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The improved wear and corrosion resistance of gray cast iron (GCI) with enhanced mechanical properties is a proven stepping stone towards the longevity of its versatile industrial applications. In this article, we have tailored the microstructural properties of GCI by alloying it with titanium (Ti) and tungsten (W) additives, which resulted in improved mechanical, wear, and corrosion resistance. The results also show the nucleation of the B-, D-, and E-type graphite flakes with the A-type graphite flake in the alloyed GCI microstructure. Additionally, the alloyed microstructure demonstrated that the ratio of the pearlite volume percentage to the ferrite volume percentage was improved from 67/33 to 87/13, whereas a reduction in the maximum graphite length and average grain size from 356 ± 31 µm to 297 ± 16 µm and 378 ± 18 µm to 349 ± 19 µm was detected. Consequently, it improved the mechanical properties and wear and corrosion resistance of alloyed GCI. A significant improvement in Brinell hardness, yield strength, and tensile strength of the modified microstructure from 213 ± 7 BHN to 272 ± 8 BHN, 260 ± 3 MPa to 310 ± 2 MPa, and 346 ± 12 MPa to 375 ± 7 MPa was achieved, respectively. The substantial reduction in the wear rate of alloyed GCI from 8.49 × 10−3 mm3/N.m to 1.59 × 10−3 mm3/N.m resulted in the upgradation of the surface roughness quality from 297.625 nm to 192.553 nm. Due to the increase in the corrosion potential from −0.5832 V to −0.4813 V, the impedance of the alloyed GCI was increased from 1545 Ohm·cm2 to 2290 Ohm·cm2. On the basis of the achieved experimental results, it is suggested that the reliability of alloyed GCI based on experimentally validated microstructural compositions can be ensured during the operation of plants and components in a severe wear and corrosive environment. It can be predicted that the proposed alloyed GCI components are capable of preventing the premature failure of high-tech components susceptible to a wear and corrosion environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Refractory high-entropy alloys are considered as potential structural materials for elevated temperature applications. To obtain refractory high-entropy alloys with high strength, different amounts of Si were added into the NbMoTiVW refractory high-entropy alloys. The effects of Si on the phase constitution, microstructure characteristics and mechanical properties of NbMoTiVWSix alloys were investigated. Results show that when the addition of Si is 0, 0.025 and 0.05 (molar ratio), the alloys are consisted of primary BCC and secondary BCC in the intergranular area. When the addition of Si is increased to 0.075 and 0.1, eutectic structure including silicide phase and secondary BCC phase is formed. The primary BCC phase shows dendritic morphology, and is refined by adding Si. The volume fraction of intergranular area is increased from 12.22% to 18.13% when the addition of Si increases from 0 to 0.1. The ultimate compressive strength of the NbMoTiVW alloy is improved from 2,242 MPa to 2,532 MPa. Its yield strength is also improved by the addition of Si, and the yield strength of NbMoTiVWSi0.1 reaches maximum of 2,298 MPa. However, the fracture strain of the alloy is decreased from 15.31% to 12.02%. The fracture mechanism of the alloys is changed from mixed fracture of ductile and quasi-cleavage to cleavage fracture with increasing of Si. The strengthening of alloys is attributed to the refinement of primary BCC phase, volume fraction increment of secondary BCC phase, and formation of eutectic structure by addition of Si. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shear lag model for fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) composite simply supported II-beams under bending loads was put forward using the energy method. Two pultruded FRP composite simply supported II-beams under three cases of loads were studied with finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental methods to validate the present model. Finally, parametric studies on the shear lag coefficients were presented. It was concluded that the present model of this article agrees closely with the FEA results and the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Perfect Archimedes spiral cracks at micrometer scales are found in a colloid film of several hundred nanometers in thickness coated on a glass substrate. To explain the formation of this kind of spiral crack, the relation between the geometrical properties of the Archimedes spiral and the growth kinematics of the spiral cracks are analyzed. Meanwhile, the initiation and propagation of the spiral cracks are speculated upon logically from the specific material system based on sufficient evidence. In addition, we introduce a new cracking phenomenon and provide an insight into the new mechanism for crack propagation in soft material nano films coated on stiff substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assembly modes of dragonfly wings are observed through FEG-ESEM. Different from airplane wings, dragonfly wings are found to be assembled through smooth transition mode and global package mode. First, at the vein/membrane conjunctive site, the membrane is divided into upper and lower portions from the center layer and transited smoothly to the vein. Then the two portions pack the vein around and form the outer surface of the vein. Second, at the vein/spike conjunctive site, the vein and spike are connected smoothly into a triplet. Last, at the vein/membrane/spike conjunctive site, the membrane (i.e., the outer layer of the vein) transits smoothly to the spike, packs it around, and forms its outer layer. In short, the membrane looks like a closed coat packing the wing as a whole. The smooth transition mode and the global package mode are universal assembly modes in dragonfly wings. They provide us the references for better understanding of the functions of dragonfly wings and the bionic manufactures of the wings of flights with mini sizes. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]