Publications
114 results found
Boughton O, Ma S, Cai X, et al., 2019, Computed tomography porosity and spherical indentation for determining cortical bone millimetre-scale mechanical properties, Scientific Reports, Vol: 9, ISSN: 2045-2322
The cortex of the femoral neck is a key structural element of the human body, yet there is not a reliable metric for predicting the mechanical properties of the bone in this critical region. This study explored the use of a range of non-destructive metrics to measure femoral neck cortical bone stiffness at the millimetre length scale. A range of testing methods and imaging techniques were assessed for their ability to measure or predict the mechanical properties of cortical bone samples obtained from the femoral neck of hip replacement patients. Techniques that can potentially be applied in vivo to measure bone stiffness, including computed tomography (CT), bulk wave ultrasound (BWUS) and indentation, were compared against in vitro techniques, including compression testing, density measurements and resonant ultrasound spectroscopy. Porosity, as measured by micro-CT, correlated with femoral neck cortical bone’s elastic modulus and ultimate compressive strength at the millimetre length scale. Large-tip spherical indentation also correlated with bone mechanical properties at this length scale but to a lesser extent. As the elastic mechanical properties of cortical bone correlated with porosity, we would recommend further development of technologies that can safely measure cortical porosity in vivo.Introduction
Wang S, Giuliani F, Britton TB, 2019, Microstructure and formation mechanisms of δ-hydrides in variable grain size Zircaloy-4 studied by electron backscatter diffraction, Acta Materialia, Vol: 169, Pages: 76-87, ISSN: 1359-6454
Microstructure and crystallography of δ phase hydrides in as-received fine grain and ‘blocky alpha’ large grain Zircaloy-4 (average grain size ∼11 μm and >200 μm, respectively) were examined using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Results suggest that the matrix-hydride orientation relationship is {0001} α ||{111} δ ;<112¯0> α ||<110> δ for all the cases studied. The habit plane of intragranular hydrides and some intergranular hydrides has been found to be {101¯7} of the surrounding matrix. The morphology of intergranular hydrides can vary depending upon the angle between the grain boundary and the hydride habit plane. The misfit strain between α-Zr and δ-hydride is accommodated mainly by high density of dislocations and twin structures in the hydrides, and a mechanism of twin formation in the hydrides has been proposed. The growth of hydrides across grain boundaries is achieved through an auto-catalytic manner similar to the growth pattern of intragranular hydrides. Easy collective shear along <11¯00> makes it possible for hydride nucleation at any grain boundaries, while the process seems to favour grain boundaries with low (<40°) and high (>80°) c-axis misorientation angles. Moreover, the angle between the grain boundary and the adjacent basal planes does not influence the propensity for hydride nucleation.
Wang S, Giuliani F, Britton T, 2019, Variable temperature micropillar compression to reveal <a> basal slip properties of Zircaloy-4, Scripta Materialia, Vol: 162, Pages: 451-455, ISSN: 1359-6462
Zircaloy-4 is widely used as nuclear fuel cladding materials, where it is important to understand the mechanical properties between room temperature and reactor operating temperatures (around 623 K). To aid in this understanding, we have performed compression tests on micropillars aligned to activate <a> basal slip across this temperature range. Engineering analysis of the results indicates that the plastic yield follows a thermally activated constitutive law. We also observe the nature of the slip bands formed on the side surface of our pillars and see characteristic ‘bulging’ that tends to localise as temperature increases.
Jun T-S, Maeder X, Bhowmik A, et al., 2019, The role of β-titanium ligaments in the deformation of dual phase titanium alloys, Materials Science and Engineering: A, Vol: 746, Pages: 394-405, ISSN: 0921-5093
Multiphase titanium alloys are critical materials in high value engineeringcomponents, for instance in aero engines. Microstructural complexity isexploited through interface engineering during mechanical processing to realisesignificant improvements in fatigue and fracture resistance and strength. Inthis work, we explore the role of select interfaces using in-situmicromechanical testing with concurrent observations from high angularresolution electron backscatter diffraction (HR-EBSD). Our results aresupported with post mortem transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Usingmicro-pillar compression, we performed in-depth analysis of the role of select{\beta}-titanium (body centred cubic) ligaments which separate neighbouring{\alpha}-titanium (hexagonal close packed) regions and inhibit the dislocationmotion and impact strength during mechanical deformation. These results shedlight on the strengthening mechanisms and those that can lead to strainlocalisation during fatigue and failure.
Boughton OR, Ma S, Zhao S, et al., 2018, Measuring bone stiffness using spherical indentation, PLoS ONE, Vol: 13, ISSN: 1932-6203
ObjectivesBone material properties are a major determinant of bone health in older age, both in terms of fracture risk and implant fixation, in orthopaedics and dentistry. Bone is an anisotropic and hierarchical material so its measured material properties depend upon the scale of metric used. The scale used should reflect the clinical problem, whether it is fracture risk, a whole bone problem, or implant stability, at the millimetre-scale. Indentation, an engineering technique involving pressing a hard-tipped material into another material with a known force, may be able to assess bone stiffness at the millimetre-scale (the apparent elastic modulus). We aimed to investigate whether spherical-tip indentation could reliably measure the apparent elastic modulus of human cortical bone.Materials and methodsCortical bone samples were retrieved from the femoral necks of nineteen patients undergoing total hip replacement surgery (10 females, 9 males, mean age: 69 years). The samples underwent indentation using a 1.5 mm diameter, ruby, spherical indenter tip, with sixty indentations per patient sample, across six locations on the bone surfaces, with ten repeated indentations at each of the six locations. The samples then underwent mechanical compression testing. The repeatability of indentation measurements of elastic modulus was assessed using the co-efficient of repeatability and the correlation between the bone elastic modulus measured by indentation and compression testing was analysed by least-squares regression.ResultsIn total, 1140 indentations in total were performed. Indentation was found to be repeatable for indentations performed at the same locations on the bone samples with a mean co-efficient of repeatability of 0.4 GigaPascals (GPa), confidence interval (C.I): 0.33–0.42 GPa. There was variation in the indentation modulus results between different locations on the bone samples (mean co-efficient of repeatability: 3.1 GPa, C.I: 2.2–3.90 GPa). No cle
Pelissari PIBGB, Bouville F, Pandolfelli VC, et al., 2018, Nacre-like ceramic refractories for high temperature applications, Journal of the European Ceramic Society, Vol: 38, Pages: 2186-2193, ISSN: 0955-2219
High-temperature ceramics, so-called refractories, are widely used for the manufacturing of metals, for energy generation and aerospace applications. Refractories are usually strong and stiff but fragile due to the lack of plastic deformation and other intrinsic toughening mechanisms. This inherent brittleness limits their use in applications where catastrophic failure is not tolerated. The present work reports the design and fabrication of refractories with a bio inspired nacre-like microstructure comprising aligned alumina platelets, separated by an aluminium borate interphase, obtained through transient liquid phase sintering. The bioinspired composites exhibit high strength, 672 MPa, toughness, 7.4 MPa m1/2, and stable crack propagation at high temperatures, above 600 °C, due to the aluminium borate interlayer. This makes nacre-like ceramic refractories sintered with a transient liquid phase good candidate for high temperature applications, competing favourably with ceramic matrix composites and following a simpler and cheaper processing route.
Bhowmik A, Britton TB, Lee J, et al., 2018, Deformation behaviour of [001] oriented MgO using combined in-situ nano-indentation and micro-Laue diffraction, Acta Materialia, Vol: 145, Pages: 516-531, ISSN: 1359-6454
We report a coupled in-situ micro-Laue diffraction and nano-indentation experiment, with spatial and time resolution, to investigate the deformation mechanisms in [001]-oriented single crystal MgO. Crystal plasticity finite element modelling was applied to aid interpretation of the experimental observations of plasticity. The Laue spots showed both rotation and streaking upon indentation that is typically indicative of both elastic lattice rotation and plastic strain gradients respectively in the material. Multiple facets of streaking of the Laue peaks suggested plastic slip occurring on almost all the {101}-type slip planes oriented 45° to the sample surface with no indication of slip on the 90° {110} planes. Crystal plasticity modelling also supported these experimental observations. Owing to asymmetric slip beneath the indenter, as predicted by modelling results and observed through Laue analysis, sub-grains were found to nucleate with distinct misorientation. With cyclic loading, the mechanical hysteresis behaviour in MgO is revealed through the changing profiles of the Laue reflections, driven by reversal of plastic strain by the stored elastic energy. Crystal plasticity simulations have also shown explicitly that in subsequent loading cycles after first, the secondary slip system unloads completely elastically while some plastic strain of the primary slip reverses. Tracking the Laue peak movement, a higher degree of lattice rotation was seen to occur in the material under the indent, which gradually decreased moving laterally away. With the progress of deformation, the full field elastic strain and rotation gradients were also constructed which showed opposite lattice rotations on either sides of the indent.
Knowles A, Tea-Sung J, Bhowmik A, et al., 2018, Data on a new beta titanium alloy system reinforced with superlattice intermetallic precipitates, Data in Brief, Vol: 17, Pages: 863-869, ISSN: 2352-3409
The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled “a new beta titanium alloy system reinforced with superlattice intermetallic precipitates” (Knowles et al., 2018) [1]. This includes data from the as-cast alloy obtained using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) as well as SEM data in the solution heat treated condition. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) selected area diffraction patterns (SADPs) are included from the alloy in the solution heat treated condition, as well as the aged condition that contained < 100 nm B2 TiFe precipitates [1], the latter of which was found to exhibit double diffraction owing to the precipitate and matrix channels being of a similar width to the foil thickness (Williams and Carter, 2009) [2]. Further details are provided on the macroscopic compression testing of small scale cylinders. Of the micropillar deformation experiment performed in [1], SEM micrographs of focused ion beam (FIB) prepared 2 µm micropillars are presented alongside those obtained at the end of the in-situ SEM deformation as well as videos of the in-situ deformation. Further, a table is included that lists the Schmidt factors of all the possible slip systems given the crystal orientations and loading axis of the deformed micropillars in the solution heat treated and aged conditions.
Waheed S, Hao R, Zheng Z, et al., 2018, Temperature-dependent plastic hysteresis in highly confined polycrystalline Nb films, Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering, Vol: 26, ISSN: 0965-0393
In this study, the effect of temperature on the cyclic deformation behaviour of a confined polycrystalline Nb film is investigated. Micropillars encapsulating a thin niobium interlayer are deformed under cyclic axial compression at different test temperatures. A distinct plastic hysteresis is observed for samples tested at elevated temperatures, whereas negligible plastic hysteresis is observed for samples tested at room temperature. These results are interpreted using planar discrete dislocation plasticity incorporating slip transmission across grain boundaries. The effect of temperature-dependent grain boundary energy and dislocation mobility on dislocation penetration and, consequently, the size of plastic hysteresis is simulated to correlate with the experimental results. It is found that the decrease in grain boundary energy barrier caused by the increase in temperature does not lead to any appreciable change in the cyclic response. However, dislocation mobility significantly affects the size of plastic hysteresis, with high mobilities leading to a larger hysteresis. Therefore, it is postulated that the experimental observations are predominantly caused by an increase in dislocation mobility as the temperature is increased above the critical temperature of body-centred cubic niobium.
Feilden E, Ferraro C, Zhang Q, et al., 2017, 3D printing bioinspired ceramic composites, Scientific Reports, Vol: 7, ISSN: 2045-2322
Natural structural materials like bone and shell have complex, hierarchical architectures designed to control crack propagation and fracture. In modern composites there is a critical trade-off between strength and toughness. Natural structures provide blueprints to overcome this, however this approach introduces another trade-off between fine structural manipulation and manufacturing complex shapes in practical sizes and times. Here we show that robocasting can be used to build ceramic-based composite parts with a range of geometries, possessing microstructures unattainable by other production technologies. This is achieved by manipulating the rheology of ceramic pastes and the shear forces they experience during printing. To demonstrate the versatility of the approach we have fabricated highly mineralized composites with microscopic Bouligand structures that guide crack propagation and twisting in three dimensions, which we have followed using an original in-situ crack opening technique. In this way we can retain strength while enhancing toughness by using strategies taken from crustacean shells.
Arnold M, Zhao S, Ma S, et al., 2017, Microindentation: a tool for measuring cortical bone stiffness? A systematic review, Bone & Joint Research, Vol: 6, Pages: 542-549, ISSN: 2046-3758
Objectives: Microindentation hasthe potential to measuretheelasticity(stiffness)of individualpatients’bone. Bone elasticity plays a crucial role in the press-fit stability of orthopaedic implants.Arming surgeons with accuratebone elasticityinformation may reduce surgical complicationsincluding peri-prosthetic fractures. The question we address with this systematicreview is whether microindentation can accurately measure cortical bone stiffness.Methods: A systematic review of all English language articles using a keyword search was undertaken in Medline, Embase, PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane databases. Studies thatonly used nanoindentation, cancellous boneoranimal tissue were excluded.Results: 1094abstracts were retrieved and 32papers were included in the analysis, 20 of which used reference point indentation and 12of which used traditional depth sensing indentation.There are a number of factors thatmust be taken into account when using microindentation such as tip size, depth and method of analysis.Only two studies validated microindentation againsttraditional mechanical testing techniques. Bothstudies used reference point indentation(RPI) with one showing that RPI parameters correlate well with mechanical testing, butanother suggestedthatthey do not. Conclusion: Microindentation has been used in various studies to assess bone elasticity but only two studies with conflicting results compared microindentation to traditional mechanical testing techniques. Further research,includingmore studies comparingmicroindentationto other mechanical testing methodsare needed,before microindentation can be reliably used to calculate cortical bone stiffness.
Arnold M, Zhao S, Ma S, et al., 2017, Microindentation - a tool for measuring cortical bone stiffness?, BONE & JOINT RESEARCH, Vol: 6, Pages: 542-549, ISSN: 2046-3758
Knowles A, Bhowmik A, Purkayastha S, et al., 2017, Data on a Laves phase intermetallic matrix composite in situ toughened by ductile precipitates, Data in Brief, Vol: 14, Pages: 489-493, ISSN: 2352-3409
The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled “Laves phase intermetallic matrix composite in situ toughened by ductile precipitates” (Knowles et al.) [1]. The composite comprised a Fe2(Mo, Ti) matrix with bcc (Mo, Ti) precipitated laths produced in situ by an aging heat treatment, which was shown to confer a toughening effect (Knowles et al.) [1]. Here, details are given on a focused ion beam (FIB) slice and view experiment performed on the composite so as to determine that the 3D morphology of the bcc (Mo, Ti) precipitates were laths rather than needles. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (S(TEM)) micrographs of the microstructure as well as energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) maps are presented that identify the elemental partitioning between the C14 Laves matrix and the bcc laths, with Mo rejected from the matrix into laths. A TEM selected area diffraction pattern (SADP) and key is provided that was used to validate the orientation relation between the matrix and laths identified in (Knowles et al.) [1] along with details of the transformation matrix determined.
Sernicola G, Giovannini T, Patel P, et al., 2017, In situ stable crack growth at the micron scale, Nature Communications, Vol: 8, ISSN: 2041-1723
Grain boundaries typically dominate fracture toughness, strength, slow crack growth of ceramics. To improve these properties through mechanistically informed grain boundary engineering, precise measurement of the mechanical properties of individual boundaries is essential, although this is rarely achieved due to its complexity. Here we present a new approach to characterise the fracture energy at the lengthscale of individual grain boundaries and demonstrate this capability with measurement of the surface energy of silicon carbide (SiC) single crystals. We perform experiments using an in situscanning electron microscopy based double cantilever beam test, thus enabling viewing and measurement of stable crack growth directly. These experiments correlate well with our density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the surface energy of the same SiC plane. Subsequently, we measure the fracture energy for a bi-crystal of SiC, diffusion bonded with a thin glassy layer. These measurements ultimately promote microstructural engineering of novel and advanced ceramics.
Knowles AJ, Bhowmik, Purkayastha S, et al., 2017, Laves phase intermetallic matrix composite in situ toughened by ductile precipitates, Scripta Materialia, Vol: 140, Pages: 59-62, ISSN: 1872-8456
Laves phase based materials are of interest for elevated temperature applications for their high melting points and strengths but are critically limited by their low fracture toughness. Here, a Laves phase intermetallic matrix composite toughened by ductile precipitates has been studied. This microstructure was produced in situ by heat treating a Fe2(Mo,Ti) based alloy to precipitate ∼ 12% volume fraction of fine ∼ 250 nm bcc, A2 (Mo,Ti), phase, with an orientation relationship of . The precipitated A2 phase increased the indentation fracture toughness from 1.1 to 2.2 MPa m1/2 while maintaining a high hardness of HV0.5 = 8.9 GPa similar to monolithic Laves phases.
Knowles AJ, Jun T-S, Bhowmik A, et al., 2017, A new beta titanium alloy system reinforced with superlattice intermetallic precipitates, Scripta Materialia, Vol: 140, Pages: 71-75, ISSN: 1872-8456
Titanium alloys traditionally lack a nm-scale intermetallic precipitate that can be exploited for age-hardening from solid solution. Here such a strengthening concept is developed in the Ti-Fe-Mo system, with it being found that a high temperature β (bcc A2) single-phase field for homogenisation can be obtained, which following ageing (750 °C/80 h) precipitated B2 TiFe <100 nm in size. The orientation relationship was found to be ⟨100⟩A2//⟨100⟩B2, {100}A2//{100}B2, with a misfit of −6.1%. The alloy was found to be very hard (HV0.5 = 6.4 GPa) and strong (σy, 0.2 = 1.9 GPa) with a density of 6.68 g cm−3. TEM observation and micropillar deformation showed that the precipitates resist dislocation cutting.
Waheed S, Hao R, Bhowmik A, et al., 2017, A unifying scaling for the Bauschinger effect in highly confined thin films: a discrete dislocation plasticity study, Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering, Vol: 25, ISSN: 0965-0393
In this study, sequential sputter deposition, diffusion bonding and focused ion beam milling are used to fabricate sapphire micropillars encapsulating a thin single crystal niobium film. A distinct Bauschinger effect is observed during the cyclic axial compression of the samples. Plain strain discrete dislocation plasticity is used to interpret the experimental results obtained for the encapsulated film-micropillar geometry. The simulations show that the experimental samples correspond to a saturated source density regime, producing the maximum Bauschinger effect for the chosen mean nucleation strength. Next, the source density and mean nucleation strength are shown to have a coupled effect on the size of the Bauschinger effect, understood in terms of the differing number of pile-ups occurring per source in the film. The coupled effect is found to be represented by the density of dislocations annihilated upon unloading: a consistent linear relationship is observed between the size of the Bauschinger effect and the annihilated dislocation density over the entire source density and nucleation strength parameter space investigated. It is found that different film orientations fulfil the same linear relationship, whereas changing the film thickness causes the slope of the linear trend to vary suggesting a length-scale dependence on reverse plasticity. Finally, all results are found to be unified by a power-law relationship quantifying the Bauschinger effect of the form ${{\rm{\Gamma }}}_{{\rm{B}}}\propto {\rm{\Delta }}{\rho }_{{\rm{ann}}}{l}^{n}$ where it is argued that the number of dislocations undergoing reverse glide in the confined film is represented by ${\rm{\Delta }}{\rho }_{{\rm{ann}}}$, the mean free path of dislocations by l and the effect of hardening processes by the exponent n. The net reverse glide is thus represented by ${\rm{\Delta }}{\rho }_{{\rm{ann}}}{l}^{n}$ which can be used as a measure of the Bauschinger effect.
Rounthwaite N, McGilvery CM, Jiang J, et al., 2017, A chemical and morphological study of diesel injector nozzle deposits - insights into their formation and growth mechanisms, SAE 2017 World Congress and Exhibition, Publisher: SAE International, Pages: 106-114, ISSN: 1946-3960
Modern diesel passenger car technology continues to develop rapidly in response to demanding emissions, performance, refinement, cost and fuel efficiency requirements. This has included the implementation of high pressure common rail fuel systems employing high precision injectors with complex injection strategies, higher hydraulic efficiency injector nozzles and in some cases <100µm nozzle hole diameters. With the trend towards lower diameter diesel injector nozzle holes and reduced cleaning through cavitation with higher hydraulic efficiency nozzles, it is increasingly important to focus on understanding the mechanism of diesel injector nozzle deposit formation and growth. In this study such deposits were analysed by cross-sectioning the diesel injector along the length of the nozzle hole enabling in-depth analysis of deposit morphology and composition change from the inlet to the outlet, using state-of-the-art electron microscopy techniques. Deposits produced in the injector nozzles of the industry standard fouling test (CEC F-98-08 DW10B bench engine) were compared with those formed in a vehicle driven on a chassis dynamometer, using a drive cycle more representative of real world vehicle conditions, to explore the effects of differing drive cycles and engine technologies. Fouling in all tests was accelerated with the addition of 1ppm zinc neodecanoate, as specified in the CEC DW10B test. This in-depth characterisation revealed a complex multi-layered system of deposits inside the diesel injector nozzle. Through analysing these layers the mechanisms enabling the initial deposit formation and growth can be postulated.
Boughton OR, Zhao S, Arnold M, et al., 2017, Measuring bone stiffness using microindentation, British Orthopaedic Research Society (BORS) 2016 Conference, Publisher: British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery, Pages: 31-31, ISSN: 2049-4416
Feilden E, Giovannini T, Ni N, et al., 2017, Micromechanical strength of individual Al2O3 platelets, Scripta Materialia, Vol: 131, Pages: 55-58, ISSN: 1359-6462
Optimising the properties of platelet reinforced composites requires the strength of the reinforcing phase to be known, however strength measurements at such small scales are difficult and therefore data is sparse. In this work the flexural strength and Weibull modulus of microscopic, alumina platelets has been measured as 5.3 ± 1.3 GPa and 3.7 respectively, using an in-situ micro 3-point bend test. A general approach to correct for the effect of variation in sample size on the Weibull modulus is presented, and the internal structure of the platelets is revealed by TEM.
Glymond D, Vick M, Giuliani F, et al., 2017, High Temperature Fracture Toughness of Mullite with Monoclinic Zirconia, Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol: 100, Pages: 1570-1577, ISSN: 1551-2916
Reactive sintering of zircon and alumina and zirconia additions to mullite are well establishedmethods for improving the poor fracture toughness of mullite. While it is clear that transformationtoughening is responsible for the improved toughness by addition of partially stabilised zirconia, it isnot clear why adding unstabilised zirconia increases the toughness although microcracking and crackdeflection have been suggested. Therefore the fracture toughness of a mullite composite with 20vol% unstabilised zirconia and a monolithic mullite were investigated at ambient conditions and attemperatures up to 1225 oC. It was found that monoclinic zirconia increases the toughness atambient conditions from the monolithic mullite value of 1.9 MPa m1/2 to 3.9 MPa m1/2. Thetoughness of the composite with zirconia remains relatively constant from ambient to 600 °C butthen decreases rapidly. The mechanism for the toughness enhancement as well as the reason for itsvariation with temperature are explained using changes in residual stress state as deduced using thesphere in shell model from the measured thermal expansion behaviour.
Feilden E, Giovannini T, Ni N, et al., 2017, Micromechanical strength of Al2O3 platelets, Scripta Materialia, ISSN: 1359-6462
Optimising the properties of platelet reinforced composites requires the strength of the reinforcing phase to be known, however strength measurements at such small scales are difficult and therefore data is sparse. In this work the flexural strength and Weibull modulus of microscopic, alumina platelets has been measured as 5.3±1.3 GPa and 3.7 respectively, using an in-situ micro 3-point bend test. A general approach to correct for the effect of variation in sample size on the Weibull modulus is presented, and the internal structure of the platelets is revealed by TEM.
Feilden E, Ferraro C, Giuliani F, et al., 2016, Progress in novel and unexpected areas, MATERIALS TODAY, Vol: 19, Pages: 544-545, ISSN: 1369-7021
Feilden E, Garcia Tunon Blanca E, Giuliani F, et al., 2016, Robocasting of structural ceramic parts with hydrogel inks, Journal of the European Ceramic Society, Vol: 36, Pages: 2525-2533, ISSN: 0955-2219
Robocasting is a 3D printing technique that may be able to achieve the much-coveted goal of reliable, complex ceramic parts with low porosity and high strength. In this work a robust hydrogel formulation was optimised for use as the extrusion paste for robocasting. The paste’s rheological properties were characterised and the printing process was optimised with the aim of attaining dense monolithic ceramic parts. The pastes exhibit a characteristic shear thinning behaviour with yield stresses that can reach values above 1 kPa and depend mostly on their solid content and the particle size distribution. It is possible to formulate printable Al2O3 and SiC inks with solid contents as high as 40 vol% that reached densities up to 95th% for SiC and 97th% for Al2O3 with flexural strengths of 300 MPa and 230 MPa respectively after sintering. The sources of strength limiting defects are identified and related to the printing process.
Scatigno GG, Ryan MP, Giuliani F, et al., 2016, The effect of prior cold work on the chloride stress corrosion cracking of 304L austenitic stainless steel under atmospheric conditions, Materials Science and Engineering: A, Vol: 668, Pages: 20-29, ISSN: 0921-5093
A systematic study of the effect of cold work (CW) on chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in 304L stainless steel was performed. CW between 0% and 40% was applied prior to corrosion of specimens at 75 °C and 70% relative humidity, for 500 h, using MgCl2 (at atmospheric pressure). Samples cracked most readily between 0.5% and 5% CW; at 20% and above no cracks were present. Additionally, above 5% CW, some specific orientation relationships become evident, with cracks primarily aligned along <111> parallel to the transverse direction. The results suggest that at levels of CW >20%, the synergistic effect of micro-mechanisms may hinder SCC in this system.
Bhowmik A, Dolbnya I, Britton TB, et al., 2016, Using coupled micropillar compression and micro-Laue diffraction to investigate deformation mechanisms in a complex metallic alloy Al13Co4, Applied Physics Letters, Vol: 108, ISSN: 0003-6951
In this study, we have used in-situ micro-Laue diffraction combined with micropillar compression of focused ion beam milled Al13Co4 complex metallic alloy to investigate the evolution of deformation in Al13Co4. Streaking of the Laue spots shows that the onset of plastic flow occurs at stresses as low as 0.8 GPa, although macroscopic yield only becomes apparent at 2 GPa. The measured misorientations, obtained from peak splitting, enable the geometrically necessary dislocation density to be estimated as 1.1 1013 m-2.
Nasiri NA, Saiz E, Giuliani F, et al., 2016, Grain bridging locations of monolithic silicon carbide by means of focused ion beam milling technique, Materials Letters, Vol: 173, Pages: 214-218, ISSN: 1873-4979
A slice and view approach using a focused ion beam (FIB) milling technique was employed to investigate grain bridging near the tip of cracks in four silicon carbide (SiC) based materials with different grain boundary chemistries and grain morphologies. Using traditional observations intergranular fracture behaviour and hence clear evidence of grain bridging was found for SiC based materials sintered with oxide additives. More surprisingly, in large grain materials, the FIB technique reveals evidence of grain bridging irrespective of the grain boundary chemistry, i.e. also in materials which macroscopically fail by transgranular failure. This helps to explain why the toughness of large grained materials is higher even if failure is transgranular.
Ferraro C, Garcia-Tuñon E, Rocha VG, et al., 2016, Light and strong SiC networks, Advanced Functional Materials, Vol: 26, Pages: 1636-1645, ISSN: 1616-301X
The directional freezing of microfiber suspensions is used to assemble highly porous (porosities ranging between 92% and 98%) SiC networks. These networks exhibit a unique hierarchical architecture in which thin layers with honeycomb‐like structure and internal strut length in the order of 1–10 μm in size are aligned with an interlayer spacing ranging between 15 and 50 μm. The resulting structures exhibit strengths (up to 3 MPa) and stiffness (up to 0.3 GPa) that are higher than aerogels of similar density and comparable to other ceramic microlattices fabricated by vapor deposition. Furthermore, this wet processing technique allows the fabrication of large‐size samples that are stable at high temperature, with acoustic impedance that can be manipulated over one order of magnitude (0.03–0.3 MRayl), electrically conductive and with very low thermal conductivity. The approach can be extended to other ceramic materials and opens new opportunities for the fabrication of ultralight structures with unique mechanical and functional properties in practical dimensions.
Hatt O, Larsson H, Giuliani F, et al., 2016, Predicting chemical wear in machining titanium alloys via a novel low cost diffusion couple method, 3rd CIRP Conference on Surface Integrity, Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV, Pages: 219-222, ISSN: 2212-8271
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Glymond D, Vick M, Pan M-J, et al., 2015, Creep of mullite zirconia composites, JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Vol: 35, Pages: 3607-3611, ISSN: 0955-2219
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