U-7.5Nb-2.5Zr cladded in Zircaloy-4 is one of the most studied fuel prototypes. The Nb and Zr are added to the U to stabilize the body-centered cubic (BCC) gamma phase and grant mechanical and swelling resistance. The U-7.5Nb-2.5Zr undergoes the gamma to α′′ phase transformation, generating compressive stresses due to the volume reduction. The α′′ phase also can transform to a combination of α + γ2 phase (equilibrium phases), which are known to be hard and brittle. This work had the objective to test the effect of ageing the gamma to α′′ phase in thermal cycling of a U-7.5Nb-2.5Zr cladded in Zircaloy-4 part. A co-laminated specimen was aged and thermally cycled in a dilatometry experiment. The samples were characterized through X-ray diffraction and metallography. The results show that the gamma to α′′ phase transformations occur at the begin- ning of the initial ageing, followed by stress relief. During the cycling, the sample demonstrated non-equal thermal strains and presented fractures along with the U matrix.

Carmakers must achieve the worldwide targets for lightweight materials, safety and reducing the fuel consumption. The use of press-hardened steel (PHS), in vehicle structures has been contributing with these requirements. This type of steel is widely used for the hot-stamping which consists in heating the steel blank to total austenitization temperature and then transferring it from the furnace into the die tool where the steel is formed and quenched at the same time. PHS is usually protect with metallic coatings in order to avoid both steel oxidation and decarburization. Hot-dip Al-Si coating is currently the main used in this application. However, alternative coatings, like zinc-based, are under investigation. This work aims at evaluating the corrosion resistance of the 22MnB5 grade PHS, electroplated with Zn-Ni, before and after hot stamping, using the scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET). Results from SVET showed that samples prior to hot stamping, the corrosion mechanism was uniform over the exposed surface, and was mainly related to selective dissolution of zinc from the coating. On the other hand, hot stamped samples showed localized corrosion mechanism with decrease in current with time of immersion due to the formation of corrosion products on the exposed surface.

The effect of the nitrogen content in the shielding gas and its effect on temperature distributions at the welded zone of thin sheets of duplex stainless steel have been evaluated. The duplex stainless steels have many features due to unique microstructural combination of austenite and ferrite grains. The phase balance can be easily shifted depending on the welding parameters. Two sheets were welded using pure argon and pure argon plus 2% of nitrogen as shielding gas. The thermal profile had shown that N2-supplemented shielding gas lead to higher peaks of temperature using similar welding parameters. Microstructural examination showed that the austenite phase in the weld increased with the presence of nitrogen in the shielding gas. The added nitrogen promoted primary austenite formation and slightly increases the microhardness at the solidified zone. Microhardness mapping and metallographic imaging presented information about microstructures, confirming the formation of secondary phases during thermal cycle in the temperature range 850 °C and 950 °C. Control of ferrite amounts in the welds is essential mainly to improve mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of welding zones.

The objective of this work was to use tungsten and lignin as precursors to obtain a metal-organic composite tungsten-lignin (W-Lig) using different sintering temperatures. Tungsten is a refractory metal and it was selected for the composite since it is widely used for high-energy radiation shielding as it has an excellent absorption cross section for thermal neutrons. Lignin extracted from lignocelluloses biomass and it was selected to be the organic precursor for the composite due to its multiple applications. Analysis of the composite was performed after sintering processes, using a 3D optical surface profiler and measurement of the gamma radiation attenuation coefficient using cobalt source (Co-60). Metal-organic composites in ratios of W2.5%Lig and W5%Lig (in mass % of lignin) were used. The gradient of the attenuation coefficient differed when standard tungsten and the composites of W2.5%Lig and W5%Lig were compared. Therefore, the attenuation coefficient between unobstructed free radiation and the W5%Lig 90 ºC composite showed a gradient of about 43% in the two characteristic Co-60 energy peaks, with a sample thickness of 0.679 cm the calculated linear attenuation coefficient was 0.832 cm-1.

The characterization of sintered valve seat inserts (VSIs) after being subjected to different heat treatment operations has been carried out. The VSIs were obtained from three different alloys by mixing iron powder with AISI M3:2, AISI M2 high-speed steels, and AISI D2 tool steel. After sintering, the VSI were quenched in air followed by double tempering at seven different temperatures. The cooling rate during air quenching was measured by means of a thermocouple type k attached to a data acquisition system. The characterization of the mechanical and physical properties of the VSIs was achieved by measuring relative density, apparent hardness and crush radial strength. The resulting microstructures for the sintered parts were interpreted using the isothermal and continuous cooling transformation diagrams for similar alloys. The VSI obtained with AISI M3:2 and AISI M2 high-speed steels after air quenching and double tempering at 600 ºC showed the best results in terms of apparent hardness and crush radial strength.

OBJETIVO: o presente estudo foi delineado para verificar se protótipos de mini-implantes (PMI) desenvolvidos para a ancoragem esquelética do aparelho de Herbst são capazes de suportar forças ortopédicas e, também, determinar a variação da força de flexão desses PMI de acordo com o local de inserção (maxila ou mandíbula). MÉTODOS: após o cálculo do tamanho da amostra, 13 PMI foram colocados em três cadáveres de Minipigs br1 (seis na maxila e sete na mandíbula). Os corpos de prova foram preparados e submetidos a um teste mecânico. Cálculos da média e o do desvio-padrão foram realizados para cada região. O teste t de Student para duas amostras não pareadas foi utilizado para comparar a resistência dos PMI entre as regiões de inserção. O teste t de Student para uma amostra foi realizado para o teste de hipótese. Foram consideradas forças ortopédicas aquelas acima de 1,0kgf. RESULTADOS: os PMI foram capazes de suportar forças de flexão maiores que 1,0kgf (13,8 ± 2,3Kg na região posterior da maxila, e 20,5 ± 5,2Kg na região anterior da mandíbula), apresentando significativa menor força de flexão na região anterior da mandíbula (p < 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: os PMI são capazes de suportar forças ortopédicas, sendo mais resistentes quando utilizados na região anterior da mandíbula do que na posterior da maxila, em cadáveres de Minipigs br1.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to verify if mini-implant prototypes (MIP) developed for Herbst appliance anchorage are capable of withstanding orthopedic forces, and to determine whether the flexural strength of these MIP varies depending on the site of insertion (maxilla and mandible). METHODS: Thirteen MIP were inserted in three minipig cadavers (six in the maxilla and seven in the mandible). The specimens were prepared and submitted to mechanical testing. The mean and standard deviation were calculated for each region. A two-way Student's t test was used to compare the strength between the sites. A one-way Student's t test was performed to test the hypothesis. Orthopedic forces above 1.0 kgf were considered. RESULTS: The MIP supported flexural strength higher than 1.0 kgf (13.8 ± 2.3 Kg, in the posterior region of the maxilla and 20.5 ± 5.2 Kg in the anterior region of the mandible) with a significantly lower flexural strength in the anterior region of the mandible (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The MIP are capable of withstanding orthopedic forces, and are more resistant in the anterior region of the mandible than in the posterior region of the maxilla in Minipigs br1 cadavers.

OBJETIVO: o propósito do presente estudo é avaliar o limite de resistência à flexão de um protótipo de mini-implante desenvolvido para ancoragem do aparelho de Herbst. MÉTODOS: após a realização de um cálculo do tamanho da amostra, quatro corpos de prova contendo os protótipos de mini-implantes foram submetidos a uma força de flexão por engastamento simples, utilizando-se uma máquina universal de ensaios mecânicos, sendo calculado o limite de resistência à força de flexão. RESULTADOS: após os ensaios mecânicos, os novos mini-implantes apresentaram o limite de resistência à força de flexão de 98,2kgf, que foi o menor valor encontrado. CONCLUSÃO: os protótipos de mini-implantes desenvolvidos para ancoragem do aparelho de Herbst foram capazes de suportar forças de flexão maiores do que as forças de mordida descritas na literatura.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the limit of flexural strength of a mini-implant prototype designed for Herbst appliance anchorage. METHODS: After sample size calculation, four specimens with the new mini-implant were submitted to a single cantilever flexure test using a universal testing machine. The limit of flexural force strength was calculated. RESULTS: The mini-implant prototype showed a limit of flexural force strength of 98.2 kgf (982 N), that was the lowest value found. CONCLUSION: The mini-implant prototype designed for Herbst appliance anchorage can withstand flexural forces higher than the maximum human bite forces reported in the literature.

Hg based superconducting ceramics present the highest critical temperatures ever reported, particularly the phase 1223 with the highest Tc so far obtained -135 K. However, these compounds are obtained by a complex synthesis route and suffer degradation at ambient atmosphere. This disadvantage may be overcome by doping with an appropriate amount of Re. Samples of nominal composition Hg0.82Re0.18Ba2Ca2Cu3O8+δ having different oxygen contents were studied by X ray absorption and diffraction techniques. Using XANES we determined the Re valence = +7 in an octahedral distorted coordination. We determined the distances of Re-O bonds (1.85 Å and 2.10 Å) by EXAFS. XRD Rietveld fits showed segregation of two superconducting phases with distinct lattice parameters. The main phase is associated with Hg, Re-1223 with higher oxygen content, and the secondary superconducting phase is related to undoped Hg-1223.

Aluminium-silicon alloys have been wide accepted in the automotive, electric and aerospace industries. Preferred orientation is a very common condition for metals and alloys. Particularly, aluminium induces texture during the forming process. The preparation of an aggregate with completely random crystal orientation is a difficult task. The present work was undertaken to analyse the texture by X-ray diffraction techniques, of three spray formed hypereutectic Al-Si alloys. Samples were taken from a billet of an experimental alloy (alloy 1) and were subsequently hot-rolled and cold-rolled (height reduction), 72% and 70%, respectively. The other used samples, alloys 2 and 3, were taken from cylinders liners. The results from the Laue camera showed texture just in the axial direction of alloy 3. The pole figures also indicated the presence of a typical low intensity deformation texture, especially for alloy 3. The spray formed microstructure, which is very fine, hinders the Al-Si texture formation during mechanical work.

In this investigation the corrosion resistance of four Al-Si hypereutectic alloys in a solution typical of condensate from automotive fuel combustion products, and referred to here as synthetic condensed automotive solution, has been studied. Three commercial alloys that are used for cylinder liners, and a laboratory made alloy, were studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and measurements were taken after increasing times of immersion in this solution. Comparison of the electrochemical response of the four alloys in the corrosive solution was carried out. Although the mechanisms by which the four alloys corroded were similar, the results indicated differences in corrosion resistances of these alloys, and these differences could be related to their microstructures. The laboratory prepared alloy showed increased susceptibility to pitting corrosion compared to the commercial alloys. The surfaces of the alloys were examined, before and after the corrosion test, by scanning electron microscopy and analyzed by energy dispersive spectroscopy. The results indicated preferential attack of the aluminium matrix phase in all the alloys. The alloy with higher copper content and prepared by spray forming was more susceptible to pitting compared to the other alloys. The EIS response at low frequencies indicated a diffusion-controlled process, probably that of oxygen to the alloy interface.