Iranian Journal of Materials Science and Engineering

---

Abstract: During solidification and casting in metallic molds, the heat flow is controlled by the thermal resistance at the casting-mold interface. Thus heat transfer coefficient at the metal- mold interface has a predominant effect on the rate of heat transfer. In some processes such as low pressure and die-casting, the effect of pressure on molten metal will affect the rate of heat transfer at least at initial steps of solidification. In this study interfacial heat transfer coefficient at the interface between A356 alloy casting and metallic mold during the solidification of casting under pressure were obtained using the IHCP (Inverse Heat Conduction Problem) method. Temperature measurements are then conducted with the thermocouples aligned in the casting and the metallic mold. The temperature files were used in a finite-difference heat flow program to estimate the transient heat transfer coefficients. The peak values of heat transfer coefficient obtained for no pressure application of A356 alloy is 2923 and for pressure application is 3345 . Empirical equation, relating the interfacial heat transfer coefficient the applied pressure were also derived and presented.

---

In this study the effect of Al–5Ti–1B grain refiner on the structural characteristics and wear properties of Al–12Zn–3Mg–2.5Cu alloy was investigated. The optimum amount for Ti containing grain refiners was selected as 2 wt.%. T6 heat treatment, (i.e. heating at 460 °C for 1 h before water quenching to room temperature and then aging at 120 °C for 24 h) was applied for all specimens before wear testing. Dry sliding wear resistant of the alloy was performed under normal atmospheric conditions. The experimental results showed that the T6 heat treatment considerably improved the resistance of Al–12Zn–3Mg–2.5Cu alloy to dry sliding wear.

---

In this research, variant selection of martensite transformed from ultrafine-grained (UFG) austenite fabricated by accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process and subsequent annealing was investigated with respect tomorphology of parentaustenitic phase. The results show that the original shape of austenite grain is very effective factor in determiningthe preferred variants of martensite transformed from the elongated ultrafine-grained austenite fabricated by 6-cycles via the ARB process. Annealing treatment of the austenitic samples subjected to the 6-cycle ARB processed at 873 K for 1.8 ks suppressed the variant selection by changing the morphology of austenite grains from elongated ultrafine-grains to fully-recrystallized and equiaxed fine-grains

---

Nitriding is a surface treatment technique used to introduce nitrogen into metallic materials to improve their surface hardness, mechanical properties, wear resistance and corrosion resistance. In this research, the effects of plasma nitriding parameters including frequency and duty cycle were investigated on samples with different grooves dimensions. Steel blocks prepared from DIN1.2344 hot working steel were plasma nitride at 500 °C under the atmosphere contents of %75H2-%25N2, the duty cycles of 40%, 60%, 80%, and the frequencies of 8, 10 kHz for 5 hours. Then characteristics and micro hardness's of the nitrided samples were investigated using SEM, XRD, and Vickers Micro Hardness method. The results of the experiments indicated that with increasing frequency, the duty cycle, and the thickness of the grooves, the roughness of the surfaces increased. With an increase in duty cycle from 40% to 80%, the hardness of the surface rose and the thickness of the compound layer built up. Hollow cathode effect occurred in the samples with small grooves and high duty cycle in plasma nitriding. This will result in over heating of the sample which leads to a decrease in the slope of hardness values from the surface to the core of the sample and also a decrease in the diffused depth of nitrogen. The compound layer of the treated samples consisted of @ : Fe4N and : Fe2-3N phases and the proportion of the A to @ increased with the decrease in the duty cycle. Increasing the frequency did not affect the proportion of phases and micro hardness of the samples.

---

The wear mechanism of plasma electrolytic nitrocarburised (PEN/C) 316L stainless steel samples was studied after a pin on disc wear test. The surface morphology of samples after application of PEN/C process was studied using scanning electron microscope technique. The sliding tracks resulting from the wear tests on the treated specimens indicated no signs of plastic deformation and adhesive wear, but the slider wear particles were trapped in the micro-craters of the counterface. The results showed that this mechanism may further improve the tribological performance of the system by increasing the wear resistance and lowering friction. PEN/C treated surfaces are therefore believed to have the potential to limit metal-to-metal wear mechanisms on a microscale, if contact pressures are sufficiently low

---

The effects of H2SO4 concentration on the electrochemical behaviour of passive films formed on AISI 304 stainless steel were investigated using by potentiodynamic polarization, Mott–Schottky analysis and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Potentiodynamic polarization indicated that the corrosion potentials were found to shift towards negative direction with an increase in solution concentration. Also, the corrosion current densities increase with an increase in solution concentration. Mott–Schottky analysis revealed that the passive films behave as n-type and p-type semiconductors at potentials below and above the flat band potential, respectively. Also, Mott– Schottky analysis indicated that the donor and acceptor densities are in the range 1021 cm-3 and increased with solution concentration. EIS data showed that the equivalent circuit Rs(Qdl[Rct(RrQr)]) by two time constants is applicable.

---

In this research accumulative roll bonding process as sever plastic deformation process was applied up to 8 cycles to produce the ultrafine grain copper. Microstructure of cycle 1, cycle 4 and cycle 8 investigated by TEM images. By analyzing TEM images the grain size measured below 100 nm in cycle 8 and it was with an average grain size of 200 nm. Corrosion resistance of rolled copper strips in comparing with unrolled copper strip was investigated in acidic (pH=2) 3.5 wt. % NaCl solution. Potentiodynamic polarization and EIS tests used for corrosion resistance investigations. The corrosion morphologies analyzed by FE-SEM microscopy after polarization test and immersion for 40 hours. Results show that the corrosion resistance decreased up to cycle 2 and increased after rolled for forth time. The corrosion degradation was more intergranular in cycle 2 and unrolled counterpart. It was more uniform rather than intergranular type in cycle 8. Corrosion current density in unrolled sample (2.55 µAcm -2 ) was about two times of that in cycle 8 (1.45 µAcm -2 ). The higher corrosion rate in cycle 2 in comparison with others was attributed to unstable microstructure and increase in dislocation density whereas the uniform corrosion in cycle 8 was due to stable UFG formation

---

In this study, effect of immersion time on the electrochemical behaviour of AISI 321 stainless steel (AISI 321) in 0.1 M H 2SO 4 solution under open circuit potential (OCP) conditions was evaluated by potentiodynamic polarization, Mott–Schottky analysis and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Mott–Schottky analysis revealed that the passive films behave as n-type and p-type semiconductors at potentials below and above the flat band potential, respectively. Also, Mott–Schottky analysis indicated that the donor and acceptor densities are in the range 1021 cm-3 and increased with the immersion time. EIS results showed that the best equivalent circuit presents two time constants: The high-medium frequencies time constant can be correlated with the charge transfer process and the low frequencies time constant has been associated with the redox processes taking place in the surface film. According to this equivalent circuit, the polarization resistance (interfacial impedance) initially increases with the immersion time (1 to 12 h), and then it is observed to decreases. This variation is fully accordance with potentiodynamic polarization results

---

B4C and its composites with TiB2 as second phase continues to be extensively used as the preferred ceramic material in military applications as armor systems for absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy from high velocity projectiles. It also exhibits a high melting point (2427 °C), and high neutron absorption cross section. Pressureless sintering of the B 4C-nanoTiB2 nanocomposite using small amount of Fe and Ni (≤3 Wt%) as sintering aids was investigated in order to clarify the role of Fe and Ni additions on the mechanical and microstructural properties of B4C-nanoTiB2 nanocomposites. Different amount of Fe and Ni, mainly 1 to 3 Wt% were added to the base material. Pressureless sintering was conducted at 2175, 2225 and 2300 °C. It was found that Addition of 3 Wt% Fe and 3 wt% Ni and sintering at 2300 °C resulted in improving the density of the samples to about 99% of theoretical density. The nanocomposite samples exhibited high density, hardness, and microstructural uniformity.

---

The aim of the present study is the prediction of critical conditions (including critical strain and flow stress) for the initiation of dynamic recrystallization during thermo-mechanical processing of plain carbon steels. For this propose, torsion tests were conducted at different temperature (1050, 1100 and 1150˚C) and strain rates (0.002, 0.02 and 0.2/s). All flow curves showed a peak stress indicating that dynamic recrystallization occurs during hot deformation. The critical stress and strain were then determined based on change in strain hardening rate as a function of flow stress. Finally, the effect of deformation conditions on these parameters was analyzed.

---

In this study, Al2014 alloy refined with Al-5%Ti-1%B master alloy was prepared by strain-induced melt activated (SIMA) process. The main variables of the SIMA process were cold working, holding time and temperature in semi-solid state. Cold working was applied on specimens by upsetting technique to achieve 10%, 20% and 30% height reduction. Cold worked specimens were heat treated in semi-solid state at 585 °C, 595 °C, 605 °C, 615 °C, 625 °C and 635 °C and were kept in these temperatures for different times (20 and 30 min). Observations through optical and scanning electron microscopy were used to study the microstructural evaluation. The results revealed that fine and globular microstructures are obtained by applying 30 % height reduction percentage and heat treating in 625 °C for 30 min. Comparison between refined and unrefined Al2014 alloy after applying SIMA process showed that Al-5%Ti-1%B master alloy has no significant effect on average globule size but makes the final structure more globular.

---

In this paper, polycrystalline pure zinc oxide nano structured thin films were deposited on two kinds of single crystal and polycrystalline of p and n type Si in three different substrate temperatures of 300, 400 and 500^◦C by low cost APCVD method. Structural, electrical and optical properties of these thin films were characterized by X ray diffraction, two point probe method and UV visible spectrophotometer respectively. IV measurements of these heterojunctions showed that turn on voltage and series resistance will increase with increasing substrate temperature in polycrystalline Si, while in single crystal Si, turn on voltage will decrease. Although they are acceptable diodes, their efficiency as a heterojunction solar cell are so low

---

High speed and absence of a precise control over pressure distribution confine sheet Electromagnetic Forming into a die to simple shapes having shallow depth. It is possible to reach a higher depth by using a convex punch instead of a concave die. In this study, sheet Electromagnetic Forming on a punch and sheet Electromagnetic Forming into a die are investigated. The electromagnetic part of the study is investigated analytically and its mechanical part is studied numerically. In order to couple electromagnetic with mechanical parts, no-coupling method is used. The obtained results are verified by comparing the obtained results with previous experimental ones in literature. Rate-dependent and rate-independent hardenings are taken into consideration for the mechanical behavior for material of AAl1050. Using appropriate hardening model for material yields acceptable results. Moreover, a convex punch instead of a concave die is used to reach to a higher depth in sheet Electromagnetic Forming.

---

In this paper, the influence of heat treatment on PH17-7 stainless steel spring was evaluated. Precipitation hardening phenomenon of  PH 17-7 steel was evaluated in three stages. First, the spring constant changes with time and temperature was evaluated. Second, the spring constant changes with respect to its original length at constant temperature and time with blocking (spring length after compression, 18 and 21 mm) were investigated.  And finally, the spring heat treatment at 480 °C for 80 min and then holding at 230 °C in oil bath for 60 min without blocking were investigated. The results showed that the use of 18 mm block have large spring constant than 21 mm block. The optimal conditions (480°C for 80 min) for this spring to reaching maximum spring constant were determined.

---

In this study, an  organic compound  inhibitor, namely N-benzyl-N-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-tetrazole-5-amine (NBTA), was synthesized and the role of this inhibitor for corrosion protection of stainless steel (SS) exposed to 0.5 M H₂SO₄ was investigated using electrochemical, and quantum analysis. By taking advantage of potentiodynamic polarization, the inhibitory action of NBTA was found to be mainly mixed type with dominant anodic inhibition. The effectiveness of the inhibitor was also indicated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Moreover, to provide further insight into the mechanism of inhibition, quantum chemical calculations of the inhibitor were performed. The adsorption of NBTA onto the SS surface followed the Langmuir adsorption model with the free energy of adsorption ΔG⁰_ads of of -7.88 kJ mol^-1. Quantum chemical calculations were employed to give further insight into the mechanism of inhibition action of NBTA.

---

In this study, Boron carbide was synthesized using Mesoporous Carbon CMK-1, Boron oxide, and magnesiothermic reduction process. The Effects of temperature and magnesium grain size on the formation of boron carbide were studied using nano composite precurser containg mesoporous carbon. Samples were leached in 2M Hydrochloric acid to separate Mg, MgO and magnesium-borat phases. SEM, XRD and Xray map analysis were caried out on the leached samples to characterize the  boron carbide. results showed that the reaction efficiency developed in samples with weight ratio of B₂O₃:C:Mg = 11:1.5:12, by increasing the temperature from 550 to 650 °C and magnesium powder size from 0.3 m to 3 m.

---

Nowadays, Ni-free austenitic stainless steels are being developed rapidly and high price of nickel is one of the most important motivations for this development. At present research a new FeCrMn steel was designed and produced based on Fe-Cr-Mn-C system. Comparative studies on microstructure and high temperature mechanical properties of  new steel and AISI 316 steel were done. The results showed that new FeCrMn developed steel has single austenite phase microstructure, and its tensile strength and toughness were higher than those of 316 steel at 25, 200,350 and 500°C. In contrast with 316 steel, the new FeCrMn steel did not show strain induced transformation and dynamic strain aging phenomena during tensile tests that represented higher austenite stability of new developed steel. Lower density and higher strength of the new steel caused higher specific strength in comparison with the 316 one that can be considered as an important advantage in structural applications but in less corrosive environment

---

In this study, carbon nano fibers (CNFs) were mixed into epoxy resin through a magnetic stirrer and again mixed using ultra sonicator. Using hand layup technique, biaxial braided fiber composites were prepared with unfilled, 0.2, 0.5 and 1 wt% CNF. Tensile test and shear test was performed to identify the tensile strength and shear strength of the composites. Fractured surface of the tensile specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy to identify morphologies of nanoparticles. A discrete three layer model was developed for prediction of the tensile modulus and shear modulus of biaxial braided fiber composites. Theoretical and experimental values were compared. The experimental and theoretical results show that the addition of CNF in the epoxy matrix had significant influences on the mechanical properties of biaxial carbon braided fiber composites. CNF inclusion with braided composite promoted the tensile modulus, tensile strength, shear modulus and shear strength up to 0.5wt% of the biaxial carbon braided fiber composites.

---

In this paper, cyclic flaring and sinking (CFS) as a new severe plastic deformation (SPD) method was employed to produce the ultrafine grain (UFG) copper tubes. The extra friction has eliminated in the CFS method that provided the possibility for production of longer UFG tubes compared to the other SPD methods. This process was done periodically to apply more strain and consequently finer grain size and better mechanical properties. The CFS was performed successfully on pure copper tubes up to eleven cycles. Mechanical properties of the initial and processed tubes were extracted from tensile tests in the different cycles. The remarkable increase in strength and decrease in ductility take placed in the CFS-ed tubes. The material flow behavior during CFS processing was analyzed by optical microscopy (OM), and a model was presented for grain refinement mechanism of pure copper based on multiplication and migration of dislocations (MMD). This mechanism caused that the initial grains converts to elongated dislocation cells (subgrains) and then to equiaxed ultrafine grains in the higher cycles. The CFS method refined the microstructure to fine grains with the mean grain size of 1200nm from initial coarse grain size of 40µm

---

Influence of formation of surface nano/ultrafine structure using deep rolling on plasma nitriding and tribological properties of the AISI 316L stainless steel was investigated. Initially, the deep rolling process was carried out on the bar-shaped specimens at 15 cycles with 0.2 mm/s longitudinal rate and 22.4 rpm bar rotation. Then, plasma nitriding treatment was applied on the as-received and deep rolled kinds at 450 °C and H₂-25% Vol. N₂ gas mixture for 5_­ h. Surface micro-hardness and un-lubricated pin-on-ring sliding wear tests were carried out on the as-received, deep rolled, plasma nitrided and deep rolled-plasma nitrided kinds. Results revealed that deep rolled-plasma nitrided kind is shown the highest wear resistance than the others, due to the further increased surface hardness achieved via the combined process.