ABSTRACT The cement mass is the part of the cementitious composite that has low resistance to friction and its mechanical and microstructural properties are decisive for the durability of the material. Microscopy techniques are commonly used to elucidate these mechanical, physical and chemical behaviors of cementitious compounds. The objective of this work was to elucidate the importance of microscopy techniques for the direct evaluation of the abrasive behavior of cement pastes with silicon carbide (SiC) microparticles. The methodology of the work consists of the manufacture of Exceptions of reference cementitious masses and with 10% SiC addition, analysis of the compressive and abrasive mechanical properties, in addition to Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) tests. The results that the intensification of the mechanical properties with the addition of SiC microparticles can be related to the external micrographs in the SEM, through the accentuated filling of the pores, and through the attenuated surface roughness identified in the AFM. It was concluded that the roughness and porosity results, acquired by the SEM and AFM techniques, can provide relevant information for the analysis of the durability of cementitious materials.

RESUMO A pasta de cimento é a parte do compósito cimentício que possui baixa resistência ao atrito e suas propriedades mecânicas e microestruturais são determinantes para a durabilidade do material. As técnicas de microscopia são comumente utilizadas para elucidar esses comportamentos mecânicos, físicos e químicos de compósitos cimentícios. O objetivo deste trabalho foi elucidar a importância de técnicas de microscopia para avaliação direta do comportamento abrasivo de pastas de cimento com micropartículas de carbeto de silício (SiC). A metodologia do trabalho consistiu na fabricação das amostras de pastas cimentícias de referência e com 10% de adição de SiC, análise das propriedades mecânicas compressivas e abrasivas, além de ensaios de Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV) e Microscopia de Força Atômica (MFA). Os resultados mostraram que a intensificação das propriedades mecânicas com adição de micropartículas de SiC podem ser relacionados com as micrografias obtidas no MEV, através do acentuado preenchimento dos poros, e por meio da atenuada rugosidade superficial identificada no MFA. Concluiu-se que os resultados de rugosidade e porosidade, adquiridos pelas técnicas de MEV e MFA, podem fornecer informações relevantes para análise da durabilidade de materiais cimentícios.

Abstract Overlay welding with stainless steels has gained attention in several sectors of industry by increasing the mechanical and electrochemical properties of surfaces, in order to obtain them using lower cost substrates. However, the control of welding parameters can become complex due to the multiple control variables, being of interest to obtain deposits with greater productivity. In this context, the objective of this paper is to analyze the effect of the heat input on weld overlays of austenitic stainless steel 316L-Si obtained by the GMAW process, to determine the best welding conditions. For this, a Design of Experiments was implemented to analyze the response variables, which include heat input, reinforcement, width, dilution and hardness of the weld metal. The models were considered significant, presenting R2>0.9 for all responses, based on a 95% confidence limit. Surface graphs indicated influence of welding speed or/and voltage for all responses, in addition to the results demonstrating optimal parameters for overlays such as high ratio between reinforcement and width (0.631), and low dilution values (8.81%). The microstructural analysis indicated the presence of residual γ-austenite and δ-ferrite in all samples, and also the formation of peninsulas and islands, added to defects such as voids, for some weld deposits.

ABSTRACT The use of Ti-Ni memory alloys covers several fields of application such as medicine, dentistry, actuators, sensors among others. Because of the thermomechanical behavior of these materials, they are an object of continuous studies and their properties are related to the occurrence of thermoelastic martensitic phase transformations. The thermal analyzes were performed using dilatometry and differential scanning calorimetry to determine the temperatures that occurred transformations during the cooling and heating, as well as to evaluate the influence of the thermal treatments performed by dilatometry. The thermomechanical behavior was also evaluated by the internal friction that measured behavior damping considering the structural and microstructural changes. The calorimetry measurements indicated suppression of the R phase through decomposition of precipitates of Ti3N4after the thermal treatments, that were corroborated by dilatometry and microhardness. This phase was also studied by the technique of internal friction, which showed that the mechanical damping coefficient increased as a function of temperature, due to the movement of the defects induced by tension.

Duplex stainless steels are largely applied in petrochemical industries due to their high corrosion resistance and mechanical performance. Their applicability also requires a great wear resistance, which can be enhanced by friction stir processing (FSP), a surface hardening technique. In this work, FSP is utilized to process surfaces of UNS S32101 and UNS S32750. The materials were analyzed by EBSD in order to determine grain size and phase fraction. Microhardness tests were used to verify and compare the shifting of hardness values from 296 ± 8 to 314 ± 11 HV0.2/15 and from 323 ± 8 to 350 ± 8 HV0.2/15 for UNS S32101 and S32750, respectively. Abrasion tests were executed to study the wear behavior of both processed and unprocessed alloys. Abrasion tests indicated that the hardening by FSP promoted decrement of abrasive wear resistance. Volumetric loss increased after FSP, from 52.1 ± 0.5 to 53 ± 2 mm3, for UNS S32101, and from 50 ± 2 to 56.3 ± 0.3 mm3 for UNS S32750. Tensile tests results were fitted to Hollomon’s equation in order to identify mechanical properties and tendencies of strain hardening. SEM images were used to classify the wear micromechanisms acting on the samples. The results suggest that FSP can promote modifications of wear mechanisms and these changes can be correlated to the alloys’ microstructure.

Resumo Um problema diversas vezes encontrado na produção de tubos está relacionado ao seu transporte dificultado por suas grandes dimensões. Atrelado a isso, a soldagem de campo é complexa e muitas vezes onerosa. Um processo de fabricação alternativo para tubulações é o processo de formação de tubos com costura helicoidal. Este trabalho propõe estudar as características microestruturais e realizar uma avaliação mecânica destas soldas executadas em campo do aço ASTM A1018. Para alcançar o objetivo do trabalho foram utilizados dois tubos de aço fabricados com chapas de espessura de 12,5 mm e diâmetro nominal de 1200 mm, através do equipamento adaptado para a soldagem em campo pelo processo de soldagem por arco submerso. Após soldagem dos tubos, foram retiradas amostras destes para efetuar as análises de micrografia, macrografia, composição química, dobramento e dureza. A principal diferença apresentada entre as amostras foi o aumento da ferrita acicular e redução da ferrita primária de contorno de grão com o decréscimo do aporte térmico nas microestruturas formadas tanto na zona fundida como na ZTA como apresentado. Observou-se, ainda, mudanças na geometria dos cordões de solda. Por fim, identificou-se que o principal parâmetro que influência nas mudanças microestruturais apresentadas é a corrente de soldagem.

Abstract A problem commonly found in the production of tubes is related to transportation due its large dimensions. This fact, makes field welding a complex and often costly operation. An alternative fabrication process for pipes is the process of forming tubes with helical welds. This work proposes to study the microstructural characteristics and perform a mechanical evaluation of these welds performed in field of ASTM A1018 steel tubes. In order to reach the aim, two steel tubes manufactured from sheets with a thickness of 12.5 mm and a nominal diameter of 1200 mm were welded by the process of submerged arc welding through the equipment adapted for field welding. Subsequently, samples were taken to perform characterization by microanalysis. Chemical composition, bending and hardness tests were also conducted. The main difference between the samples was the increase of the acicular ferrite and reduction of the primary ferrite of the grain boundary with the decrease of the thermal contribution in the microstructures formed in the molten zone as in the ZTA as presented. Also, changes in the geometry of the weld beads were observed. Finally, it was identified that the main parameter that influences the microstructural changes presented is the welding current.

One of the most studied deleterious phases in stainless steels is the sigma phase, due to its high potential to decrease the toughness and corrosion resistance of these steels. Eight samples of as-received cold rolled UNS S32205 duplex stainless steel were submitted to isothermal heat treatments at 850 oC during 10, 15, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 minutes in order to study the precipitation kinetics of the sigma and chi deleterious phases. Several complementary microstructural analysis techniques were used to determine the volume fraction of the intermetallic phases, including optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Evaluation was made of the kinetics of isothermal formation of sigma and chi phases in commercial duplex stainless steels (UNS S32205). The results indicated two different mechanisms for sigma phase precipitation: sigma phase formed from the chi phase for shorter isothermal heat treatment times, and sigma phase precipitated at the ferrite-austenite interface for longer isothermal heat treatment times, using a temperature of 850 oC. The phase transformation kinetics determined using the JMA equation indicated that chi phase precipitation caused faster sigma phase formation.

Resumo Os aços inoxidáveis duplex são bem sucedidos em uma variedade de aplicações como a indústria alimentícia, petroquímica e para plantas de dessalinização da água do mar, onde alta a resistência à corrosão e alta resistência mecânica são exigidas. Contudo, durante operações de soldagem por fusão pode haver alteração da microestrutura favorável destes materiais comprometendo seu desempenho. O processo de soldagem por atrito com pino não consumível pode gerar juntas no estado sólido evitando os típicos problemas da solidificação da poça fundida como segregação de elementos de liga, formação de trincas de solidificação e liquação; para o caso de aços inoxidáveis superduplex, pode-se evitar proporções desbalanceadas de ferrita e austenita, formação de fases secundárias deletérias e crescimento de grão ferrítico na zona termicamente afetada. Juntas consolidadas com penetração completa foram obtidas usando chapas de 6 mm de espessura para os aços inoxidáveis duplex UNS S32101 e S32205 e superduplex S32750 e S32760. As amostras foram submetidas a ensaios de tração indicando uma melhoria do desempenho mecânica das juntas soldadas com o aumento da tensão de escoamento e do limite de resistência à tração para todos os casos. Em relação à caracterização microestrutural, um pronunciado refinamento da ordem de 1 μm foi observado na junta soldada. Este refinamento foi associado à combinação de mecanismos de restauração na microestrutura bifásica promovida pela deformação severa junto com a alta temperatura durante o processo de soldagem.

Abstract Duplex stainless steels are successful in a variety of applications such as the food industry, petrochemical and plants for desalination of seawater, where high corrosion resistance and high mechanical strength are required. However, the beneficial microstructure may be change during fusion welding steps and it can compromise the performance of these materials. Friction stir welding is a solid state process avoiding typical problems concerning solidification such as solidification cracks, liquation and segregation of alloying elements. For superduplex stainless steels can avoid unbalanced proportions of ferrite and austenite, formation of secondary deleterious phases and grain growth of ferrite in the heat affected zone. Consolidated friction stir welded joints with full penetration of 6 mm thick were obtained for UNS S32101 and S32205 duplex and S32750 and S32760 superduplex stainless steels. The friction stir welds were submitted to tensile tests indicating an improvement of strength in welded joints showing increased of yield and tensile strength for all studied cases. Regarding the microstructural characterization, an outstanding gran refinement was observed in the welded joint achieving grain sizes as small as 1 μm. This refinement was associated with the combination of microstructural restoration mechanisms in the dual phase microstructure promoted by severe deformation associated with a high temperature during the welding process.

Friction stir welding was used to produce butt joints on 6 mm thick plates of UNS S32101 lean duplex stainless steel, S32205 duplex stainless steel, and S32750 and S32760 superduplex stainless steels. Fully consolidated joints were achieved, with full penetration, using heat input of 1.37-1.50 kJ/mm. Specimens submitted to tensile testing performed perpendicular to the welding direction showed failure on the base metal, reflecting better mechanical performance of the welded joints. Furthermore, tensile testing along the joints revealed higher yield and tensile strengths in all cases, as well as increased elongation. Microstructural evaluation showed that there was pronounced grain refinement in the welded joints of all the materials studied, achieving grain sizes as small as 1 µm. The differences in the ferrite and austenite grain sizes in the stir zone, such as the degree of grain refinement, could be explained by the combination of dynamic recrystallization of austenite during the welding process and the recrystallization and growth of the ferrite grains, promoted firstly by the severe deformation and secondly by the high temperature inherent to the FSW process. Superduplex stainless steel FSW joints were more able to maintain a balanced microstructure, compared to conventional and lean duplex stainless steels, due to greater homogeneity of recrystallization in the welded joint.

Resumo A característica mais marcante da soldagem TIG Orbital é a constante alteração na posição de soldagem enquanto a tocha acompanha o perfil geométrico dos tubos. No contexto da soldagem TIG orbital de tubos de grande diâmetro e paredes espessas, é investigada a relação entre a posição de soldagem, uso de corrente constante ou pulsada e ainda valor da corrente média nas características geométricas dos cordões obtidos. Foram realizadas soldas de deposição em tubos de aço carbono SAE 1020, bem como macrografias das seções transversais dos cordões via microscopia óptica. Filmagens em alta definição contribuíram para a compreensão do comportamento da poça de fusão nas diferentes posições de soldagem. As características geométricas foram quantificadas através das macrografias com o uso de um software e foi traçada a relação destas com as variáveis citadas. Além disso, foi feita uma análise microestrutural das amostras, correlacionando com a microdureza Vickers. Concluiu-se que cordões soldados com corrente pulsada apresentam maiores reforço e largura, bem como maior dureza e microestrutura mais refinada. A posição vertical ascendente resulta em cordões com menor fator de forma e maior penetração, e a posição sobre cabeça resulta em cordões de baixo fator de forma.

Abstract The most important characteristic of TIG Orbital welding is the constant change in weld position while the torch follows the geometric profile of the pipes. In this context, large diameter and thick wall pipes orbital TIG welds were investigated, by studying the relation between the welding position, use of constant or pulsed current and magnitude of welding current and the resulting geometric characteristics. Weld beads were made on SAE 1020 carbon steel pipes, as well as transversal section macrographs via optical micrograph. High definition filming contributed to comprehension of the weld pool trend on different welding positions. Geometric characteristics were quantified through the macrographs by using software, and its relations with the cited variables were made. Besides that, a microstructural analysis was made, comparing it to Vickers micro hardness. One could conclude that beads made with pulsed current had higher reinforcement and width, as well as higher hardness and a finer microstructure. The ascendant vertical position resulted in low reinforcement form factor and higher penetration, and the overhead position results in low reinforcement form factor beads.