Influence of grain refiner addition and heat treatment on the mechanical properties of Al-Si alloy
In the present investigation, an attempt is made to study the effect of addition of grain refinement on Al-Si alloy, when it is subjected to the combined grain refiner addition (Al-5T-1B) and subjected to mechanical vibration and heat treatment. The material is tested for hardness property and dry sliding wear properties. The results of the present investigation indicate that there is a considerable improvement in the hardness valves, microstructure and resistance for wear.
Effect of grain refinement and modification on the dry sliding wear behaviour of eutectic Al–Si alloys
Abstract The present study deals with an investigation of dry sliding wear behaviour of grain refined and or modified eutectic (Al–12Si) Al–Si alloy by using a Pin-On-Disc machine. The indigenously developed Al–1Ti–3B and Al–10Sr master alloys were used as grain refiner and modifier for the grain refinement of α -Al dendrites and modification of eutectic Si, respectively. Various parameters have been studied such as alloy composition, sliding speed, sliding distance and normal pressure. The cast alloys, master alloys and worn surfaces were characterized by SEM/EDX microanalysis. Results suggest that, the wear resistance of eutectic Al–Si alloys increases with the addition of grain refiner (Al–1Ti–3B) and or modifier (Al–10Sr). Further, the worn surface studies show that adhesive wear was observed in Al–12Si alloy in the absence of grain refiner and modifier. However, an abrasive and oxidative wear was observed when the grain refiner and modifier are added to the same alloy. Commercially available LM-6 (12.5%Si) alloy was used for comparison.
Measuring Sheet Resistances of Dielectrics Using Co‐Planar Hydrogel Electrochemical Cells with Practical Applications to Characterize the Protective Quality of Paints on Sculptures
Electrical properties of thin dielectric films at the solid-liquid phase boundary are an important performance characteristic of many devices, coatings and sensors. In this paper, co-polymeric hydrogels of polyacrylic acid co-sulfonic acid, swollen with a salt solution to act as the solid electrolyte, were used to assess interfaces using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in a co-planar geometry. Silane-modified glasses were characterized by the co-planar hydrogel EIS cell and found to be distinguishable based on their surface monolayer chemistry. EIS measurements were also made on primed and painted metal substrates, using both test panels and an outdoor sculpture, Tony Smith's Stinger. The panels were then exposed to accelerated and outdoor weathering and showed degradation on the surface paint layers, which was observable electrochemically using EIS and confirmed visually by SEM. Electrochemical spectral features were compared between data from a standard paint-test cell versus this co-planar hydrogel cell; both cell types were able to measure coating capacitance, providing useful information about the condition of the bulk coating. Yet, sheet resistance (Rs) was a spectral feature seen only by the co-planar hydrogel cell. Thus, it can be concluded that the use of such co-planar hydrogel cells can provide an earlier warning sign to coating degradation and such cells provide a new type of spectral information that is not assessable by the standard geometry.