Iranian Journal of Materials Science and Engineering

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A two dimensional mathematical model has been developed for describing the temperature, flow, and electric fields in the are column of the Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) of aluminum in argon shielding gas using axisymmetric Navier-Stokes, Maxwell, and differential thermal energy equations. The predicted results are most sensitive to the cathode spot radius and an optimum cathode spot radius exists on the basis of the minimum arc power consumption. The consumable electrode shape change due to droplet detachment is simulated in a quasi-steady manner using different electrode diameters. The change in electric field profile with different electrodes gives rise to large changes in flow conditions. This flow perturbation plus the non-uniform and transient J*B force field are suspected to enhance the recoil experience by the droplet on detachment, thus leading to violent and chaotic metal transfer in GMAW.

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In this investigation, α 2-D Finite Volume Method (FVM) with unstructured triangular mesh is developed to simulate the mould filling process. The simulation of fluid flow and track of free surface is based on the Marker And Cell (MAC) technique. This technique has capability ofhandling the arbitrary curved solid boundaries in the casting processes. In order to verify the computational results of the simulation, a thin disk plate with transparent mould was tested. The mould filling process was recorded using a 16mm high-speed camera. Images were analyzed frame by frame, in order to tracking of free surface and filling rate during mould filling. Comparison between the experimental method and the simulation results has shown a good agreement.

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The effects of gating system and pattern geometry on the metal flow in the lost foam casting (LFC) process have been investigated using glass covered mold and video recording system. Unlike convectional casting process, the type of the gating system showed little effect on fillability in lost foam, but pattern thickness had large effect on mold filling. The mold filling behavior seems to be controlled by the combined influences of heat and mass transfer. The flow rate increased with increasing pattern thickness.

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In this investigation a new model was developed to calculate gas pressure at the melt/foam interface (Gap) resulting from foam degradation during mould filling in the Lost Foam Casting (LFC) process. Different aspects of the process, such as foam degradation, gas elimination, transient mass, heat transfer, and permeability of the refractory coating were incorporated into this model. A Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) code was developed based on the numerical technique of the SOLution Algorithm- Volume Of Fluid (SOLA- VOF) utilizing model, for the simulation and prediction of the fluid flow in the LFC process. In order to verify the computational results of the simulation, a thin plate of gray iron was poured into a transparentfoam mould. The mould filling process was recorded using a 16mm high-speed camera. Images were analysed frame by frame, in order to measuring foam depolymerization rate and the gap volume during mould filling. Comparison between the experimental method and the simulation results, for the LFC filling sequence, has shown a good agreement.

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During mold filling, molten metal can only advance as quickly as the air inside thecavity is expelled. In this work an analytical model describing air flow is developed based on aincompressible flow theory. Air pressure has serious effects upon the filling behaviour such assurface profile and filling time. In this work a new mathematical model is proposed for calculationthe air pressure during the mold filling. A single phase computational fluid dynamic code based onthe SOLA-VOF algorithm used for prediction the fluid flow. Air discharged through the vents ismodelled by ideal gas assumption, conservation of mass equation and Bernoulli law. A newalgorithm was developed to interpolates the air pressure on the surface cell. The creation of airback pressure was correlated with sizes of vents and pouring basin height. In order to verify thecomputational results a series of experimental test was conducted. Comparison between theexperimental data and simulation results has shown a good agreement.

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In the present work, a model was proposed to predict the thermal history during rapid solidification (RS) of metal droplets in the gas atomization process. The classical theory of heterogeneous nucleation was based on Newtonian heat flow and enthalpy method. Solving the governing numerical equations by the finite difference method (FDM) gave up the opportunity of analyzing the temperature-time history of the droplets during cooling in the RS process. Here, cooling in the liquid state, nucleation and recalescence, segregated solidification, eutectic solidification and cooling in the solid state were considered. To verify the model, the gas atomization of Al-4.5% Cu alloy was studied and the results were compared with the Shukla's model [1]. Convincing agreement was obtained between the predicted undercoolings and the experimental results reported previously.

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The synergistic behavior of molybdate and phosphate ions in mitigating the corrosion of mild steel in simulated cooling water was evaluated performing potentiodynamic polarization and impedance spectroscopy tests. Phosphate and molybdate showed a synergistic effect on corrosion inhibition of steel in simulated cooling water. The observed reduction in anodic and cathodic current densities could be the consequence of incorporation of both phosphate and molybdate ions in forming a protective layer on the surface. The charge transfer resistance of the protective layer formed on steel surface was much greater in presence of both ions in solution than that when each inhibitor used alone.

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The mold-filling behavior in the casting of aluminum alloy (A413) using lost foam casting (LFC) was explored. The effects of gate numbers, type of gating and casting thickness on the filling behavior were evaluated. Although, unlike convectional casting process, the gating system showed little effect onfilling ability, casting thickness created a greater effect on the mold filling. In contrast with convectional casting process, the mold filling seems to be controlled by castinggeometry as a consequence of combined influence of heat and mass transfer. The melt used to enter from the first gate instead of last gate which is in contrast with convectional casting process.

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This study was launched to investigate the effects of heating rate and aging parameters on the kinetic of precipitation reactions in a high alloy high strength steel having Ni, Co, Mo and Ti. For this purpose, as quenched specimens were subjected to three types of aging methods with different heating rates. These methods consisted of aging in Pb bath, salt bath, and furnace at different aging cycles. The kinetic of precipitation in each method was studied by hardness measurements and was described adequately by the Johnson-mehl-Avrami equation. Remarkable increase in hardness and its rate is observed when the rate of heating increases. The substantial increase in hardness of the specimens aged rapidly in salt & Pb baths, compared with those aged normally in furnace, seemed to be due to the formation of thermo elastic stresses during sudden expansion of the substance subjected to rapid heating. According to the results obtained in this research, increase in the Avrami constants, n & k, and decrease in the start time of transformation, ts, are associated with heating rate increasing. Analysis of the observed and calculated data for hardness using Arrhenius equation, shows that for the same amount of volume fraction of precipitates, the activation energy of precipitates decreased for f=25 and 50%, while at f=90 % it increased by increasing heating rate.

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The presence of bainite in the microstructure of steels to obtain a proper combination of strength and toughness has always been desired. The previous works however have shown that the presence of preferred bainite morphologies in the microstructure of any steel would not be readily accessible. In addition, the appearance of different bainite morphologies in the microstructure of any steel is dictated by different factors including the steel initial microstructure, austenitization characteristics, thermomechanical processing parameters and so on. Accordingly, in the present work, the effect of prior austenite grain size and the amount of austenite hot deformation on the bainite formation characteristics were investigated in 0.12C-2.5 Ni-1.2Cr steels. The results indicated that the prior austenite grain size and the amount of deformation in the austenite no-recrystallization region resulted in significant changes of the bainite formation kinetics and morphology.

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Ultrafine hydroxyapatite (HAp) powders with crystallite size in the range of 10-90 nm were synthesized by chemical precipitation process using Ca(OH)2 and H3PO4 solutions as starting materials. Molar ratio of Ca/P=1.68 was kept constant throughout the process and alkaline condition for the reaction was maintained using ammonium hydroxide. The role of raw material concentration on HAp crystallite size and morphology were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. The results revealed that variations in crystallite size and morphology of synthesized HAp are strongly affected by the concentration of acid solution. To study the sintering behavior of HAp particles, the powders were pressed at 200 MPa using a uniaxial press. Sintering experiments were carried out at temperatures of 1100, 1250 and 1300°C with various soaking times at maximum temperatures. XRD was also used in determining thephases present after sintering process. The results indicated the decomposition of HAp into a-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and b-TCP phases at 1300°C. The microstructure of the sintered HAp ceramics was characterized by SEM.

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A film of osteoconductive and biocompatible material on biomedical metallic implants can create bioactivity of the implant and shorten healing time. Hydroxyapatite, that is the most important mineral part of human bone, was coated on Ti6Al4V using cathodic electrode position process. Pulse electrode position technique was used and the effects of different parameters such as potential, duty cycle (on time/ (on time+ off time)), temperature and current density on the morphology of the deposits were examined. Nano size deposits were formed under controlled temperature and optimization of voltage and current density.

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TRIP (TRansformation- lnduced- Plasticity) behavior is a powerful mechanism to improve mechanical properties. The basis of TRIP phenomena is the transformation of retained austenite with optimum characteristics (volume fraction, stability, size and morphology) to martensite during deformation at room temperature. Accordingly, the first requirement to obtain desired TRIP effects is to produce an appropriate microstructure. Thermo mechanical processing is an effective method to control the microstructural evolution thereby mechanical properties in TRIP steels. This work deals with a TRIP steel containing 0.2% C, evaluating the effects of straining before and during ?®a atransformation on its final characteristics, using hot compression tests. The results revealed that straining in the two phase region (dynamic transformation) not only reduces the ferrite grain size more significantly, but also increases the retained austenite volumefraction. Accordingly the final mechanical properties were also improved.

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In the present study a Finite Difference Method has been developed to model the transient incompressible turbulent free surface fluid flow. A single fluid has been selected for modeling of mold filling and The SOLA VOF 3D technique was modified to increase the accuracy of simulation of filling phenomena for shape castings. For modeling the turbulence phenomena k-e standard model was used. In order to achieve an accurate model, solving domain was discrete to three regions includes: laminar sub layer, boundary layer and internal region. This model was applied to experimental models such as a driven cavity, Campbell benchmark [1] and top filled cavity. The results show that the suggested model yield favorable predictions of turbulence flow and have a good consistency in comparing with experimental results.

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Abstract: Thermodynamic computational packages MTDATA and FactSage have been used to carry out calculations on the variation with temperature of the phases precipitated on cooling in both oxidising and reducing conditions of a typical ladle slag composition, in the temperature range 1700 - 900°C. The current coverage of the databases associated with the computational packages is discussed in relation to their application to slag - refractory interaction and the validity of the results is compared with some relevant experimental data and phase equilibrium studies

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Abstract: Despite having a number of advantages, reinforced concrete can suffer rebar corrosion in high–chloride media, resulting in failure of reinforced concrete structures. In this research the corrosion inhibition capability of the mixture of calcium and ammonium nitrate of steel rebar corrosion was investigated in the simulated concrete pore solution. Cyclic polarization and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) techniques were applied on steel concrete pore solution containing 2 weight percent sodium chloride (NaCl). Results show that such mixtures had higher inhibition efficiency than calcium nitrate alone. The optimum concentration of the inhibitor mixture was determined to be 45 mgr/lit.

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Abstract: Refractory materials containing cordierite (2MgO.2Al2O3.5SiO2) and mullite (3Al2O3.2SiO2) are used as support in furnaces, because of their low thermal expansion properties which confer them a very good ability to thermal shock resistance. Composed of two phases presenting very different CTE (1.5–3×10-6 for cordierite and 4–6×10-6 K-1 for mullite), these materials can develop damage during thermal cycling due to internal stresses. The resulting network of microcracks is well known to improved thermal shock resistance of materials, since it usually involves a significant decrease in their elastic properties. This paper is devoted to the characterisation of the damage generated by this CTE mismatch, thanks to the application of a specific ultrasonic device at high temperature.

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Abstract: In the present study the effect of thermomechanical treatment (cold work and annealing) on the transformation behavior of NiTi shape memory alloys was studied. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to determine transformation temperature and its relation to precipitates and defects. Three alloys including Ti-50.3at.% Ni, Ti-50.5at.% Ni (reclamated orthodontic wires) and 50.6at.% Ni alloy were annealed at 673 K and 773 K for 30 and 60 min after 15% cold rolling. It was found that the transformation characteristics of these alloys are sensitive to annealing treatment and composition. The temperature range of transformation is broadened during cold working and after subsequent annealing, the intermediate phase was appeared. The peaks become sharper and close together on each cooling and heating cycle with increasing annealing temperature and time

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Abstract: Due to the expansion of high voltage Alternating Current (AC) power transmission lines and cathodically protected buried pipelines, it is becoming more and more difficult to construct them with enough safe distances between them. Thus, the pipelines are frequently exposed to induced AC interferences, which result in perturbation of Cathodic Protection (CP) due to AC corrosion. To study the above criterion, an experimental set up was used with coupons exposed to simulated soil solutions, while under both CP and AC induced condition for which an AC+DC power supply was utilized. The experiments were carried out in several simulated soil solutions corresponding to several soil samples collected from various regions along a buried pipeline with overhead parallel high voltage power transmission line. The results indicated that AC corrosion depends strongly on the composition of the soil.

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geopolymer cement (inorganic polymeric binder) based on natural pozzolan are investigated. SiO

of activator and total molar ratios of Nacomposition exhibiting the highest 28-day compressive strength. Mixtures exhibiting the highest compressive strength were studied for their molecular structure using laboratory technique of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.Results obtained confirm that changes in chemical composition and curing condition can result in variations in degree of silicon substitution by aluminum in the second coordination sphere. Hydrothermal curing affects the molecular structure so that by increasing the hydrothermal curing temperatures, a lower degree of silicon substitution by aluminum in the second coordination sphere is observed. The molecular structure of the studied inorganic polymeric binde is composed of Si-O-Si chains bonded to Al-O and Si-O units creating two and three dimensional networks.

In this paper, the effects of chemical composition and curing conditions on molecular structure of2/Na2O molar ratio2O/Al2O3, and H2O/Al2O3 were changed to determine the optimum chemical