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The hot deformation characteristics of M50 steel in the temperature range of 900–1150 °C and strain-rate range of 0.01–10 s−1 was investigated in this study using a Gleeble-3800 thermal simulation testing machine. The true stress–strain curves showed that the deformation resistance increased with decreasing deformation temperature, and increasing strain rate before the peak stress was reached. After the peak stress, dynamic reversion occurred, and consequently, the deformation stress decreased. The softening phenomenon was more obvious when the strain rate was low. The calculated values of the thermal deformation-activation energy Q and stress index n were 233,684.2 J/mol and 5.025568, respectively. On this basis, the Arrhenius-type constitutive equation was established, and in addition, a polynomial fit based on strain was performed to obtain the 9th-order strain-compensated constitutive equation with high fitting accuracy. By processing the flow stress curves, the processing maps of M50 steel were constructed, and the optimal processing range was predicted to be in the range of 1070–1150 °C and 0.01–1 s−1. The recrystallization behavior of M50 steel was also studied by constructing a dynamic recrystallization kinetic model and combining optical microscope (OM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) observation. The results show that with the increase of deformation temperature, the degree of recrystallization transformation increased accordingly, and the original grains were gradually replaced by recrystallized grains. Besides, in the optimal process zone for thermal processing, the recrystallized grains grew with decreasing strain rate and increasing temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the sulfuration mechanism of concrete. The microstructure, mineral phase composition, substance content, and pH of the concrete were determined using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, comprehensive thermal analysis, and pore-solution pH test. It was observed that light-grey spots appeared on the surface of the specimen, and a large amount of powdery precipitated substances appeared. At the initial stage of sulfuration reaction, the formation of ettringite blocked the concrete pores and densified its cracks and voids. Subsequently, ettringite reacted with H+ to form gypsum, and the continuous increase in gypsum in the pores increased the number of cracks and broadened their width. Gypsum was the final product of the sulfuration reaction, and the mass percentage of gypsum in the powdery precipitated substances at different water–cement ratios was more than 50%. When the water–cement ratios was 0.37, 0.47, and 0.57, the highest Ca(OH)2 content was found for the lowest water–cement ratio. As the water–cement ratios increased, the amount of powdery precipitated substances decreased and the CaCO3 content and pH increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sm 2 Co 17 -type permanent magnets have important application value due to their advanced magnetic properties, which can be ascribed to their unique cellular structure and element segregation in various phases developed after isothermal aging treatment. In this study, the evolution of the microstructure combined with the microchemistry of Sm 2 Co 17 -type magnets from solid solution precursor to the cellular structure is investigated, and a new insight into the formation of the cellular structure is provided. We report for the first time that a large number of strip-like nanoscale short-range ordered micro-domains are distributed in the disordered matrix of the solution precursor, which serve as the nucleation centers in the formation of the embryos of the cellular structure. Based on atomic scale structural analyses, a new mechanism concerning the ordering transformation from short-range 2:17R microtwins to long-range 2:17R phase is proposed, involving collective glide of three partial dislocations on successive basal planes with the net Burgers vector to be zero. Furthermore, microchemistry analysis reveals that the segregation of Cu and Fe in the early stage of isothermal aging is accelerated substantially during the ordering transformation, indicating that the ordering transformation can act as a new driving force for element segregation in Sm 2 Co 17 -type magnets. These findings provide new considerations for the development of high performance Sm 2 Co 17 -type magnets. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructure of ribbons interface was optimized by doping the hexagonal boron nitride nanoplatelets (h-BNNP) in hot-deformed magnets. The remanence increased markedly and reached to a maximum value of 14.06 kGs. The coercivity and the energy product exhibited similar variation trends to the remanence, showing maxima of 16.92 kOe and 49 MGOe, respectively. Microscopy observations revealed that surface grains of ribbons tended to align with the interior grains due to the uniform local compressive stress induced by h-BNNP with relatively large flat surface, resulting in hot-deformed magnets with microscopically homogeneous structure and improved texture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, influence of freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles on the microstructure and hydraulic conductivity were investigated on saline intact loess specimens by infiltrating sodium sulfate. X-Ray computed micro tomography (Micro-CT), and triaxial permeability tests were carried out to understand the relationship between the soil microstructure and hydraulic conductivity. The CT scan images suggest tiny holes in the soil structure expand to form cracks due to F-T cycles; these cracks were more pronounced in specimens with higher salt contents. The soil morphology was reconstructed using three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction technology, which highlights the significant influence of salt weathering on the microstructure of saline intact loess. Triaxial permeability test results suggest that the void ratio and hydraulic conductivity of saline intact loess both increase after F-T cycles or at higher sodium sulfate contents, which are consistent with the changes of the porosity of the 3D reconstructed model. Finally, an empirical relationship between hydraulic conductivity and void ratio was proposed incorporating the influence of F-T cycles and salt content. There is a good comparison between the calculated and measured data that establishes the rationality and validity of the proposed equation. • Effect of freeze-thaw cycles on microstructure of saline intact loess is discussed. • Soil morphology was reconstructed to reflect the effect of F-T and salt weathering. • F-T and salt content are included in a simple model for hydraulic conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]