The solidification process of Ti52-xNi38Cu10Nbx alloys was evaluated using the CALPHAD method and microstructural analyses of as-cast alloys with Nb additions of x = 4, 6, 8 and 10 at%. Both in Scheil calculator and structural analyses, the observed phases were TiNi, β-Nb/Ti, and Ti2Ni. TiNi is the matrix phase, and it presented similar amounts of Ti and Ni with varying Nb contents. Enrichments of Ti content and depletion of Ni are expected in the liquid with the solidification of this phase. Formation of Ti2Ni and β-Ti is related to the excess of Ti. Increasing Nb content hinders the formation of Ti2Ni, favoring β-Ti. In turn, Ni depletion and Nb accumulation led to the TiNi/β-Nb eutectic. In the intermetallic phases, coherent ratios were obtained when Cu was considered a substitute for Ni, and Nb, for Ti.

TiO2 nanorods present good performance as catalysts in the sorption behavior of magnesium hydride. In the present study, the morphology of TiO2 nanorods produced from titanate nanotubes heat-treated at 550 °C (NR550), 650 °C (NR650) and 750 °C (NR750) was characterized and their catalytic role on the sorption kinetics of MgH2 was evaluated. For this, ball-milled MgH2-TiO2 nanocomposites with 5 wt% of additives were prepared and the materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET surface area and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The hydrogen sorption kinetics of the composites were evaluated in a Sievert’s apparatus at 350 °C. The results indicated that NR550 and NR650 consisted of a mixture of nanorods and nanoparticles and NR750 of coarser nanoparticles of TiO2-anatase with a small amount of rutile. Composites with NR750 and NR550 presented the best sorption kinetics, suggesting the positive effect of the presence of rutile and of anatase nanorods, respectively, on the sorption properties of the material.

In this paper, a composition of known high glass-forming ability, Cu42Zr42Al8Ag8 and a novel Cu42Zr42Al8Ag4Sn4, were produced by suction-casting. After rapid solidification of both alloys, X-ray diffraction patterns along with crystallite size estimation by Scherrer equation and scanning electron microscopy images revealed a refined microstructure, composed mainly by AlCu2Zr, CuZr2 and Cu10Zr7 phases. Transmission electron microscopy indicated the presence of small crystalline precipitates in the Cu42Zr42Al8Ag4Sn4 suction-casted sample. Polarization curves showed a higher passivation current in the Sn containing sample, suggesting a decrease in corrosion resistance.

The hydrogen interaction in palladium alloys with addition of Ce, Zr and Y was studied. These alloys are produced by arc-melting and then cold rolled into thin foils. Heat treatment at 800ºC for 24h in air atmosphere is applied to induce internal oxidation. Hydrogen permeation tests and TDS (Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy) are carried out to evaluate hydrogen interaction with three different microstructures which can be characterized by dislocations, substitutional atoms and nanoxides. For alloys argon annealed, Ce is the element that delays the most hydrogen diffusion, followed by Zr and Y. However alloys with yttrium nanoxides exhibit the highest solubility and the smallest diffusivity due to their small size, spherical shape and dispersion throughout the matrix. Analyzing TDS curves, it is shown that nanoxides are irreversible traps that improve hydrogen stored on palladium alloys. Dislocations and impurity atom on solid solution have little binding energy that detraps hydrogen at smaller temperatures.

Studies show that the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) serve as hydrogen diffusion channels, when used with magnesium hydride. The hydrogen sorption study, of a MgH2 and 5wt% of multiwalled carbon nanotubes mixture, was the main purpose of this work. The samples were analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and also studied in a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The carbon nanotubes, that were ball milled during 20 min to the MgH2, were observed in the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The mixture of MgH2-CNT turned out to enhance the hydrogen sorption when compared to pure MgH2 and in 5 min it desorbed around 5 wt% of hydrogen, at 350oC and 0.1 bar.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinetics of hydrogen absorption and hydride formation and their effect on the mechanical properties in Zr-1Nb and Zr-1Nb-1Sn-0.1Fe alloys, which were thermomechanically processed and gaseously hydrided at 320ºC under 10 bar hydrogen pressure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the formation of α-Zr matrix after final heat treatment. The alloys absorbed almost the same amount of hydrogen, although with different kinetics. Absorption began almost immediately in Zr-1Nb alloy whilst in Zr-1Nb-1Sn-0.1Fe hydrogen absorption started after 11 h besides a faster hydrogen kinetics. Results showed that tensile strengths for both alloys were nearly independent of absorbed hydrogen. Fractographic examinations indicated ductile fractures for unhydrided condition whereas quasi-cleavage features were observed for all hydrided specimens.

Nanotubes are promising materials to be used with magnesium hydride, as catalysts, in order to enhance hydrogen sorption. A study was performed on the hydrogen absorption/desorption properties of MgH2 with the addition of TTNT (TiTanate NanoTubes). The MgH2-TTNT composite was prepared by ball milling and the influence of the TTNT amount (1.0 and 5.0 wt. (%)) on the hydrogen capacity was evaluated. The milling of pure MgH2 was performed for 24 hours and afterwards the MgH2-TTNT composite was milled for 20 minutes. Transmission Electronic Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used to evaluate the nanotube synthesis and show the particle morphology of the MgH2-TTNT composite, respectively. The Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) examination provided some evidence with the shifting of the peaks obtained when the amount of TTNT is increased. The hydrogen absorption/desorption kinetics tests showed that the TTNT nanotubes can enhance hydrogen sorption effectively and the total hydrogen capacity obtained was 6.5 wt. (%).

Samples of amorphous and partially crystallized Fe40Ni38Mo4B18 alloy were submitted to hydrogen gas permeation from 523 to 643 K. The hydrogen permeation curves exhibited a single sigmoidal shape, typical of tests where no hydride formation occurs. It was observed that the hydrogen diffusivity increases for the amorphous samples and partially crystallized alloy with the temperature increase. The hydrogen diffusion coefficient as a function of temperature was found to be D = 5.1 ± 0.5 × 10-12 exp (-11.0 ± 3.5/RT) (m².s-1) for amorphous condition and D = 3.6 ± 0.5 × 10-11 exp (-19.8 ± 3.3/RT) (m².s-1) for the partially crystallized condition. This suggests that the annihilation of defects in the amorphous structure and the crystalline phase precipitate contributes to the increase of the hydrogen diffusion.