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  • Gibbs-Thomson effect as driving force for liquid film migration: Converting metallic into ceramic fibers through intrinsic oxidation
    Publication . Dias, Marta; Rosinski, M.; Rodrigues, P. C. R.; Correia, J.B.; Carvalho, Patricia Almeida
    ABSTRACT: Liquid film migration is of great practical importance in materials engineering. The phenomenon has been shown to depend on thermal gradients and coherency strain, but no single driving mechanism seems capable of justifying the whole array of experimental observations. On the other hand, the inevitable capillarity effects are often disregarded due to the unknown 3-dimensional geometry of the system. Here, we present evidence of liquid film migration governed primarily by capillarity through a microstructural setup of cylindrical interfaces that allows clear interpretation and modeling. The experiments rely on the strong oxygen-gettering ability of tantalum fibers dispersed in a tungsten matrix and on field-enhanced diffusivity provided by pulse plasma compaction. Tantalum scavenges the residual oxygen present in the W powder and, as a result, oxide films grow around the fibers. These oxide tubes, in liquid state during sintering, migrate toward the fiber axis and eventually become oxide rods surrounded by metallic Ta. The process is driven by the Gibbs-Thomson effect that generates the required composition gradient across the liquid film. An analytical description of the film evolution is implemented by combining the incoming O flux with capillarity-driven migration. Possible contributions from other mechanisms are examined and the relevance of the Gibbs-Thomson effect to the general phenomenon of liquid film migration is established.
  • Hybrid molecular dynamic Monte Carlo simulation and experimental production of a multi-component Cu-Fe-Ni-Mo-W alloy
    Publication . Dias, Marta; Almeida Carvalho, Patricia; Gonçalves, António Pereira; Alves, E.; Correia, J.B.
    ABSTRACT: High-entropy alloys are a class of materials intensely studied in the last years due to their innovative properties. Their unconventional compositions and chemical structures hold promise for achieving unprecedented combinations of mechanical properties. The Cu-Fe-Ni-Mo-W multicomponent alloy was studied using a combination of simulation and experimental production to test the possibility of formation of a simple solid solution. Therefore, Molecular Dynamics and hybrid Molecular Dynamic/Monte Carlo simulations from 10K up to the melting point of the alloy were analyzed together with the experimental production by arc furnace and powder milling. The Molecular Dynamics simulations starting with a bcc type-structure show the formation of a singlephase bcc solid solution type-structure, whereas using Monte Carlo one, generally produced a two-phase mixture. Moreover, the lowest potential energy was obtained when starting from a fcc type-structure and using Monte Carlo simulation giving rise to the formation of a bcc Fe-Mo-W phase and a Cu-Ni fcc type-structure. Dendritic and interdendritic phases were observed in the sample produced by arc furnace while the milled powder evidence an separation of two phases Cu-Fe-Ni phase and W-Mo type-structures. Samples produced by both methods show the formation of bcc and a fcc type-structures. Therefore, the Monte Carlo simulation seems to be closer with the experimental results, which points to a two-phase mixture formation for the Cu-Fe-Ni-Mo-W multicomponent system.
  • Behavior of Cu-Y2O3 and CuCrZr-Y2O3 composites before and after irradiation
    Publication . Martins, Ricardo; Antão, Francisco; Correia, J.B.; Tejado, Elena; Pastor, Jose Ygnacio; Galatanu, Andrei; Almeida Carvalho, Patricia; Alves, E.; Dias, Marta
    ABSTRACT: The Cu-Y2O3 and CuCrZr-Y2O3 materials have been devised as thermal barriers in nuclear fusion reactors. It is expected that in the nuclear environments, the materials should be working on extreme conditions of irradiation. In this work the Cu-Y2O3 and CuCrZr-Y2O3 were prepared and then irradiated in order to understand the surface irradiation resistance of the material. The composites were prepared in a glove box and consolidated with spark plasma sintering. The microstructures revealed regions of Y2O3 dispersion and Y2O3 agglomerates both in the Cu matrix and in the CuCrZr. The irradiated samples did not show any surface modification indicating that the materials seem to be irradiation resistant in the present situation. The thermal conductivity values for all the samples measured are lower than pure Cu and higher than pure W, however are higher than those expected, and therefore, the application of these materials as thermal barriers is compromised.