Effect of Surface Ultrasonic Rolling Treatment on Rolling Contact Fatigue Life of D2 Wheel Steel.

A GPM-30 fatigue machine was used to investigate the influence of surface ultrasonic rolling (SURT) on the rolling contact fatigue (RCF) life of D2 wheel steel. The experimental results present that the RCF life of the grinding processing sample is 4.1 × 105 cycles. During the RCF process, the flaking of the fine grain layer and high surface roughness of the grinding processing sample cause the production of RCF cracks. When the samples are treated by SURT with 0.2 MPa and 0.4 MPa, the RCF life is 9.2 × 105 cycles and 9.6 × 105 cycles, respectively. After SURT, the surface roughness of the samples is reduced, and a certain thickness of gradient-plastic-deformation layer and a residual-compressive-stress layer are produced. These factors lead to the improvement of the RCF property. However, when the static pressure increases to 0.6 MPa during SURT, the RCF life of the sample is reduced during RCF testing. The micro-cracks, which are formed during SURT, become the crack source and cause the formation of RCF cracks, decreasing of the RCF life.

Preparation and electrochemical properties of nanostructured porous spherical NiCo2O4 materials.

Porous spherical NiCo2O4 powders with a micro-nano structure were prepared by the spray drying method using citric acid as the chelating agent and soluble salts as cobalt and nickel sources. By calcination at 300 °C, spherical and single-phase spinel-type NiCo2O4 powders were obtained. The powders with particle sizes of 0.5-3 µm were aggregations of nano-sized grains (about 15-30 nm). The electrical property tests demonstrated that the synthesized NiCo2O4 has a specific capacitance of 430.67 F g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1 and a capacitance retention rate of 100% after 3000 cycles at a current density of 4 A g-1, indicating excellent cycling stability. On assembly into an asymmetric supercapacitor device, a specific capacitance of 37.06 F g-1 and energy density of 13.18 W h kg-1 at a power density of 800 W kg-1 and a current density of 1 A g-1 were demonstrated. The micro-nano structured porous NiCo2O4 powders have a larger specific surface area, which can allow the sample to come in full contact with the electrolyte. The nanopore channels are favourable for releasing the lattice distortion stress during the charge-discharge process, maintaining the structural stability of the crystal and improving the cycle life.

Influence of Contact Stress on Surface Microstructure and Wear Property of D2/U71Mn Wheel-Rail Material.

To investigate the relationship between surface microstructure and wear mechanism in D2/U71Mn wheel-rail material under different contact stress conditions, rolling wear tests using a GPM-40 wear machine to simulate the wheel-rail operation was performed. After wear tests, an optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and micro-hardness testers were used to characterize the microstructure and fatigue wear cracks. The results show that the thickness of the plastic deformation layer and surface hardness is increased with the increase of contact stress. Under high contact stress condition (1200 MPa), the severe plastic deformation layer led to the formation of fatigue wear of wheel-rail samples. Under a contact stress of 700 MPa, the wear mechanism of samples is adhesive wear and wear rate is low. With the increase of contact stress, the fatigue cracks are gradually severe. Under a contact stress of 1200 MPa, the wear mechanism of samples becomes fatigue wear and the fatigue wear cracks cause the increase of wear rate. The fatigue wear can accelerate the wear failure of wheel-rail samples. The fatigue wear cracks of wheel samples are severer than that of rail samples due to both the rate of plastic strain and the content of proeutectoid ferrite.

Preparation of YSZ-TZP solid electrolytes by gel-casting technology.

YSZ-TZP (YSZ: 8 mol% yttria stabilized zirconia, TZP: 3 mol% yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal) solid electrolytes were prepared by gel-casting technology. The densification, microstructure, mechanical and electrical properties were characterized and discussed. The densification of YSZ-TZP solid electrolytes increased with increasing TZP content. The strength and fracture toughness showed a maximum value when TZP was 20 vol.%. However, addition of TZP decreased the conductivities of solid electrolyte.

Enhancement of lithium amide to lithium imide transition via mechanical activation.

The decomposition of lithium amide (LiNH2) to lithium imide (Li2NH) and ammonia (NH3) with and without high-energy ball milling is investigated to lay a foundation for identifying methods to enhance the hydrogen uptake/release of the lithium amide and lithium hydride mixture. A wide range of analytical instruments are utilized to provide unambiguous evidence of the effect of mechanical activation. It is shown that ball milling reduces the onset temperature for the decomposition of LiNH2 from 120 degrees C to room temperature. The enhanced decomposition via ball milling is attributed to mechanical activation related to the formation of nanocrystallites, the reduced particle size, the increased surface area, and the decreased activation energy. The more mechanical activation there is, then the more improvement there is in enhancing the decomposition of LiNH2. It also is found that the activation energy for the decomposition of LiNH2 without ball milling is 243.98 kJ/mol, which is reduced to 222.20 kJ/mol after ball milling at room temperature for 45 min and is further reduced to 138.05 kJ/mol after ball milling for 180 min. The rate of the isothermal decomposition at the later phase of the LiNH2 decomposition is controlled by diffusion of NH3 through the Li2NH layer.

Stability of lithium hydride in argon and air.

The oxidation behaviors of LiH under a high purity argon atmosphere, an argon atmosphere with some O2 and H2O impurities, and ambient air at both room and high temperatures, are investigated using a variety of analytical instruments including X-ray diffractometry, thermogravimetry, mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and specific surface area analysis. The oxidation behaviors of the ball-milled LiH under different atmospheres are also studied and compared with those without ball milling. It is shown that no oxidation of LiH occurs under a high-purity argon atmosphere. However, oxidation of LiH takes place when the argon atmosphere contains some H2O and O2 impurities. At temperatures higher than approximately 55 degrees C, oxidation of LiH proceeds via the reaction of LiH + 1/4 O2 = 1/2 Li2O + 1/2 H2, whereas at room temperature oxidation of LiH is likely caused by the simultaneous reactions of LiH + H2O = LiOH + H2 and LiH + 1/2 O2 = LiOH. The oxidation behavior of LiH in ambient air with a 27% relative humidity can be well described by the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami equation. Furthermore, the ball-milled LiH oxidizes faster than the unmilled one, which is due to the finer particle size and larger surface area of the ball-milled powder.