In the present study, pulsed laser post-processing was applied to improve the properties of the thermally sprayed NiCrCoFeCBSi/40 wt.% WC coatings. The powder mix was deposited onto a mild steel substrate by flame spray method and then the as-sprayed coatings were processed by Nd:YAG laser. The peak power density applied was between 4.00 × 106 and 5.71 × 106 W/cm2, and the laser operating speed ranged between 100 and 400 mm/min, providing processing in a melting mode. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, Knop hardness measurements, and “ball-on-disc” dry friction tests were applied to study the effect of the processing parameters on the geometry of laser pass and microstructure, hardness, and tribology of the processed layers. The results obtained revealed that pulsed laser processing provides a monolithic remelted coating layer with the microstructure of ultrafine, W-rich dendrites in Ni-based matrix, where size and distribution of W-rich dendrites periodically vary across remelted layer depth. The composition of W-rich dendrites can be attributed to a carbide of type (W, Cr, Ni, Fe)C. The cracks sensitivity of coatings was visibly reduced with the reduction of power density applied. The hardness of coatings was between ~1070 and ~1140 HK0.2 and correlated with microstructure size, being dependent on the processing parameters. The friction coefficient and wear rate of coatings during dry sliding were reduced by up to ~30% and up to ~2.4 times, respectively, after laser processing.
The paper presents the study of the influence of mechanical damage on the safe operation of gas transmission pipelines. The main types of pipeline damage with the actual parameters and their influence on the operational parameters are analysed. The damaged fractures of the section of the pipeline Kaunas (Lithuania)-Kaliningrad (Russia) were investigated in the laboratory. The main operational characteristics and the structure of the pipeline's metal after the period of long-term operation were determined using various research and experimental methods. The influence of the pipeline's damage was modelled by using the Finite Element Method and the ANSYS code. The predictions of the failure pressure were made, taking into consideration the actual properties of the pipeline's metal. Techniques including the hardness and microhardness measurement, chemical analysis, the impact strength test, and metallography analysis with an optical microscope, were used in the experimental study.
Quality analysis of welded and soldered joints of Cu-Nb microcomposite wires has been performed. Quality and mechanical characteristics of joints as ultimate tensile stress limit and elongation at break were measured with an universal testing machine and controlled visually using an optical microscope. Two wires joints were soldered with silver and copper solders and put into steel and copper sleeve respectively. Another two wires joints were soldered with silver solder and welded without any reinforcement. Joints soldered with the silver solder and steel sleeve have demonstrated the best mechanical characteristics: ultimate tensile stress limit of 650 MPa and elongation at break of 0.85 %. Joints soldered with the copper sleeve have no advantages comparing with the soldered butt joint. Ultimate tensile stress limit and elongation at break were in 300 MPa - 350 MPa and in 0.35 % - 0.45 % ranges respectively. Two welded joints had ultimate tensile stress limit of 470 MPa and elongation at break of 0.71 %. In all joints the microstructure of Nb filaments was destroyed and mechanical properties have been specified by mechanical strength of copper and sleeve materials only.
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