An approach following the null-matrix, Ti/Zr ratio of 2.08, for neutron diffraction was used to calculate the glass formation in Cu-Ti-(Hf,Zr) alloys. The Cu55Zr14.6Ti30.4, Cu61.48Hf18.52Zr6.48Ti13.52, Cu58.1Hf16.9Zr8.1Ti16.9 and Cu52.46Hf14.2Zr10.8Ti22.54 compositions (at. %), were calculated and prepared by argon arc melting. Copper die suction casting was employed to produce conical shaped samples with diameters decreasing from 8 mm to 1 mm. X-ray diffraction and Neutron Diffraction were used to characterize the alloys with the aim of obtaining the critical glassy diameter, dc, of the alloys. The results showed the composition with the biggest dc was the Cu61.48Hf18.52Zr6.48Ti13.52 alloy, with dc = 6 mm. Thermal parameters were obtained by differential scanning calorimetry and the maximum values for glass transition temperature, Tg, (747 K), crystallization temperature, Tx, (772 K), solidus temperature, Tm, (1152 K) and liquidus temperature, Tl, (1230 K) corresponded to the Cu61.48Hf18.52Zr6.48Ti13.52 composition. The results also showed that the parameters obtained from thermal analysis did not correlate with the GFA obtained. However, a good correlation of GFA and dc was found by means of the topological model, where the highest % packing efficiency (53.57 %) was found for the Cu61.48Hf18.52Zr6.48Ti13.52 alloy, which also showed the highest dc value with 6 mm.

The present work shows the fractal analysis for the microstructure of Al-6Si-3Cu-xMg (x = 0.59, 3.80 and 6.78 wt.%) alloys, solution heat treated at 480 °C for times ranging from 4 to 72 h. Microstructural changes were examined using Optical Microscopy (OM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and quantified by measuring conventional characteristics of second phases. The fractal analysis of the microstructures was also carried out using fractal dimension (Df). Results shown important variations in the microstructure when Mg content is increased, being the eutectic Al-Si and Cu-rich phases the predominant phases for the alloys with low Mg content, while for higher Mg contents predominant phases were Mg2Si and Cu-rich phases. The analysis of Df showed that this parameter could be used in order to compare the microstructural solution response of the Al alloys. Besides, it was possible to correlate the fractal dimension with the shape factor of the second phases, mainly for the alloys with only one second phase remaining after heat treatment.

Abstract: This paper presents the soft magnetic properties of the Fe-, Ni-, Coand Fe-Co-Ni polymer composites. The composites were obtained with Fe, Ni and Co powders (99.9% purity) with particle sizes of 150, 10 and 2 mm, respectively. Ring-shaped samples were obtained using uniaxial compaction at 91 MPa. The Fe-Co-Ni-polymer composite has the highest value of the magnetic permeability (μ=54) at 107 Hz and saturation magnetization (Ms=10000 Am2Kg-1) higher than the Ni-polymer composite (4100 Am2Kg-1).

Resumen: Este documento presenta las propiedades magnéticas suaves de los compositos Fe-polímero, Ni-polímero, Co-polímero y Fe-Ni-Co-polímero. Los compositos fueron obtenidos con polvos de Fe, Ni y Co (pureza 99.9%) con tamaños de partícula de 150, 10 and 2 mm, respectivamente. Muestras con forma anillada fueron obtenidas usando compactación uniaxial a 91 MPa. El composito Fe-Ni-Co-polímero tiene valores altos de permeabilidad magnética (μ=54) a 107 Hz y magnetización de saturación (Ms=16000 Am2Kg-1) mayor que el composito Ni-polímero (4100 Am2Kg-1).

Abstract: In this study, Al-Ni alloy ribbons in hypoeutectic, euctectic and hypereutectic compositions were obtained by melt spinning. The microstructural changes of the samples, from the as-cast to rapid solidification processes at different Cu wheel tangential velocities were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The rapid solidification caused morphological transformation of the Al-Al3Ni microstructure from acicular in the as-cast condition to globular in the melt spun ribbons and the growth of the metastable Al9Ni2 intermetallic compound, which acted as reinforcing particles. Due to the increment of the Ni content and the presence of these intermetallic compounds, with size of ~5nm, distributed in the aluminum matrix, the hardness of the alloys significantly increased from the hypoeutectic (90 VHN) to the hypereutectic (205VHN) composition.

Resumen: En este estudio, cintas de la aleación Al-Ni en las composiciones hipoeutéctica, eutéctica e hipereutéctica fueron obtenidas por la técnica de "melt spinning". Los cambios microestructurales, desde la colada hasta las cintas solidificadas rápidamente a distintas velocidades de solidificación, fueron caracterizados por difracción de Rayos X, microscopía electrónica de barrido y microscopia electrónica de transmisión. La solidificación rápida causó una transformación morfológica de la microestructura Al-Al3Ni acicular en la muestras de colada a una morfología globular en la cintas solidificadas rápidamente y el crecimiento del compuesto intermetálico metaestable Al9Ni2, el cual actuó como partícula reforzadora. Debido al incremento del contenido de Ni y la presencia de estos compuestos intermetálicos, con tamaño de ~5nm, distribuidos en la matriz de aluminio, la dureza de la aleaciones aumentó significativamente de la composición hipoeutéctica (90VHN) a la hipereutéctica (205VHN).

This work presents a review of computational models that use the Finite Elements Method (FEM) for the study of composite materials mechanical behavior, focusing the analysis in materials reinforced by particles or fibers. Bibliographic analysis shows that using FEM it is possible to successfully estimate the effect on the composites mechanical properties, of parameters such as the reinforcement type, volumetric fraction, orientation, aspect ratio and size. This review showed that the most studied property is Young´s modulus, as well as the models that favor the geometry decrease using the computational advantages. Future work that needs attention is addressed.

En este trabajo se presenta una revisión bibliográfica de modelos computacionales que utilizan el Método de los Elementos Finitos (MEF) para el estudio del comportamiento mecánico de los materiales compuestos, enfocándose el análisis en materiales reforzados por partículas o fibras. El análisis realizado muestra que el MEF permite estimar, de manera efectiva, la influencia sobre las propiedades mecánicas de los materiales compuestos, de factores como el reforzante, su fracción volumétrica, orientación, relación de aspecto y tamaño. Esta revisión mostró que la propiedad más estudiada es el módulo de Young, así como los modelos que favorecen la disminución de la geometría utilizando las ventajas computacionales. Se destaca el trabajo futuro que requiere atención.