Search

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a metal additive manufacturing technology, which enables the manufacturing of complex geometries for various metals and alloys. Herein, parts made from commercially pure titanium are studied using in situ synchrotron radiation diffraction experiments. Both the phase transformation and the internal stress buildup are evaluated depending on the processing parameters. For this purpose, evaluation approaches for both temperature and internal stresses from in situ diffraction patterns are presented. Four different parameter sets with varying energy inputs and laser scanning strategies are investigated. A combination of a low laser power and scanning speed leads to a more homogeneous stress distribution in the observed gauge volumes. The results show that the phase transformation is triggered during the primary melting and solidification of the powder and subsurface layers. Furthermore, the stress buildup as a function of the part height during the manufacturing process is clarified. A stress maximum is formed below the part surface, extending into deeper layers with increasing laser power. A temperature evaluation approach for absolute internal stresses shows that directional stresses decrease sharply during laser impact and reach their previous magnitude again during cooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Metal sulfides have been intensively investigated for efficient sodium‐ion storage due to their high capacity. However, the mechanisms behind the reaction pathways and phase transformation are still unclear. Moreover, the effects of designed nanostructure on the electrochemical behaviors are rarely reported. Herein, a hydrangea‐like CuS microsphere is prepared via a facile synthetic method and displays significantly enhanced rate and cycle performance. Unlike the traditional intercalation and conversion reactions, an irreversible amorphization process is evidenced and elucidated with the help of in situ high‐resolution synchrotron radiation diffraction analyses, and transmission electron microscopy. The oriented (006) crystal plane growth of the primary CuS nanosheets provide more channels and adsorption sites for Na ions intercalation and the resultant low overpotential is beneficial for the amorphous Cu‐S cluster, which is consistent with the density functional theory calculation. This study can offer new insights into the correlation between the atomic‐scale phase transformation and macro‐scale nanostructure design and open a new principle for the electrode materials' design.

Metal sulfides have been intensively investigated for efficient sodium‐ion storage due to their high capacity. However, the mechanisms behind the reaction pathways and phase transformation are still unclear. Moreover, the effects of designed nanostructure on the electrochemical behaviors are rarely reported. Herein, a hydrangea‐like CuS microsphere is prepared via a facile synthetic method and displays significantly enhanced rate and cycle performance. Unlike the traditional intercalation and conversion reactions, an irreversible amorphization process is evidenced and elucidated with the help of in situ high‐resolution synchrotron radiation diffraction analyses, and transmission electron microscopy. The oriented (006) crystal plane growth of the primary CuS nanosheets provide more channels and adsorption sites for Na ions intercalation and the resultant low overpotential is beneficial for the amorphous Cu‐S cluster, which is consistent with the density functional theory calculation. This study can offer new insights into the correlation between the atomic‐scale phase transformation and macro‐scale nanostructure design and open a new principle for the electrode materials' design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of the microstructure during compression is investigated with in situ synchrotron radiation diffraction in as-cast ZK40, ZK40-2CaO and ZK40-1Y Mg alloys. The specimens were compressed at 350 °C with a strain rate of 10 −3 s −1 until 30% deformation. The Y containing alloy showed the highest 0.2% proof strength in compression of 35 MPa at 350 °C which is double that of the ZK40 alloy, while the CaO added alloy shows a moderate increment at 23 MPa. The Y containing alloy shows some work hardening, while the CaO modified and the ZK40 alloys do not show work hardening after yield. Synchrotron radiation diffraction timelines show that continuous and discontinuous dynamic recrystallization occurs during deformation of the ZK40 alloy while a small amount of dynamic recrystallization was observed in the ZK40-1Y alloy. However, dynamic recrystallization was not present in the ZK40-2CaO alloy. SEM-EBSD analysis conducted on the deformed samples shows a significantly high volume fraction of twins in the Y and CaO containing alloys which was absent in the ZK40 alloy. The modified deformation behaviours observed in the CaO and Y containing alloys were attributed to the presence of intermetallic particles found at the grain boundaries and to the role of Ca and Y in stabilising twinning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Oxygen content control of LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 was achieved via a microwave annealing treatment; • The prepared non-stoichiometric LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4-δ material delivers excellent rate capability; • A solid-solution-like reaction in the prepared LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4-δ during cycling was deciphered. The oxygen vacancies are usually beneficial to Li-ion transport in high-voltage spinel LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 (LNMO) cathode material, but the influence of the oxygen deficiencies in the disordered spinel LNMO oxide on phase transition mechanism during charging/discharging remains unknown. Herein, the oxygen stoichiometry control of LNMO was achieved through a microwave annealing treatment. The prepared non-stoichiometric LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4-δ (Fd 3 - m) materials delivered a pronounced improvement of rate capability, e.g. the discharge capacity at an ultra-fast rate (10 C) is up to 104.3 mA h g−1. Instead of the typical two-step phase transformation process, a solid-solution-like reaction in the as-synthesized LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4-δ (Fd 3 - m) during cycling was deciphered by an in situ synchrotron radiation diffraction analysis. These findings shed light on the phase transition mechanism of defective spinel oxides with an enhanced electrochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ synchrotron radiation diffraction was performed during the compression of as-cast Mg–3Nd–Zn alloys with different amounts (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 wt %) of Zn addition at room temperature. During the tests, the acoustic emission signals of the samples were recorded. The results show that the addition of Zn decreased the strength of the alloys but, at the same time, increased their ductility. In the earlier stages of deformation, twin formation and basal slip were the dominant deformation mechanisms. The twins tended to grow during the entire compression stage; however, the formation of new twins dominated only at the beginning of the plastic deformation. In order to accommodate the strain levels, the alloys containing Zn underwent nonbasal slip in the later stages of deformation. This can be attributed to the presence of precipitates containing Zn in the microstructure, inhibiting twin growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical properties of as-cast Mg-4Nd-xZn (x = 0, 3, 5 or 8 wt.%) alloys were investigated both in situ and ex situ in as-cast and solution-treated conditions. The additions of 3 or 5 wt.% Zn in the base Mg-4Nd alloy did not improve yield strength in comparison to the binary Mg-4Nd alloy. Mechanical properties were shown to improve only with the relatively high concentration of 8 wt.% Zn to Mg-4Nd. The change in intermetallic morphology from a continuous intermetallic to a lamella-like intermetallic was the primary reason for the decreased mechanical properties in Mg-4Nd-3Zn and Mg-4Nd-5Zn compared with Mg-4Nd and Mg-4Nd-8Zn. The dissolution of intermetallic at grain boundaries following heat treatment further indicated the importance of grain boundary reinforcement as shown in both in situ and ex situ compression testing. Azimuthal angle-time plots indicated little grain rotation most noticeably in Mg-4Nd, which also indicated the influence of a strong intermetallic network along the grain boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]