Journal of Advanced Materials in Engineering (Esteghlal)

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The assessment of seismic performance of existing structures is becoming an important problem in earthquake engineering. Some important ructures are considerably old and, therefore, their strengths and ductilities are less than strength and ductility demands because of changes in codes and design methodologies. Such structures must be strengthened to resist future earthquakes. First, a structural model must be developed and then, based on seismic hazard and seismic risk analysis or code quantities, the design (or control) parameters can be determined. The next step is defining the damage indices in order to quantify the structural damage. Then the nonlinear dynamic analysis is carried out and damage indices are calculated. In the present paper, a power plant stack (located in Mashhad) is investigated for some levels of peak ground acceleration (PGA) considering return periods of 75, 500, 1000, and 2500 year. The height of stack is 100 m and the external diameter of the structure is 10 m. Several records are used for nonlinear dynamic analysis. It has been used from Park-Ang damage index that is a suitable model for concrete structures and has been considered in IDARC. It is clear that nonlinear dynamic analysis is necessary for the seismic vulnerability of existing structures. Special structures such stacks can be modeled with some 2-D or 3-D elements. However, the beam-column element is a proper model for special structures such as chimneys, considering calculation cost.

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In this study, Mo-14Si-10B and Mo-57Si-10B (at%) elemental powders were separately milled using an attritor mill. Mechanically alloyed powders were agglomerated and annealed. Then, powders of Mo-Si-B as alloyed (with composites) and agglomerated (without composites) were plasma sprayed onto plain carbon steels. The samples, both coated and non-coated, were subjected to isothermal oxidation tests. Metallurgical characteristics of powders and coatings were evaluated by SEM and XRD. Plasma-sprayed Mo-Si-B coatings (with phases of MoSi2, Mo5Si3, MoB and Mo5SiB2) greatly improved the oxidation resistance of the plain steel substrates, but plasma-sprayed Mo-Si-B coatings (without any phases) did not significantly improve the oxidation rate of substrates. Also, the kinetics and composition of the oxide-scale have been found to depend on the alloy composition.

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In this study, pure powders such as molybdenum, silicon, aluminum and titanium carbide were utilized to produce MoSi2 compound, MoSi2 /20 Vol % TiC composite, MoSi2-x Al alloyed compound and MoSi2-x Al/20 Vol % TiC alloyed composite. The initial powders were mixed in specified ratios, and then, were activated by mechanical milling. Milled powders were compacted, synthesized and sintered in the temperature range of 1100 -1400 oC. SEM was used to investigate the microstructural change and XRD for identification of phases. Effect of aluminum addition on phase formation was investigated. Addition of aluminum by over 9 atomic percent resulted in the formation of Mo(Si,Al)2 in alloyed matrix.

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Silicon nitride has attracted a considerable attention because of its excellent properties such as high-temperature strength, good oxidation resistance, high corrosion resistance, good thermal shock resistance, high creep resistance and good thermal and chemical stability. There are several different fabrication methods for synthesizing Si3N4 particles. Such methods are mostly costly and kinetically slow and require lengthy heat treatment. In this study, Si3N4 compounds were synthesized by means of mechanical milling. In the mechanical milling route,Si powder (≤99.0%) was milled under nitrogen gas for 25 h and heated at various temperatures 1100-1200-1300 and 1400 C for 1 h at the nitrogen atmosphere at a rate of 200 ml/min. Silicon powder was also annealed under a similar condition in order to evaluate the impact of milling process on the low temperature synthesizing of Si3N4. Phase identification and microstructural characteristics of products were evaluated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis were used for characterization of the formed bands and thermal treatment of the sample, respectively. The obtained results exhibited that Si3N4 powder was fully formed with two kinds of morphologies including globular particles and wire with a width of 100–300 nm and length of several microns at sintering temperature of 1300 C. This was confirmed by the Si–N absorption bonds in the FTIR trace. Based on XRD results, 25 h milling reduced temperature of reaction remarkably in comparison with direct nitridation of Si powders for 1 h. With an increase in the reaction temperature, the Si3N4 samples had a phase transformation 𝛂→𝛃, and variation of the morphology followed the vapor–liquid -solid mechanism.

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Ni–SiC composite coatings are successfully employed as a protective coating in the inner walls of engine cylinders. In this study, Ni-SiC, Ni-SiC-MoS2 and Ni-SiC-Gr composite coatings were prepared from a sulfamate bath. Both mechanical and ultrasonic stirring were used simultaneously during the process. Taking into account the working temperature of engine cylinders, the wear behavior of coatings was evaluated at 25 to 300 ºC and the high temperature tribological properties of the coatings were investigated. Based on the results obtained from the wear tests, all three coatings showed almost good friction coefficient values at 25 and 100 ºC, which were close to each other. By increasing the temperature to 200-300 °C, the friction coefficient and weight loss values strongly increased. However, addition of solid lubricants caused the values to decrease. The Ni-SiC-Gr coating at all temperatures showed a good and stable behavior.

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In this study, synthesis of silicon nitride by mechanical alloying and the effects of important parameters of milling time and heat treatment temperature, time and rate are presented. Silicon micro powder and nitrogen gas were used as precursor materials. Synthesized phases, morphology and particle size were investigated by X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), respectively. X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) was used for silicon nitride purity investigation.The optimum sample was produced at 30 h milling time, heat treatment at 1300 ℃ and 22 ℃/min heating rate conditions. X-ray fluorescence analysis showed more than 98% purity.

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Organic–inorganic hybrid coatings were prepared by sol–gel method and deposited on aluminum alloy 6061. Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used for structural study of the hybrid coatings. Adhesive strength of sol–gel coatings to the substrate was evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively. Corrosion behavior of the samples was studied by cyclic potentiodynamic and linear polarization tests. Results showed that adhesion strength of the coatings to the substrates was increased with increasing tetrapropoxide of zirconium (TPOZ) and cerium content. Corrosion tests showed that corrosion current density of coated samples were decreased three to seven orders of magnitude in comparison with uncoated aluminum alloy 6061. Decreasing in corrosion current density and increasing in polarization resistance was observed by increasing zirconia and cerium content. Unlike the uncoated aluminum alloy 6061, the crack-free coatings did not show pitting tendency. 

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In this research, ordered porous anodic templates with 30 nm diameter and 15 µm thickness were prepared by using double anodization process. Dip coating method was employed to synthesize strontium ferrite in the form of nanowires in sol dilution. Ferrite nanopowders were also synthesized using sol gel method. The characterization of the nanostructures were examined by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). Hysteresis loops of nanopowders and nanowires, parallel and perpendicular to the wires axes, were measured by Superconducting Quantom Interference Device (SQUID). The results showed that double anodization in 0.3 M  oxalic acid at 4 oC with a single anodization for 12 hours could produce ordered template. Dip coating in 80 oC  for two hours could form fine and uniform strontium ferrite nanowires. The produced material showed parallel anisotropy.
 

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