The formation of brittle microstructures around the fusion line in dissimilar welds has required a deeper microstructural analysis in this region. The study becomes more relevant when these welds are used in environments that facilitate hydrogen embrittlement. The present work aims to characterize the microstructure and hardness at the diluted zone interface in joints welded with dissimilar materials. Aiming for a better efficacy in the microstructural characterization of this zone, samples of both normal cross-section (NCS) and section with slope were used, according to the low-angle microsectioning (LAMS) technique, which allows a greater amplification of partially mixed zones (PMZs). The results indicated the diffusion of carbon from the heat-affected zone (HAZ) towards the fusion line which, in combination with other alloying elements, form highly brittle carbides. In turn, the hardness of the base metal and the HAZ was reduced after post weld heat treatment, whereas in the weld metal an opposite behavior was observed. The dissimilar interface was promising for applications in environments facilitating hydrogen embrittlement, especially regarding the characteristics of zone Φ.

The effect of heat treatment on crystallization behavior of Fe73.5B15Si10Nb1.5 alloy powder prepared by mechanical alloying was studied. The powder samples were prepared by mechanical alloying (MA) and for different milling times (1, 5, 25, 70 and 100 hours). Crystalline powders of iron, boron, silicon and niobium were sealed with tungsten carbide balls in a cylindrical vial under nitrogen atmosphere. The ball-to-powder weight ratio was 20 to 1. A Fritsch Pulverizette 5 planetary ball mill was used for MA the powders at room temperature and at 250 rpm. To study the microstructural evolution, a small amount of powder was collected after different milling times and examined by X-ray diffraction, using CuKalpha radiation (lambda = 0.15418 nm). The crystallization behavior was studied by differential thermal analysis, from 25 up to 1000 °C at a heating rate of 25 °C min-1.

The technical viability of preparing a Cu-Al-Nb shape memory alloy by high energy ball milling in a planetary mill has been evaluated. The alloy Cu-13Al-2Nb (wt. (%)) was prepared by mixing pure elemental powders. A ball-to-powder weight ratio of 6:1 and rotation rate of 150 rpm in argon atmosphere were the main processing parameters. The milling time ranged from 1 to 65 hours. Changes in microstructure as a function of milling time were investigated, using X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. To investigate the viability of producing sintered parts from milled powders, the conventional powder metallurgy route was used. The milled powders were compacted in a cylindrical die at 900 MPa. Sintering was carried out in argon atmosphere at 850 °C for 6 hours. This study has shown that high energy ball milling, combined with pressing and sintering, can be used to promote the formation of a copper-aluminum solid solution and achieve final sintered densities of 91% of the theoretical density.

Oxides with spinel structures have been studied for many decades as they have been used in a variety of applications like pigments and refractories. They have also been used as a model structure to evaluate the relative stability of ions in octahedral and tetrahedral sites. Zinc- antimony spinels (Zn7Sb2O12) were synthesized by the Pechini method and the cation Zn2+ was substituted by Co2+, taking into consideration the stoichiometry of Co xZn7-xSb2O12 (x = 0 - 7). Characterization of the thermal properties of pyrolyzed powders was carried out with a TG/DTA analyzer, and mass losses were determined as a function of the cobalt content in the resin. The powders were calcined at temperatures in the range 600 to 1000 °C and characterized by XRD, BET and IR spectroscopy. Maximum cristalinity was obtained in powders calcined at 1000 °C. Materials with x = 5 - 7 revealed the presence of a secondary phase (Co, Zn)Sb2O6. Infrared analysis facilitated in the determination of the possible sites of Zn2+, Co2+ and Sb2+ ions in the lattice.