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The study deals with the influence of the heat input and the resulting cooling times on the microstructure and Charpy impact toughness of single-pass laser hybrid welded 20-mm thick high-strength steel S690QL. The main focus is on the change of the mechanical properties over the entire seam thickness. The cooling times were measured in-situ using a pyrometer and an optical fibre in three different depths of the seam where Charpy impact test specimens were also later taken. Thereby, three different heat inputs from 1.3 kJ/mm to 2 kJ/mm were investigated. Despite the observed decreased values of both t8/5-cooling time and the Charpy impact toughness in the root part of the seam, the required impact toughness of 38 J/cm2 could be reached in dependance on applied heat input, especially at the heat input of 1.6 kJ/mm.
The study deals with the influence of the heat input on the thermal cycles and Charpy impact toughness for hybrid laser-arc welding of 25 mm thick structural steel S355J2 using a 20-kW high-power laser in combination with an electromagnetic weld pool support. The main focus is on the change of the mechanical properties over the entire seam thickness. The cooling times were measured using a pyrometer in combination with an optical fibre in three different locations near to fusion lines corresponding to different heights of the seam. Also, Charpy impact specimens were taken from different parts of the weld joint corresponding to the different heights. The influence of the heat input was investigated for 1.8 kJ mm-1 and 3.2 kJ mm-1. Despite the observed decreased values of both t8/5-cooling time and the Charpy impact toughness in the root part of the seam, the required values could be reached in dependance on applied heat input.
It is already known that the laser beam welding (LBW) or hybrid laser-arc welding (HLAW) processes are sensitive to manufacturing tolerances such as gaps and misalignment of the edges, especially at welding of thick-walled steels due to its narrow beam diameter. Therefore, the joining parts preferably have to be milled. The study deals with the influence of the edge quality, the gap and the misalignment of edges on the weld seam quality of hybrid laser-arc welded 20 mm thick structural steel plates which were prepared by laser and plasma-cutting. Single-pass welds were conducted in butt-joint configuration. An AC magnet was used as a contactless backing. It was positioned under the workpiece during the welding process to prevent sagging. The profile of the edges and the gap between the workpieces were measured before welding by a profile scanner or a digital camera, respectively. With a laser beam power of just 13.7 kW, the single-pass welds could be performed. A gap bridgeability up to 1 mm at laser-cut and 2 mm at plasma-cut samples could be reached respectively. Furthermore, a misalignment of the edges up to 2 mm could be welded in a single-pass. The new findings may eliminate the need for cost and time-consuming preparation of the edges.
The study deals with the application of the high-power hybrid-laser arc welding process on up to 15 mm thick pipe segments with the intention to avoid end crater imperfections during closing of the circumferential welds, where the pipes were turned during welding in 1G- and 2G-positions. Different techniques such as laser power ramp-down, abrupt switch-off of the laser power and change of the magnification of the laser spot diameter and defocusing of the laser beam relative to the workpiece were tested to remove the laser energy from the process. It could be shown that a high defocusing of the optic system above 40 mm with a resulting beam diameter > 2.9 mm in a short overlap length of approx. 20 mm leads to the formation of a cup-shaped weld seam, which is preferred for avoidance of cracks and pores in the end crater. A laser optics with motor-driven lens system was used for the welding experiments to defocuse the laser beam without changing the position of the arc.
High heat input leads to grain coarsening and softening in WM and HAZ; the tensile strength is reduced. Low heat input leads to inadmissible hardening in the WM; the impact strength is reduced.
The proposed t8/5-time of 3 s to 15 s could be achieved through the reduced welding velocity.
The concept of electromagnetic weld pool support system allowed single-pass welds in flat position without gravity drop-outs even for reduced welding speeds; in this way the heat input can be controlled.
The adaptation of the electromagnetic weld pool support system to laser and laser hybrid welding process can dramatically increase the potential field of application of these technologies for real industrial implementation.
High-power hybrid laser arc welding of thick materials with electromagnetic weld pool support
(2023)
In addition to the many advantages of deep penetration, increased welding speed and a low sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances such as gap and edge offset, the hybrid laser arc welding (HLAW) process is used increasingly in industrial applications such as shipbuilding or pipeline manufacturing. Nonetheless, thick-walled sheets with a wall thickness of 20 mm or more are still multi-pass welded using the arc welding process, due to increased process instability by increasing laser power. Welding at reduced speed, especially in a flat position, leads to an irregular formation of the root part such as dropping. The hydrostatic pressure exceeds the surface tension, which decreases with increasing seam width. In order to prevent gravity drop-outs, the use of a melt pool support is necessary. Usual weld pool supports such as ceramic or powder supports require time-consuming mechanical detachment. The electromagnetic weld pool support system, which is described in this study, operates without contact and based on generating Lorentz forces in the weld pool. An externally applied oscillating magnetic field induces eddy currents and generates an upward directed Lorentz force, which counteracts the hydrostatic pressure. This allows single-pass welds up to 30 mm by hybrid laser arc welding process with a 20-kW fibre laser. Moreover, it is favoured by the diminished welding speed the cooling rate which leads to an improvement of the mechanical-technological properties of the seams – the lower formation of martensite in the microstructure enables better Charpy impact toughness. The electromagnetic weld pool support extends the limitation of the laser hybrid welding process in the thick sheet area. By adapting the electromagnetic weld pool support to the laser and laser hybrid welding process, the application potential of these technologies for industrial implementation can be drastically increased.
The study deals with the influence of the heat input on the thermal cycles, the microstructure and the mechanical properties for laser-hybrid welded steels of S355J2 with thicknesses up to 30 mm using a 20-kW high-power laser with contactless electromagnetic backing. The focus is on the change of the mechanical properties over the seam thickness. Therefore, the impact toughness and tensile strength were tested in different depths. Based on the experiments, a heat input of 1.3 kJ/mm - 1.6 kJ/mm, 2 kJ/mm - 2.4 kJ/mm and 3.7 kJ/mm were recommended when single-pass welding of 20 mm, 25 mm and 30 mm with a 20-kW laser in regard to the minimum requirements of the mechanical properties, respectively. Lower heat inputs led to undesired microstructure consisting of martensite, hardening and deteriorated impact toughness, where higher heat inputs led to grain-coarsening and even loss of impact strength due to the formation of retained-austenite on the grain boundaries.
The laser hybrid welding process offers many advantages during welding oft hick-walled steels, such as the increased penetration depth and, thus, reduced number of layers, reduced heat input and decreased distortion compared to arc-based welding processes. Especially, when welding high-strength steels (HSS), the reduced heat input plays an essential role. However, a major challenge when laser hybrid welding of thick-walled steels is the limited filler wire mixing over the entire seam thickness, which can lead to changed mechanical properties over the depth. To overcome this issue, the add of oxygen into the shielding gas and its influence on the filler wire mixing and finally to the mechanical properties were investigated within this work. Therefore, 20 mm thick S690QL steels were laser hybrid welded in a single-pass. A contactless electromagnetic backing was used to avoid sagging. The admixture of oxygen was performed by a gas mixer, where the oxygen content was varied between 0 % and 7.2 %. The experiments were also accompanied by laser beam welding tests in steel/glass configuration, where the melt pool geometry as well as the melt flow characteristics were captured by a high-speed camera. It can be concluded, that adding of 2 % to 4 % oxygen into the shielding gas had a positive effect on the filler wire mixing, were up to a depth of 18 mm elements of the filler wire could be observed.
The laser hybrid welding process offers many advantages such as the high penetration depth and high welding speed, and it is characterized by its low heat input compared to the arc-based welding processes, which makes the laser hybrid welding process as a suitable alternative process when welding thick-walled steels. However, there are some challenges when using laser hybrid welding process for thick steels. Due to the uneven cooling conditions and the inhomogeneous filler wire mixing, a typical laser hybrid weld can be divided into two different zones over the depth: the arc-dominated zone on the upper part and the laser-dominated zone in the root part. This leads to different mechanical properties in a laser hybrid welded joint. Due to the high cooling rates and the lack of filler wire in the laser-dominated zone, this area is more critical regarding the mechanical properties, especially the Charpy impact toughness. A low heat input can lead to undesired microstructure consisting of martensite, hardening and deteriorated impact toughness due to the high cooling rate, where higher heat inputs can lead to grain-coarsening and even loss of impact strength. This study deals with the influence of the welding speed and resulting heat input on the cooling rates, the microstructure and the mechanical properties of single-pass laser hybrid welded steels of S355J2 with thickness up to 30 mm. The experiments were performed with a 20-kW fibre laser system and a contactless electromagnetic weld backing on up to 30 mm thick steels in butt-joint configuration in 1G welding position. The cooling time was measured in three different locations near to fusion lines corresponding to different heights of the seam using a special configuration with pyrometers, collimators, and optical fibres. The test specimens for the Charpy impact testing and tensile testing were extracted in up to three different depths. Based on the experiments, a heat input of 1.3 kJ/mm - 1.6 kJ/mm, 2 kJ/mm - 2.4 kJ/mm and 3.7 kJ/mm were recommended when single-pass laser hybrid welding of 20 mm, 25 mm and 30 mm thick structural steels in regard to the minimum requirements of the mechanical properties, respectively. The optical measurement of the cooling times in different depths could be carried out reproducibly.
The presentation summarizes our recent results on the coupled electrochemical methods for high resolution corrosion studies. The combination of Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM) and multielectrode (MMA) based real-time corrosion monitoring was presented as a new method for achieving high time resolution in local electrochemical analysis. Correlative imaging by means of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was demonstrated as a tool for the investigation of local corrosion processes initiated by the intermetallic particles (IMPs) on AA2024-T3 aluminium alloy.
The performance of functional coatings and adhesively joined hybrid components relies strongly on the stability of the polymer-metal interface. With the increasing utilization of multi-material structures in the automotive and aerospace industry, it is of great scientific and technical interest to understand the processes leading to interface degradation and to develop novel strategies to increase corrosion and delamination resistance.
The aim of this project is to develop thin epoxy-based films and their carbon nanofiller loaded composites on aluminium alloy AA2024-T3 as a model system and to investigate their interfacial stability under corrosive and coupled corrosive-mechanical load. Spin coating was used for the layer-by-layer deposition of poly[(o-cresyl glycidyl ether)-co-formaldehyde] and poly-(ethylenimine) bi-layers. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) results indicate a very homogeneous and dense film with low surface roughness. Carbon nanofillers were introduced either by mixing into the coating components or in between individual layers to control the separation between the carbon nanofillers and alloy surface. The film chemistry and barrier properties were characterized by means of spectroscopic and electrochemical methods, respectively. The degradation and delamination behavior of the epoxy-based films was characterized by means of in situ AFM corrosion experiments. The quantitative imaging (QI) mode allowed the observation of hydrogen-generation induced blister formation during exposure to corrosive electrolyte and how the local corrosion processes evolved with exposure time. Complementary energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis was performed to correlate the corrosion behavior with the different intermetallic particle chemistries and distributions. The presentation will summarize our results on the effect of interface chemistry and carbon nanofiller – alloy separation on the initiation of local corrosion processes on thin film covered AA2024-T3 aluminium alloys.
In service, most materials are operated under simultaneous corrosive and mechanical load and there are very few methods capable for testing material degradation under these conditions, especially when it comes to high resolution analysis. For this purpose, in this work, a tensile module capable of uniaxial stretching and compression with up to 5 kN force was integrated into an AFM stage. The elimination of the need for sample unmounting and remounting and the resulting possibility of keeping the sample under constant mechanical load during AFM measurements not only enables a precise positioning of the area of interest but also allows for the analysis of processes in the elastic deformation regime.
This methodology was demonstrated for two case studies. Scanning Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (SKPFM) was used as the main tool to characterize the deformation behavior. Moreover, a flexible electrochemical measurement cell was used to enable electrochemical analysis by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV) during AFM measurements at different levels of strain. The in situ AFM results are complemented by microstructure analysis by means of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD).
In the first case study, the deformation induced delamination of a thin organic coating on AA2024 T3 aluminium alloy was investigated as a function of alloy surface treatment. The formation of cracks in the insulating passive film enabled an early detection of deformation processes by means of SKPFM. The second case study focused on the comparison of corrosion and deformation behavior of conventional and additively manufactured 316 stainless steels. In comparison to the conventional 316 stainless steel, the effect of processing was clearly detectable on the additively manufactured material as zones of inhomogeneous potential, which also affected the initiation of local corrosion processes. The contribution will provide detailed information on the new AFM setup and summarize our results from both case studies.
Nanotechnology at BAM
(2017)
In our current view, reference datasets in the MSE domain represent specific material properties, e.g., structural, mechanical, … characteristics. A reference dataset must fulfill high-quality standards, not only in precision of measurement but also in a comprehensive documentation of material, processing, and testing history (metadata). This Infrastructure Use Case (IUC) aims to develop a framework for generating reference material datasets using creep data of a single crystal Ni-based superalloy as a best practice example. In a community-driven process, we aim to encourage the discussion and establish a framework for the creation and distribution of reference material datasets. In this poster presentation, we highlight our current vision and activities and intend to stimulate the discussion about the topic reference datasets and future collaborations and work.
Laser powder-based directed energy deposition (DED-L) is a technology that offers the possibility for 3D material deposition over hundreds of layers and has thus the potential for application in additive manufacturing (AM). However, to achieve broad industrial application as AM technology, more data and knowledge about the fabricated materials regarding the achieved properties and their relationship to the manufacturing process and the resulting microstructure is still needed. In this work, we present data regarding the low-cycle fatigue (LCF) behavior of Ti-6Al-4V. The material was fabricated using an optimized DED-L process. It features a low defect population and excellent tensile properties. To assess its LCF behavior two conventionally manufactured variants of the same alloy featuring different microstructures were additionally tested. The strain-controlled LCF tests were carried out in fully reversed mode with 0.3 % to 1.0 % axial strain amplitude from room temperature up to 400°C. The LCF behavior and failure mechanisms are described. For characterization, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and micro-computed tomography (µCT) were used. The low defect population allows for a better understanding of the intrinsic material’s properties and enables a fairer comparison against the conventional variants. The fatigue lifetimes of the DED-L material are nearly independent of the test temperature. At elevated test temperatures, they are similar or higher than the lifetimes of the conventional counterparts. At room temperature, they are only surpassed by the lifetimes of one of them. The principal failure mechanism involves multiple crack initiation sites.
This presentation shows some experimental results of the characterization of the creep behavior of LPBF 316L, which has been poorly studied and understood to date. The presentation includes results regarding the mechanical properties, the initial microstructural state and its evolution under loading, and the damage mechanism. This work was done within the BAM focus area materials project AGIL. As a benchmark to assess the material properties of the LPBF 316L, a conventionally manufactured variant was also tested.
Additively manufactured metallic materials have already started to find application in safety-relevant components. However, this has only happened for certain materials and specific applications and loading conditions, since there is still an extensive lack of knowledge as well as of historical data regarding their mechanical behaviour. This contribution aims to address this lack of understanding and historical data concerning the creep behaviour of the austenitic stainless steel 316L manufactured by Laser-Powder-Bed-Fusion (L-PBF) and the low-cycle-fatigue behaviour of the titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V manufactured by Laser-Metal-Deposition (LMD). Furthermore, it aims to assess their mechanical behaviour against their conventional counterparts. With that in mind, specimens from conventional and additive materials are tested and their mechanical behaviour analysed based on characteristic curves. To understand the damage behaviours the materials are characterized by destructive and non-destructive techniques before and after failure.
Creep and fracture behavior of conventionally and additively manufactured stainless steel 316L
(2020)
A critical task within the frame of establishing process-structure-property-performance relationships in additive manufacturing (AM) of metals is producing reliable and well-documented material behavior’s data and knowledge regarding the structure-property correlation, including the role of defects. After all, it represents the basis for developing more targeted process optimizations and more reliable predictions of performance in the future. Within this context, this contribution aims to close the actual gap of limited historical data and knowledge concerning the creep behavior of the widely used austenitic stainless steel 316L, manufactured by Laser-Powder-Bed-Fusion (L-PBF). To address this objective, specimens from conventional hot-rolled and AM material were tested under application-relevant conditions according to existing standards for conventional material, and microstructurally characterized before and after failure. The test specimens were machined from single blocks from the AM material. The blocks were manufactured using a standard scan and build-up strategy and were subsequently heat-treated. The creep behavior is described and comparatively assessed based on the creep lifetime and selected creep curves and characteristic values. The effect of defects and microstructure on the material’s behavior is analyzed based on destructive and non-destructive evaluations on selected specimens. The AM material shows shorter creep lives, reaches the secondary creep stage much faster and at a lower strain, and features lower creep ductility compared to its conventional counterpart. The creep damage behavior of the AM material is more microstructure than defect controlled and is characterized by the formation and accumulation of single intergranular damage along the whole volume. Critical features identified are the grain morphology and the grain-boundary as well as the dislocation’s density. Micro-computed tomography (µCT) proves to be an alternative to metallography to analyze the creep damage.
Powder bed technologies are amongst the most successful Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques. Powder bed fusion and binder jetting especially are leading AM technologies for metals and polymers, thanks to their high productivity and scalability. The application of these techniques to most ceramics has been difficult so far, because of the challenges related to the deposition of homogeneous powder layers when using fine powders. In this context, the “layerwise slurry deposition” (LSD) has been developed as a layer deposition method which enables the use of powder bed AM technologies also for advanced ceramic materials. The layerwise slurry deposition consists of the layer-by-layer deposition of a ceramic slurry by means of a doctor blade, in which the slurry is deposited and dried to achieve a highly packed powder layer. This offers high flexibility in the ceramic feedstock used, especially concerning material and particle size. The LSD technology can be combined with binder jetting to develop the so-called “LSDprint” process for the additive manufacturing of ceramics. The LSDprint technology combines the high-speed printing of binder jetting with the possibility of producing a variety of high-quality ceramics with properties comparable to those achieved by traditional processing. In this presentation, the LSD process will be introduced and several examples of application ranging from silicate to high-performance ceramics will be shown. Recent developments towards the scale-up and industrialization of this process will be discussed, alongside future perspectives for the multi-material additive manufacturing.
Powder bed technologies are amongst the most successful Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques. Powder bed fusion and binder jetting especially are leading AM technologies for metals and polymers, thanks to their high productivity and scalability.
The application of these techniques to most ceramics has been difficult so far, because of the challenges related to the deposition of homogeneous powder layers when using fine powders.
In this context, the "layerwise slurry deposition" (LSD) has been developed as a layer deposition method which enables the use of powder bed AM technologies also for advanced ceramic materials. The layerwise slurry deposition consists of the layer-by-layer deposition of a ceramic slurry by means of a doctor blade, in which the slurry is deposited and dried to achieve a highly packed powder layer. This offers high flexibility in the ceramic feedstock used, especially concerning material and particle size.
The LSD technology can be combined with binder jetting to develop the so-called “LSDprint” process for the additive manufacturing of ceramics.
The LSDprint technology combines the high-speed printing of binder jetting with the possibility of producing a variety of high-quality ceramics with properties comparable to those achieved by traditional processing.
In this presentation, the LSD process will be introduced and several examples of application ranging from silicate to high-performance ceramics will be shown.
Recent developments towards the scale-up and industrialization of this process will be discussed, alongside future perspectives for the multi-material additive manufacturing.
Several Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes are based on the deposition of a powder to form a powder-bed layer-by-layer which typically has a low packing density (35-50%) and consequently hinders the ability of sintering ceramic parts to full density. The layerwise slurry deposition (LSD) is an innovative process for the deposition of layers in AM. In the LSD, a slurry with no or small organic content is repetitively spread as thin layers on each other by means of a doctor blade. During the deposition, the ceramic particles settle to form thin layers with a high packing density (55-60%). When coupled with a printing head or with a laser, the LSD enables novel AM technologies inspired to the 3D printing or selective laser sintering, but taking advantage of having a highly dense powder-bed. This approach has been successfully applied to silicate ceramics, but implementing technical ceramic slurries is more challenging, because the water is drained too quickly from the suspension into the pores of the previous porous layer. In this presentation, the variables involved in the LSD will be analyzed and the latest improvements in the deposition setup will be described. The application of the LSD to technical ceramics has the potential of generating additive manufacturing parts which in the green state are comparable to those produced by slip casting.
Several Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes are based on the deposition of a powder to form a powder-bed layer-by-layer which typically has a low packing density (35-50%) and consequently hinders the ability of sintering ceramic parts to full density.
The layerwise slurry deposition (LSD) is an innovative process for the deposition of layers in AM. In the LSD, a slurry with no or small organic content is repetitively spread as thin layers on each other by means of a doctor blade. During the deposition, the ceramic particles settle to form thin layers with a high packing density (55-60%). When coupled with a printing head or with a laser, the LSD enables novel AM technologies inspired to the 3D printing or selective laser sintering, but taking advantage of having a highly dense powder-bed. This approach has been successfully applied to silicate ceramics, but implementing technical ceramic slurries is more challenging, because the water is drained too quickly from the suspension into the pores of the previous porous layer forming a cast.
In this presentation, the variables involved in the LSD will be analyzed and the latest improvements in the deposition setup will be described. The application of the LSD to technical ceramics has the potential of generating additive manufacturing parts which in the green state are comparable to those produced by slip casting.
The layerwise slurry deposition (LSD) is an innovative process for the deposition of layers in AM. In the LSD, a slurry with no or low organic content is repetitively spread as thin layers on each other by means of a doctor blade. During the deposition, the ceramic particles settle to form thin layers with a high packing density (55-60%). The LSD therefore shares aspects both of tape casting and slip casting. The LSD differentiates from the classical powder-based AM layer deposition, which typically are able to achieve only a low packing density (35-50%), consequently hindering the ability of sintering ceramic parts to full density. The LSD is coupled with the principles of selective laser sintering (SLS) or binder printing, to generate novel processes which take advantage of the possibility of achieving a highly dense powder-bed.
This presentation will describe the most recent developments in the application of the LSD to technical ceramics, in particular Al2O3 and SiC, discussing potential and issues connected to the layer deposition and the selective laser sintering of such layers.
Several Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes are based on the deposition of a powder to form a powder bed layer-by-layer, which typically has a low packing density (35-50%) and consequently hinders the ability of sintering ceramic parts to full density.
The layerwise slurry deposition (LSD) is an innovative process for the deposition of layers in AM. In the LSD, a slurry with no or small organic content is repetitively spread as thin layers on each other by means of a doctor blade. During the deposition, the ceramic particles settle to form thin layers with a high packing density (55-60%). When coupled with a printing head or with a laser, the LSD enables novel AM technologies inspired to the 3D printing or selective laser sintering, but taking advantage of having a highly dense powder-bed.
The LSD combined with inkjet binder printing (LSD-print) was applied to a submicron Al2O3 powder to produce samples which had a comparable density to uniaxially pressed samples, both in the green and in the sintered state.
The layer-wise slurry deposition (LSD) is an innovative process for the deposition of powder layers with a high packing density for Additive Manufacturing (AM). A slurry with small organic content is repetitively spread as thin layers on top of each other by means of a doctor blade. During the deposition, the ceramic particles settle to form thin layers with a high packing density (55-60%). Each layer is then dried, resulting in the stacking of a dry powder bed with high powder packing. When coupled with a printing head or with a laser source, the LSD enables novel AM technologies inspired to the 3D printing or selective laser sintering, but taking advantage of having a highly dense powder bed.
The LSD -3D printing, in particular, offers the potential of producing large (> 100 mm) and high quality ceramic parts, with microstructure and properties similar to traditional processing.
This presentation will give an overview of the milestones in the development of this technology, with focus on the latest results applied both to silicate and to technical ceramics.
Powder based Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes are widely used for metallic and polymeric materials, but rarely commercially used for ceramic materials, especially for technical ceramics. This seemingly contradicting observation is explained by the fact that in powder based AM, a dry flowable powder needs to be used. Technical ceramics powders are in fact typically very fine and poorly flowable, which makes them not suitable for AM. The layerwise slurry deposition (LSD) is an innovative process for the deposition of powder layers with a high packing density for powder based AM. In the LSD process, a ceramic slurry is deposited to form thin powder layers, rather than using a dry powder This allows the use of fine powders and achieves high packing density (55-60%) in the layers after drying. When coupled with a printing head or with a laser source, the LSD enables novel AM technologies which are similar to *Denotes Presenter 42nd International Conference & Exposition on Advanced Ceramics & Composites 127 Abstracts the 3D printing or selective laser sintering, but taking advantage of having a highly dense powder bed. The LSD -3D printing, in particular, offers the potential of producing large (> 100 mm) and high quality ceramic parts, with microstructure and properties similar to traditional processing. This presentation will give an overview of the milestones in the development of this technology, with focus on the latest results applied both to silicate and to technical ceramics.
The layerwise slurry deposition (LSD) has been established in the recent years as a method for the deposition of ceramic powder layers. The LSD consists in the layer-by-layer deposition of a ceramic slurry by means of a doctor blade; each layer is sequentially deposited and dried to achieve a highly packed powder layer.
The combination of binder jetting and LSD was introduced as a novel technology named LSD-print. The LSD-print takes advantage of the speed of binder jetting to print large areas, parallel to the flexibility of the LSD, which allows the deposition of highly packed powder layers with a variety of ceramic materials.
The working principle and history of the LSD technology will be shortly discussed. A theoretical background will be also discussed, highlighting advantages and drawbacks of the LSD compared to the deposition of a dry powder.
The last part of the talk will be dedicated to highlight recent results on the LSD-print of SiSiC of geometrically complex components, in collaboration between BAM and HC Starck Ceramics GmbH. Density, microstructure and mechanical properties of LSD-printed and isostatic pressed samples will be discussed and compared.
Powder bed -based technologies are amongst the most successful Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques. "Selective laser sintering/melting" (SLS/SLM) and "binder jetting 3D printing" (3DP) especially are leading AM technologies for metals and polymers, thanks to their high productivity and scalability.
However, the flowability of the powder used in these processes is essential to achieve defect-free and densely packed powder layers. For standard powder bed AM technologies, this limits the use of many raw materials which are too fine or too cohesive.
This presentation will discuss the possibilities to either optimize the powder raw material to adapt it to the specific AM process, or to develop novel AM technologies which are able to process powders in a wider range of conditions.
In this context, the "layerwise slurry deposition" (LSD) has been developed as a layer deposition method which enables the use of very fine ceramic particles.
Powder bed -based technologies are amongst the most successful Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques. "Selective laser sintering/melting" (SLS/SLM) and "binder jetting 3D printing" (3DP) especially are leading AM technologies for metals and polymers, thanks to their high productivity and scalability. In this context, the "layerwise slurry deposition" (LSD) has been developed as a layer deposition method which enables the use of SLS/SLM and 3DP technologies for advanced ceramic materials. LSD consists in the layer-by-layer deposition of a ceramic slurry by means of a doctor blade. Each layer is deposited and dried to achieve a highly packed powder layer, which can be used for SLM or for 3DP. This technique offers high flexibility in the ceramic feedstock used, especially concerning material and particle size, and is capable of producing parts with physical and mechanical properties comparable to traditionally shaped parts. In this presentation, the LSD technique will be introduced and several examples of application to porcelain, SiC and alumina products will be reported.
In powder-based Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes, an object is produced by successively depositing thin layers of a powder material and by inscribing the cross section of the object in each layer. The main methods to inscribe a layer are by binder jetting (also known as powder 3D printing) or by selective laser sintering/melting (SLS/SLM).
Powder-based AM processes have found wide application for several metallic, polymeric and also ceramic materials, due to their advantages in combining flexibility, easy upscaling and (often) good material properties of their products.
The deposition of homogeneous layers is key to the reproducibility of these processes and has a direct influence on the quality of the final parts. Accordingly, powder properties such as particle size distribution, shape, roughness and process related properties such as powder flowability and packing density need to be carefully evaluated.
Due to these requirements, these processes have been so far precluded to find commercial use for certain applications. In the following, two outstanding cases will be presented.
A first example is that powder-based AM processes are widely used for many metallic and polymeric materials, but they find no commercial application for most technical ceramics.
This seemingly contradicting observation is explained by the fact that in powder based AM, a dry flowable powder needs to be used. The processing of technical ceramics in fact typically requires very fine and poorly flowable powder, which makes them not suitable for the standard processes. There have been several approaches to adapt the raw materials to the process (e.g. by granulation), but in order to maintain the superior properties of technical ceramics it seems necessary to follow the opposite approach and adapt the process to the raw materials instead.
This was the motivation for developing the Layerwise Slurry Deposition (LSD), an innovative process for the deposition of powder layers with a high packing density. In the LSD process, a ceramic slurry is deposited to form thin powder layers, rather than using a dry powder. This allows achieving high packing density (55-60%) in the layers after drying. It is also important, that standard ceramic raw materials can be used. When coupled with a printing head or with a laser source, the LSD enables novel AM technologies which are similar to 3D printing or selective laser sintering, but taking advantage of having a highly dense powder bed.
The LSD -3D printing, in particular, offers the potential of producing large (> 100 mm) and high quality ceramic parts, with microstructure and properties similar to traditional processing. Moreover, due to the compact powder bed, no support structures are required for fixation of the part in the printing process.
Figure 1 shows the schematics of the working principle of the LSD-3D print and illustrates some examples of the resolution and features achievable.
The second outstanding case here described is the application of powder-based AM in environments with reduced or zero gravity. The vision is to be able to produce repair parts, tools and other objects during a space mission, such as on the International Space Station (ISS), without the need of delivering such parts from Earth or carrying them during the mission. AM technologies are also envisioned to play an important role even for future missions to bring mankind to colonize other planets, be it on Mars or on the Moon. In this situation, reduced gravity is also experienced (the gravitational acceleration is 0.16 g on the Moon and 0.38 g on Mars).
These environments cause the use of AM powder technologies to be very problematic: the powder layers need to be stabilized in order to avoid dispersion of the particles in the chamber. This is impossible for standard AM powder deposition systems, which rely on gravitation to spread the powder.
Also in this case, an innovative approach has been implemented to face this technological challenge. The application of a gas flow through a powder has a very strong effect on its flowability, by generating a force on each particle, which is following the gas flow field. This principle can be applied in a simple setup such as the one shown in Figure 2.
In this setup, the gas flow causes an average pressure on the powder bed in direction of the arrows, generating a stabilizing effect which acts in the same direction of the gravitational force. This effect can be used in addition to normal gravity on Earth to achieve a better stabilization of 3D printed parts in the powder bed. In this case, even a significant increase of packing density of the powder was measured, compared to the same experimental setup without gas flow. This is due to the fact that the force on each single particle follows the gas flow field, which is guiding the particles to settle between the pores of the powder bed, thus achieving an efficient packing.
The same principle can be applied in absence of gravitation, where the gas flow acts to stabilize the powder layers. It has been shown that ceramic powder could be deposited in layers and laser sintered in µ-gravity conditions during a DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt) campaign of parabolic flights, as shown in Figure 2. A follow-up campaign is dedicated to the deposition of metallic (stainless steel) powder in inert atmosphere and to study the effects of laser melting in µ-gravity.
In conclusion, the description of these two example cases shows how the development of novel technological processes can address some of the limitations of standard powder-based AM, in order to enable the use of new materials, such as technical ceramics, or to tackle the challenges of AM in space.
In powder bed Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies, a part is produced by depositing and piling up thin powder layers. In each layer, the cross section of the object to build is defined by locally consolidating the powder, by sintering/melting the material (powder bed fusion technologies) or by ink jetting a binder (binder jetting technologies).
These are already leading AM technologies for metals and polymers, thanks to their high productivity and scalability. The application of these techniques to most ceramics has been challenging so far, because of the challenges related to the deposition of homogeneous powder layers when using fine powders.
In this context, the "layerwise slurry deposition" (LSD) has been developed as a layer deposition method which enables the use of SLS/SLM and 3DP technologies for advanced ceramic materials. LSD consists in the layer-by-layer deposition of a ceramic slurry by means of a doctor blade. Each layer is deposited and dried to achieve a highly packed powder layer. The LSD offers high flexibility in the ceramic feedstock used, especially concerning material and particle size, and enables the production of parts with physical and mechanical properties comparable to pressed or slip-casted parts. In this presentation, the LSD technique will be introduced and several examples of application to porcelain, SiC and alumina products will be reported.
Powder bed -based technologies are amongst the most successful Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques. "Selective laser sintering/melting" (SLS/SLM) and "binder jetting 3D printing" (3DP) especially are leading AM technologies for metals and polymers, thanks to their high productivity and scalability.
However, the flowability of the powder used in these processes is essential to achieve defect-free and densely packed powder layers. For standard powder bed AM technologies, this limits the use of many raw materials which are too fine or too cohesive.
This presentation will discuss the possibilities to either optimize the powder raw material to adapt it to the specific AM process, or to develop novel AM technologies which are able to process powders in a wider range of conditions.
In this context, the "layerwise slurry deposition" (LSD) has been developed as a layer deposition method which enables the use of very fine ceramic particles. Another technology, the Gas Flow Assisted Powder Deposition, can increase the stability of the powder bed and the packing density, even in extreme conditions such as in absence of gravitational forces.
Powder bed -based technologies are amongst the most successful Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques. "Selective laser sintering/melting" (SLS/SLM) and "binder jetting 3D printing" (3DP) especially are leading AM technologies for metals and polymers, thanks to their high productivity and scalability. In this context, the "layerwise slurry deposition" (LSD) has been developed as a layer deposition method which enables the use of SLS/SLM and 3DP technologies for advanced ceramic materials. LSD consists in the layer-by-layer deposition of a ceramic slurry by means of a doctor blade. Each layer is deposited and dried to achieve a highly packed powder layer, which can be used for SLM or for 3DP. This technique offers high flexibility in the ceramic feedstock used, especially concerning material and particle size, and is capable of producing parts with physical and mechanical properties comparable to traditionally shaped parts. In this presentation, the LSD technique will be introduced and several examples of application to porcelain, SiC and alumina products will be reported.
Motivated by the aim of developing an additive manufacturing (AM) technology easily integrated in the process chains of the ceramic industry, the LSD-print technology was conceived as a slurry-based variation of binder jetting (BJ).
BJ and other powder bed technologies (such as powder bed fusion) are amongst the most successful AM techniques, especially for metals and polymers, thanks to their high productivity and scalability. The possibility to use commercially available feedstocks (in the form of powders or granules) makes BJ also attractive for ceramic materials. The application of these techniques to most advanced ceramics has however been difficult so far, because of the limitations in depositing homogeneous layers with fine, typically poorly flowable powders.
In this context, the "layerwise slurry deposition" (LSD) was proposed at TU Clausthal (Germany) as a slurry-based deposition of ceramic layers by means of a doctor blade. Combined with layer-by-layer laser sintering of the material, the LSD process was originally demonstrated for the rapid prototyping of silicate ceramics. Due to the difficulties in controlling the microstructure and the defect formation in laser-sintered technical ceramics, the LSD process was later combined with inkjet printing in the LSD-print technology, which has been further developed at BAM (Germany) in the past decade.
The LSD-print technology combines the high speed of inkjet printing, typical of BJ, with the possibility of producing a variety of high-quality ceramics with properties comparable to those achieved by traditional processing. Due to the mechanical stability of the powder bed, the process can also be carried out with continuous layer deposition on a rotating platform, which further increases its productivity.
This presentation will delve into 10 years of research on the LSD-print of a wide variety of technical ceramics including alumina, silicon carbides and dental ceramics. The discussion highlights how a seemingly small process and feedstock modification (from powders to slurries) has great influence on the challenges and potential of this process, which are being addressed on its path to industrialization.
The Laser-Induced Slip Casting is an additive manufacturing technology specifically developed for ceramic materials using water-based ceramic slurries. The process takes place layer-by-layer in a similar fashion as top-down vat photopolymerization, selectively consolidating each layer by means of a laser energy source positioned on the top. Contrary to vat photopolymerization, in which the consolidation is achieved by selectively cross-linking a ceramic-filled resin, LIS uses water-based slurries with a low amount of organic additives (typically < 5 wt%) as feedstocks.
In LIS, a green body is formed by local evaporation of water which causes the suspension to collapse forming a cast, following a mechanism similar to slip casting. Only a small content of organic additives is needed to effectively disperse the ceramic particles and to increase the green strength.
The technology is very versatile and can be applied to all ceramic systems that can be dispersed in water. One of the main advantages is that even dark materials such as silicon carbide can be processed without issues related to light scattering and absorption.
The presentation will discuss strengths and limitations of LIS compared to other AM technologies and will highlight the latest results for alumina and for silicon carbide ceramics.
Powder bed technologies are amongst the most successful Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques. The application of these techniques to most ceramics has been difficult so far, because of the challenges related to the deposition of homogeneous powder layers when using fine powders.
In this context, the "layerwise slurry deposition" (LSD) has been developed as a layer deposition method enabling the use of powder bed AM technologies also for advanced ceramic materials. The layerwise slurry deposition consists of the layer-by-layer deposition of a ceramic slurry by means of a doctor blade, in which the slurry is deposited and dried to achieve a highly packed powder. Not only very fine, submicron powders can be processed with low organics, but also the dense powder bed provides excellent support to the parts built. The LSD technology can be combined with binder jetting to develop the so-called “LSD-print” process. LSD-print combines the high-speed printing of binder jetting with the possibility of producing a variety of high-quality ceramics with properties comparable to traditional processing.
The latest development of this technology shows that it is possible to print ceramic parts in a continuous process by depositing a layer onto a rotating platform, growing a powder bed following a spiral motion. The unique mechanical stability of the layers in LSD-print allows to grow a powder bed several centimeters thick without any lateral support. The continuous layer deposition allows to achieve a productivity more than 10X higher compared to the linear deposition, approaching a build volume of 1 liter/hour.
The presentation will start with an overview of ceramic additive manufacturing (AM) technologies and will discuss the potential of AM in the field of bioceramics.
The presentation will then focus on two possible use cases of binder jetting technologies.
In the first example, standard powder-based binder jetting is used to manufacture a porous implant design for large scale bone defects. The related challenges in the process chain will be discussed, from powder synthesis to sintering and characterization of the printed part.
In the second example, the LSD-print slurry-based binder jetting technology is presented as a possibility to adapt powder-bed AM to produce dense ceramic parts. The use case will focus on an application in the field of dental ceramics, specifically for the manufacturing of patient individualized single tooth restorations (veneers, crowns) with a high throughput process chain.
The presentation gives an overview of two slurry-based additive manufacturing (AM) technologies specifically developed for advanced ceramic materials.
The “Layerwise Slurry Deposition” (LSD-print) is a modification of Binder Jetting making use of a ceramic slurry instead of a dry powder as a feedstock. In this process, a slurry is deposited layer-by-layer by means of a doctor blade and dried to achieve a highly packed powder layer, which is then printed by jetting a binder. The LSD-print technology combines the high-speed printing of binder jetting with the possibility of producing a variety of high-quality ceramics with properties comparable to those achieved by traditional processing.
The Laser Induced Slip casting (LIS) technology follows a novel working principle by locally drying and selectively consolidating layer-by-layer a ceramic green body in a vat of slurry, using a laser as energy source. LIS combines elements of Vat Photopolymerization with the use of water-based feedstocks containing a minimal amount of organic additives. The resulting technology can be directly integrated into a traditional ceramic process chain by manufacturing green bodies that are sintered without the need of a dedicated debinding.
Both technologies offer high flexibility in the ceramic feedstock used, especially concerning material and particle size. Advantages and disadvantages are briefly described to outline the specific features of LSD-print and LIS depending on the targeted application.
Additive Manufacturing for dental restorations by layerwise slurry deposition (LSD-print) technology
(2023)
The growing market of custom-made dental restorations offers a major potential for an application of ceramic additive manufacturing (AM).
The possibility to individualize patient specific design and to establish new efficient workflows, from model generation to manufacturing, can be fully exploited by AM technologies. However, for mass customization to be truly envisioned, ceramic AM needs to achieve a level of maturity, aesthetic quality, and productivity comparable to established manufacturing processes.
In this presentation, the potential of the “layerwise slurry deposition” LSD-print technology for dental applications will be explored. It has been shown in the past years that the LSD-print can be applied to advanced ceramic materials such as alumina and silicon-infiltrated silicon carbide. For these materials, the LSD-print technology combines the high-speed printing of binder jetting with the possibility of producing a variety of high-quality ceramics.
The current development deals with the challenges of applying this technology to a feldspar dental material, comparing the quality of AM restorations with the equivalent material for an established CAD/CAM workflow.
Preliminary results not only indicate that the AM material produced by LSD-print can be competitive in terms of mechanical properties, but also that aesthetically satisfactory restorations can be manufactured for veneers, inlays and onlays as well as single unit fixed dental prostheses (FDPs).
The presentation focuses on the material and technological challenges alongside the process chain, from the printing process, to debinding, firing and finishing the restorations.
Elastomers, such as hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR) are usually mechanically reinforced with high loadings of carbon black (CB) to achieve the properties demanded; high amounts of mineral flame retardants are used to fulfill fire safety requirements. These high filler loadings sometimes cause deterioration of the physical properties of the material. In this study, multilayer graphene (MLG), a nanoparticle made of only 10 graphene sheets, is applied in low loadings (3 phr) to reduce the total amount of filler or boost performance.1,2,3 In former studies nanofiller achieved increased flame retardancy at very low lowdings.4,5,6 The dispersion of the nanofiller is essential for the properties of the nanocomposites.7 The nanocomposites were prepared via master batch by an ultrasonically assisted solution mixing and subsequent conventional two-roll milling.
SEM and TEM micrographs and rheological measurements revealed that the MLG nanoparticles were well dispersed in the HNBR matrix. In the HNBR nanocomposites, 3 phr MLG replaced 15 phr CB, 3 phr ATH or 15 phr CB + 3 phr ATH and achieved large consistent improvement in curing, rheological and mechanical properties of the HNBR. The nanocomposites with partial replaced CB reduced the filler loading up to 60% without any deterioration of the properties. The HNBR/MLG nanocomposites achieved an even higher Young’s modulus, hardness and thermal conductivity. MLG achieved advanced flame retardancy by improving the protection layer. The layer is created during the burning phase and acted as an afterglow suppressor. This study proposed the combination of ATH with MLG as a promising approach to reduce the amount of filler, in addition to improving the mechanical properties and fire performance of HNBR rubbers.
Impact damages and delaminations in fibre-reinforced composites (FRC) might not be visible at the surface, but could have an influence on the resistance and on the long-term behaviour of the component. Therefore, and especially for safety relevant structures, non-destructive methods are required for the assessment of such damages.
Active thermography methods are suitable to characterize damages after loading using different kind of excitation techniques and various configurations of infrared (IR) camera and heating sources. Here, flash lamps, impulse excitation with infrared radiator and lock-in technique with halogen lamps or widened laser beams are suited. In addition, non-optical sources like sonotrodes (requiring direct contact to the structure) or induction generators (only suited for carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) structures) could be applied as well. For the investigation of the evolution of the damage during the impact, passive thermography can be applied in-situ. Elastic and plastic deformations alter the temperature of the structure and thus the temperature on the surface.
In this contribution, at first the general principles of quantitative defect characterisation in FRC using active thermography with flash, impulse and lock-in excitation are described. Optical and thermal properties of the FRC material and its anisotropy are considered. Results of phase differences obtained at flat bottom holes with flash and lock-in thermography are compared for qualifying both methods for quantitative defect characterization. Secondly, the damage evolution of CFRP and GFRP structures under impact load and static tensile loading is described. The spatial and temporal evolution of the surface temperature enables us to distinguish matrix cracks or fibre-matrix separation from delaminations between the layers. Afterwards, all results for loading defects, obtained by passive and active thermography, are compared with each other. Fig. 1 and 2 show the difference of passive and flash thermography obtained at impact and tensile loaded CFRP plates, respectively. As one purpose of these investigations is the development of standards within national (DIN) and European (CEN) standardisation bodies, new draft and final standards are presented and further needs are discussed at the end of the presentation.
This presentation focuses on the basic ideas and current status of the development of an arithmetical method to predict the failure rotational speed of turbine disks. The certification specification requires that a gas turbine aero-engine must hold 5 minutes at overspeed conditions without critical failure. Therefore, instead of experimental proof from spin-tests using test-disks similar to engine components, it is considered to use simple specimen with similar test conditions compared to real overspeed scenarios. These test conditions, or stress fields are determined using arithmetical method, e.g. finite element method, with consideration of fracture mechanics under quasi-static conditions with a given rotational speed.
Failure modes like hoop burst and rim peeling are considered during determination of stress fields. Various crack-tip parameters are used to explore the similarity of stress field between simple specimen and real overspeed scenarios. Additionally, probabilistic aspects and the implementation of a global stability criterion for overspeed analysis are also considered.
Aero-engine turbine disks are safety-relevant components which are operated under high thermal and mechanical stress conditions. The actual part qualification and certification procedures make use of spin-tests conducted on production-similar disks. While these tests provide, on the one hand, a reliable definition of the critical conditions for real components, on the other hand they represent a relevant cost item for engine manufacturers. The aim of this work is to present part of a fracture mechanics-based procedure under development which aims at replacing the tests on production-similar disks with lab tests on fracture mechanics specimens. In particular, the rim-peeling failure mode is considered as case study. A semi-circular surface crack is modelled at the most stressed region at the diaphragm of a turbine disk, with the crack plane perpendicular to the radial direction. The crack is therefore subjected to a biaxial stress state and grows under increasing rotational speed until it triggers the rim-peeling failure. The finite element simulation of the cracked disk considers the real thermal and mechanical loading conditions. In order to design a lab representative specimen, beside the crack driving force, expressed in terms of J-integral, also the constraint to plastic deformation e.g., stress triaxiality, at the crack-tip must be similar for the same crack in the specimen and in the disk. This has been achieved and as expected, both the highest J-integral and constraint factor are calculated at the same location along the crack front for both disk and specimen. The results of the structural integrity assessment in the form of a Failure Assessment Diagram (FAD) show good agreement between designed specimen and disk both in terms of expected failure mode and value of the critical speed. Probabilistic aspects are also considered in the calculations.
If fracture mechanics shall be applied to the total lifetime respectively the fatigue limit of components (within the meaning of the S-N curve approach) it has to address four challenges:
(a) It has to adequately describe so-called short crack propagation, which cannot be based on the common long crack concepts for principle reasons. Since the crack size is in the order of the plastic zone size, the modelling of short crack propagation cannot be based on the common linear elastic Delta K concept. Instead, an elastic-plastic parameter such as the cyclic J integral has to be applied. A second point is that the crack closure concept has to be modified in that the crack opening stress is not a constant, crack size- independent parameter but shows a transient behaviour with increasing short crack size.
(b) It has to provide a meaningful definition of the initial crack dimensions as the starting point for an S-N curve relevant (residual) lifetime analysis. This can be based either on the (statistical) size of material defects which can be treated as cracks or by the size of the crack which would arrest subsequent to early crack propagation, whatever is larger.
(c) It has to cope with the problem of multiple cracks for load levels higher than the fatigue limit such as it occurs in many applications in the absence of very large initial defects.
(d) This requires consequent statistical treatment taking into account variations in the local geometry of the area where crack initiation has to be expected as well as the scatter in the initial crack size and in the material data used for the analyses.
Starting from an introduction into important Basic questions of failure analysis and fracture mechanics, the author specifies what kind of questions in failure analysis can be effectively solved by fracture mechanics (and which can't). He illustrates his discussion with a number of case studies. Much more pronounced than in the design stage the benefit of fracture mechanics in failure analysis depends on ist accuracy. This is limited by both, intrinsic factors of the method and the availability and quality of the input information. The author discusses the various aspects and provides the participants with background information helpful for better understanding the prospects and limitations of fracture mechanics in failure analysis and the conditions of its application.
Damage development and damage tolerance of structures manufactured by selective laser melting
(2017)
The additive manufacturing technology of Selective Laser Melting (SLM) experiences a rapid development within an increasing marked of quite different application fields. The properties of SLM materials and structures are influenced by a number of tech-nological parameters such as the metal powder (particle size, homogeneity, cleanliness), the laser tool (power, beam diameter, pulse lengths), the scanning operation (speed, sequence and orientation of melting paths), parameters of the over-all equipment (design and preheating of the base plate, currents and turbulence in the protective gas atmosphere) and, last not least, the hatching strategy including the build-up direction of the structure with respect to the loading direction of the component.
For the perspective use of SLM structures as load carrying, safety-relevant components the knowledge of their mechanical properties is necessary. It is essential to understand these in the context of the manufacturing-related features and at the back-ground of the basic characteristics of metallic materials: crystal lattice, microstructure and material defects. The paper provides an overview on factors which affect the mechanical parameters stiffness, strength, ductility, toughness, fatigue crack propagation and fatigue strength in the context of selective laser melting.
The presentation provides a discussion and damage tolerant assessment of metallic AM components. In the focus are problems of the determination of representative material data, the effect of material defects and residual stresses. Starting with the actual state-of-the-art in the field, options and possibilities of a damage tolerant design for AM are discussed.
The paper provides an overview on the results of a German cluster project on the use of fracture mechanics to the determination of the fatigue strength of weldments with fatigue cracks originating at the weld toes. The approach includes (a) a concept for short crack propagation for which the common K concept is not applicable and the crack closure effects are still being gradually build-up, (b) a method for determining fatigue life relevant initial crack sizes as they are needed in any fracture mechanics analysis and (c) multiple cracking and crack coalescence at load levels higher than the endurance limit. The analyses are stochastically performed. Both, the endurance limit as defined for 107 loading cycles and the finite life branch of the S-N curve are determined.
Besides a brief introduction into the approach, a wide range of validation examples is presented. These comprise different weldment types (butt welds, cross joints and longitudinal stiffened plates), two steels of quite different strengths, different weld geometries due to different welding techniques (TIG, MAG), as-welded and stress relieved welds and different stress ratios varying from R = -1 to R = 0.5.
The presentation provides a brief overview on results obtained in the context of fracture mechanics based flaw assessment particularly in the context of short crack propagation. Background is the planned updating of international fitness-for-service procedures such as BS 7910. Specific topics addressed are the determination of the cyclic elastic-plastic crack driving force, the description of the gradual build-up of the crack closure phenomenon at the short crack stage, cyclic R curve analysis and residual stresses.
The Topic of the presentationis a discussion on defects which can cause failure in cyclically loaded metallic components. Although also touching Features such as material defects such as pores or micro-shrinkages, etc. and geometric defects such as surface roughness and secondary notches (which are not considered in the design process) which origin in manufacturing, and others the presentation concentrates on non-metallic inclusions. It is prefaced by an introduction to the life cycle of a fatigue crack from initiation up to fracture. Special emphasis is put on the fact that only cracks which are not arrested during one of their distinct Propagation stages can grow to a critical size.
The safety characteristics of flammable gases and liquids are required when identifying potentially explosive mixtures and taking appropriate actions concerning explosion protection. Examples are given in this review of the safe handling and evaluation of hazards during the processing, storage, transport, and disposal of flammable liquids and gases. The CHEMSAFE database is presented as a reliable source of safety characteristic data, and ist new open-access version is introduced. CHEMSAFE currently contains assessed properties for about 3000 flammable liquids, gases and mixtures. The lack of a broad experimental foundation in the extensive field of non-atmospheric conditions shows the need for further investigation and standardization. This review summarizes experimental evidence and estimation methods for safety characteristic data under non-atmospheric conditions pointing out current limitations. Suggestions for pre-normative research on safety data under nonatmospheric conditions are given.
During an extensive test programme at the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und prüfung, material property changes of EPDM O-rings were investigated at different ageing times and an ageing temperature of 125 °C. To exclude possible diffusion limited oxidation (DLO) effects that can distort the data, IRHD micro hardness measurements were performed over the cross-section of compressed O-rings. Continuous stress relaxation measurements were conducted on samples free of DLO effects. The additional effect of physical processes to irreversible chemical ones during a long-term thermal exposure is quantified by the analysis of compression set measurements under various test conditions. By combining the different experimental methods, characteristic times relative to the degradation processes were determined. On the basis of experimental data, a microphysically motivated model that takes into account reversible and irreversible processes was developed. The parameter identification strategy of the material model is based on our experimental investigations on homogeneously aged elastomer O-rings. The simulated results are in good agreement with the experiments.
The main task of the division "Safety of Storage Containers" at BAM is the safety assessment of storage containers for radioactive waste. A sufficient sealing of bolted lid systems for the safe containment of the waste for transport, storage and disposal is very important. Extensive knowledge of the change of the elastomer’s properties during ageing and the availability of reliable end-of-lifetime criteria is mandatory to guarantee long term safe enclosure.
In a long-term test programme over 5 years we have studied the degradation and the change of sealing properties of several elastomers, including EPDM, at four different ageing temperatures (75 °C, 100 °C, 125 °C and 150 °C). Compression stress relaxation (CSR) and compression set (CS) experiments were carried out. It has been found that when the data does not cover a sufficient time frame necessary for the evolution of the degradation of a chosen property, a curvature in the Arrhenius relationship is observed. For CSR, the curvature was observed for samples aged up to 186 days. As for CS experiments, the curvature was detected for sample aged up to 2 years. To cover the possible lack of experimental long-term data at low temperatures, a numerical model for CSR was developed and longer ageing times for the simulation were adopted. A degradation-rate based model for the evolution of degradative processes is proposed. The main advantage of the model is the possibility to quickly validate the interpolation at lower temperatures within the range of slower chemical processes without forcing an Arrhenius straight-line extrapolation. The model was also applied to CS experiments and validated by the 5 years experimental results where the curvature was gone, and the degradation property has followed an Arrhenius relationship. In the figure the contribution of the two degradative processes are shown over CS and CSR respectively.
Elastomer seals are used in many industrial applications due to their excellent mechanical properties at a wide range of temperatures. Their high versatility and recovery potential under several load conditions make them well suitable for the application in containers designed for transport, storage and/or disposal of radioactive materials. In containers for low and intermediate level radioactive waste, elastomer seals are used as barrier seals, and as auxiliary seals in storage and transportation casks (dual purpose casks) for heat generating radioactive waste, such as spent fuel and high-level waste. While a seal exchange at defined intervals is typical in many conventional applications, it is impossible or at least hard to perform when principles of minimization of radiation exposure have to be considered and prohibit an unnecessary cask handling. An extensive knowledge of the change of the elastomer’s properties during aging and the availability of reliable end-of-lifetime criteria to guarantee the permanent safe enclosure of the radioactive material is mandatory. As BAM is involved in most of the national cask licensing procedures and in the evaluation of cask-related long-term safety issues, great efforts have been already made and are still planned to scientifically support this task.
Compression stress relaxation and compression set were identified as key indicators of elastomer long-term performance and quantitatively investigated in comprehensive test programs. Among other representative types of elastomers, specimens made from ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) were tested before, during and after aging to capture the most important of their complex mechanical properties.
In the presented study, exemplary results were used to simulate the compression stress relaxation and the compression set of elastomer O-rings during aging. Regarding the influence of temperature, the time temperature superposition principle is applied in the relaxation analysis of elastomer O-rings. The proposed model is implemented in the commercial finite element software ABAQUS/Standard® [1] with a sequential temperature displacement coupling. Numerical results match the experimental compression stress relaxation measurements well. The prediction of compression set values after long-term aging shows a relatively good agreement with the experimental results. Nevertheless, all input parameters derived from the specimen tests, additional assumptions concerning boundary conditions and modeling strategy are discussed with regard to the identified slight discrepancies.
The possibility to extend the finite element model to represent the O-ring seal’s ability to recover after a (fast) partial release is taken into account
Hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) elastomer was thermo-oxidatively aged at different temperatures up to 150°C. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), compression stress relaxation (CSR) and IRHD microhardness were used to characterise the chemo-mechanical changes of HNBR O-rings during thermo-oxidative ageing. FTIR shows the development of carbonyl, methyl and ester groups but the nitrile content was not affected by ageing. The effect of sample geometry during CSR was investigated. CSR data were converted through integrated kinetic laws. The conversion has proven its sensibility to detect heterogeneous ageing. This was confirmed by the IRHD measurements across the section of O-rings. Oxidation profiles were determined by applying the model of Wise et al. to the IRHD experimental results.
Overview of ongoing research and future prospects on polyethylene neutron shielding materials at BAM
(2023)
The extension of the interim storage period of radioactive waste before disposal will cause additional challenges for the nuclear waste management in Germany, so that an extensive knowledge of the long-term performance of casks, including their components and inventories, will be required for future extended storage licenses.
Ultra-high and high molecular weight polyethylenes ((U)HMW-PE) are used for neutron shielding purposes in casks for storage and transport of spent fuel and high-level waste due to their extremely high hydrogen content. During their service life of several decades as cask components, the PE materials are exposed to neutron and gamma radiation from the radioactive inventory of the casks, mechanical assembling stresses and temperature. All these combined effects affect the material properties of such components which in turn may be crucial for some possible accident scenarios.
At the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), the effects of high temperature exposure in combination with subsequent or previous irradiation were investigated with a comprehensive aging program including thermal aging at 125 °C for different aging periods up to 5 years and irradiation with doses ranging from 50 to 600 kGy.
This contribution provides an overview of the ongoing research related to the structural changes of (U)HMW-PE induced by gamma irradiation and high temperature exposure and focuses on current research perspectives at BAM with regard to the prediction of the dynamic behavior of the material during extended interim storage in case of an accident scenario. First results of the coupled effect of temperature, radiation and mechanical loading will be presented. The effect of microstructural changes induced by gamma irradiation and high temperature on the mechanical behavior of (U)HMW-PE will be assessed.
Extended X-Ray absorption fine structure (exafs) to study local constitution of high-entropy alloys
(2021)
Modern design of superior multi-functional alloys composed of several principal components requires in-depth studies of their local structure for developing desired macroscopic properties. Herein, peculiarities of atomic arrangements on the local scale and electronic states of constituent elements in the single-phase face-centered cubic (fcc)- and body-centered cubic (bcc)-structured high-entropy Alx-CrFeCoNi alloys (x = 0.3 and 3, respectively) are explored by element-specific X-ray absorption spectroscopy in hard and soft X-ray energy ranges. Simulations based on the reverse Monte Carlo approach allow to perform a simultaneous fit of extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectra recorded at K absorption edges of each 3d constituent and to reconstruct the local environment within the first coordination shells of absorbers with high precision.
Detailed study of multicomponent systems in solid-state as well as in solution using X-ray diffraction and X-ray spectroscopy is one of the most common topics in modern materials chemistry. 5-6 component high-entropy alloys such as fcc- and bcc-structured AlxCoCrFeNi and fluorescent nanoparticles based on fluorite-structured SrF2 doped by rare-earth metals in organic solutions have high complexity and their local structure cannot be resolved using only diffraction. X-ray absorption spectroscopy should be applied to understand peculiarities in their local structure and make a link between structure on short and long ranges and their macroscopic properties. Here, based on two representativee examples, we discuss how a combination of several X-ray absorption edges might give new insights into complex materials.
BAM line is multipurpose high-energy beamline. To extend studies of multicomponent alloys using EXAFS we perform own research and user experiments requiring multiedge spectroscopy, high-temperature and chemically aggressive sample environments. Our study of multicomponent alloys and high-entropy alloys open new perspectives in understanding their reactivity, corrosion, phase transformations and local ordering.
High-entropy alloys containing up to 6 platinum group metals can be prepared by thermal decomposition of single-source precursors non requiring high temperature. We prepare the first example of a single-phase hexagonal high-entropy alloy. Heat treat- ment up to 1500 K and compression up to 45 GPa do not result in phase changes, a record temperature and pres- sure stability for a single-phase high-entropy alloy. The alloys show pronounced electrocatalytic activity in methanol oxidation, which opens a route for the use of high-entropy alloys as materials for sustainable energy conversion.
In the current study, we investigate an interaction under high-pressure high-temperature of single phase fcc-, hcp- and bcc-structured high-entropy alloys with hydrogen, carbon and nitrogen to obtain high-entropy hydrides, carbides and nitrides. Structural changes in high-entropy alloys upon compression and heating in the presence of these light elements are in the focus of our investigation. An easy route to high-entropy hydrides, carbides and nitrides will open new synthetic horizons in compositionally complex materials. Our study suggests that high-entropy alloys form high- entropy hydrides mainly with a composition close to M:H 1:1 ratio. Hydrides can be obtained under compression with hydrogen as a pressure compression medium or using hydrogen fluid as reactive agent.
Polymeric membranes represent a cost- and energy efficient solution for gas separation. Recently superglassy polymers with high free volume outperform many conventional dense polymers in terms of gas permeability and selectivity. However, such materials with a high fractional free volume (FFV) are prone to pronounced physical aging. The initial microporous structures approach a denser state via local chain rearrangements which results in a dramatic reduction in the gas permeability. For the first time, dielectric spectroscopy with state-of-the-art high-resolution analyzers was employed to investigate the molecular mobility and physical aging of two representative groups of superglassy polymers: PIMs (PIM-1 & PIM-EA-TB) and Si-containing polynobornenes (PTCNSi1 & PTCNSi2). The dielectric behavior of the solution-cast polymeric films was measured by isothermal frequency scans during the different heating cycles in a broad temperature range. Structural relaxation of the films was observed during the measurements. Multiple dielectric processes following Arrhenius behavior were observed for all the investigated polymers. Moreover, they all showed conductivity in the glassy state. The significant increase in the conductivity with increasing temperature especially for PIMs is explained in terms of the formation of local intermolecular agglomerated structures due to interaction of π-electrons in aromatic moieties of the polymer backbone.
Thermal and dynamic glass transition of ultrathin films of homopolymers and a miscible polymer blend
(2017)
Despite the decade long controversial discussion on the effect of nanometer confinement on the glass transition temperature (Tg) of ultrathin polymer films, there is still no consistent picture. Here, the dynamic calorimetric glass transition of ultrathin films of a blend, which is miscible in the bulk, is directly investigated by specific heat spectroscopy. By a self-assembling process, a nanometer thick surface layer with a higher molecular mobility is formed at the polymer/air interface. By measuring the dynamic calorimetric Tg in dependence on the film thickness, it was shown that the Tg of the whole film was strongly influenced by that nanometer thick surface layer, with a lower Tg. Since the observed thickness dependence of the dynamic Tg is similar to the thickness dependence of the Tg for thin films of homopolymers, it is concluded that also for homopolymer a highly mobile surface layer is relevant for the widely observed Tg depression.
Super glassy polymers such as poly(trimethylsilylpropyne) (PTMSP) or polymers with intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) play an important role in the current development of membrane materials for gas separation because of their high permeability and selectivity. Unfortunately, such materials which have a high fractional free volume (FFV) are prone to pronounced physical aging. The initial microporous structures approach a more dense state via local chain rearrangements which results in a dramatic reduction in the gas permeability. For the first time, broadband dielectric spectroscopy was employed to investigate the molecular dynamics of two representative groups of super glassy polymers: PIMs (PIM-1 & PIM-EA-TB) and Si-containing polynobornenes (PTCNSi1 & PTCNSi2). The dielectric behavior of the solution-cast polymeric films was measured by isothermal frequency scans during the different heating cycles in a broad temperature range. Structural relaxation of the films was observed during the measurements. Molecular relaxation processes following Arrhenius behavior with unusually high activation energies were observed for all the investigated polymers. The PIMs showed furthermore a significant conductivity in the glassy state which is explained with the formation of local intermolecular agglomerated structures due to interaction of π-electrons in aromatic moieties of the polymer backbone.
High performance polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) have emerged as novel materials with broad applications from gas separation to electronic devices. Sufficiently rigid, even contorted polymer chains show only limited molecular mobility, therefore undergo inefficient packing and give rise to intrinsic microporosity with pore size generally smaller than 1 nm and BET surface areas larger than 700 m2/g. Further performance optimization and long-term stability of devices incorporating PIMs rely on our understanding of structure-processing-property relationships and physical aging, in which glass transition plays a key role. Up to now no glass transition temperature (Tg) of PIMs could be detected with conventional thermal analysis techniques before degradation. Decoupling the time scales responsible for the glass transition and the thermal decomposition is a reliable strategy to overcome this. This was achieved by employing fast scanning calorimetry (FSC) based on a chip sensor, which is capable to heat and cool a small sample (ng-range) with ultrafast rates of several ten thousand K/s. FSC provides definitive evidence of glass transition of a series of PIMs with a special consideration on the chain rigidity. The determined glass transition temperature of these PIMs follows the order of the rigidity of their backbone structures. FSC provides the first clear-cut experimental evidence of the glass transition of PIM-EA-TB with a Tg of 663 K, PIM-1 of 644 K and PIM-DMDPH-TB of 630 K at a heating rate of 1Χ104 K/s. Local fluctuations are featured in glass transition of highly rigid PIMs. As conformational changes are prevented by the backbone rigidity, the glass transition must rather be assigned to local small scale fluctuations.
Guided wave ultrasonic features in composite overwrapped pressure vessels towards digital twin
(2023)
The digitalization of quality control processes and the underlying data infrastructures for safety relevant components, such as hydrogen pressure vessels, plays a significant role in the transition towards Industry 4.0. In the current safety regulations for hydrogen pressure vessels, there is no established concept for structural health monitoring. The development of a reliable structural health monitoring methodology for monitoring the structural integrity of pressure vessels enables a fast-forward transition from personnel- and costintensive recurring inspections, a.k.a. periodic maintenance, to predictive maintenance. In the work presented; we investigated the application of ultrasonic guided wave propagation to monitor and assess the condition of Type IV composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV). A sensor network of fifteen piezo-electric wafers is placed on the carbon fibre reinforced composite cylinder. Five different artificial damage configurations are created by gluing two different weight blocks on three different locations. The database containing measured guided wave data sets is enriched by two different boundary conditions. We utilized an open-source software, openBIS labnotebook, to store and analyse experimental datasets. The guided wave ultrasonic signals were investigated and analysed by using commonly used ultrasonic features (e.g., amplitude, frequency, time of flight) as well as non-traditional time-series features (kurtosis, skewness, variance). The features were used to calculate damage index and the detection performance for the results has been evaluated. The results suggest that both traditional and non-traditional features assume significant importance in artificial damage detection. The future works will additionally involve the impacts of operational conditions, such as periodic pressure variations temperature loadings as well as material degradations.
Hexakis(n-alkyloxy)triphenylene) (HATn) consisting of an aromatic triphenylene core and alkyl side chains are model discotic liquid crystal (DLC) systems forming a columnar mesophase. In the mesophase, the molecules of HATn self-assemble in columns, which has one-dimensional high charge carrier mobility along the columns. Here, a homologous series of HATn with different length of the alkyl chain (n=5,6,8,10,12) is investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and advanced calorimetric techniques including fast scanning calorimetry (FSC) and specific heat spectroscopy (SHS). The investigation of the phase behavior was done utilizing DSC experiments and the influence of the alkyl chain length on the phase behavior was revealed. By the dielectric investigations a γ-relaxation due to localized fluctuations as well as two glassy dynamics the αcore and αalkyl relaxation were observed in the temperature range of the plastic crystalline phase. Moreover, the observed glassy dynamics were further studied employing advanced calorimetry. All observed relaxation processes are attributed to the possible specific molecular fluctuations and discussed in detail. From the results a transition at around n=8 from a rigid constrained (n=5,6) to a softer system (n=10,12) on a molecular lenght scale was revealed with increasing alkyl chain length. A counterbalance of two competing effects of a polyethylene like behavior of the alkyl chains in the intercolumnar domains and self-organized confinement is discussed in the context of a hindered glass transition. The results were confirmed by in- and quasielastic neutron scattering
For the first time, the molecular mobility of two linear-shaped tetramethylated guanidinium triflates ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) having different length of alkyl chains was investigated by a combination of broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and specific heat spectroscopy (SHS). SHS was carried out by differential AC-chip calorimetry at higher frequencies and temperature modulated DSC at lower frequencies. These ILCs can form a hexagonal ordered columnar mesophase. Two relaxation processes were found by BDS for both samples. At low temperatures, a γ-processes is observed which is assigned to specific localized fluctuations. At higher temperatures, α1-processes take place. α2 processes were also detected by SHS but with a completely different temperature dependence of the relaxation times. Different molecular assignments of α1- and α2-processes are suggested. At even higher temperatures, conductivity was detected by BDS.
The molecular dynamics and ionic conductivity of ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) forming a columnar mesophase, two linear-shaped tetramethylated guanidinium triflates ILCs having different lengths of alkyl chains, were investigated by a combination of Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS) and Specific Heat Spectroscopy (SHS). Three processes were detected by BDS; at low temperature γ-process, at higher temperatures α-process and at even higher temperatures conductivity. The γ-process indicates localized fluctuations, and the α-process designates cooperative fluctuations. Slightly different restrictions were found for conductivity processes of LC536 and LC537 due to the slightly different lengths of alky chains. The conductivity mechanisms in the plastic crystalline and the columnar mesophase have been revealed by BDS and different charge carriers were assigned for the different phases. Furthermore, the cooperative dynamics were also probed by SHS. The cooperative dynamics probed by the different techniques (BDS and SHS) compared, and assigned to the different restrictions on the cooperativity due to the difference in the sensitivity of the techniques.
Discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) are a promising class of soft matter for electronic applications. This is due to their ability to organize and stack themselves into columns in a hexagonal columnar mesophase, driven by the overlapping of the π orbitals of their aromatic core. This leads to a high charge-carrier mobility along the column axis. Previous studies on DLCs showed that their properties, such as phase transition temperatures and enthalpies, are susceptible to nanoconfinement. In this study, 2,3,6,7,10,11 hexakis[hexyloxy] triphenylene (HAT6), a triphenylene based DLC, was confined into parallel aligned cylindrical nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes by melt infiltration in the isotropic phase under an argon atmosphere. Furthermore, the pore surfaces of a series of membranes were chemically modified, resulting in a more hydrophobic pore surface than the unmodified ones. The structure, dynamics, and the phase behavior of HAT6 confined into modified and unmodfied nanopores of AAO were investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Results will be discussed in detail.
For the first time, the molecular mobility of two linear-shaped tetramethylated guanidinium triflates ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) having different length of alkyl chains was investigated by a combination of broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and specific heat spectroscopy (SHS). By self-assembly, these ILCs can form a hexagonal ordered mesophase besides plastic crystalline phases and the isotropic state. SHS was carried out by differential AC-chip calorimetry at higher frequencies and temperature modulated DSC at lower frequencies.
Two relaxation processes were found by BDS for both samples. At low temperatures, a γ-processes is observed which is assigned to specific localized fluctuations. At higher temperatures, α1-processes take place. α2 processes were also detected by SHS but with a completely different temperature dependence of the relaxation times. Different molecular assignments of α1- and α2-processes are suggested. At even higher temperatures, conductivity was detected by BDS. An increase in the DC conductivity by four orders of magnitude at the phase transition from the plastic crystalline to the hexagonal columnar mesophase is found. This result is traced to a change in the charge transport mechanism from a delocalized electron hopping in the stacked aromatic systems (in the plastic phase) to one dominated by an ionic conduction in the quasi-1D ion channels formed along the supermolecular columns in the ILC hexagonal mesophases.
Discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) are a promising class of soft matter for electronic applications. This is due to their ability to organize and stack themselves into columns in a hexagonal columnar mesophase, a mesophase in between the plastic crystalline and isotropic phase, driven by the overlap of the π orbitals of their aromatic core. This leads to a high charge-carrier mobility along the column axis. Further, these columns could then be considered as “molecular nanowires”.
Spatial confinement of soft matter in nanoporous media influences its structure, thermodynamic properties, and mobility. Embedding liquid crystals and polymers into nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) results in a 2D nanoconfinement of these materials. This confinement affects their properties, compared to the bulk, such as phase transition temperatures and enthalpies, molecular mobility, and architecture of the crystallization.
In this study, 2,3,6,7,10,11 hexakis[hexyloxy] triphenylene (HAT6), a triphenylene-based DLC, was confined into nanoporous AAO membranes. The structure, dynamics and the phase behavior of the confined HAT6 were investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). HAT6 was embedded into nanoporous AAO membranes by melt infiltration in the isotropic phase under argon atmosphere. The membranes have parallel aligned cylindrical nanopores, with different pore diameters in the range of 10-180 nm. Bulk HAT6 forms a hexagonal columnar phase; in between the isotropic phase above 371 K and the plastic crystalline phase below 340 K. Unlike the bulk, the confined HAT6 split the phase transitions in two or more, which might be interpret as different phase structures; close to the wall and at the pore center. Moreover, the phase transitions of the confined HAT6 shifted, with decreasing pore diameter, to lower temperatures. The dependencies of the phase transition temperatures on the pore size was well-described by the Landau-de Gennes model. Furthermore, pore surfaces of a series of membranes were chemically modified, resulting in a more hydrophobic pore surface than the unmodified ones. HAT6 was embedded into the modified membranes by the same aforementioned preparation. The influence of the changed host-guest-interaction, on the structure, dynamics, and the phase behavior of HAT6 confined in the modified membranes, was also investigated by BDS and DSC.
In this study, the molecular dynamics of two linear-shaped tetramethylated guanidinium triflates ionic liquid crystals were investigated by a combination of Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS) and Specific Heat Spectroscopy (SHS). Three processes were detected by BDS; at low temperature γ-process, at higher temperatures α-process and at even higher temperatures conductivity. The γ-process indicates localized fluctuations, and the α-process designates cooperative fluctuations. Slightly different restrictions were found for conductivity processes of LC536 and LC537 due to the slightly different lengths of alky chains. Furthermore, the cooperative dynamics were also probed by SHS. The cooperative dynamics probed by the different techniques (BDS and SHS) compared, and assigned to the different restrictions on the cooperativity due to the difference in the sensitivity of the techniques.
In this study, the molecular dynamics of a series of dipole functionalized triphenylene-based discotics, forming a columnar mesophase, were investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). In addition to conductivity and localized dynamics, glassy dynamics were also observed. At higher temperatures an α1-processes and at low temperatures an α2 processes were detected having a completely different temperature dependence of its relaxation times. Different molecular assignments of α1- and α2-processes are suggested. The phase behavior of the material was explored under helium purge down to 100 K by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Besides the phase transition temperatures and enthalpies, one or two thermal glass transitions were found for all the materials. Moreover, the glassy dynamics were further investigated by Flash DSC, which is a chip-based calorimetry technique allowing for fast heating and cooling rates as high as 10000K/s.
The high-throughput synthesis and characterization of potential material combinations plays an important role in accelerating the development of new materials. Diffusion controlled synthesis of gradient alloys is widely used to create phase diagrams, and it is also one of the most effective combinatorial approaches for rapid realization of potential material combinations.
This study focuses on the synthesis and investigation of the quaternary multi-principle-element alloy (MPEA) FeNiCrMn by means of diffusion multiples, the correlation of their microstructural and chemical characterization data with their application relevant properties like local mechanical and corrosion properties. A diffusion system was set up by combining an equimolar ternary alloy (FeNiCr) with a single diffusing metallic component (Mn) with the highest interdiffusion coefficient. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used to collect microstructural and compositional information which were correlated to local mechanical properties studied with nanoindentation. Local corrosion properties were investigated by means of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM). We have observed that a >50 μm deep homogeneous diffusion zone was formed the thickness of which scales with the duration of the thermal treatment. Beyond the Mn-concentration gradient in the FeNiCr matrix, a distinct Cr-rich secondary phase, characterized by high hardness and elastic modulus values appeared. We synthesized MPEAs with selected compositions from the diffusion zone as well as the Cr-rich phase as bulk alloys for electrochemical corrosion studies under different environmental conditions. The presentation will summarize the results of our correlative study on the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the quaternary multi-principle-element alloy (MPEA) FeNiCrMn family.
The efficient exploration of novel alloy chemistries is crucial for advancing the development of new materials. Diffusion-controlled synthesis of gradient alloys is an intelligent approach for creating phase diagrams and to effectively identify potential material combinations with tailored properties.
This project focusses on the design of quaternary multi-principle-element alloys (MPEAs) using diffusion couples. Our diffusion system contains an equimolar ternary alloy (FeNiCr) and additional single diffusing elements e.g. Mn and Mo. We determined the optimal temperature ranges for the diffusion thermal treatment by means of ThermoCalc simulations with the aim to form single-phase MPEAs. Microstructure and chemical characterization of the diffusion couples were performed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). For most alloy couples, the diffusion zone contained a single-phase alloy matrix with diffusion-induced compositional gradient as well as precipitation phases. This heterogeneity makes the diffusion couples interesting materials to investigate local mechanical and corrosion properties. Thus, local corrosion properties were examined using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM). Nanoindentation was used for the analysis of local mechanical properties.
Based on the results of the local corrosion analysis, we have selected single-phase alloy chemistries along the diffusion zone and reproducibly synthesized these alloys in bulk for detailed corrosion studies by means of potentiodynamic polarization and SECM.
The presentation will briefly summarize our methodology and motivation for using diffusion couples as an efficient tool for exploring phase diagrams of MPEAs in the search for new alloy chemistries and the results of our correlative study on the mechanical and corrosion properties of these materials.
The efficient exploration of novel alloy compositions is crucial for advancing the development of new materials. One widely utilized approach for creating phase diagrams is the use of diffusion-controlled synthesis for gradient alloys. This method is also an effective means for rapidly identifying potential material combinations.
The present study focusses on the exploration of quaternary multi-principle-element alloys (MPEAs) using diffusion multiples. We established a diffusion system by combining an equimolar ternary alloy (FeNiCr) with single diffusing elements Mn and Mo. Using ThermoCalc simulations, we determined suitable temperature ranges where we can expect the formation of single-phase alloys. Depending on the diffusion constants of the selected metals, diffusion times were adjusted to obtain diffusion zones with a depth of greater than 50 μm. Microstructural and compositional information was gathered via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and correlated to local mechanical properties evaluated by means of nanoindentation. Local corrosion properties were examined using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM).
Our results indicate that the ThermoCalc simulations have a good predictive power for crystallographic phases. However, especially with the Mn-FeNiCr system, formation of Cr-rich secondary phases were observed, which led to Cr-depletion and thus to localized corrosion processes in the matrix at the vicinity of the secondary phases. Based on the results of the local electrochemical tests, we have selected single-phase compositions along the diffusion zone and synthesized these alloys in bulk for corrosion studies by means of potentiodynamic polarization and SECM.
The presentation will summarize our methodology using diffusion couples as an
efficient tool for exploring compositional spaces of MPEAs in the search for novel single-phase alloys and the results of our correlative study on the mechanical and corrosion properties of these materials.
The contactless magnetohydrodynamic technology has been considered as a potential and promising method to improve the weld qualities of deep penetration laser beam welding. In this paper, numerical investigations are conducted to study the influence of the auxiliary oscillating magnetic field on the porosity suppression in laser beam welding of 5754 aluminum alloy. To obtain a deeper insight into the suppression mechanism, a three-dimensional transient multi-physical model is developed to calculate the heat transfer, fluid flow, keyhole dynamic, and magnetohydrodynamics. A ray tracing algorithm is employed to calculate the laser energy distribution on the keyhole wall. A time-averaged downward Lorentz force is produced by an oscillating magnetic field. This force acts in the molten pool, leading to a dominant downward flow motion in the longitudinal section, which blocks the bubble migration from the keyhole tip to the rear part of the molten pool. Therefore, the possibility for the bubbles to be captured by the solidification front is reduced. The electromagnetic expulsive force provides an additional upward escaping speed for the bubbles of 1 m/s ~ 5 m/s in the lower and middle region of the molten pool. The simulation results are in a good agreement with experimental measurements. Based on the results obtained in this study, a better understanding of the underlying physics in laser beam welding enhanced by an auxiliary oscillating magnetic field can be provided and thus the welding process can be further optimized reducing the porosity formation.
The effect of the oscillating metal vapor plume on the keyhole and molten pool behavior during the laser beam welding of AlMg3 aluminum alloys is investigated by experimental and numerical methods. The real-time height of the metal vapor plume is measured by high-speed camera observation. The obtained experimental results are used to evaluate the additional heating source and laser beam attenuation caused by the scattering and absorption based on the Beer–Lambert theory. Furthermore, the dynamic behavior of the metal vapor plume is incorporated into a 3D transient heat transfer and fluid flow model, coupled with the ray tracing method, for the laser beam welding of the AlMg3 alloy. It is found that additional heating resulting from the scattered and absorbed laser beam energy by the metal vapor plume significantly expands the shape of the molten pool on the top region. Moreover, the oscillating metal vapor plume caused the fluctuation of the high-temperature region in the molten pool. The probability of keyhole collapse at the bottom increases 17% due to the oscillating laser power induced by the laser beam attenuation. The internal interplay between the metal vapor plume, molten pool shape, and keyhole collapse is obtained. The developed model has been validated by experiments, which shows a good agreement.
Magnetohydrodynamic technology is increasingly recognized as a promising approach for enhancing the quality of deep penetration laser beam welding. This study employs experimental and numerical methods to investigate the effects of an auxiliary oscillating magnetic field on reducing porosity in the laser beam welding of 5754 aluminum alloy. The experimental results clearly demonstrate a significant reduction in the porosity ratio, thereby validating the efficacy of applying MHD technology in mitigating porosity during the laser beam welding process. In addition, a transient 3D multi-physical model has been developed, integrating the magnetohydrodynamic and metal vapor plume, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the porosity suppression mechanism. The introduction of an oscillating magnetic field generates a time-averaged downward Lorentz force. This Lorentz force, in turn, induces an electromagnetic expulsive force, which effectively increases the upward escape velocity of bubbles in the molten pool. Furthermore, the molten pool shape is significantly enlarged, which further facilitate the escape of bubbles. The simulation results agree well with the experimental results.
Through experimental observation and auxiliary numerical simulation, this investigation studies the different types of grain refinement of 5754 aluminum alloy laser beam welding by applying a transverse oscillating magnetic field. Scanning electron microscope results have proved that the application of a magnetic field can reduce the average crystal branch width and increase its number. The interaction between the induced eddy current generated by the Seebeck effect and the applied external magnetic field produces a Lorentz force, which is important for the increase in the number of crystal branches. Based on the theory of dendrite fragmentation and the magnetic field-induced branches increment, the grain size reduction caused by the magnetic field is studied. Furthermore, the effects of the magnetic field are ana lyzed by combining a phase field method model and simulations of nucleation and grain growth. The grain distribution and average grain size after welding verify the reliability of the model. In addition, the introduction of a magnetic field can increase the number of periodic three-dimensional solidification patterns. In the intersection of two periods of solidification patterns, the metal can be re-melted and then re-solidified, which prevents the grains, that have been solidified and formed previously, from further growth and generates some small cel lular grains in the new fusion line. The magnetic field increases the building frequency of these solidification structures and thus promotes this kind of grain refinement.
Numerical analysis of ultrasonic vibration enhanced friction stir welding of dissimilar Al/Mg alloys
(2022)
The ultrasonic vibration enhanced friction stir welding (UVeFSW) process has unique advantages in joining dissimilar Al/Mg alloys. While there are complex coupling mechanisms of multi-fields in the process, it is of great significance to model this process, to reveal the influence mechanism of ultrasonic vibration on the formation of Al/Mg joints.
In this study, the acoustic-plastic constitutive equation was established by considering the influence of both ultrasonic softening and residual hardening on the flow stress at different temperatures and strain rates. And the ultrasonic induced friction reduction (UiFR) effect on friction coefficient in different relative directions at the FSW tool-workpiece interface was quantitatively calculated and analyzed.
The Al/Mg UVeFSW process model was developed through introducing the above acoustic effects into the model of Al/Mg friction stir welding (FSW). The ultrasonic energy is stronger on the aluminum alloy side. In the stirred zone, there is the pattern distribution of ultrasonic sound pressure and energy. The heat generation at the tool-workpiece contact interface and viscous dissipation were reduced after applying ultrasonic vi-bration. Due to the UiFR effect, the projection of friction coefficient and heat flux distributions at the tool-workpiece interface present a "deformed" butterfly shape. The calculated results show that ultrasonic vibration enhanced the material flow and promoted the mixing of dissimilar materials.
Trends in fluorometry and fluorescence imaging are increasing applications of molecular and nanoscale reporters with emission > 800 nm and recently also > 1000 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, bioimaging, and safety barcodes. Mandatory for the comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of reporters for the short wavelength infrared (SWIR) region are reliable and quantitative photoluminescence measurements in this challenging wavelength region. This is of special relevance for nanocrystalline emitters like semiconductor quantum dots and rods as well as lanthanide-based upconversion and downconversion nanocrystals, where surface states and the accessibility of emissive states by quenchers largely control accomplishable photoluminescence quantum yields and hence, signal sizes and detection sensitivities from the reporter side. Such measurements are currently hampered by the lack of suitable methods and standards for instrument calibration and validation and quantum yield standards with emission > 800 nm and especially > 1000 nm.
In this respect, we present the design of integrating sphere setups for absolute and excitation power density-dependent measurements of emission spectra and photoluminescence quantum yields in the wavelength region of 650 to 1650 nm including calibration strategies and first candidates for potential fluorescence standards. Subsequently, selected examples for spectroscopic studies of different types of nanocrystals are presented including the upconversion and downconversion emission of differently sized and surface functionalized lanthanide-doped nanoparticles
The optical properties of these materials strongly depend on the excitation power density, i.e., the number of photons absorbed per time interval. The upconversion quantum efficiencies (ΦUC) of these materials, the excitation power dependent population i.e. the emission characteristics, and the deactivation dynamics are influenced by nanoparticle architecture, doping concentration, and the microenvironment. We will discuss how time resolved measurements can help to understand the fundamental photophysical mechanisms and discuss differences to other nanocrystals like quantum dots.
The radiation-induced degradation of PMMA is known to be inhibited by low-molecular-weight substances, mainly of aromatic structure. In the case of linear and angular condensated aromatic compounds a protection of 80 % was attained. The efficiency is proportional to the concentration up to beginning saturation. Its dependence from resonance energy and from the first excited singulet state allows the conclusion that the additives act by means of excitation transfer and radical scavenging. The yield of chain-scissions is noticed to be constant up to high doses. This suggests that the additives are not destroyed by reason of the considerable radiation resistance of aromatic compounds. The fact that the mixtures are more intensively coloured than the pure polymer in spite of lower degradation is in contradiction to this assumption. This colouration, not noticed at the pure additives at corresponding doses, is a sign of a significant decomposition of the additives combined with the protection of the polymer against degradation. The object of our investigation was to study this connection in detail with special regard to energy transfer.
Niobium carbide is a ceramic material which can be used with excellent results to replace tungsten carbide with cobalt binder. Furthermore, it might be manufactured by classic ceramic technologies and even colloidal processing. To achieve high toughness and strength, it is necessary to have a perfect mix of hard phase and binder, which is mainly achieved by ball milling. Mechanical and physical properties as well as results on different tribological and application-oriented machining tests are presented. The results have been compared with results obtained with NbC grades with Co and Fe3Al binders as well as with pure binderless hot-pressed NbC and SPS sintered Nb2O5.
Niobium-titanium carbide cermets with nickel binder have been prepared by colloidal processing in water without a milling step by using Poly-diallyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride (Poly-DADMAC) as a dispersant. Homogeneous microstructures with relative densities larger than 99% of the theoretical density have been achieved by gas pressure sintering in argon atmosphere. However, mechanical properties like hardness and strength were slightly decreased due to precipitation of free carbon.
Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) on steel occurs where the presence and activity of microbes change the localized conditions on the surface of a metal substrate. For instance, metal reducing bacteria (MRB) are capable of utilizing metal compounds in the passive layer on stainless steel as electron acceptors during their metabolism. This weakening of the passive film not only leads to an acceleration of the general corrosion processes, but also increases the susceptibility of stainless steels to pitting corrosion. Even though the electron transfer mechanisms are not yet fully understood, recent research shows that the secretion of electron shuttles like flavins contribute significantly to the extracellular electron transfer (EET). Electron shuttle molecules like riboflavin (RB) or flavin mononucleotide (FMN) are secreted by MRB after the transition from planktonic to sessile mode and exist in the biofilm at low concentrations. Therefore, they are precise early phase indicators of bacterial settlement.
This project aims at clarifying the electrochemical interaction mechanisms of MRB with stainless steel surfaces, with a special focus on the role of the extracellular redox molecules. The analysis of corrosion processes as a function of chloride and flavin concentration have been performed by means of electrochemical methods. Due to the differences in their chemical structure, FMN and RB have shown significant differences in terms of their adsorption behavior and the stability of the formed films, which directly influences the electron transfer processes. Therefore, Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance (eQCM) studies have been performed on sputtered FeCr electrodes to investigate the adsorption/desorption kinetics of flavins.
The results of electrochemical studies are complemented by the analysis of the changes in the passive film chemistry and the chemical composition of the adsorbed films by means of Fourier Transform Infrared Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy (FT-IRRAS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Changes in surface morphology have been investigated by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).The presentation will summarize our results on the degradation mechanisms of passive films on stainless steel surfaces in the presence of flavins and provide useful insights from a fundamental aspect for the understanding of the initial stages of microbiologically influenced corrosion.
Metal reducing bacteria (MRB) are capable of utilizing different metals, such as iron, chromium, manganese or uranium as well as many organic compounds, as electron acceptors for their metabolism. Via direct and indirect electron transfer processes MRB are able to convert insoluble passive film species like Fe(III)-oxides to soluble Fe(II)-oxides and hydroxides. This weakening of the passive film not only leads to an acceleration of the general corrosion processes, but also increases the susceptibility of stainless steels to pitting corrosion. Electron transfer mechanisms are not yet fully understood and the role of bacteria in corrosion processes is controversially discussed in the literature. Moreover, recent research indicates that the secretion of electron shuttles like riboflavins by MRB also contributes to the extracellular electron transfer.
This project aims at clarifying the chemical and electrochemical interaction mechanisms of MRB with stainless steel surfaces. To investigate the changes in the oxide chemistry on the stainless steel surface in the presence of biomolecules and MRB a new flow cell has been designed and constructed which enables the collection of XANES (X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure) spectra in fluorescence mode at the Fe K-edge and electrochemical analysis. Availability of oxygen and the pre-exposure of the MRB to Fe(III) during cultivation have been investigated as parameters with significant effect on the corrosion rates. XANES analysis is supplemented by ex-situ X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy (FT-IRRAS) to complete the surface characterisation in terms of the oxide chemistry and the composition of organic residues. Complementary electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (e-QCM) measurements have been performed to quantify the kinetics of bacterial attachment and biofilm formation. Together with the frequency shift, the evolution of the dissipation signal has been analyzed to investigate the changes in viscosity and structure of the biofilm from initial stages up to maturation. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has been used to study the structure and viscoelastic properties of the biofilms after e-QCM experiments.
The presentation will summarize our results on the effects of individual surface and environment related parameters on the chemical/electrochemical interaction mechanisms of MRB leading to passive film degradation on stainless steel surfaces and provide useful insights from a fundamental aspect for the development of novel mitigation strategies for microbiologically influenced corrosion.