The wear behavior of TiAlN coatings during turning of stainless steel 316L at low cutting speeds (60-120 m/min) was investigated using scanning electron microscopy. In this speed range, the coatings fail by fracture due to an adhesive wear mechanism. The fracture of the coating is described in detail, including the strong influence of Alcontent and cutting speed on the rate of wear. Low Al-content (x <= 0.23) coatings showed worse wear resistance than high Al-content (x >= 0.53) samples. Less substrate is exposed when the cutting speed is increased, because of reduced adhesive wear. The TiN and Ti0.77Al0.23N coatings are severely worn for all cutting speeds while Ti0.47Al0.53N and Ti0.38Al0.62N remain essentially unaffected at the highest speed. The difference in wear behavior is interpreted as a difference in the fracture toughness of the coatings.

Electrocatalysis enables the industrial transition to sustainable production of chemicals using abundant precursors and electricity from renewable sources. De-centralized production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from water and oxygen of air is highly desirable for daily life and industry. We report an effective electrochemical refinery (e-refinery) for H2O2 by means of electrocatalysis-controlled comproportionation reaction (2(H)O + O -> 2(HO)), feeding pure water and oxygen only. Mesoporous nickel (II) oxide (NiO) was used as electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), producing oxygen at the anode. Conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) drove the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), forming H2O2 on the cathode. The reactions were evaluated in both half-cell and device configurations. The performance of the H2O2 e-refinery, assembled on anion-exchange solid electrolyte and fed with pure water, was limited by the unbalanced ionic transport. Optimization of the operation conditions allowed a conversion efficiency of 80%.

Titanium tungsten carbide (TiWC) coatings are deposited by a combined high-power impulse and dc magnetron co-sputtering (HiPIMS/DCMS) technique. No external heating is applied during deposition phase, instead, the thermally driven adatom mobility is substituted by heavy ion irradiation. DCMS sources equipped with titanium carbide targets provide constant neutral fluxes to establish the predominant coating structures, whereas tungsten carbide target in HiPIMS mode serves as the source of heavy metal-ions. Substrate bias of −60 V is synchronized to W+ ion-rich time domains of HiPIMS pulses to minimize the contribution from working gas ions. The influence of W+ ion flux intensity, controlled by varying peak target current density (JT), on film properties is investigated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals the presence of over stoichiometric carbon forming an amorphous phase, the amount of which can be fine-tuned by varying JT. Changes in film composition as a function of JT are explained based on the in-situ ion mass spectroscopy analyses. Dense TiWC coatings by hybrid process exhibit hardness higher than 30 GPa, which are comparable to TiWC films deposited by DCMS with dc substrate bias and external heating. The relative energy consumption in the hybrid process is reduced by 77 % as compared to high-temperature DCMS processing.

Understanding the competition between brittleness and plasticity in refractory ceramics is of importance for aiding design of hard materials with enhanced fracture resistance. Inspired by experimental observations of crack shielding due to dislocation activity in TiN ceramics [Kumar et al., Int. J. Plast. 27, 739 (2011)], we carry out comprehensive atomistic investigations to identify mechanisms responsible for brittleness and slip-induced plasticity in Ti-N systems. First, we validate a semiempirical interatomic potential against density-functional theory results of Griffith and Rice stress intensities for cleavage (K-Ic) and dislocation emission (K-Ie) as well as ab initio molecular dynamics mechanical-testing simulations of pristine and defective TiN lattices at temperatures between 300 and 1200 K. The calculated K-Ic and K-Ie values indicate intrinsic brittleness, as K-Ic << K-Ie. However, KI-controlled molecular statics simulations-which reliably forecast macroscale mechanical properties through nanoscale modeling-reveal that slip plasticity can be promoted by a reduced sharpness of the crack and/or the presence of anion vacancies. Classical molecular dynamics simulations of notched Ti-N supercell models subject to tension provide a qualitative understanding of the competition between brittleness and plasticity at finite temperatures. Although crack growth occurs in most cases, a sufficiently rapid accumulation of shear stress at the notch tip may postpone or prevent fracture via nucleation and emission of dislocations. Furthermore, we show that the probability to observe slip-induced plasticity leading to crack blunting in flawed Ti-N lattices correlates with the ideal tensile/shear strength ratio (I-plasticity(slip)) of pristine Ti-N crystals. We propose that the I-plasticity(slip) descriptor should be considered for ranking the ability of ceramics to blunt cracks via dislocation-mediated plasticity at finite temperatures.

On-site electrosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a promising alternative technology to the conversional centralized anthraquinone oxidation process. Here, we report a platinum group metal (PGM)-free H2O2 electrogenerator with mesoporous Cr2O3 and NiCo2O4 used as electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR and OER), respectively. The catalysts were synthesized via a hydrothermal synthesis route and had pore sizes of 3 and 7 nm and specific surface areas of 112 and 62 m(2) g(-1), respectively. Mesoporous Cr2O3 was evaluated in a half cell with 0.1 M KOH for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction, which shows 2.2 transferred electrons per oxygen and an in situ H2O2 yield of 70%. This enables the electrosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide in alkaline medium using Cr2O3 as a 2e-ORR-H2O2 electrocatalyst, with oxygen evolution as an auxiliary reaction on NiCo2O4. The effect of electrolyte flow on the H2O2 electrogenerator was investigated. It is observed that one-way feeding of the catholyte suppresses deterioration of the electrocatalyst and allows a faradic conversion up to similar to 90% with a production rate of similar to 0.36 [g (h<middle dot>g(cat))(-1)], operating within the cell voltage of 1.2 V. This work demonstrates both a viable method for electrosynthesis of H2O2 production using PGM-free electrocatalysts and the possibility to obtain a high faradic efficiency by mitigating the effect from catalyst degradation.

A combined high-power impulse and dc magnetron co-sputtering (HiPIMS/DCMS) technique is used to deposit Ti0.6Al0.32Si0.08N films with 1-fold substrate table rotation. Layers are grown at two different substrate-target separations, two different rotational speeds, and with different values of substrate bias. The aim is to study the role of (1) overlap between ion and neutral fluxes generated from HiPIMS and DCMS sources, respectively, and (2) the subplantation range of low-mass ions. Results from X-ray diffractometry highlight the necessity of flux intermixing in the formation of the metastable B1-structured TiAlSiN solid solutions. All films grown at short target-to-substrate distance contain the hexagonal AlN phase, as there is essentially no overlap between HiPIMS and DCMS fluxes, thus the Al+ and Si+ subplantation is very limited. Under conditions of high flux intermixing corresponding to larger target-to-substrate distance, no w-AlN forms irrespective of rotational speed (1 or 3 rpm) and bias amplitude (120 or 480 V), indicating that the role of Al+/Si+ and Ti flux overlap is crucial for the phase formation during film growth by HiPIMS/DCMS with substrate rotation. This conclusion is further supported by the fact that the reduction of the bilayer thickness with increasing the target-to-substrate distance (hence increasing flux overlap) is larger for films grown with higher amplitude of the substrate bias, indicative of more efficient Al+/Si+ subplantation into the c-TiN phase. Single-phase films with the hardness close to that of layers grown with stationary substrate table can be achieved, however, at the expense of higher compressive stress.

The defect structures forming during high-temperature decomposition of Ti1-xAlxNy films were investigated through high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy. After annealing to 950 °C, misfit edge dislocations a/6〈112〉{111} partial dislocations permeate the interface between TiN-rich and AlN-rich domains to accommodate lattice misfits during spinodal decomposition. The stacking fault energy associated with the partial dislocations decreases with increasing Al content, which facilitates the coherent cubic to wurtzite structure transition of AlN-rich domains. The wurtzite AlN-rich structure is recovered when every third cubic {111} plane is shifted by along the [211] direction. After annealing to 1100 °C, a temperature where coarsening dominates the microstructure evolution, we observe intersections of stacking faults, which form sessile locks at the interface of the TiN- and AlN-rich domains. These observed defect structures facilitate the formation of semicoherent interfaces and contribute to hardening in Ti_1-xAl_xN_y.

The skin is the largest organ of the human body. Wounds disrupt the functions of the skin and can have catastrophic consequences for an individual resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Wound infections are common and can substantially delay healing and can result in non-healing wounds and sepsis. Early diagnosis and treatment of infection reduce risk of complications and support wound healing. Methods for monitoring of wound pH can facilitate early detection of infection. Here we show a novel strategy for integrating pH sensing capabilities in state-of-the-art hydrogel-based wound dressings fabricated from bacterial nanocellulose (BC). A high surface area material was developed by self-assembly of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) in BC. By encapsulating a pH-responsive dye in the MSNs, wound dressings for continuous pH sensing with spatiotemporal resolution were developed. The pH responsive BC-based nanocomposites demonstrated excellent wound dressing properties, with respect to conformability, mechanical properties, and water vapor transmission rate. In addition to facilitating rapid colorimetric assessment of wound pH, this strategy for generating functional BC-MSN nanocomposites can be further be adapted for encapsulation and release of bioactive compounds for treatment of hard-to-heal wounds, enabling development of novel wound care materials.

Direct electrification of oxygen-associated reactionscontributesto large-scale electrical storage and the launch of the green hydrogeneconomy. The design of the involved catalysts can mitigate the electricalenergy losses and improve the control of the reaction products. Weevaluate the effect of the interface composition of electrocatalystson the efficiency and productivity of the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), both mechanistically andat device levels. The ORR and OER were benchmarked on mesoporous nickel-(II)oxide and nickel cobaltite (NiO and NiCo2O4,respectively) obtained by a facile template-free hydrothermal synthesis.Physicochemical characterization showed that both NiO and NiCo2O4 are mesoporous and have a cubic crystal structurewith abundant surface hydroxyl species. NiCo2O4 showed higher electrocatalytic activity in OER and selectivity towater as the terminal product of ORR. On the contrary, ORR over NiOyielded hydroxyl radicals as products of a Fenton-like reaction ofH(2)O(2). The product selectivity in ORR was usedto construct two electrolyzers for electrified purification of oxygenand generation of hydroxyl radicals.

Structural changes in Ti_1-xAl_xN coated tool inserts used for turning in 316L stainless steel were investigated by XANES, EXAFS, EDS, and STEM. For coarse-grained fcc-structured Ti_1-xAl_xN coatings, with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.62, the XANES spectrum changes with Al-content. XANES Ti 1s line-scans across the rake face of the worn samples reveals that TiN-enriched domains have formed during turning in Ti_0.47Al_0.53N and Ti_0.38Al_0.62N samples as a result of spinodal decomposition. The XANES spectra reveal the locations on the tool in which the most TiN-rich domains have formed, indicating which part of the tool-chip contact area that experienced the highest temperature during turning. Changes in the pre-edge features in the XANES spectra reveal that structural changes occur also in the w-TiAlN phase in fine-grained Ti_0.38Al_0.62N during turning. EDS shows that Cr and Fe from the steel adhere to the tool rake face during machining. Cr 1s and Fe 1s XANES show that Cr is oxidized in the end of the contact length while the adhered Fe retains in the same fcc-structure as that of the 316L stainless steel.

Bifunctional electrocatalysts with both accelerated oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) enable high-power density electricity storage and decentralized extraction of pure oxygen from air for usage in health care. Herein, a hydrothermal synthesis employing the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate as structure-directing agent is developed to fabricate a family of crystalline mesoporous metal oxides (meso-MO X , M = Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Ce). The pore size and specific surface area depend on the metal used and they range from 3 to 6 nm and 60 to 200 m(2) g(-1), respectively. NiO and Co3O4 show a higher catalytic efficiency in alkaline media in comparison with the other oxides studied, and their activities are comparable with the values reported for platinum group metal (PGM)-based electrocatalysts. This stems from lower voltage losses and by the presence of specific hydroxide adsorbates on the surface. Both ORR and OER driven on Co3O4 show the unified rate-determining chemical step (|OO-|(center dot) (ads) + H2O <-> |OOH|(center dot) (ads) + OH-, where | X | ads are the species adsorbed on active sites). The bifunctional ORR/OER electrocatalysis obtained on mesoporous NiO is utilized for the first symmetrical PGM-free oxygen pump fed by air and water only.

Although titanium nitride (TiN) is among the most extensively studied and thoroughly characterizedthin-film ceramic materials, detailed knowledge of relevant dislocation core structures is lacking. Byhigh-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) of epitaxial single crystal (001)-oriented TiN films, we identify different dislocation types and their core structures. These include, besidesthe expected primary a/2{110}h110i dislocation, Shockley partial dislocations a/6{111}h112i and sessileLomer edge dislocations a/2{100}h011i. Density-functional theory and classical interatomic potentialsimulations complement STEM observations by recovering the atomic structure of the different disloca-tion types, estimating Peierls stresses, and providing insights on the chemical bonding nature at the core.The generated models of the dislocation cores suggest locally enhanced metal–metal bonding, weakenedTi-N bonds, and N vacancy-pinning that effectively reduces the mobilities of {110}h110i and {111}h112idislocations. Our findings underscore that the presence of different dislocation types and their effects onchemical bonding should be considered in the design and interpretations of nanoscale and macroscopicproperties of TiN.

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is critical for producing high purity hydrogen and oxygen via electrocatalytic water splitting. In this work, single crystalline, nanoporous nickel oxide (NiO) was prepared using a hydro thermal, soft-templated synthesis route followed by calcination at different temperatures. It is shown that the NiO crystals have a cubic lattice, and the pore size can be tuned from similar to 1 to similar to 70 nm by varying the calcination temperature, i.e. variation from micro to macroporosity. The NiOs catalytic performance as electrocatalysts was evaluated in OER, both thermodynamically and kinetically. Mesoporous NiO with calcination temperature of 400 degrees C had the lowest overpotential (335 mV) required @ 10 mA/cm(2) accompanied with the highest turnover frequency value and mass activity among of the obtained NiO electrocatalysts. The study shows that the electrocatalytic activity of nanoporous NiO outperforms that of commercial catalyst Ir/C (similar to 360 mV @ 10 mA/cm(2)). Microporous NiO possess the highest specific surface area and electrical double layer capacitance, while the nonporous NiO particles have the highest specific activity and BET activity of the catalysts. It is concluded that the minimization of voltage losses by the nanoscale enlargement of the electrocatalyst surface area shows the coherence between gas adsorption and electrocapacitive measurements. Conversely, the OER kinetics showed deterioration with surface area maximization due to the impediment of ionic transport inside the micropores. This work demonstrates the importance of morphology optimization to obtain an efficient OER electrocatalyst with low required overpotential and kinetic loss.

This study investigates the wear of W- and Mo-alloyed Ti1-x-yAlxMeyN coatings (Me = W, Mo) with x asymptotic to 0.55 and y asymptotic to 0.10 during high-speed turning of stainless steel 316L. A difference in the crater wear rate was observed between TiAlN and Ti1-x-yAlxMeyN coatings. The wear behavior in the sliding area is characterized in detail for two different regions by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. A thin adhered layer constituted of elements from the workpiece material is observed on the top of all coatings, followed by diffusion of species from the stainless steel 316L into the coatings. Co from the cemented carbide substrate also diffuses through column boundaries of the coating. The temperature varies in the sliding area. The presence of Mo or W retards the spinodal decomposition and the formation of h-AlN as compared to TiAlN coatings, leading to lower crater wear rate in alloyed coatings.

Mesoporous silica- and carbon-based materials, including bioactive glasses, have proven potential as components of medical devices and as drug carriers. From an application perspective, knowledge about the shelf-life stability of these materials under various conditions is vital. Here, mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) synthesized by aerosol-assisted spray-drying and by a batch sol-gel method, mesoporous silicas of SBA-15 type, and mesoporous carbons CMK-1 and CMK-3 have been stored under varying conditions, e.g. at different temperature and relative humidity (RH), and in different storage vessels. The results show that the silica-based materials stored in Eppendorfs are sensitive to humidity. Spray dried MBGs decompose within 1 month at a RH >5%, whilst sol-gel MBGs are more stable up to a RH >60%. Changing the storage vessel to sealed glass flasks increases the MBGs lifetime significantly, with no degradation during 2 months of storage at a RH = 75%. SBA-15 stored in Eppendorfs are more stable compared to MBGs, and addition of F- ions added during the synthesis affects the material degradation rate. Mesoporous carbons are stable under all conditions for all time points. This systematic study clearly demonstrates the importance of storage conditions for mesoporous materials which is crucial knowledge for commercialization of these materials. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry.

The influence of the aluminium content (x) on crater wear mechanisms of Ti1-xAlxN coated WC-Co inserts in highspeed turning of 316L stainless steel was investigated. Electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to characterize the wear behaviour. Ti1-xAlxN coatings with x <= 0.53 showed, after 1/3 of the tool life, a thick adhered layer composed of oxides and metallic species from the steel, and no diffusion of workpiece material into the coating. These coatings presented the best wear resistance and least abrasive wear. The high aluminium content Ti0.38Al0.62N coating showed the worst crater wear resistance. This is assigned to interdiffusion of workpiece elements and oxygen into the coating as a consequence of spinodal decomposition of the cubic TiAlN-phase, resulting in more severe abrasive wear.

The effect of varying nitrogen vacancies on the growth, microstructure, spinodal decomposition and hardness values of predominantly single crystal cubic phase c-(Ti1-xAlx)N-y films was investigated. Epitaxial c-(Ti1-xAlx)N-y films with y = 0.67, 0.79, and 0.92 were grown on MgO(001) and MgO(111) substrates by magnetron sputter deposition. High N vacancy c-(Ti1-xAlx)N-0.67 films deposited on MgO(111) contained coherently oriented w-(0001) structures while segregated conical structures were observed on the films grown on MgO(001). High resolution STEM images revealed that the N-deficient growth conditions induced segregation with small compositional fluctuations that increase with the number of N vacancies. Similarly, strain map analysis of the epitaxial c-(Ti1-xAlx)N-y (001) and (111) films show fluctuations in strain concentration that scales with the number of N vacancies and increases during annealing. The spinodal decomposition coarsening rate of the epitaxial c-(Ti1-xAlx)N-y films was observed to increase with decreasing N vacancies. Nanoindentation showed decreasing trends in hardness of the as-deposited films as the N vacancies increase. Isothermal post-anneal at 1100 degrees C in vacuum for 120 min revealed a continuation in the increase in hardness for the film with the largest number of N vacancies (y = 0.67) while the hardness decreased for the films with y = 0.79 and 0.92. These results suggest that nitrogen-deficient depositions of c-(Ti1-xAlx)N-y films help to promote a self-organized phase segregation, while higher N vacancies generally increase the coherency strain which delays the coarsening process and can influence the hardness at high temperatures. (C) 2020 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

The influence of pulsed substrate bias duty cycle on the growth, microstructure, and defects of Ti1-xAlxN coatings grown by cathodic arc deposition was investigated. Ti1-xAlxN coatings of varying compositions (x = 0.56, 0.38, 0.23) were deposited on cemented carbide substrates with 10, 25, 50, and 95% duty cycles of 50 V pulsed-bias under 10 Pa of pure N-2 gas. Coatings grown at low duty cycles (10 and 25%) showed strongly textured, underdense coatings with facetted columns and low amount of lattice defects. Applying higher duty cycles (50 and 95%) produced coatings that have denser microstructures, less preferred orientation, increasing compressive stresses and increased lattice defect densities. Our study elucidates how duty cycle variation not only changes the overall average energy supplied at the growth front but also kinetically influences the coating growth and thus microstructure and defect structure.

Ti1-x(AlySi1-y)xN coatings covering a wide compositional range, 0.38 < x < 0.76 and 0.68 ≤ y ≤ 1.00, are deposited to investigate the influence of Al+/Si+ ion irradiation on microstructural and mechanical properties. The samples are grown in Ar/N2 atmosphere by the hybrid high-power impulse and dc magnetron co-sputtering (HiPIMS/DCMS) method with substrate bias synchronized to the Al+/Si+-rich portion of the HiPIMS pulses. Two Ti targets are operated in DCMS mode, while one AlSi target is operated in HiPIMS mode. Four different AlSi target compositions are used: Al1.0Si0.0, Al0.9Si0.1, Al0.8Si0.2, and Al0.6Si0.4. X-ray diffractometry reveals that films without Si (i.e., y = 1.0) have high Al solubility in NaCl-structure, c-TiAlN, up to x ≤ 0.67 no w-AlN is detected. Once Si (y < 1.0) is introduced the Al solubility limit decreases, but remains higher than other PVD techniques, along with grain refinement and the formation of a SiNz rich tissues phase, as shown by transmission electron microscopy. The nanoindentation hardness is high (~ 30 GPa) for all films that do not contain the w-AlN phase. All the coatings have compressive stresses lower than -3 GPa. Interestingly, a range of films with different compositions displayed both high hardness (~ 30 GPa) and low residual stress (σ < 0.5 GPa). Such an unique combination of properties highlights the benefits of using HiPIMS/DCMS configuration with metal-ion-synchronized substrate bias, which utilizes the Al+/Si+ supplantation effect and minimizes the Ar+ incorporation.

The influence of the microstructure on the thermal behavior of cathodic arc deposited TiAlN coatings was studied as a function of isothermal annealing. Two compositionally similar but structurally different coatings were compared, a Ti0.34Al0.66N0.96 coating with a fine-grain structure consisting of a mixture of cubic (c) and hexagonal (h) phases, and a Ti0.40Al0.60N0.94 coating with a coarse-grain structure of cubic phase. By in situ wide-angle synchrotron x-ray scattering, spinodal decomposition was confirmed in both coatings. The increased amount of internal interfaces lowered the decomposition temperature by 50 degrees C for the dual-phase coating. During the subsequent isothermal anneal at 1000 degrees C, a transformation from c-AlN to h-AlN took place in both coatings. After 50 min of isothermal annealing, atom probe tomography detected small amounts of Al (similar to 2 at.%) in the c-TiN rich domains and small amounts of Ti (similar to 1 at.%) in the h-AlN rich domains of the coarse-grained single-phase Ti0.40Al0.60N0.94 coating. Similarly, at the same conditions, the fine-grained dual-phase Ti0.34Al0.66N0.96 coating exhibits a higher Al content (similar to 5 at.%) in the c-TiN rich domains and higher Ti content (similar to 15 at.%) in the h-AlN rich domains. The study shows that the thermal stability of TiAlN is affected by the microstructure and that it can be used to tune the reaction pathway of decomposition favorably. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Available information concerning the elastic moduli of refractory carbides at temperatures (T) of relevance for practical applications is sparse and/or inconsistent. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations at T = 300, 600, 900, and 1200 K are carried out to determine the temperature-dependences of the elastic constants of rocksalt-structure (B1) TiC, ZrC, HfC, VC, TaC compounds, as well as high-entropy (Ti,Zr,Hf,Ta,W)C and (V,Nb, Ta,Mo,W)C. The second-order elastic constants are calculated by least-square fitting of the analytical expressions of stress/strain relationships to simulation results obtained from three tensile and three shear deformation modes. Sound-velocity measurements are employed to validate AIMD values of bulk, shear, and elastic moduli of single-phase B1 (Ti,Zr,Hf,Ta,W)C and (V,Nb,Ta,Mo,W)C at ambient conditions. In comparison with the predictions of previous ab initio calculations - where the extrapolation of finite-temperature elastic properties accounted for thermal expansion while neglecting intrinsic vibrational effects - AIMD simulations produce a softening of shear elastic moduli with T in closer agreement with experiments. The results show that TaC is the system which exhibits the highest elastic resistances to tensile and shear deformation up to 1200 K, and indicate the (V,Nb,Ta,Mo,W)C system as candidate for applications that require superior toughness at room as well as elevated temperatures. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.

In this research, a fundamental study was conducted on damage behavior of cathodic arc evaporated TiN and Ti0.44Al0.56N coatings, in terms of oxidation and cracking/spallation, when they were exposed to single-pulse laser treatment in a temperature range of 1200-2100 degrees C. Moreover, a multiple-pulse laser treatment was designed to apply thermo-mechanical loads on the coatings in order to evaluate their thermal degradation during rapid heating/cooling cycles between 200 and 1200 degrees C. Single-pulse treatment of TiN up to 1500 degrees C led to the intercolumnar cracking and formation of ultrafine TiO grains. An increase in temperature up to 2100 degrees C resulted in a notable bulging of the surface, and formation of TiO2 of various morphologies such as grainy structure, dense molten and re-solidified structure, droplets from melt expulsion and, more interestingly, nanofibers. Multiplepulse treatment of TiN was accompanied by a severe cracking and spallation, which divided the surface into two layers: a heavily cracked top layer composed of dense TiO2 grains, and a bottom layer having porous TiO2 grains indicating incomplete oxidation. Conversely, Ti0.44Al0.56N did not show any visible cracking and oxidation after single-pulse treatment. Multiple-pulse treatment did not also yield cracking and spallation for Ti0.44Al0.56N, and its ablated region consisted of TiO2 grains combined with thin Al2O3 platelets. An excellent combination of properties including higher oxidation resistance and greater fracture toughness at high temperatures led to a higher thermal damage resistance for Ti0.44Al0.56N coating compared to TiN when undergoing single- and multiple-pulse laser treatments.

Rocksalt-structure (B1) (V,Mo)N alloys are inherently hard and tough ceramics. However, the mechanical properties and thermal stability of (V,Mo)N solid solutions at temperatures greater than or similar to 700 degrees C of relevance for practical applications have not been previously investigated. In this work, we synthesize single-phase B1 polycrystalline V0.57Mo0.43N0.95 coatings to investigate the effects induced by temperature on the nanostructural evolution and hardness (H) of the material. Nanoindentation measurements show that the as-deposited film (H = 23 +/- 3 GPa) becomes approximate to 30% harder (up to 31 +/- 2 GPa) upon annealing at 730 C. Experimental characterization and analyses, based on dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), reveal that the age-hardening effect originates from decomposition of the solid solution into coherent strained cubic VN-rich/MoN-rich domains. The experimental results are complemented by the composition/temperature (V,Mo)N phase diagram - constructed upon ab initio molecular dynamics free-energies - which indicates that the separation observed in the solid solutions is of spinodal nature. Films annealed at temperatures exceeding 850 degrees C undergo structural coarsening, with formation of hexagonal MoxNy and cubic VN phases, which cause a decrease in hardness to approximate to 22 GPa. Our present findings indicate that (V,Mo)N coatings may offer outstanding mechanical performances during operation at elevated temperatures.

Detailed knowledge of correlations between direct current (DC) cathodic arc deposition process parameters, plasma properties, and the microstructure of deposited coatings are essential for a comprehensive understanding of the DC cathodic arc deposition process. In this study we have probed the plasma, generated by DC arc on a Ti-50 at.% Al cathode in a N(2)ambience, at the growth front of the TiAlN coating. Several consequences of an increasing N(2)pressure are observed, including a decreased electron temperature, an increased electron density, and a loss of energetic ions. As a result, the preferred growth texture switches from 220 to 111. It is also observed that neutrals in the plasma can significantly contribute to the growth of TiAlN coatings.

The high-temperature oxidation resistance of Ti1-xSixN films with Si content varying in wide range, 0.13 &lt;= x &lt;= 0.91, is evaluated. Films are grown in Ar/N-2 atmospheres using a hybrid high-power impulse and dc magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS/DCMS) configuration with Si target powered by HiPIMS and Ti target operated in DCMS mode. The substrate bias is synchronized to the Si+-rich portions of the HiPIMS pulses in order to promote solid solution formation. A combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, elastic recoil detection analysis, and cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy reveals a sharp increase in the oxidation resistance for layers with x &gt; 0.50. The thickness of the oxide layer, following 1 h anneal at 800 degrees C in air, is in the range 150-200 nm for 0.13 &lt;= x &lt;= 0.50 and decreases to only 4 nm with x = 0.91, which is similar to 30 times lower than for the best performing Ti1-xAlxN film (x = 0.64) tested under the same conditions. The oxide forming on top of Ti1-xSixN films with x = 0.41 consists of a SiO2-TiO2 two-phase mixture with a molar ratio given by Si/Ti ratio. In Ti1-xSixN layers with x &lt;= 0.31, the presence of grain boundaries, which act as diffusion paths facilitates Si diffusion towards the bulk of the film resulting in that TiO2, the thermodynamically more stable oxide, terminates the surface. Ti0.09Si0.91N films, are essentially unaffected by the anneal and exhibit a hardness of 23 GPa, which is similar to 30% higher than for the reference SiNz film. Moreover, we demonstrate that 25 nm thick Ti0.09Si0.91N capping layers successfully prevent Ti(0.36A)l(0.64)N oxidation at 800 degrees C. Such approach provides superior oxidation protection compared to alloying TiAlN with Si. Our results suggest that multilayers including nm thin layers of high Si-content TiSiN is a most effective approach to improve high-temperature oxidation resistance of functional ceramic thin films.

The electronic structure, chemical bonding, and interface component in ZrN-AlN nanocomposites formed byphase separation during thin film deposition of metastable Zr1−xAlxN (x = 0.0, 0.12, 0.26, 0.40) are investigatedby resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, x-ray emission, and x-ray absorption spectroscopy and compared to firstprinciples calculations including transitions between orbital angular momentum final states. The experimentalspectra are compared with different interface-slab model systems using first principles all-electron full-potentialcalculations where the core states are treated fully relativistically. As shown in this work, the bulk sensitivity andelement selectivity of x-ray spectroscopy enables one to probe the symmetry and orbital directions at interfacesbetween cubic and hexagonal crystals. We show how the electronic structure develops from local octahedralbond symmetry of cubic ZrN that distorts for increasing Al content into more complex bonding. This results inthree different kinds of bonding originating from semicoherent interfaces with segregated ZrN and lamellar AlNnanocrystalline precipitates. An increasing chemical shift and charge transfer between the elements takes placewith increasing Al content and affects the bond strength and increases resistivity.

High power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) discharge promises high ionization fraction and energetic ions in comparison with dc magnetron sputtering discharge. But acknowledge on the characteristics of HiPIMS plasma in the near-substrate region (substrate vicinity), which is of great importance for film deposition, is still limited. Here, optical emission spectroscopy (OES) combined with the collisional-radiative modelling are developed and used to determine the electron temperature and the number density of neutral sputtered atom for the chromium HiPIMS plasma in substrate vicinity. The OES analysis demonstrated the HiPIMS discharge of Cr sputtering process in low density mode was dominated by the electron impact ionization of argon atoms and excitation of chromium atoms. As the HiPIMS plasma in the substrate vicinity is far from the local thermal equilibrium state, the relative intensities of transition lines to ArI 4p states was used to calculate the electron temperature. Subsequently, the neutral chromium atoms density about 10(17) m(-3) was reported in the near-substrate region. Our findings have important implications for species generation in low density HiPIMS discharge, with applications in synthesis of dense chromium coatings.

Ab initio-calculated ideal strength and toughness describe the upper limits for mechanical properties attainable in real systems and can, therefore, be used in selection criteria for materials design. We employ density-functional ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) to investigate the mechanical properties of defect-free rocksalt-structure (B1) TiN and B1 Ti1-xAlxN (x = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75) solid solutions subject to [001], [110], and [111] tensile deformation at room temperature. We determine the alloys ideal strength and toughness, elastic responses, and ability to plastically deform up to fracture as a function of the Al content. Overall, TiN exhibits greater ideal moduli of resilience and tensile strengths than (Ti,Al)N solid solutions. Nevertheless, AIMD modeling shows that, irrespective of the strain direction, the binary compound systematically fractures by brittle cleavage at its yield point. The simulations also indicate that Ti0.5Al0.5N and Ti0.25Al0.75N solid solutions are inherently more resistant to fracture and possess much greater toughness than TiN due to the activation of local structural transformations (primarily of B1 -amp;gt; wurtzite type) beyond the elastic-response regime. In sharp contrast, (Ti,Al)N alloys with 25% Al exhibit similar brittleness as TiN. The results of this work are examples of the limitations of elasticity-based criteria for prediction of strength, brittleness, ductility, and toughness in materials able to undergo phase transitions with loading. Comparing present and previous findings, we suggest a general principle for design of hard ceramic solid solutions that are thermodynamically inclined to dissipate extreme mechanical stresses via transformation toughening mechanisms.

We present a custom built lathe designed for in operando high-energy x-ray scattering studies of the tool-chip and tool-workpiece contact zones during operation. The lathe operates at industrially relevant cutting parameters, i.e., at cutting speeds amp;lt;= 400 m/min and feeds amp;lt;= 0.3 mm/rev. By turning tests in carbon steel, performed at the high-energy material science beamline P07 at Petra III, DESY, Hamburg, we observe compressive strains in TiNbAlN and Al2O3/Ti(C, N) coatings on the tool flank face during machining. It is demonstrated that by the right choice of substrate and coating materials, diffraction patterns can be recorded and evaluated in operando, both from the tool-workpiece and tool-chip contacts, i.e., from the contact zones between the tool and the workpiece material on the tool flank and rake faces, respectively. We also observe that a worn tool results in higher temperature in the tool-chip contact zone compared to a new tool. Published under license by AIP Publishing.

Amorphous hydrogenated diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings were deposited using plasma assisted chemical vapour deposition (PACVD) on precipitation hardening (PH) stainless steel.Plasma nitriding has been used as pre-treatment to enhance adhesion and mechanical properties. Chemical and mechanical properties of DLC coatings are dependent on the hydrogen content and so on the relation between sp(3)/sp(2) bondings. The bondings and the structure of the DLC film change with temperature. In this work, a study of the thermal degradation and the evolution of the mechanical properties of DLC coatings over PH stainless steel have been carried out, including the effect of an additional nitrided layer. Nitrided and non-nitrided steel samples were subjected to the same coated in the same conditions, and they were submitted to the same thermal cycles, heating from room temperature to 600 degrees C in several steps. After each cycle, Raman spectra and surface topography measurements were performed and analyzed. Nanohardness measurements and tribological tests, using a pin-on-disc machine, were carried out to analyze variations in the friction coefficient and the wear resistance. The duplex sample, with nitriding as pre-treatment showed a better thermal stability. For duplex sample, the coating properties, such as adhesion, and friction coefficient were sustained after annealing at higher temperatures; whereas it was not the case for only coated sample. (C) 2018 Brazilian Metallurgical, Materials and Mining Association. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.

Phase, microstructure, and strain evolution during annealing of arc deposited TiZrAlN coatings are studied using in situ x-ray scattering and ex situ transmission electron microscopy. We find that the decomposition route changes from nucleation and growth of wurtzite AlN to spinodal decomposition when the Zr-content is decreased and the Al-content increases. Decomposition of Ti0.31Zr0.24Al0.45N results in homogeneously distributed wurtzite AlN grains in a cubic, dislocation-dense matrix of TiZrN consisting of domains of different chemical composition. The combination of high dislocation density, variation of chemical composition within the cubic grains, and evenly distributed wurtzite AlN grains results in high compressive strains, -1.1%, which are retained after 3 h at 1100 degrees C. In coatings with higher Zr-content, the strains relax during annealing above 900 degrees C due to grain growth and defect annihilation. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Heteroepitaxial c-(Ti-0.37,Al-0.63)N thin films were grown on MgO(001) and MgO(111) substrates using reactive magnetron sputtering. High resolution high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron micrographs show coherency between the film and the substrate. In the as-deposited state, x-ray diffraction reciprocal space maps show a strained epitaxial film. Corresponding geometric phase analysis (GPA) deformation maps show a high stress in the film. At elevated temperature (900 degrees C), the films decompose to form iso-structural coherent c-Al- and c-TiN-rich domains, elongated along the elastically soft amp;lt;100amp;gt; directions. GPA analysis reveals that the c-TiN domains accommodate more dislocations than the c-AlN domains. This is because of the stronger directionality of the covalent bonds in c-AlN compared with c-TiN, making it more favorable for the dislocations to accumulate in c-TiN. The defect structure and strain generation in c-(Ti,Al)N during spinodal decomposition is affected by the chemical bonding state and elastic properties of the segregated domains.

The differences in work function (W.F.) and cohesive energy (C.E.) of the phases constituting the cathode, plays an important role in the formation of the converted layer at its near-surface region during cathodic arc deposition. As a consequence, this also affects the deposition conditions for the coatings. In this study, we explore the effect of W.F. and C.E. of the constituent phases during arc evaporation by utilizing two kinds of customized Ti-50 at.% Al cathodes with different phase compositions. Our results show that during reactive arc evaporation the disparity in W.F. and C.E. among the constituent phases of Ti-50 at.% Al cathodes leads to preferential erosion of the phases with lower W.F. and C.E. The aforementioned preferential erosion begets higher surface roughness on the Ti-50 at.% Al cathode with a wider range of W.F. and C.E. disparity. It is also observed that the thermal conductivity of the Ti-50 at.% Al cathode plays a dominant role in the deposition rate of Ti-Al-N coating. This article also presents how the surface geometry of the cathode in the presence of arc guiding magnetic field significantly influences the microstructure of the deposited coatings.

Al-alloys with Si as the main alloying element constitute the vast majority of Al castings used commercially today. The eutectic Si microstructure in these alloys can be modified from plate-like to coral-like by the addition of a small amount of a third element to improve ductility and toughness. In this investigation the effects of Eu and Yb are studied and their influence on the microstructure is compared to further understand this modification. The two elements impact the alloy differently, where Eu modifies Si into a coral-like structure while Yb does not. Atom probe tomography shows that Eu is present within the Si phase in the form of ternary compound Al2Si2Eu clusters, while Yb is absent in the Si phase. This indicates that the presence of ternary compound clusters within Si is a necessary condition for the formation of a coral-like structure. A crystallographic orientation relationship between Si and the Al2Si2Eu phase was found, where the following plane normals are parallel: 011(Si) //0001(Al2Si2Eu), 111(Si)//6 (7) over bar 10(Al2Si2Eu) and 011(Si)//6 (7) over bar 10(Al2Si2Eu). No crystallographic relationship was found between Si and Al2Si2Yb. The heterogeneous formation of coherent Al2Si2Eu clusters inside the Si-phase is suggested to trigger the modification of the microstructure.

We report the formation of mesoporous films consisting of SBA-15 particles grown directly onto substrates and their usage as catalysts in esterification of acetic acid and ethanol. The film thickness was altered between 80 nm and 750 nm by adding NH4F to the synthesis solution. The salt also affects the formation rate of the particles, and substrates must be added during the formation of the siliceous network in the solution. Various substrate functionalizations were tested and hydrophobic substrates are required for a successful film growth. We show that large surfaces (amp;gt; 75 cm(2)), as well as 3D substrates, can be homogenously coated. Further, the films were functionalized, either with acetic acid through co-condensation, or by coating the films with a thin carbon layer through exposure to furfuryl alcohol fumes followed by carbonization and sulfonation with H2SO4. The carbon-coated film was shown to be an efficient catalyst in the esterification reaction with acetic acid and ethanol. Due to the short, accessible mesopores, chemical variability, and possibility to homogenously cover large, rough surfaces. the films have a large potential for usage in various applications such as catalysis, sensing, and drug delivery.

The structure, growth, and phase stability of (Ti1-x,Al-x)N films with high Al content were investigated. (Ti1-x,Al-x)N (x= 0.63 and 0.77) thin films were grown on MgO (111) substrates at 700 degrees C using a UHV DC magnetron sputtering system. The (Ti-0.37,Al-0.63)N film is a single crystal with a cubic NaCl (B1) structure while the (T-i0.23,Al-0.77)N film only shows epitaxial growth of the same cubic phase in the first few atomic layers. With increasing film thickness, epitaxial wurtzite (B4) forms. The thin cubic layer and the wurtzite film has an orientation relationship of c-(Ti-0.23,Al-0.77)N(111)[110]parallel to w-(Ti-0.23,Al-0.77)N(0001)[11 (2) over bar0]. Continued deposition results in a gradual break-down of the epitaxial growth. It is replaced by polycrystalline growth of wurtzite columns with a high degree of 0001 texture, separated by a Tienriched cubic phase. In the as-deposited state, c-(Ti-0.27,Al-0.63)N displays a homogeneous chemical distribution while the w-(Ti-0.23,Al-0.77)N has segregated to Al- and Ti-rich domains. Annealing at 900 degrees C resulted in the spinodal decomposition of the metastable c-(Ti-0.27,Al-0.63)N film and formation of coherent elongated c-AlN and cTi-N-rich domains with an average width of 4.5 +/- 0.2 nm while the width of the domains in the w-(Ti-0.23,Al-0.77)N film only marginally increases to 2.8 +/- 0.1 nm. The slower coarsening rate of the wurtzite structure compared to cubic is indicative of a higher thermal stability.

A hybrid catalyst consisting of Zr-doped mesoporous silica (Zr-SBA-15) supports with intergrown Cu nanoparticles was used to study the effects of a catalysts chemical states on CO2 hydrogenation. The chemical state of the catalyst was altered by using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) or sodium metasilicate (SMS) as the silica precursor in the synthesis of the Zr-SBA-15 framework, and infiltration (Inf) or evaporation induced wetness impregnation (EIWI) as the Cu loading method. As a result, the silica precursor mainly affects the activity of the catalyst whereas the Cu loading method alters the selectivity of the products. TEOS materials exhibit a higher catalytic activity compared to SMS materials due to different Zr dispersion and bonding to the silica matrix. EIWI catalysts display selectivity for methanol formation, while the Inf ones enable methanol conversion to DME. This is correlated to a higher Zr content and lower Cu oxidation states of EIWI prepared catalysts. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

We present how the conventional focused ion beam (FIB) lift-out method can be modified to obtain phase selective specimens for atom probe tomography (APT). The modified method combines selective deep etching with site-specific lift-out using a micromanipulator in a FIB/SEM workstation. This method is used for phase-selective sample preparation in alloys with complex microstructures such as the coral- and plate-like silicon structures in the eutectic phase of Al-Si castings. The method proves to be both, practical and robust, with a high success rate of high-quality phase-specific APT specimens.

We use a modified cathodic arc deposition technique, including an electromagnetic coil that introduces a magnetic field in the vicinity of the source, to study its influence on the growth of (Ti0.36Al0.64)N coatings. By increasing the strength of the magnetic field produced by the coil, the cathode arc spots are steered toward the edge of the cathode, and the electrons are guided to an annular anode surrounding the cathode. As a result, the plasma density between the cathode and substrate decreased, which was observed as a lateral spread of the plasma plume, and a reduction of the deposition rate. Optical emission spectroscopy shows reduced intensities of all recorded plasma species when the magnetic field is increased due to a lower number of collisions resulting in excitation. We note a charge-to-mass ratio decrease of 12% when the magnetic field is increased, which is likely caused by a reduced degree of gas phase ionization, mainly through a decrease in N2 ionization. (Ti0.36Al0.64)N coatings grown at different plasma densities show considerable variations in grain size and phase composition. Two growth modes were identified, resulting in coatings with (i) a fine-grained glassy cubic and wurtzite phase mixture when deposited with a weak magnetic field, and (ii) a coarse-grained columnar cubic phase with a strong magnetic field. The latter conditions result in lower energy flux to the coating&rsquo;s growth front, which suppresses surface diffusion and favors the formation of c-(Ti,Al)N solid solutions over phase segregated c-TiN and w-AlN.

Nitrogen deficient c-(Ti0.52Al0.48)Ny, y = 0.92, y = 0.87, and y = 0.75 coatings were prepared in different N-2/Ar discharges on WC-Co inserts by reactive cathodic arc deposition. The microstructure of the y = 0.92 coating show that spinodal decomposition has occurred resulting in the formation of coherent c-TiN- and c-AIN rich domains during cutting. The y = 0.87 and y = 0.75 coatings have exhibited a delay in decomposition due to the presence of nitrogen vacancies that lowers the free energy of the system. In the decomposed structure, grain boundaries and misfit dislocations enhance the diffusion of elements from the workpiece and the substrate (e.g. Fe, Cr, and Co) into the coatings and it becomes more susceptible to crater wear. The y = 0.87 sample displays the highest crater wear resistance because of its dense grain boundaries that prevent chemical wear. The y = 0.92 sample has the best flank wear resistance because the decomposition results in age hardening. The y = 0.75 sample contains the MAX-phase Ti(2)AIN after cutting. The chemical alteration within the y = 0.75 sample and its high amount of macroparticles cause its low wear resistance. The different microstructure evolution caused by different amount of N-vacancies result in distinctive interactions between chip and coating, which also causes difference in the initial wear mechanism of the (Ti,Al)/N-y coatings.

The resistance to high-temperature oxidation of Ti1-xAlxN films determines performance in numerous applications including coated cutting tools. Here, we present a comprehensive study covering Ti1-xAlxN films with 0 amp;lt;= x amp;lt;= 0.83 annealed in air for 1 h at temperatures T-a ranging from 500 to 800 degrees C. Layers are grown by the combination of high-power impulse and dc magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS/DCMS) in Ar/N-2 atmospheres. We use X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to study the evolution of surface chemistry and to reconstruct elemental distribution profiles. No dependence of oxidation process on the phase content, average grain size, or preferred orientation could be confirmed, to the accuracy offered by the employed X-ray diffraction techniques. Instead, our results show that, under the applied test conditions, the Ti1-xAlxN oxidation scenario depends on both x and T-a. The common notion of double-layer Al2O3/TiO2 oxide formation is valid only in a limited region of the x-T-a parameter space (Type-1 oxidation). Outside this range, a mixed and non-conformal Al2O3-TiO2 layer forms, characterized by larger oxide thickness (Type-2 oxidation). The clear distinction between different Ti1-xAlxN oxidation scenarios revealed here is essential for numerous applications that can benefit from optimizing the Al content, while targeting a given operational temperature range.

The effect of metal alloying on mechanical properties including hardness and fracture toughness were investigated in three alloys, Ti 0.33Al0.50(Me) 0.17N (Me = Cr, Nb and V), and compared to Ti0.50Al0.50N, in the as-deposited state and after annealing. All studied alloys display similar as-deposited hardness while the hardness evolution during annealing is found to be connected to phase transformations, related to the alloy’s thermal stability. The most pronounced hardening was observed in Ti0.50Al0.50N, while all the coatings with additional metal elements sustain their hardness better and they are harder than Ti0.50Al0.50N after annealing at 1100 °C. Fracture toughness properties were extracted from scratch tests. In all tested conditions, as-deposited and annealed at 900 and 1100 °C, Ti0.33Al0.50Nb0.17N show the least surface and sub-surface damage when scratched despite the differences in decomposition behavior and h-AlN formation. Theoretically estimated ductility of phases existing in the coatings correlates well with their crack resistance. In summary, Ti0.33Al0.50Nb0.17N is the toughest alloy in both as-deposited and post-annealed states.

In situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is used to monitor the chemical evolution of the mesoporous silica SBA-15 from hydrolysis of the silica precursor to final silica condensation after the particle formation. Two silica precursors, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) or sodium metasilicate (SMS) were used, and the effects of additive (heptane and NH4F) concentrations were studied. Five formation stages are identified when TEOS is used as the precursor. The fourth stage correlates with the appearance and evolution of diffraction peaks recorded using in situ small angle X-ray diffraction. Details of the formed silica matrix are observed, e.g. the ratio between six-fold cyclic silica rings and linear bonding increases with the NH4F concentration. The TEOS hydrolysis time is independent of the NH4F concentration for small amounts of heptane, but is affected by the size of the emulsion droplets when the heptane amount increases. Polymerization and condensation rates of both silica precursors are affected by the salt concentration. Materials synthesized using SMS form significantly faster compared to TEOS-materials due to the pre-hydrolysis of the precursor. The study provides detailed insights into how the composition of the synthesis solution affects the chemical evolution and micellar aggregation during formation of mesoporous silica. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Using first principles calculations and experimental methods we show that B1 structured solid solution TixNbyAlzN can be grown. The mixing free energy surface indicates that the alloys should decompose. Theoretical analysis of the thermodynamic driving force towards the spinodal decomposition shows that the force can be different in alloys with equally low thermodynamic stability but different Nb content, indicating that the detailed picture of the decomposition should also be different. Electron microscopy and nanoindentation underlines different age hardening of the samples. We demonstrate that an alloy with the optimized composition, Ti0.42Nb0.17Al0.41N combines high thermal stability and age hardening behavior.

Grinding is a key step on the manufacturing process of WC-Co cemented carbides (hardmetals). In this work, an investigation of grinding effects on the surface integrity of hardmetals is conducted. It is done by combining diverse advanced characterisation techniques: X-ray diffraction, field emission-scanning electron microscopy, electron back scatter diffraction, focused ion beam - 3D tomography and transmission electron microscopy. The study is carried out in a fine-grained WC-Co grade. Besides ground state, polished surface finish condition is assessed for comparison purposes. It is evidenced that grinding induces significant alterations: 3D tomography illustrates microcracking exists down to 2.5 mu m depth with a highly anisotropic distribution at the subsurface, large compressive residual stresses extending until subsurface levels of about 12 mu m, and phase transformation of binder from the original fcc phase into the hcp one, as well as severe plastic deformation observed within the binder at the surface level.

Solar photovoltaic technologies could fully deploy and impact the energy conversion systems in our society if mass-produced energy-storage solutions exist. A supercapacitor can regulate the fluctuations on the electrical grid on short time scales. Their mass-implementation requires the use of abundant materials, biological and organic synthetic materials are attractive because of atomic element abundancy and low-temperature synthetic processes. Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) coming from the forest industry is exploited as a three-dimensional template to control the transport of ions in an electrolyte-separator, with nanochannels filled of aqueous electrolyte. The nanochannels are defined by voids in the nanocomposite made of NFC and the proton transporting polymer polystyrene sulfonic acid PSSH. The ionic conductivity of NFC-PSSH composites (0.2 S cm(-1) at 100% relative humidity) exceeds sea water in a material that is solid, feel dry to the finger, but filled of nanodomains of water. A paper-based supercapacitor made of NFC-PSSH electrolyte-separator sandwiched between two paper-based electrodes is demonstrated. Although modest specific capacitance (81.3 F g(-1)), power density (2040 W kg(-1)) and energy density (1016 Wh kg(-1)), this is the first conceptual demonstration of a supercapacitor based on cellulose in each part of the device; which motivates the search for using paper manufacturing as mass-production of energy-storage devices.

The thermal expansion coefficient of technologically relevant multicomponent cubic nitride alloys are predicted using the Debye model with ab initio elastic constants calculated at 0 K and an isotropic approximation for the Gruneisen parameter. Our method is benchmarked against measured thermal expansion of TiN and Ti(1-x)AlxN as well as against results of molecular dynamics simulations. We show that the thermal expansion coefficients of Ti(1-x-y)XyAlxN (X = Zr, Hf, Nb, V, Ta) solid solutions monotonously increase with the amount of alloying element X at all temperatures except for Zr and Hf, for which they instead decrease for y greater than or similar to 0.5.

Time evolution of catalytic CO2 hydrogenation to methanol and dimethyl ether (DME) has been investigated in a high-temperature high-pressure reaction chamber where products accumulate over time. The employed catalysts are based on a nano-assembly composed of Cu nanoparticles infiltrated into a Zr doped SiOx mesoporous framework (SBA-15): Cu-Zr-SBA-15. The CO2 conversion was recorded as a function of time by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the molecular activity on the catalyst’s surface was examined by diffuse reflectance in-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS). The experimental results showed that after 14 days a CO2 conversion of 25% to methanol and DME was reached when a DME selective catalyst was used which was also illustrated by thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. With higher Zr content in the catalyst, greater selectivity for methanol and a total 9.5% conversion to methanol and DME was observed, yielding also CO as an additional product. The time evolution profiles indicated that DME is formed directly from methoxy groups in this reaction system. Both DME and methanol selective systems show the thermodynamically highest possible conversion.

Amorphous hydrogenated carbon (DLC) coatings have a high hardness depending on the relative amount of sp(3)/sp(2) bondings. They also exhibit an extremely low friction coefficient and are chemically inert. However, these coatings have some disadvantages which limit their applications. For instance, adhesion is poor when they are deposited on metallic substrates and they are also unstable at high temperatures, degrading into graphite and loosing hardness. In this work, DLC coatings were deposited on precipitation hardening stainless steel (PH Corrax) which was plasma nitrided before the coating deposition. The samples were submitted to annealing treatments for an hour at different temperatures from 200 to 600 degrees C, together with a control group, which was only coated but not nitrided. After each annealing cycle, Raman Spectroscopy, nanoindentation and microscopy were used to check film properties. It was demonstrated that the nitriding pre treatment improved not only adhesion but also the thermal stability of the DLC, slowing degradation and preventing delamination.

The temporal evolutions of target voltage and current waveforms under different pulse voltage and working pressure conditions were studied during Cr high power impulse magnetron sputtering discharges. Target voltage and current characteristics demonstrated that when the pulse width was set as 200 mu s, HiPIMS discharge went through a four-stage sequence during each pulse, Townsend discharge, glow discharge, afterglow, and pulse-off stages. A discharge state transition in the glow discharge stage happened at high pulse voltage and working pressure conditions. Furthermore, the dependence of reduced cathode fall thickness pdcon pulse voltage, working pressure, and normalized current density j/p(2) was presented. It was found that gas rarefaction leads to a change of relationship between pd(c) and j/p(2). A noticeable increase of the cathode fall thickness caused by gas rarefaction has been found. Published by AIP Publishing.