Iranian Journal of Materials Science and Engineering

---

Abstract: Thermodynamic computational packages MTDATA and FactSage have been used to carry out calculations on the variation with temperature of the phases precipitated on cooling in both oxidising and reducing conditions of a typical ladle slag composition, in the temperature range 1700 - 900°C. The current coverage of the databases associated with the computational packages is discussed in relation to their application to slag - refractory interaction and the validity of the results is compared with some relevant experimental data and phase equilibrium studies

---

Geometrical design of the spiral crystal selector can affect crystal orientation in the final single crystal structure. To achieve a better understanding of conditions associated with the onset of crystal orientation in a spiral crystal selector, temperature field was investigated using three-dimensional finite element method during the process. Different geometries of spiral crystal selector were used to produce Al- 3 wt. % Cu alloy single crystal using a Bridgman type furnace. The Crystal orientation of the samples was determined using electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) and optical microscopy. Analysing the temperature field in the crystal selector revealed that, the orientation of growing dendrites against liquidus isotherm in the spiral selector was the reason for crystal misorientation which differs in various selector geometries. Increasing the take-off angle from 35° up to 45° increases the misorientation with respect to <001> direction. Further increase of take-off angle greater than 45° will decrease the crystal misorientation again and the efficiency of the selector to produce a single grain is decreased.

---

In this research, the effect of annealing and aging temperature as well as the effect of quenching media on the microstructure, hardness and dry sliding wear behavior of Ti-6Al-4V alloy has been studied. Cylindrical samples with the diameter of 10 mm and the height of 20mm were solutionized at 930˚C and 1060˚C for 600 seconds and then were quenched in the cold water and in the air. The samples were aged at different temperature of 480˚C, 550˚C and 610˚C for 360 s to increase the hardness. Heat treated samples were tested using standard pin-on-disc test machine at the applied loads of 100, 150 and 200 N. Microstructural investigations using scanning electron microscope revealed that for the samples solutionized at 930˚C and quenched in the water, the microstructure is composed of primary α and high volume fraction of martensitic α΄ phase with fine precipitated of β between martensitic lathes. In the case of air cooled samples, transformed β has also been  appeared in the vicinity of primary α. For the samples solutionized at 1060˚C and quenched in the water, fully martensitic micro structure with fine β precipitates was observed. For the sample solutionized at 1060˚C and air quenched, plate like α and lamellar grain boundary β were detected. The maximum hardness value relates to the sample solutionized at 1060˚C and quenched in water which is equal to 433 HV. Different wear mechanisms, including oxidative wear, scratch, and delamination occurred at the worn surfaces at different applied loads. For the samples quenched in the water, the oxidative wear mechanism governing at low applied load and oxide debris was observed as separate or compacted particles which formed in the contact between pin and steel counter face detached from the sample. At higher applied loads, delamination and scratch mechanism was also observed and metallic plate like debris was detached from the sample. Mechanically mixed layer (MML) was formed on the surface of the pin at high applied loads and for the samples with low hardness value adhesion marks were also revealed on the steel disc. The minimum weight loss in the wear test is related to the sample quenched from the 1060ºC in the cold water and aged at 550 ºC .  

---

In the research, Titanium dioxide/Graphene Oxide thin films at different concentration of graphene oxide (0.0, 0.015, 0.030, 0.045 and 4.5 g/ml) were prepared by spin coating method. Characterization of the samples was performed using X-ray diffraction and Field Emission Scannig Eelectron Microscope and Atomic Force Microscope. X-ray diffraction results show that by adding the graphene oxide, the peak associated with (001) reflection is observed at the angle of 10.5°. The analysis of Eenergy Dispersive X-ray also confirms the formation of graphene oxide sheets. Considering the excellent photo catalytic and antibacterial properties of titanium dioxide, the effect of adding the different concentration of graphene oxide on these properties has been investigated. The results show that the presence of graphene oxide increases the inhibition of Escherichia coli bacterial growth.