3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Corrosion and other properties comparison of AISI 316L stainless steel surface alloyed with Ru/Ni mixtures with the parent metal and with Hastelloy© C-276(2016) Lekala, Makgale BarclaysThe surfaces of AISI 316L stainless steel plate were laser alloyed with ruthenium powder as well as a mixture of ruthenium and nickel powders using a Nd:YAG laser set at fixed operating parameters. The microstructure, elemental composition, and corrosion characteristics of the alloyed zone were analysed using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and corrosion potential measurements. EDS analysis of the alloyed specimen showed that through the laser surface alloying, 2 mm surface layers with 12.5wt % Ru and 5.2wt% Ru were produced on an AISI 316L stainless steel. Similar microstructures which were dendritic and columnar grains, typical of weld beads under non-equilibrium cooling conditions were observed for all samples. Hardness profile measurements showed a significant increase from 160 HV for the substrate to a maximum of 247 HV for the alloyed layer. Using an Autolab potentiostat, the corrosion behaviour and resistance of the laser alloyed layers, substrate AISI 316L, and Hastelloy© C-276 were evaluated and compared in sulphuric acid solution of different concentration and temperatures. The Hastelloy© C-276, followed by the 12.5wt% Ru presented the most noble corrosion potential (Ecorr) and the lowest corrosion current density (icorr). However, in 60wt% H2SO4 and 40oC, the 5.22 wt% Ru alloys exhibited slightly better anticorrosive properties than 12.5wt% Ru. The observed corrosion potential, Ecorr, for untreated AISI 316L stainless steel sample in 40wt% sulphuric acid solution at 40oC was -277 mV. The 5.22 wt% Ru and 12.5wt% Ru alloyed stainless steel samples presented -240 mV, and 61 mV respectively in the same solution. Besides showing comparable performance to 5.2wt%Ru sample within specific short potential ranges, Hastelloy© C-276 was generally superior in all solutions. In addition it was found that the stability of the passive layer was improved with additions of Ru. Based on the developed costing equation the cost of 5 mm AISI 316L stainless steel plate with surface area (A = 1 m2) surface alloyed with 5.2wt% Ru to a depth of 2 mm using Nd: YAG laser is estimated at R15 989, and it is less than the cost of a Hastelloy© C-276 plate of similar size which is estimated at R19 900. As the material thickness increases, the cost benefit of laser surface treatment increases and vice versa. Reduction of the Ru additions to levels below 5.2wt% would improve cost competition without detracting from performance.Item Constitution of the Pt-Cr-Nb system(2009-11-06T12:48:27Z) Mulaudzi, Fulufhelo Marandela LloydSuperalloys based on platinum-group metals (PGMs) are being developed for high temperature applications. Currently, the optimum alloy is Pt84:Al11:Ru2:Cr3, and work is ongoing. Niobium is a possible addition to increase the melting point, but limited phase diagram data are available. Although work has been done on the Pt-Al-Nb system, there are no reported data for Pt-Cr-Nb. This is a study of the Pt-Cr-Nb system. As-cast samples of the Pt-Cr-Nb ternary system were investigated using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The results were used to plot a solidification projection and all binary phases extended into the ternary, except for α´Pt, which was not identified in this investigation. The extensions of the binary phases were: (Cr) ~2 at.% Nb; (Pt) ~24 at.% Nb and 65 at.% Cr; (Nb): ~12 at.% Pt and ~17 at.% Cr; ~NbPt2: ~20 at.% Cr; ~NbCr2: ~18 at.% Pt; ~Cr3Pt: ~10 at.% Nb; ~βNbPt3: ~4 at.% Cr and ~Nb1-XPt1+X: ~13 at.% Cr. Five ternary phases were identified: τ1:~Nb17:Cr64:Pt19; τ2:~Nb28:Cr55:Pt17; τ3:~Nb30:Cr30:Pt40; τ4:~Nb45:Cr27:Pt28 and τ5:~Nb40:Cr18:Pt42. The liquidus surface was derived using the binary phase diagrams, identified primary phases, solidification sequences and the solidification projection, together with the eutectic compositions. Nineteen ternary invariant reactions were identified. Hardness measurements were made on all samples, and also toughness and fracture toughness were deduced. Alloys with (Pt) and ~NbPt2 were ductile with reasonable hardness. Alloys containing (Cr), (Nb), ~Cr3Pt, ~NbCr2, ~Nb3Pt and ~Nb2Pt were extremely brittle with cracks, whereas alloys containing ~βNbPt3 and ~Nb1-XPt1+X phases were slightly brittle.