The morphological stability of a planar interface with different crystallographic orientations is studied under a small positive temperature gradient using a transparent model alloy of succinonitrile. Novel experimental apparatus is constructed to provide a temperature gradient of about 0.37 K/mm. Under this small temperature gradient, the planar interface instability depends largely on the crystallographic orientation. It is shown experimentally that the effect of interfacial energy anisotropy on planar interface stability cannot be neglected even in a small temperature gradient system. Higher interfacial energy anisotropy leads the planar interface to become more unstable, which is different from the stabilizing effect of the interfacial energy on the planar interface. The experimental results are in agreement with previous theoretical calculations and phase field simulations.
Plasma nitriding was used to improve the corrosion performance of anchor steel. The microstructure, phase constitution, microhardness and corrosion resistance of the nitrided layer were systematically studied. The results show that the nitrided layer is continuous and dense, and consists of Fe4N and Fe3N in the outmost surface. The microhardness of the nitrided sample is improved because of the formation of nitrides in the outer side continuous layer and the inner parts. The nitrided layer on the surface of anchor steel can effectively improve the corrosion resistance of the anchor steel.
Directional solidification of rod-like eutectic is an important route to produce in situ composites.The rod-like phase spacing of composites is a crucial parameter in determining the properties of the materials.In this study,the rod-like phase spacing of melt-grown in situ eutectic composites is estimated by the method that is established based on the classical Jackson-Hunt theory and completed by considering the minimum undercooling principle in eutectic solidification at steady state.The density difference between the solid phases is also considered when calculating the diffusion field in the liquid.It is found that the rod-like phase spacing of in situ eutectic composites is generally a not unique value but displays a finite range under fixed growth conditions.Also,the range width,which decreases with increasing growth rate and vice versa,is only dependent on the intrinsic properties of an alloy at a given growth rate.By comparing with the experimental observations,the results show that the predicted spacings are in reasonable agreement with experimental data for nonfaceted-nonfaceted Succinonitrile-(D)camphor,MnSb-Sb,and Al-Al3Ni alloys and faceted-nonfaceted MnBi-Bi system when growing in a coupled manner.
