TMS 2025 154th Annual Meeting & Exhibition Supplemental Proceedings

Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFsZeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs)) exhibit high selectivity and adsorptionAdsorption capacity for CO2 captureCO2 capture. This mini-review examines the synthesis, structural properties, and functional modificationsModification of ZIFsZeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs) to enhance CO2 captureCO2 capture performance. The mechanisms by which ZIFsZeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs) selectively adsorb CO2 and their potential applications in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from industrial processes are discussed. Challenges related to material stability, regeneration, and scalability are addressed, along with future directions for research and development in ZIFZeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs)-based CO2 captureCO2 capture technologies. The review highlights the potential of ZIFsZeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs) to contribute to environmental sustainabilityEnvironmental sustainability and climate.

Graphene oxideGraphene oxide (GO) nanosheets have emerged as a highly promising material for membrane fabricationMembrane fabrication due to their unique physicochemical properties. The exceptional mechanical strengthMechanical strength, tunable surface chemistry, and high aspect ratio of GO nanosheets enable the design of membranesMembranes with superior separation performance. This mini-review provides an overview of recent advances in the fabrication of GO-based membranesMembranes, with a focus on various fabrication techniques, membraneMembranes structures, and their applications in water purificationWater purification, gas separationGas separation, and other areas. The challenges associated with GO membrane fabricationMembrane fabrication, including scalability, long-term stability, and fouling, are discussed. Finally, future directions for research in this field are outlined, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches to overcome current limitations and to unlock the full potential of GO-based membranesMembranes in industrial applications.

All electronic devices are susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI) phenomena, and EMI shieldingEMI shielding is necessary to mitigate this issue and ensure the safety and efficiency of electronic components. In this research work, we validated the hypothesis that the integration of two-dimensional (2D) materials of MXeneMxene and aligned cobalt nanowiresCobalt nanowires (CoNWs) into CNT buckypapers significantly enhances their electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (SE). The Ti3C2Tx MXeneMxene/CNT buckypaper displayed an impressive EMI SE of 94.2 dB. The EMI SE is maintained consistently across the tested frequency range of 8.4–12.0 GHz. Furthermore, Ti3C2Tx MXeneMxene/CoNW/CNT buckypaper, incorporating a three-layered composite structure, showed an even more remarkable EMI SE of 137.4 dB. Such 2D layers of MXeneMxene with aligned CoNWs not only contribute to the physical robustness of the buckypaper but also introduce magnetic losses, which are instrumental in absorbing and thus shielding against electromagnetic waves.

Solid-state materials based on van der Waals (vdW) crystals continue to expand rapidly, with a vast library of compositions documented to date, that are realized through various synthesis approaches, such as vapor-growth, liquid phase exfoliation, and mechanical exfoliation. Their attractive electronic, opto-electronic, and strain-dependent properties offer intriguing prospects for devices. The strong light-matter interactions in many two-dimensional (2D) layered materials possessing a bandgapBandgap reveal a rich interplay of exciton-based multibody dynamics, non-linear optical features, and strain-modulated emission. Besides the individual crystallites, their pristine interfacial structural attributes also facilitate the lego-like construction of vdW heterostructures, in a single system-on-chip framework. In this work, we report on the optical propertiesOptical properties of 2D WSe2 using pristine mechanically exfoliated crystallites, where strain-dependent emission characteristics are discussed, as well as solution-cast 2D WSe2, where photoabsorption experiments are conducted on additively manufactured films.

TiS2 is a stable layered transition metal sulfide with applications in energy storageEnergy storage, electronic devices, and catalysis. Synthesis methods include colloidal synthesis, liquid-phase reaction, and low-temperatureTemperature chemical precipitation, but these often introduce impurities and have low reproducibility and low productivity. The CVT method, using a completely enclosed environment, significantly reduces impurity introduction, resulting in high-purity and well-crystallized products. This study synthesized TiS2 by the CVT method, examining the effects of Ti/S stoichiometric ratio, calcination temperatureTemperature, and reaction time on the product's structure and morphologyMorphologies. Optimal conditions were found to be a Ti/S ratio of 1:2, a calcination temperatureTemperature of 600 °C, and a calcination time of 24 h. Crystalline products are difficult to obtain below 500 °C or with a Ti/S ratio of 1.5. With the increase of reaction time, TiS2 shows better crystallinity and homogeneity. TiS2 synthesized by the CVT method exhibits a maximum specific capacity of 225 mAh g−1 at a current densityDensity of 50 mA g−1 and retains 60.8% capacity after 10,000 cycles at 1 A g−1.

Topological insulators (TIs) have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their unique electronic propertiesElectronic Properties, which combine insulating bulk states with conductive surface statesSurface states protected by time-reversal symmetryTime-reversal symmetry. These materials exhibit robust surface conductivity, making them promising candidates for next-generation thermoelectric devicesThermoelectric devices. This mini-review explores the recent advancements in the application of topological insulatorsTopological insulators in thermoelectric devicesThermoelectric devices. We discuss the fundamental properties of TIs, their potential advantages in enhancing thermoelectric performanceThermoelectric performance, and the challenges that remain in realizing their full potential in practical applications. The review concludes with a perspective on future research directions that could bridge the gap between theoretical predictions and experimental realizations in this emerging field.

Magnesium (Mg) and its alloys are among the most effective metallic biomaterialsBiomaterial. The fabrication of the Mg scaffold can be done using a variety of traditional techniques. Still, these methods lack the control over pore interconnection that is necessary for the formation of bone tissue and the healing of fractured bones. Moreover, advanced 3D printers for metal scaffolds printing are costlier. Hence, the Rapid toolingRapid tooling method is used to develop magnesium scaffoldsMagnesium scaffold in the present work. The optimized parameters for fabricating magnesium scaffoldsMagnesium scaffold are used for the study. The structural characteristics and mechanical propertiesMechanical properties of the porous Mg specimens were investigated. The results of the study suggested that the porous magnesium scaffoldMagnesium scaffold fabricated via Rapid toolingRapid tooling has the potential to serve as degradable implants for bone substitute applications.

The increase in the thickness of the sinteringSintering material layer helps to enhance the sinteringSintering heat storage, thereby reducing the consumption of solid fuel and achieving the reduction of sinteringSintering pollutants. The influence of different sintering temperaturesSintering temperature and sinteringSintering atmospheres on the generation process of sinteringSintering liquid phase under the conditions of a certain sinteringSintering raw material in Shougang was calculated using the Factsage 7.1. When the temperatureTemperature of the combustion zone is below 1380 ℃, the lower the oxygen partial pressure, the less the amount of sinteringSintering liquid phase generated. When the temperatureTemperature of the combustion zone is above 1380 ℃, the conclusion is the opposite. The research results have been applied to practical production. After implementing ultra-thick material layerThick Material Layer sinteringSintering on Unit 2, it not only did not affect the output of the sinteringSintering machine, but also improved the utilization factor of the sinteringSintering machine.

Being an effective eutectoid β-phase stabilizer, Fe alloying for Ti mitigates anisotropy (due to the growth of prior columnar β-grains) in the AM-build parts, along with superior solid solutionSolid solutions strengthening. This study investigates the effect of Fe alloying on the base Ti64Ti64 alloy using a laser material deposition method, at varying Fe concentrations up to 10%. CALPHAD-based non-equilibrium phase simulationsSimulation were conducted to predict the solidificationSolidification route and phases, which were studied in correlation to the XRD-phase analysis showing the evolution of β-Ti and TiFe phases with increasing Fe alloy concentration. Corresponding SEM-microstructuralMicrostructural features and elemental analysis well agree with the phase analysis results, showing reduced fine lamellar α-Ti along with increase in Fe concentration in the β-Ti matrix. The resulting hardnessHardness values were evaluated, showing the β-Ti matrix strengthening with an increase in Fe concentration, and at higher Fe alloying condition, a hardnessHardness value twice that of the Ti64Ti64 substrate was obtained. The reciprocating wear characteristics reveal the effect of Fe alloying in effectively addressing the poor tribological behaviourTribological behaviour of Ti64Ti64, showing a 30% improvement in the overall wear-resistance characteristic. Such studies would help to realize the impact of such low-cost β-eutectoid alloying for the laser processed TitaniumTitanium, which would benefit the extended industrialMetastable β-Ti applications of the laser-AM-processed Ti-alloys.

This study aims to develop an in-process curing method to reduce production time for binder jettingBinder Jetting (BJ) printed parts. A finite element methodFinite Element Methods (FEM) model was developed to simulate thermal behavior of loose powder and binder-powder mixture during in-process curing. The heat source was represented by a 2D Gaussian heat input moving over the powder bed before and after the application of the binder to each layer of powder. The deposition of powder layers was simulated using the element birth and death technique. The initial 20 layers of printing were analyzed in two distinct regions: one within the printed specimen and the other in the surrounding loose metal powder. A thermal camera was used to record the powder bed's temperatureTemperature after each deposited layer for model validation. Both the simulationSimulation and experimental results showed similar trend with an average temperatureTemperature error of 3 °C in the printed part and 2.6 °C in the loose metal powder. However, the complexity of the current model makes it computationally expensive to simulate the BJ process for a full-scale part. It required approximately 22 h to simulate the first 20 layers of the process using 8 processors.

This study identifies the optimal feedstock composition for producing high-quality components via fused deposition modelingFused deposition modeling (FDM) using 17-4PH stainless steelStainless steel powder, paraffin wax, and stearic acid. Rheological measurements showed shear thinning behavior in all compositions, with viscosityViscosity increasing up to 20 times as metal content rises. To achieve high-quality components in the printing phase, increasing the percentage of metal requires a rise in printing temperatureTemperature and flow rate, while decreasing printing speed. Mechanical and physical properties were evaluated through three-point bending tests and densityDensity measurements. Increasing metal content from 93 to 95.5wt.% improved green parts’ flexural strength from 3.34 to 4.45 MPa, flexural modulus from 146 to 531 MPa, and densityDensity from 5.04 to 5.72 g/cm3. Heat treatment results revealed that a metal percentage exceeding 95wt.% is required to maintain sample geometry. The optimum feedstock composition, identified as 95wt.% of metal powder, 3.6wt.% of wax, and 1.4wt.% of stearic acid, exhibited excellent flowability, full structural stability post-sinteringSintering, and good mechanical and physical properties.

Utilizing recycled materials in additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing offers a solution for repurposing glass wasteGlass waste, addressing significant environmental concerns. This investigation explores using waste glass bottles for manufacturing bricks via Direct Ink Writing (DIW). Bricks with unique geometries were produced from yellow clayClay in Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil, with 30% glass wasteGlass waste powder. To reduce water content, 3 wt% of citric acid, 1 wt% cornstarch, and 0.2 wt% sodium silicate were evaluated. DensityDensity and length width, and height shrinkage tests were used to assess the material’s properties. Raw materials were characterized using X-ray fluorescence (FRX). Compression strength analysis was conducted to understand mechanical propertiesMechanical properties and sample variability. Additionally, a scanning electron microscopyScanning electron microscopy (SEM) test was used to analyze the microstructureMicrostructure of the raw materials and manufactured samples. The integration of glass residue in the production of ceramic pieces through additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing not only enhances the properties and performance of the final products but also represents a sustainable approach by minimizing environmental waste.

Accurate fatigue life predictionFatigue Life Prediction is essential for ensuring the reliability and performance of Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) components. This study introduces an advanced approach that combines elastoplastic thermomechanical simulationThermomechanical Simulation with residual stress analysisResidual stress analysis and stochastic anomaly weighting to enhance fatigue life predictionsFatigue Life Prediction. Our sophisticated simulationSimulation algorithm incorporates isotropic strain hardeningStrain hardening, the cyclic hardening effect, the Bauschinger effect, and stochastic methods to account for anomalies (defects) in the material. This approach uses the Goodman mean stress correction method, adjusting the mean stress to account for residual stressesResidual stress and the probabilistic impact of defects. This method can map the fatigueFatigue life on the printed sample, allowing us to determine whether stress relief heat treatment is necessary for a desired application based on the predicted local fatigueFatigue life and residual stressResidual stress profile. This study advances the understanding of fatigueFatigue and fracture behavior in additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing metals.

Additively manufactured (AM) parts are increasingly used with as-built surfaces in the aerospace industry. One of the challenges resulting from the use of as-built AM surfaces is degraded fatigueFatigue life caused by surface roughnessSurface roughness. Assessing fatigueFatigue life due to surface roughnessSurface roughness with traditional fracture-based approaches can be challenging due to the complexities of small crackCrack growth effects exhibited by shallow surface roughnessSurface roughness defects. This paper explores both traditional fracture mechanicsFracture mechanics tools and modificationsModification to crackCrack growth algorithms by correcting for small crackCrack effects using an in-house developed crackCrack growth code. Three modificationsModification are explored and compared: (1) addition of a small material dependent increment to the crackCrack length, (2) addition of the cyclic plastic zone size to the crackCrack length, and (3) elimination of crackCrack closure effects for small cracksCrack. FatigueFatigue lives of test coupons are calculated based on the maximum pit depth of the as-built surface and compared against fatigueFatigue test results from literature.

This study examines the impact of different hatching strategiesHatching strategy on the mechanical and technological properties, as well as the manufacturing-induced residual stressesResidual stress of additively manufactured AlSi10MgAlSi10Mg components produced using Laser Powder Bed FusionLaser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF). For the sample production, parallel and orthogonal hatching patterns were employed at various rotation angles, leading to differences in the mechanical propertiesMechanical properties of the components. The parallel structure exhibits significantly higher compressive residual stressesResidual stress in the near-surface areas of the component, up to 33% greater than those observed in the orthogonal structure. These compressive residual stressesResidual stress could counteract operational tensile stresses, potentially enhancing the load-bearing capacity of the component. The findings of this study provide insights into the targeted use of hatching strategiesHatching strategy to optimize the mechanical propertiesMechanical properties and lifespan of components. Future works should focus on experimentally validating the simulationSimulation results using the core hole method to further improve the correlation between numerical models and actual stress distributions.

Low earth orbit (LEO) electronic systems are a necessity for GPS, weather prediction, and telecommunications. However, space is a harsh environment with radiation capable of causing operation issues and degradation of the entire system. Circuit board scale shielding schemes of electronics against radiation add cost, size, weight, and complexity to these systems. In this study, we propose an alternative approach which focuses on component-based selective radiation shieldingRadiation shielding also referred to as “spot shielding”. Aerosol jet printingAerosol jet printing can deposit a wide range of radiation shieldingRadiation shielding nanocompositeNanocomposites materials on microelectronic components with high precision and resolution. PolyimidePolyimide (PI) inks containing different loadings of hexagonal boron nitrideHexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanoparticles were formulated and printed using pneumatic atomization aerosol jet printingAerosol jet printing. The inks consisted of PI, PI-25 wt% h-BN, PI-50 wt% h-BN, PI-75 wt% h-BN, and h-BN. The printed thin filmsThin films were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) before and after exposure to gamma radiationGamma radiation at a dosage of 80 krad (Si).

There is an increasing need to lower greenhouse gas (HGH) effects to reduce pollution. One proposed solution is to blend hydrogenHydrogen into our natural gas pipelines. However, hydrogenHydrogen is known to degrade the mechanical propertiesMechanical properties of many alloys through hydrogen embrittlementHydrogen embrittlement (HE). Furthermore, the effect of additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing (AM) processing on material properties and resistance to HE has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, AM 316L316L stainless steelStainless steel tensile bars and solubility specimens were soaked in 100% hydrogenHydrogen gas and 50% hydrogenHydrogen-natural gas blend at 10 MPa for 5 weeks. The samples were then allowed to rest and let reversible hydrogenHydrogen degassing occur over 72 h, before being mechanically and chemically evaluated. The microstructureMicrostructure of the samples was then examined for changes from uncharged samples by several different characterizationCharacterization methods and compared to stock 316L316L.

This work systematically investigates the grain topology evolution and hot deformationHot deformation response of additively manufactured 18Ni(300) maraging steelsMaraging steel at a temperatureTemperature range of 850 to 1050 °C and strain rate range of 0.01 to 1 s−1. The flow stress values under experimental deformation conditions were predicted using a Gaussian process regressionGaussian process regression (GPR) model with maximum likelihood parameter estimation approach and compared with an Artificial neural networkArtificial neural networks (ANN) model with a 3–6-6–1 architecture. Results show that columnar prior austenite grains exhibited localized flow deformation behavior and preferential nucleation of recrystallized laths aligned along <111>//BD. The superior performance of the GPR model compared to the ANN model during cross-validation can be attributed to its effective balance in penalizing both model fit and complexity. A net-shape fabrication technique combined with a high temperatureHigh temperature forming route to develop dense structures with controlled local texture is proposed.

Since the meniscus stability has a great influence on the final semi-product quality, it is essential to study how the meniscus behaves in aMedium-thin slab medium-thin slabThin slab mold with straight walls; because of that, the present research develops this important topic by mathematical modeling considering the governing equations, the k-e turbulence model, and the VOF model. All equations were solved under isothermal and transient conditions through commercial CFD software. The results show high meniscus fluctuationsMeniscus fluctuation with no symmetry between its right and left sides. This meniscus flow behavior is a consequence of the reduced space of this mold type and the high casting velocity, but mainly of a deficient SEN design. Since this mold type does not use the funnel mold shape, the jets transfer their unstable behavior toward the upper roll flows, inducing the detected high meniscus instabilities. The quantification identifies the left meniscus side as the more unstable.

Most studies on nozzle cloggingNozzle clogging simplify their analysis by using symmetric reductions to simulate the clogging. However, this approach overlooks that clogging typically occurs asymmetrically, leading to a significant increase in the roughness of the inner wall of the nozzle. Therefore, this work aims to compare the results obtained using the usual symmetric simplifications with those obtained from a nozzle at the end of its industrial use. The industrial nozzle at the end of its use has been 3D scanned and shows significant geometric reductions in the lower tubular area, the ports, and the pool. The results obtained show that any nozzle reductions have a direct impact on the mold flow patterns. In addition, it was demonstrated that symmetrical reductions are not enough to accurately reproduce the fluid dynamics within the nozzle and mold, as nozzle irregularities strongly influence the meniscus stability.

In new-generation manufacturing, intelligence, networking, and digitalization are prioritized in the worldwide agreement on decarbonization, green, and sustainable production. Particularly in analytics digitalized methodology, additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing (AM) enables intricate fabrication, decreased material waste, flexible design, and economic impact. With limitations such as anisotropic microstructureMicrostructure and properties, restrictions on material selection, defects, and high-cost metal AM still to be overcome, this research focuses on investigating the microstructure evolutionMicrostructure evolution, emphasizing texture and grain size based on processing parameters and affected multi-phase materials performance, such as elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio and yield strength. The authors developed the thermal model, considering heat transfer boundary and molten pool geometry. Then, the grain size is simulated with both the heating and cooling processes considered, including thermal stressThermal stress, JMAK (Johnson-Mehl-AvramiKolmogorov), and grain refinementGrain refinement. The texture is simulated via the CET (Columnar-to-equiaxed transition of crystallographic orientation) model, thermal dynamics, and Bunge calculation. The self-consistency model acquires the properties with established texture distribution. Then, the microstructureMicrostructure-affected and non-affected residual stressResidual stress are modeled and compared.

High-strength Nb alloys are known for their high-temperatureTemperature stability, making them ideal for aerospace applications. However, due to their high densityDensity, Nb alloys are only practical in high-temperatureTemperature areas. To reduce the weight of rocket components, Nb alloys can be combined with Ti alloys. TitaniumTitanium and niobium do not form intermetallic phases during thermal fusion, which enables their joiningJoining in laser-based additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing processes. This study explores the deposition of AMtrinsic® Nb–Ta–W–Zr alloy powder onto a 3D-printed Ti6Al4VTi6Al4V alloy using direct energy depositionDirect energy deposition (DED) in a hybrid SKYPRINT 2 3D printer. Subsequently, Ti6Al4VTi6Al4V was deposited on the printed Nb-based layers. The layered Ti-Nb-Ti sample was analyzed using scanning electron microscopyScanning electron microscopy, and microhardnessMicrohardness measurements were conducted to identify differences in material properties depending on the joiningJoining direction. Finally, measures to improve joiningJoining quality during 3D printing3D printing of multi-materials based on Ti and Nb are proposed.

Fusion-based additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing (AM) technologies, such as wire arc, laser powder bed, selective laser melting, and electron beam, enable intricate designs but face challenges when applied to steel fabrications. These challenges include residual stressResidual stress buildup, microstructureMicrostructure anisotropy, porosity, chemical composition segregationSegregation, and vaporization of alloying elements. Solid-phase AM technologies, operating below melting pointsMelting point, significantly mitigate these issues. Notable methods include ultrasonic, cold spray, and friction-based AM, with additive friction surfacingAdditive friction surfacing (AFS) standing out by eliminating the need for costly tooling and feedstock. This study demonstrates the use of AFS to produce high-strength low-alloy steelHigh-strength low-alloy steel depositions. The microstructuralMicrostructural evolution is explored as the tempered martensite condition of the feedstock results in a freshly deposited martensitic layer after AFS. As AFS progresses, the previously deposited martensitic layer undergoes post-deposition tempering and phase transformationPhase transformation into tempered martensite, ferrite, or a combination of these phases. These transformations are influenced by multiple thermal cycles during each layer deposition process, demonstrating that AFS can potentially achieve local microstructureMicrostructure control by tuning its parameters. Moreover, AFS shows promise for other high-strength, high-temperatureTemperature metallic materials that are traditionally considered “unprintable” through melt-based processes.

This paper investigates the optimizationOptimizations of the binder jettingBinder Jetting process using gas-atomizedCo–Cr Co–Cr–MoMo(VI) ions (F75) powder. Various parameters including particle size distributionParticle Size Distribution (PSD), binder saturation, and recoating speed were systematically examined to understand their effects on green part densityDensity and flexural strength. Results demonstrated that increasing binder saturation significantly enhanced green densityDensity up to 56% and flexural strength up to 14 MPa. While increasing recoating speed negatively affected green densityDensity down to 47%, it had minimal influence on flexural strength, with a maximum variation of 10 MPa for all printing conditions. For the MIM-cut powder with finer PSD, the best printing condition was a binder saturation level of 100% and recoat speed of 80 mm/s. However, for the coarser PSD of LPBF-cut powder, the best printing condition was a binder saturation level of 80% and recoat speed of 80 mm/s. This is because exceeding optimal binder saturation values may compromise accuracy and lead to excessive binder consumption and prolonged debinding times. Broader PSDs contributed to higher green densitiesDensity and flexural strength.

Research on additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing (AM) of alloys such as Ti–6Al–4V has increased recently, particularly for aerospace and biomedical applications. Despite the near-net shape advantages of this process, post-processing techniques, such as hot isostatic pressing, are often required to mitigate defects caused by high-temperatureTemperature gradients associated with AM process. In this study, the hot deformationHot deformation response of laser powder bed fusionLaser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF)-fabricated Ti–6Al–4V was investigated using a GleebleGleeble 563 thermomechanical system to simulate the effects of the HIP process. Quasi-static mechanical response was assessed at a strain rate of 0.01 s⁻1, with deformation temperaturesTemperature ranging from 550 to 800 °C. Results showed that lower deformation temperaturesTemperature led to increased flow stress. These deformation conditions also influenced the microstructureMicrostructure, resulting in fragmentation and changes in the shape of the α-laths. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis revealed that the deformation temperatureTemperature affected the alloy’s crystallographic texture, with a strong orientation preference (i.e., with respect to building direction) observed in the α-laths.

This work investigates the microstructuralMicrostructural features of additively manufactured 420 stainless steel420 stainless steel (AM420SS) through hot compressive deformation at varying strain rates of 0.01–1.0 s⁻1 under isothermal temperatureTemperature below Ae1 (i.e., single BCC/BCT phase region). The microstructuresMicrostructure are analyzed using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) maps in both the as-printed and as-deformed conditions. Flow stress analysis reveals that the significant softening observed at 700 °C is due to grain distortionGrain fracturing. The high dislocation densityDensity generated during deformation is absorbed by the grains, leading to intensive rotation and resulting in poor reconstruction of the parent austenite microstructureMicrostructure. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the hot deformationHot deformation mechanisms in AM420SS and will aid in developing high temperatureHigh temperature post-processing techniques after additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing, particularly on the effects of strain rate and temperatureTemperature on grain stability and microstructuralMicrostructural evolution.

Laser Powder Bed FusionLaser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) is a widely used additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing technique that enables the creation of complex latticeLattice structures with many applications including biomedical implants and aerospace components. This study investigates the microstructuralMicrostructural features, compression behaviour, and failure modes of Ti6Al4VTi6Al4V (Ti64Ti64) with a Body-Centred Cubic (BCC) latticeLattice structures fabricated using continuous wave (CW) L-PBF with relative densitiesRelative density ranging between 10 and 77%. The two key factors that are explored includes the effect of relative densityRelative density and the effect of heat treatment. Results indicate that the strength and Young's modulus of the latticeLattice structures increase with higher relative densitiesRelative density and smaller unit cell sizes, although the rate of improvement diminishes as the densityDensity approaches that of a solid material. When comparing as-built and heat-treated samples, heat-treated samples exhibited enhanced plastic deformation, and demonstrating increased ductility compared to the as-built samples, attributed to the microstructuralMicrostructural changes from α’ → α + β. Fractographic analysis of the compressively deformed samples revealed a mixed fracture characteristic with shear fracture being the predominant one due to the nature of the structure of the latticeLattice. The dominant brittle fracture characteristics in the as-built samples, and the ductile failure in case of the heat treated samples were noted.

The design of total hip replacementsTotal Hip Replacement is subject to ongoing research and development in the structures and materials used. This study provides an overview of the main properties (structural, physical, mechanical, and tribological) of new β-type titanium alloysTitanium alloy designed for total hip prosthesis. The literature review demonstrated that alloying elements addition and the production process significantly impact microstructuralMicrostructural changes in Ti alloys, as well as the microstructureMicrostructure adjustments in β-type Ti alloysΒ-type Ti alloy could achieve a low elastic modulus, high strength, improved microhardnessMicrohardness and overall physical characteristics. Furthermore, the tribological behavior of β-type Ti-alloys is critical for biomedical applications, as these materials must exhibit low wear rates and high wear resistanceWear Resistance to prevent wear debris and metallic ion release. Previous studies demonstrated superior wear resistanceWear Resistance in the studied alloys, and the strong relationship between the wear resistanceWear Resistance and microstructureMicrostructure characteristics. Collectively, these findings suggest that beta-type titanium alloysTitanium alloy possess significant potential to address mechanical biocompatibilityBiocompatibility and wear-related challenges in biomedical applicationsNano-Biomaterials.

Indentation testing is widely utilized to characterize one of the mechanical propertiesMechanical properties of a material, namely hardnessHardness. This method is performed on different scales of indenting force, indenter size and dimensions of the indented material. The different scales do not always yield the same hardnessHardness output or reading due to material length scales. One of the length scales in a material is related to its second phases. In this work, 3D nonlinear finite-element analysis, using a purely elastic indenter on Metal Matrix Composites (MMCsMMCs), is performed to investigate the effects of particle shape and particle orientation on the ability of the MMCsMMCs to resist localized plastic deformation. According to our simulationSimulation results, both the particle shape and the orientation of particles are shown to have a pronounced influence on the hardnessHardness readout.

This study investigates the effect of atmospheric pressure air plasma (APA) treatment on the mechanical performance, damage mechanisms and damage propagation of carbon fiber (CF)/Epoxy composites by utilizing Acoustic emissionAcoustic Emission (AE) method. CF fabrics are treated with APA prior to manufacturing of composites through vacuum-assisted resin infusion (VARI) process. Manufactured composites are tested for mode-I and mode-II fracture toughness tests in accordance with EN 6033, and EN 6034 standards, respectively. APA treatment resulted in improvements of GIC and GIIC values up to 32% and 40% over non-treated specimen. AE analysis revealed four discrete clusters representing different damage modes such as matrix cracking, interlaminar damages, fiber pull-out, and fiber breakage. The findings of the study indicate that APA treatment enhances the mechanical performance and alters the damage mechanism and propagation.

Our study presents a comparative analysis of compression of three specimen groups, each in distinct microstructureMicrostructure conditions of the ZnAlAg alloyZnAlAg alloy. These groups are subjected to staggered loads to homogenize and refine the grain size. The X-ray diffraction technique identifies the crystalline phases α, η, and the intermetallic ε, and shows their position and evolution according to the applied load. The micro-hardnessHardness test, conducted in the plastic and packing zone under the ASTM E384 standard, further supports our findings. We have established a statistical relationship between the evolution in the diffraction peaks, micro-hardnessHardness, and applied load. Our research suggests practical implications for the heat treatment and deformation process of the Zn22Al4Ag alloy, allowing for more plasticity due to grain refinementGrain refinement, improved distribution of the intermetallic ε, and the absence of work hardening, leading to a softening or a negative slope of the Hall–PetchHall-Petch model.

Based on the special three-dimensional interlayered frame, transition metal oxalatesTransition metal oxalates (TMOxs) exhibit excellent lithiumLithium storage ability. However, the inevitable introduction of crystal waterCrystal water during preparation and difficulty in obtaining 100% anhydrous material limit their commercial application. Herein, in view of the discrepancy of solubility products (Ksp), we fabricated the hydrated TMOxs with various morphologiesMorphologies by a simple solvothermal process. Owning to the interface lithiumLithium storage, metal catalysis and crystal waterCrystal water effects, CuC2O4·xH2O and NiC2O4·xH2O electrodes exhibit excellent electrochemical performance among all TMOxs materials. Among them, CuC2O4·xH2O shows higher electrochemical activity and better variable specific capacity of 638 mAh g−1 after cycling 100 times at 2 A g−1. In addition, the presence of crystal waterCrystal water also promotes the formation of low-resistance SEI film on the CuC2O4·xH2O and NiC2O4·xH2O electrodes, thereby increasing the ICE of the electrodes. This work provides a novel and systematic point for TMOxs anode materials toLithium-ion battery understand the beneficial and disadvantageous role of crystal waterCrystal water on lithiumLithium storage.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), known for their energy efficiency and environmental benefits, have interconnectors made primarily of ferritic stainless steelStainless steel with a high chromium content, as one of the main components. However, interconnectors suffer from chromium (Cr) sublimation issues during high-temperatureTemperature operation, which impacts the durability of SOFC. To prevent Cr sublimation, much research has been focused on applying a proper thin cobaltCobalt (Co) passivation layer to the interconnector surface. In this study, we explored electroplatingElectroplating technology to improve the thickness uniformityThickness uniformity of Co thin filmCo thin film deposited on SOFC interconnector. Several Co thin filmsCo thin film were deposited on a patterned ferritic stainless-steel interconnector through the electroplatingElectroplating processes developed by controlling the organic additivesAdditives in the electrolyte and the current densityDensity, and their local thicknesses for the pattern were compared. In addition, the grain structures (shape and size) and textures of the corresponding positions were measured using an electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique, to understand the roles of the additivesAdditives and current densityDensity in the deposition behavior during electroplatingElectroplating and explain the difference in thickness uniformityThickness uniformity between the films observed. Our results indicate that the thickness uniformityThickness uniformity of Co films electroplated on patterned interconnectors is closely related to the differences in local diffusionDiffusion behavior of Co ions within the pattern which is controlled by the additivesAdditives in the electrolyte or the current densityDensity.

MgCl2·6H2O is a phase change material with outstanding heat storage performance. To explore the potential of MgCl2·6H2O forming binary phase change materialsBinary phase change materials with other substances, this study focuses on five binary phase change materialsBinary phase change materials composed of magnesium chloride hexahydrateMagnesium chloride hexahydrate and various inorganic hydrated saltsInorganic hydrated salt. The eutectic point composition of these binary mixtures was calculated theoretically, and their thermal storage performance was studied experimentally. The experimental results show that a binary mixture of MgCl2·6H2O and NH4Al(SO4)2·12H2O with a mass ratio of 2.61:7.39 is suitable as a binary phase change materialBinary phase change materials. In this proportion, the phase change temperatureTemperature of the MgCl2·6H2O-NH4Al(SO4)2·12H2O binary phase change materialsBinary phase change materials is 64.3 °C, and its phase change enthalpy is 208 J/g. After 200 thermal cycles, the phase change enthalpy was found to be 182.24 J/g. This study provides new options for developing binary phase change materialsBinary phase change materials based on magnesium chloride hexahydrateMagnesium chloride hexahydrate.

This study presents an advanced hybrid water purificationWater purification system combining nanofiltrationNanofiltration with electrodialysis to address global water scarcity and emerging contaminants like PFAS. The system integrates activated carbon, grapheneGraphene nanoplatelets, and MXeneMXene-based composites into a multifunctional nanofiltrationNanofiltration matrix augmented with electrodialysis for efficient ionic separation and nutrient recovery. Efficacy was assessed using methylene blue as a model contaminant across multiple filtration cycles. A cost-effective prototype for consumer applications was developed. Water quality analysis employed an Oakton PC2700 Benchtop Meter for conductivity, TDS, and pH measurements. UV–VIS spectroscopy quantified solution absorption, while SEM examined filtration matrix microstructureMicrostructure and contaminant adsorptionAdsorption. ThisElectroactive-material electroactive-material-enhanced approach combines nanofiltrationNanofiltration and non-thermal plasmaNon-Thermal Plasma showing promise for complex water purificationWater purification challenges, including persistent organic pollutant removal.

Composite dual-layer shell phase change capsules have received attention due to their excellent thermal storage capacity, high thermal conductivityThermal conductivity, and good thermal stability. In this study, a method combining in-situ polymerization and liquid-phase reduction was proposed to prepare polyurea-polyurethane organic phase change nanocapsulesPhase change nanocapsules. Firstly, a polyurea-polyurethane shell is formed on the surface of the core material of butyl stearate through in-situ polymerization method. Afterwards, a layer of silver shell is formed on the surface of the previously prepared phase change capsules which have polyurea-polyurethane shell using the liquid-phase reduction method. Finally, the polyurea-polyurethane/silver shell phase change nanocapsulesPhase change nanocapsules are obtained. The volume encapsulation efficiency of the dual-layer shell phase change nanocapsulesPhase change nanocapsules prepared reaches 82.39%. The thermal conductivityThermal conductivity is 2.164 W/(m·K), indicating an improvement in thermal conductivityThermal conductivity compared with the nanocapsules without the silver shell. After 1000 thermal cycles, minimal enthalpy loss during melting and solidificationSolidification suggests excellent thermal reliability.

This study focuses on the energy storageEnergy storage potency of chemically polymerized polyanilinePolyaniline. The electrochemical property of this polymer strongly depends on the oxidizing agent used for its synthesis. In this study, varying mole ratios of ammonium persulfate (APS)—the oxidizing agent was added to aniline monomer. Structural and morphological characterizationsCharacterization such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopyScanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were conducted on synthesized samples. The electrochemical analysis was done with a three-electrode system to perform cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The study revealed that PANI2 (with APS and aniline ratio of 2:1) electrode exhibited the best electrochemical performance with a specific capacity of 342.7 Fg−1 at 5 mVs−1 scan rate and 232 Cg−1 at a current density of 0.5 Ag−1. PANI2 also gave a capacity retention of 36.99% after 1000 charge–discharge cycles. The study revealed that an increase in the amount of APS over the monomer gave a better electrochemical performance. The authors also recommend that this APS: aniline ratio of 2:1 can also be adopted in the production of polyaniline-based composite for improved specific capacitance, cyclability, and coulombic efficiency for supercapacitor electrode materials.

The clean utilization of low-concentration gas is of great significance to improving energy utilization efficiency, mitigating the greenhouse effect and achieving dual carbon goals. In this paper, using the principle of displacement chromatography, an adsorptionAdsorption separation method for recovering methane gas in low-concentration gasLow concentration gas (≤30%) was developed. Using 5A molecular sieve5A molecular sieve as an adsorbent, the molecular structure of 5A molecular sieve5A molecular sieve was characterized by X-ray diffraction spectrum, infrared spectrum, and scanning electron microscope. The change law of separation and enrichment of low-concentration gas under the conditions of different volumes, different concentrations, different carrier gasCarrier gas velocities, and different column diameter ratios was studied. The research results show that: when the feed gas concentration increases within a certain range (10–30%), methane can be enriched to 2–3 times the original (25–76%) in one step, and the recovery rate increases slightly and stabilizes. Around 30%. When the concentration of feed gas is constant (15%), the concentration of methane after purificationPurification increases with the volume of single treatment, up to 77%, while the recovery rate decreases. When the carrier gasCarrier gas flow rate increases within a certain range, the concentration after purificationPurification is stable at around 50%. The column diameter increases (0.6–3 cm), the methane enrichment rate decreases from 54 to 36%, and the single treatment volume doubles from 900 mL to 21 L. The results show that this method may be applicable to the purificationPurification of low-concentration gasLow concentration gas.

NanomaterialsNanomaterials have garnered significant interest in enhancing the performance of energy harvesting systems, biomedical devices, and high-strength composites. Despite advances in fabricating elaborate and heterogeneous nanostructuresNanostructures, and characterizing them using TEM tomography, challenges still remain in achieving straightforward 3D visualization, due to complex fabrication processes, agglomeration issues, and non-uniform outputs. Here, we propose an in situIn situ synthesis approach for fabricating complex, hierarchically assembled ZnS nanostructuresNanostructures which comprise nanowire cores and nanoparticles catalyzed by Ag2S. We have demonstrated that vaporized Zn and S solidify into nanostructuresNanostructures of various shapes under controlled temperaturesTemperature. This study marks the first successful synthesis of a heterogeneous nanostructureNanostructures, utilizing the phase transformationPhase transformation mechanisms of vapor–liquid–solid for nanowires and vapor–solid for nanoparticles through precise temperatureTemperature control. The resulting hierarchically assembled ZnS nanostructuresNanostructures were characterized, and their growth mechanisms were elucidated using the advanced TEM techniques. The electron tomographyElectron tomography and 3D printing3D printing techniques allowed visualization of these centimeter-sized nanostructuresNanostructures which has rarely been explored for randomly fabricated nanomaterialsNanomaterials. This collaborative work is expected to open avenues for fabricating advanced and sophisticated nanostructuresNanostructures with potential applications in diverse fields.

In this study, the deposition of B2-structured AlCoCrFeNi-based high-entropy alloy (HEA) onto A356 aluminum alloy substrate via a self-propagating high-temperatureTemperature synthesis method was aimed. The mixing of metal oxide powders (Co3O4, Cr2O3Cr2O3, Fe2O3, NiO, and TiO2TiO2) with metallic Al powders was used as the raw material. The effects of raw material weights and compositions on the properties of the high-entropy alloy layers were investigated. In the study, the reduction efficiencies of metal oxides were also calculated. The Vickers hardnessHardness test, scanning electron microscopyScanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were performed for characterizationCharacterization of theSHS-coating finalAl-A356 alloy products.

Cold gas sprayCold gas spray is an emerging material deposition technique with promising applications across diverse industries, including aerospace, automotive, and electronics. Telecommunications are essential for modern society, driving the demand for faster communication, which is often limited by the lack of thermally stable substrates. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFEPTFE (Teflon™) or Teflon) stands out as a promising substrate for flexible electronics due to its exceptional thermal resistance, chemical stability, and electrical insulation properties. However, the hydrophobicHydrophobic and low surface energy nature of PTFEPTFE (Teflon™) is a significant barrier to using it as a substrate for electronics, as it inhibits effective adhesion of coatings. Our research addresses this challenge by employing cold spray technology to deposit a ceramic layer onto PTFEPTFE (Teflon™), promoting strong adhesion of conductive coatings. We assessed the bonding method, ceramic coating quality, surface roughnessSurface roughness, thickness, and successfully printed an electronic circuit on the modified PTFEPTFE (Teflon™), testing properties like resistance, conductivity, and adhesion. This advancement represents a crucial step forward in utilizing PTFEPTFE (Teflon™) as a substrate for electronic circuits, potentially benefiting multiple industries.

Cold spray is a solid-state powder-based additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing technique. In this study, two brittle materials, Nd–Fe–B and Bi–Ti powders, were successfully consolidated using a low-pressure cold spray technique that requires a tailored-feedstock particle size distributionParticle Size Distribution. Feedstock materials were ball milled to achieve a particle size distributionParticle Size Distribution between 0.1 and 30 μm. The fine particles presumably improved inter-particle bonding and interlocking between the larger particles which enabled dense bulk material formation. This study details the first reported values of hardnessHardness, elemental mapping, and Cu-anode X-ray diffraction for tailored-feedstock low-pressure cold spray of Nd–Fe–B and Bi–Te. The as-deposited Nd–Fe–B sample exhibited a hardnessHardness of 256 ± 33 HV2.5 and Bi–Te’s measured 62 ± 23 HV1. Both samples contained multiple crystal phases beyond the expected Nd2Fe14B phase and Bi2Te3 phase. Consequently, the Nd–Fe–B sample showed significant magnetic softeningCold-spray compared to the feedstock powder.

This study focuses on developing AlNbTaTiVAlNbTaTiV refractory high-entropy particles via sequential mechanical alloyingMechanical Alloying, leveraging the promising high-temperatureTemperature properties ofRefractory high-entropy alloys refractory high-entropy alloysHigh-entropy alloys (RHEAs). The presence of Al enhances ductility and reduces densityDensity while stabilizing the body-centered cubic (BCC) phase, as evidenced by X-ray diffraction data. Changes in microstructureMicrostructure and chemical composition were investigated by sequentially incorporating Ti and V into the AlNbTa ternary system. Observations revealed that severe shear deformation from mechanical alloyingMechanical Alloying led to random welding orientations, dominating the formation of AlNbTaTiVAlNbTaTiV particles. Particle size analysis indicated fracturing and cold-welding during alloying, confirmed by scanning electron micrographs. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis provided insights into the chemical compositions throughout the alloying process, explained by the physicochemical properties of the constituent elements. ThermodynamicThermodynamics calculations supported the characterizationCharacterization and analysisHigh-energy mechanical alloying results.

The separation membraneMembranes of lithiumLithium and magnesium was important for the development of lithiumLithium resources. At present, nanosheets commonly used for membraneMembranes such as graphene oxideGraphene oxide are costly and difficult of exfoliation. Although montmorillonite mineral nanosheets are inexpensive, they often have smaller lateral dimension. Vermiculite, an equally inexpensive layered silicate, has weaker van der Waals between its molecular layers, which facilitates the production of larger-lateral-dimension nanosheets to improve separation ability. In the experiment, we obtained single-layer vermiculite nanosheetsVermiculite nanosheets with a lateral diameter of nearly micrometers through ion intercalation and ultrasound. When forming a membraneMembranes through vacuum filtration, glutaraldehyde was added to bond the nanosheets at a specific distance, resulting in a self-supporting vermiculite nanosheetVermiculite nanosheets with a high lithiumLithium and magnesium separation coefficient (9.47). We hope that this exploratory work can provide some reference for the selection of raw materials for lithiumLithium and magnesiumSelf-supporting membrane separation membranesMembranes.

TWIP950 advanced high strength steelAdvanced high strength steel (AHSS) with a zinc-based coating for corrosionCorrosion protection is widely utilized in the automotive industry. Nevertheless, galvanized TWIP950 steels are prone to liquid metal embrittlementLiquid metal embrittlement (LME) during the resistance spot weldingResistance spot welding (RSW) process, which can possibly threaten the load-bearing capability of welded joints. In this study, the influence of welding currentsWelding current on LME of galvanized TWIP950 steel was comparatively analyzed. The crackCrack quantitative results revealed that no obvious LME cracksCrack could be observed on the welding spot surface with the current below expulsion. However, the LME cracksCrack formed with the longest length of 55.0 μm with the expulsion current of 8.0 kA. Subsequently, numerous longer LME cracksCrack were detected above expulsion, with the longest crackCrack reaching as long as 1138.9 μm. It was deemed that higher welding currentWelding current could bring much more heat input, leading to the formation of more LME cracksCrack during the RSW. Thus, it was anticipated that the LME susceptibility could be reduced in the TWIP950 welded joints with an appropriate control of the welding currentWelding current.

The incorporation of nano-SiCNano SiC particles into coatings can significantly improve their hardnessHardness and wear resistanceWear Resistance. This study focuses on the preparation of Ni–Co–B–SiC composite coatings by electrodepositionElectrodeposition in a sulphate bath, using sodium dodecyl sulphate as a surfactant. The influence of the concentration of nano-SiCNano SiC particles in the electrolyte on the morphologyMorphologies and hardnessHardness of Ni–Co–B coatings was studied, and their wear resistanceWear Resistance was tested. The results show that compared with the Ni–Co–B coating, the Ni–Co–B–SiC composite coating has more refined grains and significantly increased hardnessHardness (up to 1023 HV) when the SiC concentration in the electrolyte is 1–5 g/L. Additionally, the introduction of SiC reduced the friction coefficient of the coatings, and the wear volume decreased by 59% at room temperatureTemperature and 30% at high temperatureHigh temperature, effectively improving the wear resistanceWear Resistance of the Ni–Co–B coatings.

In order to combat inflammation and allergic reactions brought on by biomaterialBiomaterial implants into the human body, corrosionCorrosion prevention in biomaterialsBiomaterial has become essential. Most of these metal implants developed strong antagonistic relationships with one another when they came into touch with fluidic environments like the bloodstream and bodily tissue, which in turn encouraged corrosionCorrosion. Due to its combined benefits of a high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent corrosionCorrosion resistance, and favorable biocompatibilityBiocompatibility, titaniumTitanium (Ti) and its alloys have emerged as the most appealing metallic materials used in medical applications, particularly in orthopedic and dental implants, when compared to other biomaterialsBiomaterial like Co–Cr alloys and stainless steelsStainless steel. The corrosionCorrosion resistance of Ti alloys increases with increasing element addition. Based on the literature and results obtained from the polarization curve and electrochemical impedance, the near-beta alloys were shown to be corrosionCorrosion resistant because of the passive films formed on their surfaces.

The cooling efficiency and quality of continuous castingContinuous casting slab are closely related to the volume of secondary cooling water, and the optimizationOptimizations of the secondary cooling water volume in the secondary cooling zone is the guarantee of slab quality. In this paper, minimizing the average temperatureTemperature difference between the surface center temperatureTemperature and the target temperatureTemperature of each cooling zone is taken as the objective function, and the metallurgical criteria are taken as constraints. Differential evolution, particle swarm optimizationOptimizations and firefly algorithm are used to establish the optimal model of secondary cooling water volume. Those models are verified with the production data of a steel plant. The results show that the average temperatureTemperature difference of PSO is the lowest, which is 3.9 °C. By optimizing the hyperparameters of PSO, the final average temperatureTemperature difference is reduced to 2.0 °C, and the model can meet the requirements of the production.

Rapid laser scanning generates a complex heat-affected zone with steep temperatureTemperature gradients in laser additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing, including laser metal deposition (LMD) and laser powder bed fusion process (LPBF). The complex thermal history and severe gradients lead to very high thermal stressesThermal stress that evolve into residual stressesResidual stress after the component cools down. Data-driven methods, such as machine learningMachine learning (ML), offer an alternative to traditional physics-based simulationsSimulation for calculating the thermal stressThermal stress evolution. However, ML often requires a large, labeled training dataset, which is computationally inefficient. In addition, the “black box” nature of data-driven ML methods makes it difficult to interpret the results. Additionally, data-driven ML methods do not use governing physical laws underpinning laser additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing to make them data-efficient. This study aims to develop a physics-informed ML (PIML) model that can predict thermal stressesThermal stress during laser scanning without requiring any labeled training dataset. A case study has been conducted to demonstrate the predictive capability of the PIML method and examine the evolution ofPhysics-informed machine learning thermal stressesThermal stress in an LMD process.

The precise prediction of nitrogen contentNitrogen content in the steelmaking process of high-nitrogen stainless steelStainless steel has a significant impact on product quality. In the paper, the locally linear embeddingLocally Linear Embedding (LLE)—random forestRandom forest (RF) model has been proposed to predict the nitrogen contentNitrogen content for an 80-ton converterConverter. The thermodynamicThermodynamics and kinetic mechanisms of nitrogen dissolution in the converterConverter are used as a guide. The LLE algorithm is applied for dimensionality reduction and feature extraction. Five machine learningMachine learning models, including extreme learning machine (ELM), random forestRandom forest (RF), gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT), support vector machine (SVM), and back propagation neural networks (BPNN), are utilized to establish nitrogen contentNitrogen content prediction modelsPrediction model. The RF model, which achieved the highest hit ratio, is selected for further modeling. After optimizing the model's hyperparameters, the model is tested using actual production data. The prediction accuracy of the model achieves a hit ration of 91.9% within a deviation range of ±0.015%.

Reasonable connection between continuous castingContinuous casting and hot rollingHot rolling can effectively improve steel production efficiency and reduce energy consumption. In this paper, a hot rolling unit planningHot rolling unit planning method based on casting and rolling interface coordination is proposed to solve the problem that the hot charge rate is difficult to increase due to the lack of casting and rolling interface coordination. In order to improve the hot charging rate and plan quality of hot rollingHot rolling units, hot rollingHot rolling slab is preferred. An integer programming modelInteger programming model aiming at minimizing billet size penalty, logistics time, and maximum rolling weight was established. A multi-objective genetic algorithm combining adaptive optimizationOptimizations and adjustment strategies was designed to solve the problem. The model is tested and validated by using industrial performance data. The results show that compared with the whole method, the proposed model improves the planning quality, size, and residence time of hot rollingHot rolling units by 5.23%.

The material characterizationMaterial Characterization is the prior step for every product development in the metal formingMetal Forming industry. At this stage, the objective is to determine the different properties of the material, which are significant for the intended manufacturing processes and the final use of the product. Characterizing a material and determining its significant properties can however be a very time consuming and cost-intensive task as it implies that many different experiments are carried out. This paper addresses this issue and proposes a resource and time-efficient approach for material characterizationMaterial Characterization, which is based on deep learningDeep learning methods for time seriesTime Series processing. For this study, different class of sheet materials were considered and their flow curves, yield locus, and forming limit curves were processed. The methods described in this paper were applied on a dataset of about 75 materials and a high correlation score could be attained on the designed regression tasks.

We developed an information processing system that optimizes material compositions using an annealing method based on the Ising modelIsing model. The system includes a computing device that executes annealing calculations and a material composition search device that converts the optimizationOptimizations function into an Ising modelIsing model. Critical components of the system are the Input Unit, which accepts target values for physical properties; the Conversion Unit, which converts the optimizationOptimizations equation into the Ising modelIsing model; the OptimizationOptimizations Unit, which calculates the optimal material composition approximating the target values; and the Output Unit, which outputs the calculated optimal material composition. The equation includes a cost function that calculates the cost of compositions to prioritize low-cost materials and constraints to ensure the total ratio of materials sums to 100% and to favor compositions with fewer materials. We applied this system to search the mixture solvent to maximize the solubility and minimize the cost.

To truly enable the benefits of Integrated Computational Materials EngineeringIntegrated Computational Materials Engineering, particularly when considering materials at multiple length scales, a framework that enables seamless communication between simulationSimulation tools is necessary for material optimizationOptimizations and design of ‘fit-for-purpose’ materials. The Automated Information ManagementInformation Management Across Organizations and Scales (AIMAOS) program developed at NASA GRC offers users an interactive graphical user interface for connecting material information managementInformation Management systems with both commercial and in-house simulationSimulation tools at various length scales to enable judicious automation in the handoff across scales and maintenance of material digital twins and the digital thread. As changes are made during material optimizationOptimizations at a given length scale, information is automatically propagated upstream to higher scales, and changes made are automatically tracked to maintain traceability and transparency during design. The AIMAOS tool serves as the first step in enabling optimized design of composites from the nano to the macroscale for a given application.

This paper presents the development of a digital twin for an extruder, leveragingDigital twin Extrusion Machine learning advanced modeling and computationalEfficiency Computational materials techniques to enhance the efficiencyEfficiency and reliability of extrusionDigital twin Extrusion processes. The digital twin integrates real-time data acquisition, machine learningMachine learning (ML) algorithms, and physics-based models to create a comprehensive virtual representation of the extruder. The paper focuses on the simulationSimulation models developed to replicate the extrusion processExtrusion process of thermal sheets from glass fibre reinforced polymer material along with the data generation to make surrogate models for the digital twin. A neural networkNeural network (NN)-based model was developed to simulate the extrusion process within a digital twin framework, utilizing real-time sensor data to predict defects in thermal sheets. Additionally, we investigate the potential benefits and challenges of deploying digital twins in industrial settings, and we explore the possibility of optimizing energy usage for such energy-intensive processes.

The current research work focuses on molecular dynamicsMolecular dynamics simulationsSimulation of fatigueFatigue crackCrack propagation behavior in dissimilar jointsDissimilar joints of aluminum and steel. A model with multiple grains of aluminum and steel is developed to simulate the friction welding. The model is extended to capture the crackCrack propagation behavior through the dissimilar jointDissimilar joints with a notch at the dissimilar interface. For initial loading cycles, the crackCrack grows in a straight line and then deviates towards aluminum leading to complete fracture. The simulationSimulation result shows faster crackCrack growth rate at/near the interface region when compared with crackCrack growth rate in Al side after deviation from the straight path. The grain boundaries and the differences in the material properties appear to drive crackCrack path during cyclic loading of the dissimilar jointsDissimilar joints. These observations compare well against the experimental observations from the previous studies.

This study investigated the use of waste snail shellsWaste snail shells to produce calcium oxide (CaO) nanoparticles for treating industrial paint effluentIndustrial paint effluent, which is challenging due to the heavy metalsHeavy metals, organic solvents, and suspended solids content. CaO nanoparticles were synthesized via the sol–gel method and characterized using FTIR, DLS, XRD, and SEM. OptimizationOptimizations of treatment conditions was performed using response surface methodologyResponse surface methodology (RSM) with central composite design (CCD), identifying optimal parameters as pH 7, contact time of 52.5 min, and CaO-NPs dosage of 5.5 g/L. Under these conditions, a contaminant removal efficiency of 98.11% was achieved. This research highlighted the effectiveness of CaO nanoparticles derived from waste materials in wastewater treatment and underscores a sustainable, cost-effective approach for environmental remediation.

The antibacterial nature of copperCopper and copperCopper alloys is well established, but our understanding of the precise mechanisms of toxicity continues to evolve. Few studies have focused on how the interaction of proteins, bacteria, and buffer constituents at the copperCopper/buffer interface can influence the antibacterial response, particularly for short-duration contact killing. The Advanced Small Drop Assay (ASDA) was used to compare antibacterial testing with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), commonly used as a diluent in antibacterial testing, versus chloride-free Butterfield’s phosphate bufferPhosphate Buffers (BPB). Bacteria were more rapidly killed in PBS than in BPB when exposed to the copperCopper surfaces. Although both buffers produced nanoflowers, these nanostructuresNanostructures are different when exposed to PBS or BPB and have only limited effects on measured antibacterial responses. Etched copperCopper surfaces increased the antibacterial effects in the PBS and BPB buffers. These results indicate the importance of the effects of buffer composition on short-duration antibacterial testing, the utility of the ASDA to increase the throughput of antibacterial testing, and provide clues that will help resolve the mechanism(s) of toxicity.

Wood-based biomaterialsBiomaterial are highly valued in green building practices due to their environmentally friendly nature. However, they are susceptible to mould contamination, which poses health risks, especially in warm, humid climates and poorly ventilated buildings. Leveraging the inherent antimicrobial properties of layered double hydroxidesLayered double hydroxides (LDHs) containing zinc and the hydrophobicHydrophobic characteristics of stearic acid (STA), this work employs molecular dynamicsMolecular dynamics (MD) simulationsSimulation to elucidate the interaction mechanisms in LDHs and STA-modified wood, aiming to mould prevention. The investigation reveals a strong affinity of LDHs to cellulose, facilitating the following adsorptionAdsorption of STA with low surface energy. Through electrostatic interactions, the polar carboxyl head group of STA adheres to the positively charged layer of LDHs, thereby exposing the alkyl chain and creating a hydrophobicHydrophobic surface. The MD simulationSimulation results confirm the feasibility of the proposed coating strategy for wood, offering valuable atomic-level insights to enhance wood materials’ anti-mould properties through surface modificationsModification.

Biomimetic materials, crafted to replicate natural biological systemsNatural biological systems, have transformed tissue engineeringTissue engineering and regenerative medicineRegenerative medicine by providing promising solutions for repairing and regenerating damaged tissues. This mini-review addresses the primary challenges encountered in the development of these materials and outlines potential future directions to overcome these obstacles. Key aspects of focus include the materials’ biocompatibilityBiocompatibility, scalability, functionalization, and integration with biological systems. By examining recent advancements and identifying research gaps, this review seeks to guide future innovations in biomimetic materialsBiomimetic materials to achieve improved therapeutic outcomes.

Calcium phosphate nanoparticlesCalcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaP NPs) have gained substantial attention in dental research due to their ability to mimic the natural mineral composition of teeth and bones. This manuscript explores the critical properties of CaP NPs, their applications in various dental materialsDental materials, and the future prospects of these nanoparticles in dentistry. CaP NPs have been incorporated into restorative materials, dental adhesivesDental adhesives, and protective coatingsProtective coatings, where they enhance mechanical strengthMechanical strength, promote remineralizationRemineralization, and offer improved biocompatibilityBiocompatibility. The study also discusses the challenges associated with integrating CaP NPs into dental products and outlines the future research directions needed to fully harness their potential in clinical dentistryClinical dentistry.

Transition metal nitrides, phosphides, sulfides, and selenides are potential alternatives to platinum group metal catalysts in the hydrogen evolution reactionHydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Moreover, doping with transition metal atoms is expected to further enhance catalytic performance. In this work, we propose a machine learningMachine learning (ML) technique for predicting the HER activity of transition metal-doped transition metal nitrides, phosphides, sulfides, and selenides. To achieve this, we establish a multi-step workflow utilizing tools from the ML algorithm toolbox tailored to the specific context of our study, aiming to build a well-trained data-driven model. This model is designed to predict the HER activity of 360 different transition metal-doped systems across these materials. One-third of these materials (120 systems) were randomly selected for initial evaluation using density functional theoryDensity functional theory (DFT) calculations to assess HER performance. Subsequently, through feature importance analysis, correlation analysis, and Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE), we identify highly correlated and low-importance features. Finally, ensemble and individual models are trained and tested. The results indicate that the RF model achieves a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.1306 and a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.1738.

The influence of the Cr2O3Cr2O3 content on the surface tensionSurface tension of CaO–SiO2SiO2–9.25wt.%MgO–14.7wt.%Al2O3Al2O3–22wt.%TiO2TiO2–Cr2O3Cr2O3 slag system was investigated in the temperatureTemperature range of 1450–1550 ℃ using the ring method. The mechanism of the changes in surface tensionSurface tension with different Cr2O3Cr2O3 contents in slag was analyzed from the perspective of model and ion theory in the melts. Increasing the Cr2O3Cr2O3 content from 0 to 3 wt.% caused an increase in the surface tensionSurface tension for the reason that the surface tensionSurface tension of Cr2O3Cr2O3 is the largest and that of SiO2SiO2 is the smallest in the components of the slag. Another reason is that the anions are repelled to the surface layer of the slag and adsorbed. The surface tensionSurface tension decreased with increasing temperatureTemperature. This is because the decrease of interaction forceInteraction force between the ions and the reduction of the bulk phase densityDensity between the two phases adjacent to the surface layer.

Ti-Al-Si polyalloysTi-Al-Si polyalloys are commonly utilized in the automotive engine manufacturing sector due to their exceptional heat and friction resistance. Nonetheless, the conventional method of preparing Ti-Al-Si alloys is time and energy intensive, thereby restricting their widespread application. This research focused on the preparation of Ti-Al-Si alloys through aluminum thermal reduction of TiO2TiO2-SiO2SiO2 using CaO-Al2O3Al2O3-MgF2 as the primary slag system. By systematically analyzing the aluminum ratio's impact on alloy propertiesAlloy properties, including slag-gold separation, alloy composition, Ti and Si recovery, physical phase of the alloy, microstructureMicrostructure, and hardnessHardness at varying aluminum ratios, it was found that an increase in aluminum ratio improved the slag-gold separation effect. The resulting alloy consisted predominantly of Ti-Al and Ti5Si3 phases, with an increase in titaniumTitanium recovery and a fluctuation in silicon recovery. Additionally, the hardnessHardness of the Ti-Al-Si alloy exhibited a significant increase.

Tungsten (W) and its alloys are considered to be the most promising plasma-facing materials (PFMs) in divertor components due to their high melting pointMelting point, high strength at elevated temperaturesTemperature, and high resistance to neutron damage. To overcome severe problems such as brittleness and severe plastic deformation, rare-earth boridesRare-earth boride that have a high melting pointMelting point, hardnessHardness, neutron absorbability, and low electronic work function, volatility can be reinforced to W matrix. In this study, high purity and nanoscale 2 wt.% rare-earth boride (CeB6, NdB6, and ErB4) powders were reinforced to pre-alloyed W1Ni that is milled for 6 h at 800 rpm. According to the X-ray diffraction (XRD) results, W peaks were obtained with a small amount of WC impurity. The average particle and crystallite size and latticeLattice strain of composite powders were measured. The powders were consolidated with the pressureless sinteringSintering (1400 °C for 1 h). Three different phases were determined for the composites based on the scanning electron microscopyScanning electron microscopy. While the Vickers microhardnessesMicrohardness of W1Ni-2CeB6, NdB6, and ErB4 composites were measured as 6.79, 6.36, and 6.53 GPa, respectively, the wear volume losses were measured as 0.99, 1.68, and 3.17 × 10–4 mm3, respectively. These results were supported by wear rates and wear friction coefficient. The PS’ed composites were exposed to He+ ions. The mechanical and irradiation behavior of tungsten was investigated with addition rare-earth boridesRare-earth boride into W matrix in this study.

The classical nucleation theoryNucleation theory (CNT) and its modified versions provide a convenient framework for describing the nucleation process under the capillary approximation. However, these models often predict nucleation ratesNucleation rate that depart significantly from simulationSimulation results, even for a simple Lennard-JonesLennard-Jones fluid. This large discrepancy is likely due to the inaccurate estimation of the driving forceDriving force for nucleation, which most traditional models estimate within the ideal solution approximation. In this study, we address this issue by directly calculating the driving forceDriving force for nucleation using equations of stateEquations of state (EOS) and integrating this approach into the calculation of nucleation rates within the framework of CNT and its modified model. We apply this method to examine the condensation of a Lennard-Jones fluid and compare the resulting nucleation ratesNucleation rate with molecular dynamicsMolecular dynamics (MD) simulation data. Our results demonstrate that at relatively low supersaturation, where the capillary approximation is reasonable, our thermodynamic models exhibit excellent agreement with MD results, significantly outperforming traditional models. At moderate and high supersaturation, our approach continues to show a reasonable agreement with MD results. Furthermore, when comparing the results obtained by using different EOS, we find that more precise EOS generally yield better agreement with MD data.

Developing high-infrared absorption systems is crucial for improving radiation heat transfer efficiency in high-temperatureTemperature industrial furnaces and achieving energy conservation and emission reduction. Transition metal dopingTransition metal doping is a key method to enhance infrared absorption. Using first-principlesFirst-principle calculations, we studied the effects of B-site doping with Cr, Co, and Ni on the electronic structure and optical propertiesOptical properties of rhombohedral perovskite PrAlO3. The thermodynamicThermodynamics stability of these doped systems was confirmed. By introducing intermediate energy levels, Cr, Co, and Ni doping achieves the regulation of the bandgapsBandgap. At a fixed doping concentration, the bandgapsBandgap of the three systems decrease to 1.851, 2.413 eV, and 0, respectively. The densityDensity of states’ calculations indicates that the intermediate energy level is contributed by the hybridization of transition metal ion 3d orbitals and O ion 2p orbitals. The overall light absorption coefficient curves of the three doping systems shift towards longer wavelengths. Thanks to the disappearance of the bandgapBandgap, Ni-doped PrAlO3Doped PrAlO3 can absorb light in the entire visible and near-infrared bands, making it a potential high-infrared absorption system.

Nb-Si-based alloys with low densityDensity and high melting pointMelting point exhibit excellent high-temperatureTemperature strength and creep resistance. The addition of titaniumTitanium improves fracture resistance as well as oxidation resistance. The thermodynamicThermodynamics equilibrium conditions for the electrochemical reduction of Nb2O5, TiO2TiO2, and SiO2SiO2 oxides were analyzed by performing thermodynamicThermodynamics calculations for the preparation of Nb-Si-Ti alloys by molten salt electrolysisMolten salt electrolysis in NaCl-CaCl2 molten saltsMolten salt, and the coupled reactions of the electrochemical reduction process were clarified. The results show that the order of oxide electrolytic reduction is Nb2O5, SiO2SiO2, and TiO2TiO2, in which the Nb2O5 and TiO2TiO2 are reduced to monomers one by one from high to low valence. In addition, during the reduction of Nb2O5, SiO2SiO2, and TiO2TiO2 under the influence of molten saltMolten salt and O2− undergo a phase transition to form CaSiO3 and CaTiO3, which are reduced sequentially by electrolysis. The final Nb-Si-Ti alloy can be obtained.

In this research work, the direct roastingRoasting reaction of pure α-spodumene (LiAlSi2O6) withNaF NaF through thermodynamicThermodynamics simulationSimulation using the equilib module included in the FactSage 8.2 software was studied. The LiAlSi2O6:NaF molar ratios (RM) analyzed: 1:0.5, 1:0.6, 1:0.7, 1:0.8, 1:0.85, 1:1, and 1:2.0 in the temperatureTemperature interval from 50 to 1200 °C and 1 atmosphere of pressure determining the chemical species in equilibrium every 50 °C through Gibbs energy minimization. The most thermodynamically stable chemical species formed in all RMs were: LiF, NaAlSi3O8, and NaAlSiO4.The maximum percentage yield (PY) for the LiF specie was 99% in the solid state starting at 250 °C and in the liquid state at temperatureTemperature ≥850 °C for the 1:1 RM with an excess of NaF of 0.0008%. The results obtained demonstrated that direct roastingRoasting of α-spodumene usingNaF NaF is thermodynamically favored in the temperatureTemperature range studied which was confirmed by the formation of lithiumLithium fluoride in solid phase or liquid phase and allowed to propose the reaction mechanism.

KTaO3 is an incipient ferroelectricIncipient ferroelectric with quantum fluctuations stabilizing the soft phonon mode at low temperaturesTemperature. The influence of external perturbationsPerturbation from strain, dopants, or stress can, however, be used to induce a ferroelectric state. A thermodynamicThermodynamics theory for KTaO3 based on the Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire theory of ferroelectrics has not been established yet. In this study, we formulate a thermodynamicThermodynamics free energy densityDensity function for KTaO3 and use it to describe the thermodynamicsThermodynamics of KTaO3 single crystals and strained KTaO3 thin filmsThin films. Using the established Landau coefficients, the calculated electric field-induced polarization and dielectric constant show a good agreement with experimentally measured values. The stable ferroelectric phases in the analytically constructed temperatureTemperature-strain phase diagramPhase diagram are identified using the phase-field method. The thermodynamicThermodynamics model developed in this work for strained KTaO3 thin filmsThin films can not only be employed to guide their experimental synthesis and growth but also be utilized in the phase-field method to model domain morphologiesMorphologies.

The green and low-carbon smelting technology with more than 50% pelletsPellet charged into the blast furnace was applied in Shougang Jingtang Iron and Steel United Co., Ltd. However, due to the high consumption of calcium bentoniteBentonite as the pelletPellet binder, it is challenging to guarantee the pellet qualityPellet quality for the smooth operationSmooth operation of the blast furnace. To reduce the ratio of bentoniteBentonite, the effects of different high-performance composite bentonitesBentonite on the pellet qualityPellet quality were studied. Results show that high-performance composite bentoniteBentonite B and C exhibit superior balling properties compared to the reference bentoniteBentonite . Furthermore, under the same bentoniteBentonite ratio, high-performance composite bentoniteBentonite B demonstrates higher green ball falling strength than bentoniteBentonite C. With high-performance composite bentonitesBentonite B and C, the bentoniteBentonite ratio could be significantly reduced from 2.3% to 1.0%. Although the compressive strengthCompressive strength of the pelletsPellet decreased with lower bentoniteBentonite ratios, it remains above 3072N/P, meeting the requirements for the blast furnace. Meanwhile, the alkali metalAlkali metals content of the pelletPellet decreases significantly, which was beneficial to reduce the alkali loadAlkali load into the blast furnace and improve the smooth operationSmooth operation, overall efficiency and long life of the blast furnace.

Due to the combustion of H2, more water vapor would be generated during the hydrogenHydrogen-rich fuel roastingRoasting, which affects the dryingDrying of green pelletsGreen pellets. The drying characteristicsDrying characteristics of green pelletsGreen pellets were investigated by simulating hydrogenHydrogen-rich conditions with different water vapor contents in this study. The results showed that the water vapor produced during roastingRoasting was 1.5 to 4 times higher than that of conventional fuels when using H2 as fuel. The water vapor concentration in the flue gas of rotary kilnsRotary kilns can be 5% to 10%. The water vapor in the dryingDrying flue gas would slow down the dryingDrying rate of the green pelletsGreen pellets. The water vapor content of the dryingDrying hot air should be matched to the temperatureTemperature and pelletPellet moistureMoisture under hydrogenHydrogen-rich operating conditions. When the moistureMoisture of green pelletsGreen pellets was 8.0%, the water vapor content was 10%, and the dehydration rate of green pelletsGreen pellets could reach more than 97% after dryingDrying at 300 ℃ for 8 min.

In this paper, high-grade magnetite concentrateMagnetite concentrate (B ore) and high-silicon magnetite concentrateMagnetite concentrate (Z ore) were used as raw materials. According to the proportion of raw materials 97% B ore + 3% Z ore in a steel mill, the preparation characteristics and metallurgical propertiesMetallurgical properties of low-silicon high-iron fluxed pelletsFluxed Pellets with magnesium powder were studied in the laboratory. The industrial production of fluxed pelletsFluxed Pellets with magnesium powder as MgO-containing additiveAdditives was carried out by belt roasterBelt roaster production process, and the influence of MgO content on metallurgical propertiesMetallurgical properties was investigated. The results show that after adding magnesium powder to fluxed pelletsFluxed Pellets, the pelletizingPelletizing process has little change and is relatively stable; after adding magnesium-containing fluxed, the compressive strengthCompressive strength of fluxed pelletsFluxed Pellets tends to decrease, but adding magnesium-containing fluxed is beneficial to the improvementMagnesium-containing pellets fluxes of metallurgical propertiesMetallurgical properties of fluxed pelletsFluxed Pellets.

MgO-fluxed pelletsFluxed Pellets areMgO-fluxed pellets widely used in blast furnace ironmaking due to their excellent metallurgical propertiesMetallurgical properties. However, MgO-fluxed pelletsFluxed Pellets require high roastingRoasting temperatureTemperature control. A roastingRoasting temperatureTemperature that is too low may not allow for adequate consolidation, while a temperatureTemperature that is too high may lead to the bonding of the pelletsPellet and affect the quality of the pelletsPellet. This study used magnetiteMagnetite pure mineral and MgO reagents to study the effect of different Mg/Fe molar ratios on the phase transformationPhase transformation of roasted products. The diffusionDiffusion rate of Mg2+ at the reaction interface of the Fe3O4–MgO system under different atmosphere conditions is investigated. The results showed that the higher Mg/Fe ratio is favorable for generating MgxFe3–xO4, and the presence of Mg2+ will hinder the Fe2O3 grain connection. It is unfavorable to the Fe2O3 grain growth. At 1200 ℃, the diffusionDiffusion rate of Mg2+ at the interface of the Fe3O4–MgO system in a nitrogen atmosphere was faster than that in an air atmosphere.

An innovative lime roastingRoasting of Cu2S process was studied to abate SO2 production in roastingRoasting natural chalcociteChalcocite or converting white metal produced in smelting technology. This process consists of oxidizing Cu2S in the presence of CaO capturing the sulfur as a solid species eliminating the atmospheric pollution with SO2. This work is solely on the oxidation process of chalcociteChalcocite concentrate. Experiments in the range 550–800 °C, and XRD analysis of calcines indicated that the oxidation of Cu2S concentrate-CaO mixtures occurs according to the overall reaction: Cu2S + CaO + 2.5O2 = 2CuO + CaSO4. Thus, lime roastingRoasting could drastically reduce the atmospheric contamination with SO2. The advantage of this process is that the copperCopper in the calcines can be extracted selectively in the next stage by leaching in acid solutions. The optimal values determined for roastingRoasting were 600–750 °C, 21% oxygen partial pressureNon-polluting process, andNon-polluting processlime-roasting Cu2S:CaO molarLime-roasting ratio equal to 1:2.

Strength is the key index of pellet qualityPellet quality. Grate-rotary kilnRotary kilns is a typical process of pelletPellet production, which has large production capacity and stable product quality. The preheatingPreheating and roastingRoasting system of Bayan Obo ore pelletsPellet was optimized, the effect of strength and pulverization rate was clarified, and the phase transformationPhase transformation mechanism of metal iron oxide during preheatingPreheating and roastingRoasting was revealed. The results show that under the conditions of blast dryingDrying temperatureTemperature 220 ℃, exhaust dryingDrying temperatureTemperature 330 ℃, preheatingPreheating section I temperatureTemperature 750 ℃, preheatingPreheating section II temperatureTemperature 1025 ℃, and total dryingDrying preheatingPreheating time 21 min, the compressive strengthCompressive strength of preheated pelletsPellet is 656 N/P, the pulverization rate is 2.84%, and the oxidation degree is above 0.8. Under the condition of roastingRoasting temperatureTemperature of 1250 ℃ and roastingRoasting time of 27 min, the compressive strengthCompressive strength of pelletsPellet reached more than 2000 N/P.

In this study, the pelletizingPelletizing behaviors of magnetite concentrateMagnetite concentrate and hematite concentrateHematite concentrate were investigated based on pelletizingPelletizing experiments using a lab-scale disc pelletizer. It was demonstrated that the bentoniteBentonite dosage and pelletizingPelletizing time considerably affected the quality of green pelletsGreen pellets. The optimal bentoniteBentonite dosage for pelletizingPelletizing of magnetite concentrateMagnetite concentrate and hematite concentrateHematite concentrate was 1.5 wt%. The optimal pelletizingPelletizing time for these two concentrates was found to be 12 min and 8 min, respectively. The differences between the qualities of their pelletsPellet were closely associated with different particle sizes and wettabilityWettability of the concentrates.

There is a quality deviation problem with the pelletsPellet produced by the belt roastingRoasting machine, and the solidificationSolidification quality and metallurgical performance uniformity of the finished pelletsPellet are poor. This article focuses on the concentrated performance of quality deviation in belt roastersBelt roaster, including black core ball and red ball problems. The causes of these problems are systematically analyzed, and the dryingDrying system of thick material layersThick Material Layer in belt roastersBelt roaster is experimentally analyzed. The longitudinal temperatureTemperature variation law of the trolley is fitted and studied. Based on the analysis of the root cause of the problem, the quality of the organizational belt roastingRoasting machine has been improved, and the uniformity of ball size has been studied and improved, thereby enhancing the air permeabilityPermeability of the trolley material layer.

The development of recycling processes that enable the recovery of valuable metals from industrial residues with significantly lower CO2 emissions is necessary due to the aggravating circumstances of climate changeClimate change, resource availability, and land consumption caused by the landfilling of residues. It is possible that processes based on chlorination reactions will become significant in the future in this context. To extract the valuable metal copperCopper from the refractory matrix, this process was assessed in this context for the treatment of spent refractorySpent refractories bricks from the copperCopper industry. The paper explains the behaviour of the identified most suitable reactant, magnesium chloride (MgCl2·6H2O), as well as the principles of chlorination and reaction mechanisms of different salts.

Ring formationRing formation in the rotary kilnRotary kilns decreases the performance and productivity of the pelletPellet ore. Inhibiting the formation of the ring contributes to improving pellet qualityPellet quality and stabilizing production. Previous research has been conducted on the rotary kilnRotary kilns's ring formationRing formation and the impact of the raw materials. However, the role played by alkali metalAlkali metals impurities in the process of ring formationRing formation has not been investigated. In this study, the actual ring was analyzed and thermodynamicThermodynamics calculations were adopted to explore the origins of alkali metalsAlkali metals and their effect on ring formationRing formation in the rotary kilnRotary kilns. It is concluded that alkali metalsAlkali metals entered the liquid phase and achieved enrichment through formatting aluminosilicateAluminosilicate. When the temperatureTemperature exceeded 1200 °C, the liquid phase generation of coal ash with high alkali metalAlkali metals content reached 22.78%. Reducing the amount of coal ash in the kiln can effectively suppress ring formationRing formation.

The growing demand for electric vehicles, driven by global decarbonization policies, has led to an increase in the production of electric steel, which is characterized by a high silicon content. Producing this type of steel necessitates careful control of slag composition, particularly with high SiO2SiO2 content. This study investigates the thermophysical properties of cleanness slags with varying silicon oxide (SiO2SiO2) content, specifically examining viscosityViscosity, surface tensionSurface tension, and densityDensity. Silicon oxide, ranging from 1 to 20 wt%, was added to slags with a CaO/Al2O3Al2O3 ratio of 1. The results show that increasing SiO2SiO2 content raises viscosityViscosity at temperaturesTemperature above 1550 °C but reduces it at lower temperaturesTemperature. Additionally, a linear decrease in densityDensity and surface tensionSurface tension was observed with increasing SiO2SiO2, which is attributed to the substitution of CaO with SiO2SiO2, thereby reducing the number of unsatisfied bonds in the slag network. Understanding these dynamics enhances control over slag-steel interactions in the steel ladle, ultimately improving process efficiency and steel quality.

This study investigates the effects of different sintering temperaturesSintering temperature and nano-silver (Ag) particle sizes on the microstructureMicrostructure and shear strength of Ag/nano-Ag pasteNano-Ag paste/Ag joints. Three types of nano-Ag pastes with varying particle sizes were prepared. Results revealed that higher sintering temperaturesSintering temperature improved both densification and shear strength. Specifically, joints made with 70 nm Ag particles exhibited better densification and shear strength compared to those with 20 nm Ag particles, due to the higher packing densityDensity and more effective diffusionDiffusion of the larger particles. However, shear strength of 20 nm, 70 nm, and 20/70 nm Ag joints decreased after testing at 250 °C and after 500 hours of aging at the same temperatureTemperature, although it remained above 30 MPa. This reduction was attributed to atomic diffusionDiffusion at grain boundaries and coarseningCoarsening of the sintered nano-Ag structure. These findings highlight the potential of nano-Ag paste for use in die attachment in electronic power devices.

Equimolar CoNiFeCr multi-principal element alloys present rather high refractoriness with solidus temperaturesTemperature close to 1300 °C as well as good resistance against oxidation by hot air. However, to allow them to be creep-resistant enough, additions can be required. These chemical modificationsModification may influence either in the good direction, or in a bad way, their high temperatureHigh temperature oxidation behavior. In this work, after having characterized the oxidation behavior of an equimolar CoNiFeCr alloy at 1200 °C using a thermobalance, versions with addition of either 2 wt%Ti or 6 wt%Ta were elaborated and tested in hot oxidationHot oxidation for the same conditions as the former reference alloy. Results clearly evidenced the influences of Ti and of Ta on the three stages of the thermogravimetryThermogravimetry tests: oxidation during heating, isothermal mass gain kinetic and oxide spallation during cooling. These changes in behavior were interpreted by exploiting the results of post-mortem examination of the oxidized samples, before and after cross-sectional preparation.

At high temperaturesHigh temperature, the Cantor alloyCantor alloy is severely oxidized in air, with the formation of many different types of oxides as this can be observed after test by post-mortem metallographic characterizationMetallographic characterization. It can be interesting to better know the sequences of appearance of these different oxides all along the exposure to hot air, in order to better specify the roles of each of the five elements present in a Cantor alloyCantor alloy. This was done in the present work with the oxidation by laboratory air in a resistive tubular furnace, at 1000 °C for seven different durations ranging from 1.5 to 62 h. The progressive oxidation states were characterized by SEM observation of the outer side of the scales, and by cross-sectional examination of the whole thickness of the scale as well as the chemical changes in subsurface. It appears that the composition of the external scale observed after only few hours is globally the same as after several tens hours. Only the average thickness and the intergranular oxidation penetration, respectively, increases and deepens with time, as well the Mn and Cr impoverishment of subsurface.

High entropy alloysHigh entropy alloys of the Cantor family, with modified contents in Mn and Cr, can behave differently in oxidation at high temperatureHigh temperature depending on the composition of air. For instance, in hot air, changes in oxidation behavior can be encountered when water vapor is present. ThermogravimetryThermogravimetry results recently showed that 180 mbars of water partial pressure led to slower mass gain at 1000 °C for a cast Co1Ni1Fe1Mn1.5Cr0.5 alloy and its versions containing either TaC carbides or HfC carbides, as well as to different behaviors during heating (start of oxidation) and cooling (stability of the oxide scales). The purpose of the present extension of this study is to carry out metallographic characterizationMetallographic characterization of the oxidized samples to help in interpreting the differences of mass variation behavior between dry airDry air and wet airWet air evidenced by the previous thermogravimetryThermogravimetry investigations, i.e. lower rate and better resistance to oxide spallation inHigh-entropy alloys case of wet airWet air.

Advanced high strength steelsAdvanced high strength steel (AHSSsAHSSs) with zinc coating are commonly jointed by employing resistance spot weldingResistance spot welding (RSW) technique. Unfortunately, the Zn coating can possibly trigger the formation of the liquid metal embrittlementLiquid metal embrittlement (LME) cracksCrack. The role of tilting electrodeTilting electrode in the tensile-shear fatigueFatigue property of the welding joint has not been systematically explored. In this study, the effect of the tilting electrodeTilting electrode on the tensile-shear fatigueFatigue property of the RSW joints were comparatively analyzed. The results revealed that the tensile-shear fatigueFatigue property of the joint with tilting angle 5° was better than that with the tilting angle 0°. For the joint welded with tilting angle 5°, a pullout failure (PF) mode occurred. On the contrary, a partial interfacial failure (PIF) mode produced for the joint welded with tilting angle 0°. In particular, the fatigueFatigue crackCrack did not initiate from the LME cracksCrack, yet came from the notch position between the interface of the two bonded steel sheets. It deemed that the joint welded with the tilting electrodeTilting electrode could produceTensile-shear fatigue property a bigger nugget than that without tilting, obtaining a high tensile-shear fatigueFatigue property.

This study introduces a cost-effective, eco-friendly method for synthesizing zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPsZnONPs) using plantain peel extract (PPE). CharacterizationCharacterization techniques revealed that the ZnONPsZnONPs exhibit a hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure with a predominant zincite phase. X-ray diffraction confirmed their crystalline nature, while Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) showed an average particle size of 75.35 nm and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.45. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) identified key functional groups: OH, aromatic, and carboxylate. The biosynthesized ZnONPsZnONPs were applied to industrial paint effluentIndustrial paint effluent treatment using Response Surface MethodologyResponse surface methodology (RSM), which determined optimal conditions of pH 6.94, contact time of 74.79 min, and adsorbent dosage of 3.16 g/L, achieving a predicted contaminant removal efficiency of 40.90%. The study highlights the potential of plantain peel extract for green synthesis of ZnONPsZnONPs, offeringPlantain-peel extract effective contaminant removal from industrial effluents.

Accurately acquiring the resistance of the sensor is always important for the quantitative recognition of mixed gases using metal oxide semiconductor. In this work, a SnO2 gas sensor was designed, a gas sensor test circuit was developed, and PID temperature controlPID temperature control technology was employed. On the base, the surface temperatureTemperature of the prepared sensor can be ensured unaffected by external factors, and the accuracy of resistance testing can be guaranteed. It was found that at 250 °C, the sensor resistance exhibited ohmic natures when the current through the material is below 4.34 μA. Conversely, when the current was above this current thresholds, the resistance decreases. Furthermore, it was found when the operating temperaturesTemperature were increased from 250 to 370 °C, the current thresholds were also increased to 22.04 μA. The findings in this work are beneficial for improvingNon-ohmic behavior the quantitative recognition of mixed gases using metal oxide semiconductors.

The effectiveness of cancer chemotherapyCancer chemotherapy is often hindered by non-specific drug distribution, systemic toxicity, and poor drug retention at the tumor site, leading to suboptimal therapeutic outcomes. To address these challenges, advanced drug delivery systemsDrug delivery systems are necessary. Cellulose nanocrystalsCellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), due to their unique physicochemical properties such as high surface area, mechanical strengthMechanical strength, and biocompatibilityBiocompatibility, have emerged as a promising component in the development of hydrogelsHydrogels for cancer therapy. This minireview provides a comprehensive overview of the properties, and applications of CNC-infused hydrogelsHydrogels in cancer chemotherapyCancer chemotherapy. The focus is on how these hydrogelsHydrogels can enhance drug loading, provide controlled and sustained drug release, and improve tumor-targeted delivery. Additionally, the review discusses the challenges associated with CNC-infused hydrogelsHydrogels and explores future perspectives in this rapidly evolving field. By leveraging the properties of CNCs, these hydrogelsHydrogels have the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment, offering more effective and less toxic therapeutic options.

Even though the utilization of cold rolled advanced high strength steelsAdvanced high strength steel (AHSSsAHSSs) for automotive body structure applications is becoming rather common, application of hot rolledHot rolled AHSSsAHSSs for automotive chassis structures is comparatively novel. In this paper, the development of hot rolledHot rolled AHSSsAHSSs in Shougang were introduced. In accordance with the demanding of customers, a serial of hot-rolled AHSSsAHSSs were developed in Shougang, combined with the production equipment’s of hot rollingHot rolling. The chemical composition and mechanical propertiesMechanical properties of AHSSsAHSSs of shougang were presented. The microstructuralMicrostructural characteristics were described by means of metallographic microscope and scanning electron microscope. Hot rolledHot rolled AHSSsAHSSs of Shougang have been widely used in subframe, control arms, torsion beam and other chassis parts of automobile due to their excellent mechanical propertiesMechanical properties. They have been developed to address the current automotive market challenges, and will exert a more significant role in weight reduction and safety of passenger cars in the future.

The high-temperatureTemperature physical performances of continuous castingContinuous casting billet are crucial for simulating the solidificationSolidification heat transfer process. In this study, the high-temperatureTemperature physical performances of 20CrMnTi billet were tested. Combining experimental test results, the solidificationSolidification heat transfer process in the secondary cooling zone was simulated, obtaining surface temperatureTemperature distribution and shell thickness variation of the billet. The results indicated that the solidus and liquidus temperaturesTemperature of the 20CrMnTi billet were 1462 °C and 1505 °C, respectively. Significant fluctuations in specific heat capacity and thermal conductivityThermal conductivity were observed in the phase transition region. At the exit of mold, the billet shell thickness exceeded 15 mm, complying with metallurgical standards. At the beginning of straightening, the surface temperatureTemperature of the billet was about 900 °C, avoiding the high-temperatureTemperature brittleness zone.

This study presents the effect of carbon content on the mechanical behavior of high Mn steelsHigh Mn steel. Fe–0.4%C–15%Mn and Fe–0.13%C–18%Mn alloys were manufactured from a commercial 1018 steel in an induction furnace. They were then hot rolledHot rolled in successive stages without reheating until a reduction of 80% (3 mm). The processed samples were characterized by optical microscopy—OM, Scanning Electron MicroscopyScanning electron microscopySEM and X-ray diffraction—DRXDRX. The results show the activation of different deformation mechanisms. On the one hand, the Fe–0.4%C–15%Mn steel reached a UTS > 1000 MPa with an elongation of 75%. Meanwhile, the Fe–0.2%C–18%Mn alloy presented a UTS = 900 MPa of UTS and 40% deformation. The results obtained were attributed to the observed microstructuralMicrostructural differences, on the one hand; the Fe–0.12%C–18%Mn alloy presented entirely TWIP behavior, while the Fe–0.4%C–15%Mn alloy exhibited a combined effect of twinning and γ → ε-(hcp) phase transformationPhase transformation.

The traditional continuous annealing process for iron-based alloysIron-based alloys has basically matured, and its production efficiency is difficult to further improve. However, the rapid heat treatmentRapid heat treatment process heats up to the target temperatureTemperature and rapidly cools down, which can refine the grain size, control the microstructureMicrostructure and texture, and obtain high comprehensive mechanical propertiesMechanical properties while improving production efficiency. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the patent applications, applicants and applicant's research direction on rapid heat treatmentRapid heat treatment of iron-based alloysIron-based alloys, providing patent technical support for improving the comprehensive performance of iron-based alloys through rapid heat treatmentRapid heat treatment technology. It also summarizes the development trends of rapid heat treatmentRapid heat treatment technology for iron-based alloys: (1) Expansion of applied area of rapid heat treatmentRapid heat treatment technology. (2) Coupling with the third-generationHigh-strength steel high-strength steel heat treatment technologies. (3) Coupling with industrial continuous production technologies.

The automotive industry faces the challenge of enhancing fuel efficiency while meeting global environmental regulations on emissions. AdvancedHigh-strength steel high-strength steelsAdvanced high-strength steels (AHSS) have gained significant attention due to their superior strength and ductility compared to conventional steels. Among AHSS, medium-manganese steels, containing 3–12 wt.% Mn and classified as third-generation AHSS, are of great interest. This study explores the impact of alloying with molybdenum on the mechanical and microstructuralMicrostructural properties of medium-manganese steels, which rely heavily on the amount and stability of retained austeniteRetained austenite. Two medium-manganese steels with 0.05 and 0.25 wt.% molybdenum were investigated. MicrostructureMicrostructure development and element distribution were extensively analyzed using Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Electron Backscattered Diffraction (EBSD) techniques. The results revealed a dual-phase microstructureMicrostructure of austenite and martensite, with Mn partitioning to austenite evident in all steels. Overall, molybdenum addition resulted in higher hardnessHardness.

Evaluation of the performanceMachine learning and accuracy of machine learningMachine learning Interatomic Potentials software packages has been hampered by the difficulty in using these packages in a simple workflow. We outline the problems we have faced and give recommendations for improving their usability. We identify the factors and metrics that need to be made clear in the provision of such software packages in the hope of setting standards for meaningful evaluations of machine learningMachine learning Interatomic PotentialsInteratomic Potentials software and present an illustrative example of such a comparison for three such packages.

The effect of applied potential on the electrodepositionElectrodeposition of Ti–Al alloysTi-Al alloys was investigated. Four different potentials (2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 V) were studied at a constant temperatureTemperature of 110 °C and a stirring speed of 120 rpm for a duration of 4 h under a vacuum atmosphere. The cathode current densityDensity during the electrolysis was recorded as a function of time. It was observed that cathode current densityDensity decreases with time due to the formation of a passivation layer. The average cathode current densityAverage cathode current density and Ti content in the Ti–Al alloysTi-Al alloys increased with increase in applied potentials. ElectrodepositionsElectrodeposition at 2.0 V and 2.5 V produced a nodular microstructureMicrostructure. At potentials of 3 V and 3.5 V, the resulting alloys exhibited a flaky structure with a 40 atom% Ti.

Mining is a fundamental economic activity in Mexico, but it generates waste known as mine tailings, which contain heavy metalsHeavy metals such as lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). If not properly treated, these metals can contaminate soils and waters. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the glycine-citrate systemGlycine-Citrate System in leaching Pb and Zn from mine tailings. Glycine and citrate form a system that enhances the extraction of these metals by keeping them in solution. The samples were characterized using ICP-MS, XRD, and SEM–EDS to determine the content and mineralogy of Pb and Zn. The concentrations of glycine and citrate were analyzed. The results showed a maximum recovery of 80% for Pb with 0.1 M glycine and 0.1 M citrate, and a recovery of 22.17% for Zn with 0.05 M glycineLead-Zinc and 0.1 M citrate, both at 4 h of reaction.

LithiumLithium is regarded as a critical raw material globally due to the expanding electric vehicle market. To meet battery supply demands, alternative lithiumLithium sources are being explored, with salt-lake brines emerging as a significant option. Electrodialysis (ED) offers a promising solution, providing high selectivity and productivity with reduced chemical reagent use and energy consumption. This study aims to evaluate the effect of common ions on lithiumLithium separation using ED with monovalent-selective cationic commercial membraneMembranes. Experiments were conducted in a 4-chamber reactor with feed solutions of equimolar chloride salts. The synthetic brine was designed to simulate brines and proof-of-concept experiments were performed. Our comprehensive investigation of various membranesMembranes also provides insights into process integration. Results from the synthetic brine experiments indicated the selectivity order as K > Na > Li >  > Mg > Ca, with the final solution showing a higher ratio of lithiumLithium to divalent ions: Li/Mg and Li/Ca ratios were 5 and 3.5, respectively.

Limited studies have reported the effect of mixing the tri-n-octylamineTri-n-octylamine (TOA) with organophosphorous extractants other than Cyanex 272 for the extraction of rare earth elementsRare earth elements (REEs). In this study, the interaction between TOA and acidic organophosphorous extractants, including D2EHPA, PC88A, and Cyanex 272 was quantitatively estimated thermodynamically when they were contacted under hydrochloric acid (HCl) system. D2EHPA showed strongest interaction with TOA, followed by PC88A, then Cyanex 272, indicating that in the D2EHPA-TOA-HCl system, free TOA was less available for the extraction of HCl compared with PC88A and Cyanex 272. The reaction between TOA and D2EHPA, PC88A, and Cyanex 272 followed aggregation formation with different number of aggregates for each.

BiomaterialBiomaterial-based separations of rare earth elementsRare earth elements (REEs) have gained significant attention over the past decade due to their high selectivity and potential for developing environmentally friendly processes. However, challenges such as high energy input and material production costs persist, impeding the development of scalable and practical applications. To address this issue, we introduce an innovative approach utilizing a thermo-responsive virus for the REE separation. Specifically, we genetically engineered the pVIII coat proteins of the Fd bacteriophageBacteriophage (phage) to express two peptides on a single phage: elastin-like peptideElastin-like peptide (ELP) and lanthanide-binding peptideLanthanide-binding peptide (LBP). This thermo-responsive lanthanide-binding phage (TR-LBPh) features ELP on the major pVIII coat protein, enabling temperatureTemperature-dependent coacervation in an aqueous solution, and LBP on recombinant pVIII coat protein, facilitating selective lanthanide binding in a pH-dependent manner. Utilizing the bifunctional characteristics of TR-LBPh, we demonstrate a selective REE recovery system through pH and temperatureTemperature modulations. This novel virus-based method holds significant potential for advancing sustainable REE recovery, offering an energy- and cost-effective solution for a largeTemperature-dependent coacervation scale.

A large volume of low-concentration molybdenum-containing wastewater was often produced during the beneficiation and metallurgical processes, which seriously endangered human health and the ecological environment. In this work, MIL-100(Fe)MIL-100(Fe) was prepared via a hydrothermal method to removeRemove Mo(VI) ionsMo(VI) ions from the simulated metallurgical waste liquidWaste liquid. The influences of solution pH and initial Mo(VI) ionsMo(VI) ions concentration on the molybdenum removal effect were systematically investigated. The mechanism of Mo(VI) ionsMo(VI) ions removal by MIL-100(Fe) was explored by Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich adsorptionAdsorption isotherm models. The results showed that the maximum adsorptionAdsorption capacity of Mo(VI) ionsMo(VI) ions by MIL-100(Fe) was 72.57 mg/g, with the adsorptionAdsorption mechanism primarily driven by monolayer chemisorption. This study provides a new perspective and technical reference for treating molybdenum-containing wastewater.

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technique was employed for structural analysis of choline chloride–urea (ChCl–2Urea) deep eutectic solvent (DES). The FTIR spectra was an overlap of structures of urea and ChCl. The bands formed at 3444 and 3347 cm−1 was broad indicating the formation of hydrogenHydrogen bonds between urea and ChCl. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tool was successfully used to obtain the electrical conductivitiesElectrical conductivity (κ) of ChCl–2Urea at different temperaturesTemperature (343–383 K). The electrical conductivityElectrical conductivity showed temperatureTemperature dependency with an increase in κ with increase in temperatureTemperature. The κ increased from 6.57 mS cm−1 at 343 K to 28.92 mS cm−1 at 383 K. Such enhancement is attributed to the weak attractive forces between the ions at higher temperaturesTemperature and decreased viscosityViscosity leading to less resistance to ions movement. The measured electrical conductivityElectrical conductivity data for ChCl–2Urea DES follows the Arrhenius law from which activation energyActivation energy (E) of conduction is determined as 4.83 ± 0.20 kJ mol−1.

The increase in demand for critical raw materials to attend the green energy sector has highlighted the challenges for the supply chain. Primary and secondary sources have been identified, and processes are being developed. However, novel techniques are necessary for the extraction of critical metals. Supported liquid membranesMembranes bring advances from membraneMembranes and solvent extractionSolvent extraction separation. The present study aims to evaluate supported liquid membranesMembranes on separating Ni-Co and La extraction. Experiments were carried out in batch and the effect of pH and time were evaluated. The effect of gradient- and electric-driven forces were compared. The effect of pH was on the solvent extractionSolvent extraction process, and the electric-driven force increased the ions fluxes but decreased selectivity. A flowchart is proposed for future studies and upscaling of the supported liquid membraneMembranes separation technique.

The extraction of lithiumLithium from lepidolite, a lithiumLithium-bearing mica mineral, is gaining importance due to the rising demand for lithiumLithium-ion batteries. This study investigates the effectiveness of direct acid leaching using hydrochloric acid (HCl) in extracting lithiumLithium from lepidolite. Various parameters including acid concentration, leaching temperatureTemperature, solid-to-liquid ratio, and leaching duration were studied to optimize lithiumLithium extraction. Experimental results for lithiumLithium extraction efficiency were: 1.0 mol/L HCl, a leaching temperatureTemperature of 75 °C, a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:10, and a leaching duration of 2 h, gave a lithiumLithium recovery rate of over 70%. CharacterizationCharacterization of the leach residue by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopyScanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed minute structural changes and mineralogical transformations. The product as characterized demonstrated that direct acid leaching with hydrochloric acid is a hardly efficient method for effective lithiumLithium extraction from a typical lepidolite, thus offering the potential for industrial raw material in lithiumLithium-ion batteries.

In the production of qualified steel, if 5–30 ppm boron is present in the product, the hardenability of the steel increases significantly by the case hardening process. This small amount of boron content reduces the austenite grain size (by preventing grain growth) and increases the matrix hardnessHardness through the precipitates formed. With the addition of boron, it is possible to obtain the desired hardnessHardness depth due to the cementation applied especially in gear parts. This result obtained in boron steels is similar to Cr, Mn, MoMo(VI) ions, Ni, etc., which are used in conditions where boron is not used. In other words, the use of boron as a microalloying element also provides cost savings. In this study, the parameters affecting the hardenability of steel by boron addition amounts in steel production using ferroboronFerroboron were investigated on the basis of chemical content, metallographic structure, and mechanical propertiesMechanical properties.

Renewable intermittent energy sources like solar and wind power are important for decarbonizing the energy sector and energy storageEnergy storage will become necessary for balancing production and demand and can also be important for load levelling purposes. Such energy storageEnergy storage should be cheap and made from readily available materials. A suggested battery technology is the all-liquid molten saltMolten salt Na-Zn battery, which is operated at 600 °C. The battery produces liquid sodiumLiquid sodium during charging. Sodium will float to the top of the electrolyte. Ceramic and glass materials which act as insulating and sealing materials tend to corrode/disintegrate in contact with liquid and/or gaseous sodiumGaseous sodium. Therefore, in this study, different ceramic and glass materials were exposed to gaseous and liquid sodiumLiquid sodium to determine their resistance to sodium integration leading to materials degradation. The samples were investigated by micro-X-ray computed tomography (µ-CT) before and after exposure. This study found that glass ceramics showed low resistance to sodium exposure, while materials such as Al2O3Al2O3 and AlN showedMicro X-ray computed tomography good resistance to sodium exposure.

Boron carbideBoron Carbide (B4C) is a material that exhibits exceptional characteristics, including low densityDensity, high melting pointMelting point, high hardnessHardness, high wear resistanceWear Resistance, high neutron absorption, and other remarkable properties that are considered a favorable material in many areas such as aerospace, military, and nuclear industry. However, B4C suffers from low densification and fracture toughness, limiting its applications. To overcome the difficulties of B4C, recent studies have proposed alternative methods like spark plasma sinteringSpark plasma sintering (SPS) and using a secondary phase as an additiveAdditives and reinforcement in the matrix. Zirconium diboride (ZrB2) and grapheneGraphene nanoplatelets (GNP) became effective materials for improving composite performance. In this regard, the present research has been carried out to investigate the effects of adding different amounts of GNP (1, 2, and 3 vol.%) into B4C-ZrB2 composites prepared by SPS. Their densification, microstructureMicrostructure, hardnessHardness, and fracture toughness were examined with the GNP addition.

In this study, the SPS conditions of Li4SiO4 powders produced by combustion synthesis were investigated. There is no study on the sinteringSintering of Li4SiO4 powders with SPS in the literature. Therefore, this study has made an innovative contribution to the literature. The combustion synthesis products were first ground by hand in an agate mortar. Then, the powders were placed in a graphite mold and pre-pressure of 10 MPa was applied with the help of an axial hydraulic press. In this way, it was aimed to obtain a compact product with a theoretical densityDensity of 100%, a diameter of 50 mm, and a thickness of 5 mm. The mold was then wrapped with a graphite blanket and placed inside the sinteringSintering chamber. All SPS experiments were conducted in a vacuum atmosphere. For each experiment, the heating rate was set at 100 °C/min and the sinteringSintering time was 5 min.

All machinery systemsNi-based superalloys areHigh-temperature alloys madeHeat treatment and service-induced aging up of several parts and each one of these parts has a certain service life. Identifying the lifetime of high-temperatureTemperature alloys is a very essential part in the functionality of mechanical turbines. These high-temperatureTemperature alloys are exposed to many stressors whether it is mechanical, thermal, etc., that degrade the quality of the material over time. Performing analytical evaluation of these alloys plays a critical role in giving us a better understanding of how these materials age over time. One of the main techniques used to perform such analytical evaluations is the pairing of SEM–EDS technologies to analyze the microstructureMicrostructure of the materials. This allows for a reasonable understanding of the phase transformationPhase transformation happening in the material. In this work, the effects of heat treatment, service effect, and aging on alloys are analyzed and studied using some of the advanced characterizationCharacterization methods. A simplified methodology of measuring the precipitate densityDensity is proposed in studying the aging properties of IN738 alloy.

In the process of steel rolling, roll wear will cause the bad shape of the strip. The hot mill adjusts the shape of the plate by moving the roll and bending the roll. Among them, the control method of the bending roll to the shape of the steel plate is limited by the rigidity of the equipment, and the control ability cannot be changed. The adjustable space of the controllable channeling roll is huge, and different degrees of channeling roll can be realized by designing the shape of the roll surface, and then the shape of the plate can be adjusted. In the process of hot rollingHot rolling production line in a steel plant, the problem of bad shape is prominent. In order to improve the bad shape of hot strip steel products, the regulation law of plate shape of the unit was studied. By collecting and analyzing the production data of a large number of strip steel with bad shape, the problems existing in the shape specification of hot rollingHot rolling units are found. Finally, the shape of the work roll of hot rollingHot rolling in the production line was optimized. Industrial tests have been carried out. The test results show that the roll profileRoll profile defect rate is reduced by 3.8% when the production line produces large beam steel through roll profile optimizationRoll profile optimization.

Database frameworks and management are critical aspects in realizing accelerated materials discovery in the era of Industry 4.0. Our Studying-polymers-on-a-chip (SPOC) platform integrates experimental automationAutomation within a direct-ink write platform to scan formulation sweeps across a solid polymer electrolyte material system with good data practices. Data is then integrated into a database where automated analysis and data processing are scripted enabling data analytics at large scale. Then the resulting datasets are further cleaned using a combination of tools and domain expertise which ensure high-quality data where meaningful insights can be derived from. The work described herein demonstratesHigh-throughput screening our approachEnergy storage towards high-throughput combinatorial screening using automation and large-scale data analytics.

Iron-silicon-aluminum soft magnetic alloy has good electrical, mechanical, and oxidation properties, and is widely used in the electromagnetic field. In this paper, Fe2O3, Al2O3,Al2O3 and SiO2SiO2 were used as raw materials to prepare Fe–Si–Al intermetallicFe–Si–Al Intermetallic compounds by molten saltMolten salt electro-deoxidation process at 800 °C in a NaCl–CaCl2 molten saltMolten salt system. The thermodynamicsThermodynamics of the reduction preparation process were calculated to determine the reaction process. The results show that Fe2O3 preferentially undergoes electrolytic deoxygenation, and the O2− produced by deoxidation spontaneously reacts with Ca2+ in molten saltMolten salt and Al2O3Al2O3 and SiO2SiO2 in the cathode to form CaAl12O19 and CaSiO3. CaSiO3 was reduced to elemental elements before CaAl12O19 and formed Fe–Si–Al intermetallic compounds with Fe.

In this study, the molten saltMolten salt method was used to separate Fe, Ti, and V from vanadium-titaniumTitanium-magnetite concentrateMagnetite concentrate in one step. Based on the characterizationCharacterization results of vanadium-titaniumTitanium-magnetite concentrateMagnetite concentrate raw materials, thermodynamicThermodynamics calculation of the reactants in the system was carried out using HSC and Factsage thermodynamicThermodynamics calculation software. The results show that Fe components in FeTiO3 and Fe2TiO5 are chemically dissolved into molten saltMolten salt, and Ti components are enriched in the anode slime. In the electrolysis process, Fe component of FeV2O4 in the anode is electrochemically dissolved, while the free O2− oxidizes V component and enters the molten saltMolten salt in the form of VO3−. Then Fe components of Fe3O4 and FeTiO3 are electrochemically dissolved into the molten saltMolten salt successively. According to the difference of reduction potential of Fe ion and VO3− in molten saltMolten salt, Fe componentVanadium Titanium-magnetite Concentrate can be selectively reduced in the cathode.

The demand for efficient and sustainable hydrogen storageHydrogen storage materials is growing as hydrogenHydrogen becomes a key player in clean energy technologies. Hence, this review explores the effect of magnesium hydride (MgH2) on the hydrogen storageHydrogen storage capabilities of high entropy alloysHigh entropy alloys (HEAs) for energy applications. MgH2 is well-known for its high hydrogenHydrogen capacity but suffers from slow kinetics and high desorption temperaturesTemperature, limiting its practical application. HEAs, with their multi-element composition and high configurational entropy, offer improved structural stability, hydrogenHydrogen diffusionDiffusion, and catalytic properties. By incorporating MgH2 into HEAs, this research shows the potential of enhancing hydrogen storageHydrogen storage performance by lowering desorption temperaturesTemperature, improving hydrogenHydrogen absorption/desorption kinetics, and increasing cycling stability. The synergistic effects between MgH2 and HEAs are critically analyzed, highlighting their potential in energy storageEnergy storage systems. The review also discusses key challenges related to material scalability, long-term stability, and cost, providing insights into future research directions for optimizing MgH2-HEA systems for hydrogen storageHydrogen storage.

HydrogenHydrogen, an abundant resource, is being affirmed to be a perfect replacement for fossil fuelsFossil fuel in the field of energy as its applications are devoid of greenhouse gas emissions. Magnesium hydride (MgH2MgH2) is a good storage material for hydrogenHydrogen but its slow desorption kinetics has been an issue. In this study, iron (II, III) oxide (Fe3O4), iron (III) oxide (Fe2O3), and iron (Fe) particles were introduced to MgH2MgH2 as additivesAdditives via high energy ball milling operated for 5 h and 300 rpm. The clustering of these fine particles into porous-like agglomerates is promoted by the milling process. In addition, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) informs that MgFe2O4 is formed after ball milling MgH2MgH2/Fe/Fe2O3/Fe3O4. The apparent activation energyActivation energy (Ea) for dehydrogenationDehydrogenation as obtained from differential calorimetry (DSC) for the milled MgH2MgH2/Fe/Fe2O3/Fe3O4 composite is 87.3 kJ/mol lower than that of as-received MgH2MgH2. Results from thermogravimetric analysis (TGATGA) show that the released hydrogenHydrogen content increases from 0.6 wt.% in as-received MgH2MgH2 to 1.8 wt.% in MgH2MgH2/Fe/Fe2O3/Fe3O4 composite. It is affirmed from temperatureTemperature programmed desorption (TPD) analysis that dehydrogenationDehydrogenation of as-received MgH2MgH2 commences from 252 °C after 19 min, while MgH2MgH2/Fe/Fe2O3/Fe3O4 composite begins to release hydrogenHydrogen from 155 °C after 7 min. In situIn situ formed Fe2O3, Fe3O4, and Fe2O3/Fe3O4 after 5 h ball milling are responsible for the hydrogenHydrogen release performances of MgH2MgH2/Fe2O3, MgH2MgH2/Fe3O4, and MgH2MgH2/Fe2O3/Fe3O4 composites. The formation of MgFe2O4 after milling Fe/Fe2O3/Fe3O4 additiveAdditives with MgH2MgH2 is responsible for its best hydrogenHydrogen release performance.

The HE effects on notch toughness propertiesIn-situ hydrogen charging of an X65 pipeline steelX65 pipeline steel (BM) and seam weldSeam weld (WM) have been investigated using Charpy impact tests with ex-situ hydrogenHydrogen pre-charging, and slow-rate three-point bend testsThree-point bend test with in-situ hydrogenHydrogen charging. HydrogenHydrogen was introduced into the steel using an electrochemical charging method and the total hydrogenHydrogen content was estimated using LECO analysis. Although the HE effect on ex-situ Charpy impact toughness was small or negligible, the in-situ slow-rate tests showed significant HE, which increased with decreasing loading rate. The BM had higher toughness but greater HE susceptibility at slow loading rate than the WM for the X65 pipe. The results demonstrated that (i) the Charpy testCharpy test is ineffective for qualifying HE of steels and welds, and (ii) the three-point bend test at a slow deformation rate with in-situ hydrogenHydrogen charging is an effective method to examine the hydrogenHydrogen effects on the fracture properties.

Composite metal foamsComposite Metal Foam (CMF) are promising for applications requiring lightweight materials with high strength and impact resistance, such as aerospace, automotive, and military systems. While the mechanical propertiesMechanical properties of CMFs at room temperatureTemperature are well-documented, their behavior under elevated temperaturesTemperature remains relatively unexplored. This study delves into the mechanical performance of CMFs at temperaturesTemperature ranging from 25 to 800 °C through quasi-static compression tests and in-situ scanning electron microscopyScanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The CMFs were fabricated using hollow stainless steel spheres embedded in a 316L316L stainless steelStainless steel matrix created via powder metallurgy. The results reveal a stable mechanical performance at room temperatureTemperature, with a gradual degradation and early plastic deformation at intermediate temperaturesTemperature (400 and 600 °C) due to thermal softening. At higher temperaturesTemperature (700 and 800 °C), CMFs exhibit failure driven by grain boundary void formation and oxidation. However, despite these challenges, CMF retains a significant capacity for energy absorptionEnergy absorption even at elevated temperaturesTemperature. This underscores their potential in applications that require controlled deformation and energy dissipation under high-temperatureTemperature conditions.

Further improving the comprehensive mechanical propertiesMechanical properties of pipeline steelPipeline steel plays an important role in the construction of pipeline projects, especially under the development trend of large-diameter and high-pressure transmission. In this study, API 5LB pipeline steelPipeline steel has been deep cryogenic treatmentDeep cryogenic treatment (DCT) after traditional hot-rolling process, and the effect of treatment on mechanical propertiesMechanical properties and microstructureMicrostructure were investigated by tensile testTensile test and microstructureMicrostructure inspection. The results show that the DCT can comprehensively improve the strength and plasticity, especially the plasticity. After DCT for 12 h, the yield strength, tensile strength, and total elongation were increased by 4.9%, 4.2%, and 18.7%, respectively. The grain size was gradually refined with the increase of treatment time, which the average grain size was reduced from 15.36 μm to 9.56 μm, with a reduction of 37.76% after DCT for 12 h. The grain refinementGrain refinement after DCT is the main reason for the improvement of the strength and plasticity.

This study investigates the influence of adding a cold wire during gas metal arc welding (CW-GMAW) for repair of S275JR structural steel. The research is aimed at improving repair productivity through increased deposition rates with enhanced performance. During weld repair, multiple passes induce large number of thermal cycles and a huge thermal gradient on the material which has an adverse effect on the material’s properties. This is largely due to the microstructuralMicrostructural changes that occur during the process. In this work, a systematic approach has been adopted to explore the effects of varying gas metal arc welding (GMAW) parameters, including wire feed rate, welding currentWelding current, voltage, travel speed, and specifically cold-wire feed speed on the heat affected zone (HAZ) microstructureMicrostructure and hardnessHardness. Macrostructural examination highlights significant alterations in the heat affected zone (HAZ) region, with marked microhardnessMicrohardness changes in both WM and HAZ. Cold-wire addition led to a reduction in the HAZ area, depth of weld metal penetration, and significantly reduced the impact of imposing thermal cycles on the HAZ of the welded samples. Additionally, microstructuralMicrostructural analysis was conducted using a standard optical microscope to correlate the observed hardnessHardness variations with microstructuralMicrostructural transformations in the weld metal and heat affected zone (HAZ). The findings reveal that specific combinations of CW-GMAW parameters can significantly influence the microstructureMicrostructure and thereby hardnessHardness, suggesting that with careful control of these parameters, it would be possible to do faster repair with minimal lossCold-wire Gas Metal Arc Welding (CW-GMAW) of integrity for critical structural steels.

This study explored the impact of post-printing parameters in stereolithography (SLA) technology, particularly focusing on how photopolymerization affected the mechanical propertiesMechanical properties of samples. Building on previous research, the investigation revealed that different curing temperaturesTemperature significantly influenced the rigidity and stiffness of the printed samples. The mechanical propertiesMechanical properties of the samples were evaluated through three-point bending tests. Curing at 60 °C left some polymer chains uncured, resulting in less rigid samples but increased load capacity (up to 30 ± 2.4 N) and deflection (2.9 ± 0.6 mm). On the other hand, curing at 70 °C enhanced the rigidity and stiffness, especially for larger samples. The results demonstrated that photopolymerization and the resulting polymer chain cross-linking are crucial for achieving the desired mechanical propertiesMechanical properties. Notably, as the diameter of the samples decreased, the difference in stiffness between the 60 and 70 °C cured samples also reduced. The findings highlight the importance of optimizing curing temperaturesTemperature to tailor the mechanical performance of SLA-printed components for specific applications.

Duplex stainless steelsDuplex stainless steels are renowned for their excellent corrosionCorrosion resistance and high strength. However, during welding, the microstructuralMicrostructural morphologyMorphologies and phase transformationPhase transformation remain crucial concerns, particularly regarding the significant impact of WidmanstättenWidmanstätten austenite precipitation on performance. In this study, the WidmanstättenWidmanstätten austenite of different steel grades was classified under different laser beam weldingLaser beam welding conditions, and a serial sectioning method was used toJoining reconstruct the 3D modeling of the WidmanstättenWidmanstätten austenite microstructureMicrostructure. It clarified the differences of the WidmanstättenWidmanstätten austenite in welds based on nitrogen contentNitrogen content and different welding conditions. Furthermore, in contrast to 2D, 3D observations better reveal the morphological and arrangement variations of WidmanstättenWidmanstätten austenite within the same region across different cross-sections. In 3D observations, most of the WidmanstättenWidmanstätten austenite appeared connected, while in 2D observations, they seemed to be separated. By comparing, it was also demonstrated that a specific relationship exists between the granular austenite within ferrite grains and the precipitated WidmanstättenWidmanstätten austenite at the grain boundaries.

Vanadium titano-magnetiteMagnetite has become an increasingly important iron ore resource in the world. While the strength and reducibility of iron sinterSinter for blast furnace ironmaking became worse when the vanadium titano-magnetiteMagnetite was introduced. In this study, the formation behaviorFormation behavior of calcium ferrite containing TiO2TiO2 in sinteringSintering of iron ore fines was investigated through the reaction experiments and TG-DSC methods. Based on the experiment results, it was found when the TiO2TiO2 was introduced into CaO-Fe2O3 system, a calcium ferrite containing TiO2TiO2 was formed, where the chemical composition and melting pointMelting point of this calcium ferrite could be confirmed as Ca3TiFe2O8 and 1353 ℃. Furthermore, the formation mechanism of Ca3TiFe2O8 was realized, where the CaO was firstly reacted with TiO2TiO2 or Fe2O3 to form CaTiO3 and Ca2Fe2O5, and then the CaTiO3 and Ca2Fe2O5 reacted to form Ca3TiFe2O8. The results were beneficial for promotion the liquid phase formationPhase formation in iron sinterSinter containing TiO2TiO2.

In the continuous castingContinuous casting of crackCrack-sensitive steel, high-basicity mold flux faces the dilemma between lubrication and heat control. Soret effectSoret effect is at a 700 °C temperatureTemperature gradient between the mold and the shell. It causes element differentiation of the slag film and changes the crystallizationCrystallization direction, potentially solving the contradictory problems. This study used DHTT to simulate the above thermal environment and combined SEM and EMPA to investigate the effect of Al2O3Al2O3 on the crystallizationCrystallization behavior of slag film. The results showed that without Al2O3Al2O3, 3CaO·2SiO2·CaF23CaO·2SiO2·CaF2 precipitates near the solidificationSolidification line. Adding 3 wt% Al2O3Al2O3 caused Na and Si elements to migrate to the low-temperatureTemperature end, promoting Na2O·Al2O3Al2O3·2SiO2 and 3CaO·2SiO2·CaF23CaO·2SiO2·CaF2 growth from low to high temperaturesHigh temperature. The fluctuations of Na, Al, and Si elements are consistent. This indicates that Al2O3Al2O3 is the network former ([AlO4]−), which connects with Na and SiO3− chain to precipitate Na2O·Al2O3Al2O3·2SiO2.

A perturbationPerturbation solution for the one-dimensional Cahn–Hilliard (CH) equation is attempted. The CH equation describes phase separation in binary mixtures with miscibility gaps. To tackle this nonlinear partial differential equation, small perturbationPerturbation expansions are employed. We derive the governing equations for each order of approximation by recursive methods The leading-order equation is nonlinear, while the first-order and second-order corrections result in linear equations dependent on the lower-order solutions. The solutions are obtained iteratively, from the leading order, and incorporating boundary conditions to ensure physical consistency. This perturbationPerturbation approach provides an approximate analytical framework for understanding the dynamics of the CH equation under small perturbationsPerturbation, offering insights into the behavior of phase separation and pattern formation in binary mixtures. The method demonstrates the power of perturbative techniques in handling complex nonlinear systems, making it a valuable tool for theoretical and applied studies in materials science and related fields.

In the quest for innovative materials for technological applications, this study investigates the phase equilibrium in the ternary system Sc2O3-TiO2TiO2-Fe2O3 at 1300 °C in air. Using the quenching method and powder X-ray diffractometry, we identified stable phases at this temperatureTemperature. The binary phases Fe2TiO5, Sc2TiO5, and Sc4Ti3O12 are stable within the system. In the Fe2O3-Sc2O3 binary system, terminal solid solutionsSolid solutions with C-type cubic structure (Sc2-2xFe2xO3, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.57) and hematite-type hexagonal structure (Fe2-2xSc2xO3, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.23) were observed. A solid solutionSolid solutions with the formula Sc2-2xFe2xTiO5 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) and pseudobrookite-type structure exists along the Sc2TiO5-Fe2TiO5 phase junction, with latticeLattice parameters conforming to Vegard's law. Additionally, the ternary system Sc2O3-TiO2TiO2-Fe2O3 features solid solutionsSolid solutions with cubic C-type, hexagonal hematite-type, and orthorhombic pseudobrookite-type structures.

In this study, the effect of liquid phase flow on the morphologyMorphologies of real solidification structureSolidification structure during the solidificationSolidification process of the steel was studied by comparing the actual continuous castingContinuous casting billet with theThermal simulation thermal simulationSimulation sample structure of confocal laser scanning microscopy. The results show that the secondary dendrite arm spacing and fractal dimension of the solidification structure under continuous castingContinuous casting conditions are larger due to the existence of liquid phase flow. The positive changes of dendrite spacing and fractal dimension under liquid phase flow have an opposite effect on permeability, but in general, the permeabilityPermeability of the solidificationSolidification structure obtained by the continuous casting process is larger. The influence of liquid phase flow can be reduced by reducing the dendrite arm spacing and increasing the fractal dimension. Moreover, increasing the cooling rateCooling Rate within a certain range can simultaneously reduce the dendrite arm spacing and increase the fractal dimension.

MorphologyMorphologies, spatial distribution, and elemental distribution of both “void” defects in slabs and banded structureBanded structure defects in hot-rolled coils were characterized. The results suggest that “void” defects\"Void\" defects appear at the center of the slab thickness, with the most severe instances at the 1/4 width position, resembling the distribution of coarse banded structuresBanded structure in hot-rolled coils. The significant segregationSegregation of C, Mn, and Nb appears in both “void” and coarse banded structuresBanded structure. A clear correlation between the two phenomena is indicated by the statistical analysis of industrial production. The banded structureBanded structure can be indirectly assessed through the observation of the size and quantity of void in slabs, which can be combined with metallographic statistics for a more accurate evaluation of product quality. Furthermore, banded structuresBanded structure can be diminished by addressing the “void” defects in slabs. In summary, this paper presents a novel method to evaluate and control the banded structuresBanded structure.

The decomposition of austenite in an experimental UHSS Cr-MoMo(VI) ions-V was analyzed by dilatometric analysis and continuous and controlled cooling conditions at different rates: 0.016, 0.083, 0.250, and 0.416 °C s−1. During the analysis, it was observed that exists two behaviors during the decomposition of austenite depending on the cooling rateCooling Rate; at a very low rate (0.016–0.083 °C s−1), the decomposition of austenite occurs in two stages of transformation, and with a low rate (0.250–0.416 °C s−1), decomposition occurs in a single transformation stage. The phases associated with a very low cooling rateCooling Rate were ferrite and bainite, and the phase associated with a low cooling rateCooling Rate was bainite. From the dilatometric analysis, the critical austenite decompositionAustenite Decomposition temperaturesTemperature were determined by $$A{r}_{3}$$ A r 3 , $${B}_{s}$$ B s , and $${B}_{f}$$ B f , and the continuous cooling transformation diagram was constructed, indicating the corresponding phase fields during the austenite decompositionAustenite Decomposition stage. Finally, the microstructureMicrostructure was analyzed by optical microscopy, relating to measurements of Vickers microhardnessMicrohardness dependent on the cooling rateCooling Rate, observing an increase in microhardnessMicrohardness with increasing cooling rateCooling Rate.

The Ti–5Al–5Mo–5V–3Cr alloy (Ti-5553Ti-5553) is a near-β titanium alloyTitanium alloy known for its remarkable combination of strength, toughness, and lightweight properties, making it an ideal choice for producing intricate structural components via additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing (AM) techniques. Despite the advantages of AM, post-machining, such as drillingDrilling, is required to achieve tight tolerances and smooth surface finishes in critical parts like load-bearing fuselage components and landing gear in aircraft. However, the unique machinabilityMachinability characteristics of AM-produced parts pose challenges in the manufacturing process. In this study, Ti-5553 samples were fabricated using laser powder bed fusionLaser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), and holes were machined under varying drillingDrilling parameters. The machined surfaces and subsurfaces were characterized in terms of microstructureMicrostructure, surface defects, morphologyMorphologies, and roughness. This research highlights the manufacturability of LPBF-built Ti-5553Ti-5553 parts and elucidates the effect of drillingDrilling parameters on surface integritySurface integrity, contributing to the optimizationOptimizations of manufacturing processes.

This study presents a new isotropic model capable of capturing the sinteringSintering kinetics of a 316L316L stainless steelStainless steel binder jettingBinder Jetting part for a wide range of temperaturesTemperature (1250–1390 °C). The model accounts for the two major sintering mechanismsSintering mechanisms, surface and volume diffusionDiffusion. A new sigmoidal function is introduced to account for the transitions between the different sintering mechanismsSintering mechanisms. The model was able to predict the sintered relative densityRelative density with a maximum error of 2.40% for sintering temperaturesSintering temperature equal to or above 1250 °C. Below 1250 °C, the simulated final densityDensity begins to deviate from experimental results more significantly. The model produces an error of 26.94% when the isothermal sintering temperatureSintering temperature is 1100 °C. This shows that a third sinteringSintering regime is required to accurately predict the sinteringSintering of 316L316L BJ parts below 1250 °C.

Steel slagSteel slag contains Fe, Al, Si, and other valuable metals. It has complex mineral phase and large stock, resource utilization of steel slagSteel slag is urgent. In order to realize high value utilization of steel slagSteel slag, an idea of preparing Fe-Al-Si alloy from steel slagSteel slag in NaCl-KCl by molten salt electrolysisMolten salt electrolysis was proposed. The thermodynamicThermodynamics behavior of steel slagSteel slag in the process of molten salt electrolysisMolten salt electrolysis was analyzed theoretically. The results showed that molten saltMolten salt could not react with steel slagSteel slag in the absence of electricity. In the process of electrification, the reduction sequence of main elements in steel slagSteel slag was Fe, Si, and Al. Some by-products of potassium aluminate, sodium aluminate, sodium silicate, and potassium silicate were produced during electrolytic process. It was determined that the voltage range of the electrolytic process at 700–900 °C was − $$257\,\text{to}\,{-}3.37\,{\text{V}}$$ 257 to - 3.37 V . Under the above thermodynamicThermodynamics conditions, the alloy phases prepared by electrolysis of steel slagSteel slag were Fe3Si and Fe3SixAl1−x theoretically.

We compared the electronic heat capacity and thermal conductivityThermal conductivity of non-magnetic UNUN and ThNThN. We used Quantum EspressoQuantum ESPRESSO and EPWEPW codes to evaluate the electron densityDensity of states, the electronic heat capacity coefficient, and the electronic heat conductivity. These metallic fuels also have high U/Th densityDensity and therefore are more economical since enrichment is expensive. To examine swellingSwelling (2 × 2 × 2), supercells were used with one He or Xe atom incorporated in one interstitial (tetrahedral for UN and ThNThN, octahedral sites in UO2). We evaluated that UN had 42% more U atoms per unit volume than UO2 and a 55% higher volume increase when accommodating one Xe atom in one interstitial. However, for He volume increase was lower by 27%. Interestingly, even though the Th atoms’ densityDensity in ThNThN was lower than that of U atoms in the UN compound, a similar trend was found in volume increase when incorporating Xe atoms We concluded that for swellingSwelling, the local structural symmetry (tetrahedral versus octahedral sites) was more important than the densityDensity of atoms.

Composite metal foamComposite Metal Foam (CMF) is a novelSolid-state bonding material consisting of hollow metal spheres embedded in a metallic matrix manufactured using a powder metallurgy technique. CMF displayed excellent mechanical and thermal performances making it ideal in protecting passengers and hazardous cargo. However, joiningJoining processes are necessary for large-scale application of CMF. Our prior investigations verified the suitability of induction welding for joiningJoining steel CMF up to 2.5 cm thick, leaving room to investigate alternative solid-state joiningJoining methods for higher thicknesses. This study applies diffusionDiffusion bonding to varying thicknesses of steel CMF panels. A combination of tensile testing and scanning electron microscopyScanning electron microscopy of the heat-affected zone and fracture surfaces granted insight on the effects of material parameters (e.g., workpiece thickness, panel densityDensity, powder specification, and sphere properties) on the applicability of diffusionDiffusion bonding in joiningJoining of stainless steel CMF.

Quantitative comparison of hydrogen embrittlementHydrogen embrittlement sensitivity between different pipeline steelPipeline steel types is an important basis for hydrogenHydrogen pipeline material selection. In this work, the hydrogen embrittlementHydrogen embrittlement susceptibility of two typical pipeline steelsPipeline steel has been quantitatively investigated by microstructureMicrostructure characterizationCharacterization, hydrogenHydrogen penetration experiments, and slow strain rate tensileSlow strain rate tensile tests. The results show that X80 is dominated by needle-fine shaped ferrite, while 5LB has coarse ferrite and pearlite composition. The hydrogenHydrogen diffusionDiffusion coefficients of 5LB and X80 are 1.67 × 10−5cm2·s−1 and 5.29 × 10–6 cm2·s−1, respectively. The equations of hydrogenHydrogen concentration and hydrogenHydrogen charging time in 5LB and X80 steels are 1.8t0.43 and 2.7t0.26, respectively. When the hydrogenHydrogen concentration is 2.6 μmol·cm−3, the hydrogen embrittlementHydrogen embrittlement index of 5LB and X80 are 4.7% and 15.5%, respectively. The differences in hydrogenHydrogen diffusionDiffusion coefficient and internal hydrogenHydrogen concentration due to microstructureMicrostructure are the key factors for the different hydrogen embrittlementHydrogen embrittlement susceptibility of the two pipeline steelsPipeline steel.

The cooling staveCooling stave faces extreme environmentsExtreme environments such as high temperatureHigh temperature, high pressure, and wear, and its lifetime directly affects the stability of the blast furnace. Through the research of 141 offline cooling stavesCooling stave in the 5500 m3 blast furnace, the damage characteristicDamage characteristic and failure mechanismFailure mechanism of cooling staveCooling stave were analyzed and suggestions were proposed for the longevity of the cooling stavesCooling stave. Statistics and analysis were conducted from the perspectives of lifetime, morphologyMorphologies, thickness, and deflection. The damage to the cooling staveCooling stave presents a concentrated and longitudinally connected characteristic. It was found that the failure of cooling stavesCooling stave is mainly caused by the combined effects of wear and high-temperatureTemperature stress corrosionCorrosion, and especially when the water channels are damaged and the cooling is insufficient, the cooling stavesCooling stave will accelerate damage. The protective refractory materials on surface can effectively delay the failure of cooling stavesCooling stave.

The chemical composition, macroPhysical-mechanical properties-, and microstructureMicrostructure of the experimental heat-resistant cast alloy have been studied. A fractographic study of the samples fracture structure was carried out. The modifying effect of titanium carbonitrideTitanium carbonitride ultrafine powderUltrafine powder on the dendritic structure, distribution, and change in the morphologyMorphologies of primary carbides, the number, and distribution of carbonitride particles has been established. It is shown that the use of ultrafine titanium carbonitrideTitanium carbonitride powders for modificationModification of the heat-resistant nickelNickel alloy ЖС3ДК-ВІ makes it possible to increase the mechanical and heat-resistant propertiesHeat-Resistant Properties of the material. Increasing of the modifier amount promotes grain refinementGrain refinement. More stable properties and favorable structure are provided by melt modificationModification with ultrafine Ti(C, N) particles in the form of briquettesBriquette. It was found that modificationModification with Ti(C, N) powder leads to a decrease in the impact toughness values due to the formation of boundary microporosity.

Fe–Ti–V alloysFe-Ti-V alloys are widely used in aerospace, chemical, and other fields due to their high strength and good corrosionCorrosion resistance. The study uses vanadium titaniumTitanium magnetite concentrateMagnetite concentrate as raw material and conducts thermodynamic analysisThermodynamic analysis on the preparation of Fe–Ti–V alloysFe-Ti-V alloys by molten saltMolten salt electro-deoxidation process in a temperatureTemperature range of 600–1000 ℃. The results indicate that Fe component in Fe2TiO5, Fe3O4, and FeV2O4 is preferentially reduced to elemental iron. After the reduction of Fe component in FeV2O4, the reduction of V component occurs (V2O3 → VO → V). Before 790 ℃, the Fe component of FeTiO3 is preferentially reduced to elemental iron compared to Ti component. At 790–1000 ℃, Ti component undergoes the first step of reduction (FeTiO3 → Ti3O5), followed by a stepwise reduction reaction of FeO and Ti components (Ti3O5 → Ti2O3 → TiO2TiO2 → Ti), ultimately forming Fe–Ti–V alloysFe-Ti-V alloys.

Fe-V alloysFe-V alloys are widely used in the metallurgical industry because of their excellent mechanical propertiesMechanical properties. As a green and short process preparation process, molten saltMolten salt electro-deoxidation can be used for simple and efficient preparation of simple substances and alloys.In this study, Fe3O4 and V2O5 were used as raw materials. In a temperatureTemperature range of 600 ~1000 ℃, the thermodynamic analysisThermodynamic analysis of Fe-V alloysFe-V alloys prepared by electro-deoxidation process of molten saltMolten salt was carried out to clarify the reaction process. The results show that Fe3O4 and V2O5 are reduced step by step to produce Fe and V. With the progressive reduction of V2O5, the removed O2− will affect the remaining V2O5 that is not completely reduced, and react with Ca2+ in molten saltMolten salt to produce CaV2O6. Therefore, the reduction process of V component goes through CaV2O6/V2O5 → VO2 → V2O3. The subsequent processMolten salt electro-deoxidation process is CaFe3O5/Fe3O4 → FeO → Fe, and the final process is V2O3 → VO → V, finally forming Fe-V alloys.

The property profile of modern alloys is determined by their microstructureMicrostructure, based on the chemical composition; the morphologyMorphologies, distribution and quantity of the phases; and the process history of the material. Melting, casting, and solidificationSolidification are the starting points in classical alloy production. At known composition, phase diagramsPhase diagram can help to predict the phases present as a function of temperatureTemperature under equilibrium conditions. However, during melting, alloying, casting, and solidificationSolidification, equilibrium conditions are rarely encountered. Similar can be said about heat treatments and wrought processing. It can therefore be helpful to take a closer look at these dynamic processes to optimize processing steps and properties. In situIn situ investigations using synchrotron radiation focusing on the solidificationSolidification behavior of magnesium alloys clearly show the influence of solidificationSolidification parameters on the formation and transformation of stable and metastable phases. This information can contribute to validate and/or to improve phase diagramsPhase diagram and suited predictions.

Improving the performance of the mold coatingsMold coating is of great significance to extend the service life of the mold. This study examines the microstructureMicrostructure and hardnessHardness of coatings after different cryogenic holding timesCryogenic holding time. The results show that the grain structure of the Ni-Co-Cr ternary alloy coatings remains unchanged after deep cryogenic treatmentDeep cryogenic treatment, no new phase is formed, and the grain size is significantly refined. In addition, the deep cryogenic treatmentDeep cryogenic treatment makes the particles on the surface of the coatings more compact and evenly distributed, so that its hardnessHardness is significantly increased. The study found that the hardnessHardness of the coatings increased by 12.8% after deep cryogenic treatmentDeep cryogenic treatment for 24 h, respectively, compared with that before deep cryogenic treatmentDeep cryogenic treatment. At the same time, the effect of cryogenic treatmentCryogenic Treatment on the wear resistanceWear Resistance of the coatings was explored. This study provides a new method for further improving the performance of mold coatingsMold coating.

The extrusionExtrusion of delicate products, such as aluminum power bonding wires or bioresorbable stents made of magnesium, places challenging demands on the properties of the extrusionExtrusion dies. Very low tolerances in dimensional accuracy and surface quality necessitate suppression of die wear and adhesion effects. In the present study, the effect of Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition diamond coatings on the friction and adhesion was investigated by means of a high temperatureHigh temperature, high speed friction test for extrusionExtrusion. Several diamond coatings were deposited by Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition on a WC–Co alloy containing 6% cobaltCobalt. Using specimen made of aluminum alloy EN-AW1080A and magnesium alloy ZME211, friction and adhesion tests were performed at multiple temperaturesTemperature and normal pressuresNormal pressure typical for the extrusionExtrusion process. The evaluation of the test data obtained indicates that the diamond coating has only a very minor influence on the frictional behavior of the alloys tested. Likewise, no systematic effect on the adhesion behavior was found.

The work herein discusses low-cost chemical depositionChemical deposition techniques developed and adapted for thin filmThin films photovoltaicPhotovoltaics applications. This discussion will report on the adapted technology, experimental designs, and the parametric trends observed while depositing Al-doped zinc oxide, and modificationsModification to other types of thin filmsThin films for various applications. This research gives rise to alternative processing techniques and materials in the solar and battery sectors. The need for cost-effective, efficient, and reliable photovoltaicPhotovoltaics technology has been growing rapidly over the past decade. Commonly used materials for PV thin-film materials are such as cadmium telluride and indium tin oxide. However, these materials have several drawbacks, such as their high raw material and manufacturing costs, emissions, and short deposition rates. To supplement these issues, AZO is being studied as an alternative to current technology. The proposed processing method in this effort is a hybrid technique, utilizing chemical bath deposition and spin-coating.

Liquid metal embrittlementLiquid metal embrittlement (LME) is a common problem that possibly occurred in the resistance spot weldingResistance spot welding (RSW) process of the galvanized advanced high-strength steelsAdvanced high strength steel (AHSSsAHSSs). QP980 steel is widely used attributing to its excellent mechanical propertyMechanical properties. However, LME also becomes a challenge for the Zn-coated QP980 steel during the RSW process. The formation of LME cracksCrack can greatly decrease the mechanical propertyMechanical properties of the welded joint. Generally, the chemical composition of the AHSS is considered to be one of the important factors to affect the LME susceptibility. In the present study, the LME susceptibility of the RSW galvanized QP980 steels with various Si contentSi content was comparatively investigated. The results revealed that more severe LME cracksCrack could be observed in both the specimens with increasing the welding currentWelding current. In particular, the length of LME cracksCrack in the specimen with 0.849 wt% Si was much shorter than those of the specimen with 1.79 wt% Si. The comparative results reflected that lower LME susceptibility could be anticipated in the galvanized QP980 steel by reducing the Si contentSi content.

Precise control of steel solidificationSolidification rate inside a continuous caster is crucial in ensuring excellent slab cast quality, especially with various steel grades produced. A caster operator must adjust casting conditions like steel superheat temperatureTemperature and spray coolingSpray cooling ratesCooling Rate to maintain consistency in the slab quality. Thus, a tool that accurately predicts the casting conditions and can provide necessary adjustments is valuable to the operator. A comprehensive computational fluid dynamics multiphase model of the continuous caster has been developed. The shell thickness in the caster mold predicted by the CFD model shows good agreement with the experimental results. However, the CFD model is not practical and user-friendly for plant operation use. To address this, an interactive software tool based on CFD simulationSimulation results has been developed. The interactive software predicts solidificationSolidification steel temperatureTemperature and solidificationSolidification in the caster, but it is currently limited to specific casting conditions and steel compositions.

Edge longitudinal cracksEdge longitudinal crack are common defects in the hot rollingHot rolling process of thin slabsThin slab, which are difficult to removeRemove by surface cleaning, and will reduce the yield of plate. Folding of the edges was usually caused by the combined action of the vertical and horizontal rollers. To investigate the evolution of crackCrack and edge during thin slabThin slab reciprocating longitudinal rollingLongitudinal rolling process, the physical model of slab rolling process was developed. The shape of the edge of the intermediate slab was investigated. The extension of crackCrack particles prefabricated 2, 3, 5, and 10 mm below the slab surface was also discussed. Research shows that under the combined action of horizontal and vertical rollers, the width and thickness of the plate are decreased. Material within 5 mm of the narrow side corners will extend to the wide side of plate, and folding is found in the newly generated corners. After finish rolling, cracksCrack within 3 mm below the slab surface will extend to 0.15 mm below the plate surface and 0.04 mm at corners. These cracksCrack may be removed by surface cleaning. Deeper cracksCrack will not be removed, although the depth from the surface is reduced.

A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model has been developed to investigate the fluid dynamic behavior inside a continuous castingContinuous casting mold to identify and characterize oscillations in the discharge jets and free surface oscillations. The model incorporates the interaction of the multiphase flow of steel-slag-air. The turbulence model used is the k-ɛ model, and a volume of fluid (VOF) multiphase model is employed to capture the flow dynamics inside the mold, surface oscillations, and slag layer protection. Velocity fields, turbulent kinetic energy, turbulent kinetic energy dissipation, and dynamic pressure were obtained to characterize the flow. The flow exhibits four large recirculation zones inside the mold, each with different dimensions and positions, resulting in a non-symmetric flow field at all times during the calculations. High percentages of backflowBackflow were observed at different calculation times within the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) discharge ports, along with the presence of vortices within the pool and throughout the SEN tip volume, indicating inefficient use of the discharge ports. Regarding free surface oscillations, the level tends to oscillate in the form of small sinusoidal waves with short wavelengths.

A physical-based model for simulations of microstructure evolution during hot rolling of various steel grades has been developed consisting of two coupled modules. In the first one the finite element method is used to obtain macroscale thermomechanical parameters that include temperature, strain, and strain rate at selected locations on cross-section of hot rolled plates that are the input parameters for the microstructure model the is based on the mean-field approach considering the evolution of an ensemble of multiple grains. The strain hardening and DRV of grains have been described by the KM model. The model enables simulations of DRX during plastic deformation and SRX and/or MDRX and GG after straining. Experiments composed of compression tests were performed to obtain parameters of the model. In this contribution, we present the results of model validation on industrially hot rolled AISI316L stainless steel plates, based on extensive industrial measurements and microstructural characterizations.

Novel materials like composite metal foamsComposite Metal Foam (CMF) can provide high strength-to-densityDensity ratio and enhanced energy absorptionEnergy absorption capabilities to mitigate puncture and bolster structural integrity of HAZMATHAZMAT tank cars during potential derailments. This work summarizes quasi-static numerical model of multi-phase steel-steel CMF, incorporating interactions between embedded hollow metal spheres with entrapped fluid (air) within a metallic matrix, and provides a glimpse of the extension of this approach to dynamic impact scenarios in future works. The metallic components and the air trapped within spheres are modeled using solid Lagrangian elements and smooth particle hydrodynamicsSmooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), respectively and the fluid–solid interactions are implemented using contact definitions. The numerical model for quasi-static compression reports an average percentage error of 2.2% for plateau region and a percentage error of 5.9% for densification strain when compared with experimentally obtained data.