The method of inclusion of various additives into a polymer depends highly on the material in question and the desired effect. In the case of this paper, nitride salts were introduced into polyvinylidene fluoride fibers prepared by electrospinning. The resulting changes in the structural, chemical and electrical properties of the samples were observed and compared using SEM-EDX, DSC, XPS, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy and electrical measurements. The observed results displayed a grouping of parameters by electronegativity and possibly the molecular mass of the additive salts. We virtually demonstrated elimination of the presence of the γ-phase by addition of Mg(NO3)2, Ca(NO3)2, and Zn(NO3)2 salts. The trend of electrical properties to follow the electronegativity of the nitrate salt cation is demonstrated. The performed measurements of nitrate salt inclusions into PVDF offer a new insight into effects of previously unstudied structures of PVDF composites, opening new potential possibilities of crystalline phase control of the composite and use in further research and component design.
New-generation oxide dispersion-strengthened (ODS) alloys with a high volume fraction of nano-oxides of 5% are intended to become the leading creep- and oxidation-resistant alloys for applications at 1100–1300 °C. Hot consolidation of mechanically alloyed powders by intensive plastic deformation followed by heat treatment of the alloys are the key aspects for achieving top creep properties, typically ensured by a coarse-grained microstructure strengthened with homogeneously dispersed, very stable yttrium nano-oxides. The rotary swaging method proves to be favourable for hot consolidation of the new-generation ODS alloy presented. Compared to specimens consolidated by hot rolling, consolidation by hot rotary swaging predetermines the formation of coarse grains with a very high aspect ratio during subsequent secondary recrystallization. Such a grain morphology increases the creep strength of the new-generation ODS alloy considerably.
Cu–Zn–Pb brasses are popular materials, from which numerous industrially and commercially used components are fabricated. These alloys are typically subjected to multiple-step processing—involving casting, extrusion, hot forming, and machining—which can introduce various defects to the final product. The present study focuses on the detailed characterization of the structure of a brass fitting—i.e., a pre-shaped medical gas valve, produced by hot die forging—and attempts to assess the factors beyond local cracking occurring during processing. The analyses involved characterization of plastic flow via optical microscopy, and investigations of the phenomena in the vicinity of the crack, for which we used scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Numerical simulation was implemented not only to characterize the plastic flow more in detail, but primarily to investigate the probability of the occurrence of cracking based on the presence of stress. Last, but not least, microhardness in specific locations of the fitting were examined. The results reveal that the cracking occurring in the location with the highest probability of the occurrence of defects was most likely induced by differences in the chemical composition; the location the crack in which developed exhibited local changes not only in chemical composition—which manifested as the presence of brittle precipitates—but also in beta phase depletion. Moreover, as a result of the presence of oxidic precipitates and the hard and brittle alpha phase, the vicinity of the crack exhibited an increase in microhardness, which contributed to local brittleness.
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