Article
Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Fanzhi Meng, Shuhui Lv, Qiang Yang, Xin Qiu, Zixiang Yan, Qian Duan, Jian Meng
Summary: This study investigated the components and crystal structures of intermetallic phases in a gravity die-cast Mg-6.0Zn-1.5Nd-0.5Zr alloy using transmission electron microscopy. The results revealed multiple intermetallic phases and various internal faults in the alloy. The study also revealed new orientation relationships between different intermetallic phases.
JOURNAL OF MAGNESIUM AND ALLOYS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Shuhui Lv, Qiang Yang, Xiaoling Lv, Fanzhi Meng, Xin Qiu
Summary: Intermetallic phases in Mg-8Zn-6Al-1Sm alloys in both as-cast and peak-aged conditions were investigated. The study identified various intermetallic phases, such as Mg44Al15Zn41, Mg5Zn2Al2, Mg-32(Al,Zn)(49), and Al2Sm. Aging treatment showed a possible phase transformation and revealed precipitate constituents, including i phase, MgZnAl cubic phase, MgZn2 phase, Mg4Zn7 phase, and aperiodic structures. The study also found multiple orientation relationships between precipitates and the Mg matrix, and observed ordering planar faults in MgZn2 precipitates. The calculations demonstrated the superior strengthening effect of Mg-Zn-Al precipitates and attributed the high strength of the alloy to semi-continuous intermetallic skeletons and Mg-Zn-Al precipitates.
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING A-STRUCTURAL MATERIALS PROPERTIES MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROCESSING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Li-Xin Long, Fen-Fen Chen, Lan-Yue Cui, Ze-Song Wei, Hai-Tao Wang, Rong-Chang Zeng, Yu-Feng Zheng
Summary: The microstructure, mechanical properties, and degradation rates of LX11 and LX41 alloys were studied through optical microscopy, tensile tests, and electrochemical tests. The LX11 alloy exhibited finer grains, fewer twins, and smaller intermetallic phase volume fractions compared to the LX41 alloy. Increasing Li concentration resulted in a slight decrease in yield strength, a substantial increase in elongation, and a stable ultimate tensile strength for the Mg-Li-Ca alloys. LX11 alloy showed superior corrosion resistance compared to LX41 alloy. The release rate of metallic ions in Hank's solution cannot accurately reflect the corrosion rate of Mg-Li-Ca alloys due to the formation of corrosion products and their solubility difference.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shuhui Lv, Qiang Yang, Xiaoling Lv, Fanzhi Meng, Xin Qiu
Summary: A ZK60 alloy was prepared by conventional direct extrusion at a reduced temperature, resulting in finer DRXed grains with stronger fiber texture and more abundant lath-like sub-grains. After aging, nanosized precipitates formed in both DRXed and non-recrystallized grains, while coarse MgZn2 particles precipitated on sub-grain boundaries. The aged ZK60 alloy exhibited significantly high ultimate compressive strength, excellent strength-ductility balance, and a weakened tension-compression yield strength asymmetry.
MATERIALS & DESIGN
(2023)
Review
Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
S. V. Satya Prasad, S. B. Prasad, Kartikey Verma, Raghvendra Kumar Mishra, Vikas Kumar, Subhash Singh
Summary: This review paper summarizes the importance of magnesium and its material properties in engineering applications, including the influence of alloying elements on mechanical properties, corrosion behavior, and manufacturing techniques. Additionally, it discusses the recent trends of magnesium alloys, their applications in the biomedical field, and techniques to overcome biocorrosion.
JOURNAL OF MAGNESIUM AND ALLOYS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Cheng Liu, Xiaohua Yang, Jianchao Peng, Bin Liu, Qun Luo, Qian Li, Kuo-Chih Chou
Summary: The deformation behaviors of a dual-phase Mg alloy containing α-Mg and 18R-LPSO phases were investigated in this study. The 18R phase, accounting for 11.3 vol.%, contributed to 23.0% of the overall alloy deformation. The coordinated twinning deformation of α-Mg matrix through the slip of basal dislocations and the kinking deformation of Mg slices induced by the 18R phase were observed during the early stage of deformation. At the end of deformation, a large number of T2-type stacking faults were generated, improving the ductility of the alloy. This work provides a novel strategy for designing high-strength and good ductility dual-phase Mg alloys.
SCRIPTA MATERIALIA
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yunhe Zheng, Laure Bourgeois, Jian-Feng Nie
Summary: This study investigated the structure of precipitates in Mg-Zn-Al alloys, revealing new structural features and proposing that the rod-shaped precipitates can be described by tiling of different shapes.
SCRIPTA MATERIALIA
(2021)
Article
Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Shuhui Lv, Qiang Yang, Fanzhi Meng, Jian Meng
Summary: This study investigates the instantaneous reactions of Al, Mn, Zn, Zr, and Y with Ni to understand their mechanisms in removing Ni impurity. The results reveal the formation of Al4NiY and Al4Ni(Y,Zr) intermetallic phases, which efficiently remove Ni and settle at the bottom of the melt. Adding Y to Mg-Al based alloys also contributes to the removal of Fe and Ni, improving the alloys' corrosion resistance and strength.
JOURNAL OF MAGNESIUM AND ALLOYS
(2023)
Article
Electrochemistry
A. Kosari, M. Ahmadi, F. Tichelaar, P. Visser, Y. Gonzalez-Garcia, H. Zandbergen, H. Terryn, J. M. C. Mol
Summary: This study investigates the interaction mechanisms of cerium-based compounds with aerospace aluminium alloys, focusing on the role of dealloying of intermetallic particles in controlling the rate of local cerium precipitation. The research reveals a connection between the electrochemical response of the AA2024-T3 system and the morphological and compositional evolutions of individual intermetallic particles at different stages of exposure.
JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
B. Anthony, B. Leu, I. J. Beyerlein, V. M. Miller
Summary: Deformation twinning in magnesium alloys is essential for achieving strain in plastically hard directions, but can also cause void formation and crack propagation leading to early failure. Grain boundary particles have the potential to modify twinning behavior and transmission likelihood, but this effect depends on their size, aspect ratio, and orientation relative to the neighboring grain. Particles near the impingement site were found to exacerbate the stress state and increase the likelihood of twin transmission.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Qiang Yang, Shuhui Lv, Zixiang Yan, Xiru Hua, Xin Qiu, Jian Meng
Summary: This study reveals strong ductility asymmetry in extruded Mg alloys containing LPSO plates, which is mainly caused by deformation steps in LPSO plates, contributing significantly to compressive ductility. The results provide fundamental insights into deformation modes and mechanisms of thin LPSO plates, as well as a better understanding of the ductility asymmetry in extruded Mg alloys containing LPSO plates.
MATERIALS & DESIGN
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Qiang Yang, Xiaohan Wu, Wei Zhang, Zixaing Yan, Guodong Tong, Xuegang Chen, Shuhui Lv, Tao Xu, Jun Li, Xin Qiu
Summary: An ultrathin wall Mg-8Zn-8Al alloy with coarse ix-Mg grains, ultra-fine beta-Mg grains, and nano-sized icosahedral quasicrystal phase particles has been manufactured by high-pressure die casting. The alloy exhibits outstanding strength and acceptable elongation. The observations through HAADF-STEM reveal possible amorphous regions, C-containing phase and/or MgO aggregations, and Zn-rich clusters and pyramidal precipitates. The combination of ultra-fine grains and the skeleton consisting of nano-sized I-phase particles and solutes contributes to the ultra-high strength. In addition, the study indicates the unavoidable interaction of alloy melt with CO2 during ultra-thin wall HPDC and the possibility of pyramidal precipitation in Zn-containing magnesium alloys.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Kai Guan, Daisuke Egusa, Eiji Abe, Jinghuai Zhang, Xin Qiu, Qiang Yang, Jian Meng
Summary: The effect of Gd content on the microstructure and tensile properties of as-cast Mg-Sm-Zn-Zr alloy was investigated. The addition of Gd inhibited the segregation behavior of Zn in the Mg3Sm phase and improved the tensile yield stress of the alloy. Gd-modified alloys exhibited significant age-hardening effect, attributed to the high-volume fraction and high density nano-scale precipitates.
JOURNAL OF MAGNESIUM AND ALLOYS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
X. L. Lu, J. Wang, Q. Y. Huang, J. S. Chen, B. Z. Sun
Summary: This study investigates a phase transition from ss S' to ss 1 in a Mg-Y-Ce alloy caused by electron beam irradiation through atomic scale scanning transmission electron microscopy. It is found that the structural evolution from ss S' to ss 1 precipitates can be completed within two minutes for a nanosized particle, mainly due to the increased heat and vacancy concentration generated by the electron beam irradiation accelerating atomic diffusion, particularly along the c-axis direction.
MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Krishna Yaddanapudi, Brandon Leu, M. Arul Kumar, Xin Wang, Julie M. Schoenung, Enrique J. Lavernia, Timothy J. Rupert, Irene J. Beyerlein, Subhash Mahajan
Summary: This study investigated {(1) over bar 012} tensile twins terminating inside the grains of a deformed Mg-Y alloy using transmission electron microscopy. Crystallographic features of the terminating twins and associated slip structures were quantified and analyzed, with local stresses computed using crystal plasticity simulations. Basal < a > and < c + a > matrix glide were found to accommodate the plastic stresses near the terminating twins, with defect contrast consistent with lattice dislocations and twinning partials observed along the twin boundary. A dislocation reaction was proposed to establish the interrelationship between matrix glide and {(1) over bar 012} twinning in Mg-Y alloys.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Severin Kuechler, Vladimir Vojtech, Stephan S. A. Gerstl, Robin E. Schaeublin, Joerg F. Loeffler
Summary: Binary Fe-Cr alloys are model alloys for ferritic steels proposed as structural materials for future fusion reactors. Through investigating the degradation mechanisms induced by heat and irradiation, the phase decomposition and hardness changes of Fe-Cr alloys were studied. The relationship between alloy strength and the α' structure was found, showing that this type of hardening is a general mechanism for mature systems, independent of the nominal alloy composition.
ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Martina Cihova, Eike Muller, Yashoda Chandorkar, Kerstin Thorwarth, Giuseppino Fortunato, Katharina Maniura-Weber, Jorg F. Loffler, Markus Rottmar
Summary: The study demonstrates that an amorphous metal based on palladium shows substantial thrombogenic resistance compared to a state-of-the-art titanium alloy, reducing platelet activation and delaying fibrin formation in contact with human whole blood. However, it also promotes platelet spreading, challenging the traditional view that spreading equals activation. Mechanistic analysis reveals changes in adhered fibrinogen and modified alpha(IIb)beta(3) integrin expression as factors underlying the superior performance of Pd glass in direct blood-contact applications. Structural, thermophysical, and physicochemical characterization further supports the potential of Pd-based glass as a promising bulk material for blood-contacting devices without the need for additional coatings.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Daniel Landmann, Enea Svaluto-Ferro, Meike V. F. Heinz, Patrik Schmutz, Corsin Battaglia
Summary: Sodium-metal chloride batteries are a sustainable and safe alternative to lithium-ion batteries for large-scale stationary electricity storage, but their rate capability is limited. Metal-ion diffusion in the electrolyte is found to limit the chlorination process of both nickel and iron electrodes, instead of metal-ion migration through the metal chloride conversion layer.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
R. E. Schaublin, M. Becker, M. Cihova, S. S. A. Gerstl, D. Deiana, C. Hebert, S. Pogatscher, P. J. Uggowitzer, J. F. Loffler
Summary: The impact of Zn and Ca on the microstructure of lean Mg-Zn-Ca alloys was investigated. The precipitation of binary and ternary precipitates was observed at different temperatures. Hardness testing revealed that GP zones were the most effective factor in hardening.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
V. Vojtech, M. Charilaou, A. Kovacs, A. Firlus, S. S. A. Gerstl, R. E. Dunin-Borkowski, J. F. Loeffler, R. E. Schaeublin
Summary: The Fe-Cr alloy system can undergo phase separation and embrittlement when exposed to elevated temperatures and radiation, affecting its magnetic properties. By studying the microstructural decomposition induced by annealing, it is found that increasing annealing time leads to increased hardness, magnetic saturation, and coercivity.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
William A. Lackington, Peter Schweizer, Mariya Khokhlova, Claudia Cancellieri, Stefanie Guimond, Anne-Lise Chopard-Lallier, Joelle Hofstetter, Patrik Schmutz, Xavier Maeder, Markus Rottmar
Summary: In modern oral maxillofacial surgery, long-term stability of implants is closely related to the quality of osseointegration. This study investigates the influence of femtosecond laser-texturing on physicochemical properties, blood-implant interactions, and osseointegration potential of titanium-aluminium-vanadium (TiAlV) implant surfaces. Laser-texturing enables the production of designer surfaces with defined micro-scale features, showing comparable biological performance to state-of-the-art implants.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Crystallography
Julie Soderlind, Aiden A. Martin, Nicholas P. Calta, Philip J. DePond, Jenny Wang, Bey Vrancken, Robin E. Schaeublin, Indranil Basu, Vivek Thampy, Anthony Y. Fong, Andrew M. Kiss, Joel M. Berry, Aurelien Perron, Johanna Nelson Weker, Kevin H. Stone, Christopher J. Tassone, Michael F. Toney, Anthony Van Buuren, Joerg F. Loeffler, Subhash H. Risbud, Manyalibo J. Matthews
Summary: This study investigates the laser-material interaction and microstructure of magnesium-based alloy WE43 under laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) conditions. The results reveal the characteristics of melt-pool dynamics, pore formation, and microstructure under different laser parameters, providing critical information for the successful implementation of LPBF-produced WE43 implants in biomedical applications.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Kan Ma, Brigitte Decamps, Liangzhao Huang, Robin E. Schaublin, Jorg F. Loffler, Anna Fraczkiewicz, Maylise Nastar, Frederic Prima, Marie Loyer-Prost
Summary: Micro-alloying significantly affects the incubation period of void swelling in face-centered cubic materials. The mechanism relating to the formation of dislocation loops is still unclear. This study uses pure Ni, Ni-0.4wt.%Cr, and Ni-0.4/0.8/1.2wt.%Ti as model materials to investigate the solute effects on loop evolution during early-stage irradiation. Experimental techniques including in-situ transmission electron microscopy and ex-situ irradiation are employed to study the characteristics of dislocation loops. The results show that a small amount of Ti increases loop density, while reducing loop mobility and stacking fault energy. It also stabilizes self-interstitial loops depending on Ti content and temperature.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Roberto Cestaro, Laetitia Philippe, Albert Serra, Elvira Gomez, Patrik Schmutz
Summary: In this study, electrodeposited manganese oxides (MnyOx) films were used as a visible-light-driven photocatalyst for the removal and mineralization of Tetracycline (TC) antibiotics. The best performing manganese oxide showed 92.4% TC mineralization efficiency after 180 min of LED visible illumination. Hydroxyl radicals (center dot OH) were found to be the main active species responsible for the TC degradation. The degradation of the oxide surface structure was identified as the key factor limiting the photocatalytic activity.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
William A. Lackington, Romy Wiestner, Elena Pradervand, Peter Schweizer, Flavia Zuber, Qun Ren, Mihai Stoica, Joerg F. Loeffler, Markus Rottmar
Summary: This study examines the influence of surface chemistry of palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), and titanium (Ti)-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) on their response to biological systems. The chemical composition of BMGs significantly affects their physical and chemical properties, with Pd-based BMGs showing exceptional glass-forming ability and all BMGs having a lower Young's modulus than Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64). The surface chemistry of BMGs remains stable and supports blood biocompatibility, and they outperform Ti64 in promoting mineralization of human bone progenitor cells and exerting antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, indicating their potential as biomaterials for musculoskeletal applications.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kaja I. Ritzau-Reid, Sebastien J. P. Callens, Ruoxiao Xie, Martina Cihova, Daniel Reumann, Christopher L. Grigsby, Lino Prados-Martin, Richard Wang, Axel C. Moore, James P. K. Armstrong, Juergen A. Knoblich, Molly M. Stevens
Summary: 3D organoids are widely used in vitro models for studying human development and disease. However, the current culture methods have limitations in terms of reproducibility and geometric control. A new approach combining stem cell biology and bioengineering is presented, using melt electrospinning writing to generate grid scaffolds that guide the self-organization of pluripotent stem cells. This method allows for high-throughput generation, culture, and analysis of organoids, reducing the time and labor involved in traditional methods.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
R. K. Singh Raman, Cuie Wen, Joerg F. Loeffler
Summary: Magnesium, zinc, or iron alloys without toxic elements are attractive as construction materials for biodegradable implants. The synergistic effects of mechanical stress and corrosive human body fluid can lead to sudden and catastrophic fractures of bioimplants, such as stress corrosion cracking and corrosion fatigue. However, there has been limited investigation into SCC and CF of zinc-based implants. This article provides an overview of the challenges, research needs, and future directions in understanding SCC and CF of zinc alloys in human body fluid.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Alexander Firlus, Mihai Stoica, Gavin B. M. Vaughan, Robin E. Schaeublin, Joerg F. Loeffler
Summary: Fe-based bulk metallic glasses exhibit an anomalously low coefficient of thermal expansion known as the Invar effect. This effect is influenced by rare earth elements but the extent of influence from other elements is unclear.
MATERIALS TODAY NANO
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sandy Sanchez, Stefania Cacovich, Guillaume Vidon, Jean-Francois Guillemoles, Felix Eickemeyer, Shaik M. Zakeeruddin, Jurgen E. K. Schawe, Jorg F. Loffler, Cyril Cayron, Pascal Schouwink, Michael Graetzel
Summary: We employed flash infrared annealing to investigate the phase transition of formamidinium lead triiodide thin films for solar cell applications. By optimizing the film crystallization processing parameters, we achieved highly stable black perovskite solar cells with a high power conversion efficiency.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)