungsten oxide films decorated with gold particles on Si substrates by aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) and characterized them using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). SEM shows that the films are composed of needle-like structures and TEM shows that both the needles and the gold particles are crystalline. XPS indicates the presence of oxygen vacancies, i.e. the films are WO3−x, and hence the deposited material is composed of semiconducting nanostructures and that the interaction between the gold particles and the WO3 needles surface is weak. The synthesis of semiconducting tungsten oxide nanostructures decorated with metal particles represents an important step towards the development of sensing devices with optimal properties.

Abstract: The adsorption of CO2 on surfaces of graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), decorated with Fe atoms, are investigated using the self-consistent-charge density-functional tight-binding (SCC-DFTB) method, neglecting the heat effects. Fe ad-atoms are more stable when they are dispersed on hollow sites. They introduce a large density of states at the Fermi level (N-F); where keeping such density low would help in gas sensing. Furthermore, the Fe ad-atom can weaken the C=O double bonds of the chemisorbed CO2 molecule, paving the way for oxygen atoms to drain more charges from Fe. Consequently, chemisorption of CO2 molecules reduces both N-F and the conductance while it enhances the sensitivity with the increasing gas dose. Conducting armchair CNTs (ac-CNTs) have higher sensitivity than graphene and semiconducting zigzag CNTs (zz-CNT5). Comparative study of sensitivity of ac-CNT-Fe composite towards various gases (e.g., O-2, N-2, H-2, H2O, CO and CO2) has shown high sensitivity and selectivity towards CO, CO2 and H2O gases. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Microstructural deformation mechanisms in adiabatic shear bands in Ti6Al4V are studied using traditional TEM and selected area diffraction, and more advanced microstructural characterisation techniques such as energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, high angle annular dark field STEM and conical dark field TEM. The shear bands under investigation are induced in Ti6Al4V samples by high strain rate compression of cylindrical and hat-shaped specimens in a split Hopkinson pressure bar setup. Samples from experiments interrupted at different levels of deformation are used to study the evolution of the microstructure in and nearby the shear bands. From the early stages of adiabatic shear band formation, TEM revealed strongly elongated equiaxed grains in the shear band. These band-like grains become narrower towards the centre of the band and start to fraction even further along their elongated direction to finally result in a nano-crystalline region in the core. In fully developed shear bands, twins and a needle-like martensite morphology are observed near the shear band.

Abstract: The structure and texture formation in CuAlNi thin films of different thicknesses (1 μm to 5 μm) grown by DC magnetron sputtering without any intentional heating of the substrate are reported. The as-grown films present grains with an average size of 20 nm. The films with thickness of 1 μm have a single metastable phase with a hexagonal structure and are textured with planes (0002) parallel to the plane of the films. It was observed that thicker films present phase coexistence between metastable hexagonal and body centered cubic structures with a gradual increment of the body centered cubic phase fraction. The films with thickness of 5 μm are textured with planes (0002) and View the MathML source101¯0 in the hexagonal structure, whereas in the body centered cubic structure the films are textured with {110} planes parallel to the plane of the films. This fact can be associated with self-heating of the substrate during the growth of the films and with the relative stability of the metastable phases. Free standing films annealed in a second step (1123 K for 1 h) present austenitic phase with L21 structure and sub-micrometric grains textured with {220}L21 planes parallel to the plane of the films. The martensitic transformation temperature was determined from the analysis of resistance against temperature measurements.

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to provide a thorough study on the occurrence and importance of deformation twinning in simple shear deformed pure α-Ti. A statistically relevant inspection of the morphology of the deformation twins in relation to the applied strain/deformation is performed. The investigated microstructural aspects are the twin volume fraction, the twin thickness distribution and the resolved shear stress distribution on the twin plane. All these aspects are examined as a function of the twin types and two initial textures. Monotonic simple shear experiments are carried out for three different loading directions with respect to a direction linked to the initial crystallographic texture. EBSD and TEM observations reveal the presence of View the MathML source and View the MathML source twins. The statistical analysis reveals that View the MathML source and View the MathML source twins have a similar average thickness around 1.9 nm, but the View the MathML source twins show a far larger spread on their thickness and can grow to almost the size of the original parent grain. Correlation of the twin fractions with the RSS analysis shows that RSS is an acceptable method explaining the difference in twin fractions for different textures and orientations. A detailed analysis shows that View the MathML source twins occur in average with a smaller volume fraction but with a higher RSS, indicating they are more difficult to nucleate or grow compared to View the MathML source twinning. In general a higher RSS value on the twin plane is not connected to a higher twin thickness; only in the case of View the MathML source twins the highest RSS values show clearly thicker twins.

Abstract: The Al4C3-formed interfacial reaction plays an important role in tuning the mechanical and thermal properties of carbon/aluminum (C/Al) composites reinforced with carbonaceous materials such as multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and graphene nanosheet. In terms of the hydrolysis nature of Al4C3, an electrochemical dissolution method was developed to quantitatively characterize the extent of C/Al interfacial reaction, which involves dissolving the composite samples in alkaline solution first, then collecting and measuring the CH4 gas released by Al4C3 hydrolysis with a gas chromatograph. Through a case study with powder metallurgy fabricated 2.0 wt.% MWCNT/Al composites, the detectability limit of the proposed method is 0.4 wt.% Al4C3, corresponding to 5 % extent of interfacial reaction with a measurement error of ±3 %. And then, with the already known MWCNT/Al reaction extent vs different sintering temperature and time, the reaction kinetics with an activation energy of 281 kJ mol-1 was successfully derived. Therefore, this rapid, sensitive, accurate method supplies an useful tool to optimize the processing and properties of all kinds of C/Al composites via interface design/control.

Abstract: Size, number density and volume fraction of nano-precipitates are important microstructural parameters controlling the strengthening of materials. In this work a widely accessible, convenient, moderately time efficient method with acceptable accuracy and precision has been provided for measurement of volume fraction of nano-precipitates in crystalline materials. The method is based on the traditional but highly accurate technique of measuring foil thickness via convergent beam electron diffraction. A new equation is proposed and verified with the aid of 3-dimensional atom probe (3DAP) analysis, to compensate for the additional error resulted from the hardly distinguishable contrast of too short incomplete precipitates cut by the foil surface. The method can be performed on a regular foil specimen with a modem LaB6 or field-emission-gun transmission electron microscope. Precisions around +/- 16% have been obtained for precipitate volume fractions of needle-like beta ''/C and Q precipitates in an aged Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloy. The measured number density is dose to that directly obtained using 3DAP analysis by a misfit of 45%, and the estimated precision for number density measurement is about +/- 11%. The limitations of the method are also discussed.