Browsing by Author "Shaw, Martin"

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    The influence of elemental partitioning on hardness in a 12% chromium dual-phase steel
    (1990) Philcox, Ann E; Shaw, Martin
    During the annealing treatment in the production of dual phase steels, partitfoning of alloying elements can occur depending on competitive solubility in the ferrite and austenite for the specific partitioning species. An investigation of the partitioning of substitutional elements was considered paramount in understanding certain anomalies that had been identified by previous researchers in various studies of a dualphase 12% Chromium steel, designated 3CR12. These anomalies concerned observed increases in bulk hardness that could not be attributed to changes in the volume fraction of martensite produced after exposure to a range of temperatures within the dual phase field. Subsequent experiments revealed an unexpected increase in the microhardness of the martensite phase prOduced by heat treatment in the temperature range of interest. In this thesis conventional analytical measurements using Energy dispersive X-ray analysis facilities attached to a Scanning Electron microscope have been utilised to determine the compositions of the two phases in the alloy. A range of temperatures in the dual phase region have been investigated at holding durations of 1, 4 and 20 hours. It was found that partitioning of substitutional elements was occurring, however no changes were observed as a function of holding time. Further empirical data was obtained using dilatometric methods. This strongly suggested that interstitial concentrations were increasing as a function of annealing time and clarified the anomalies observed during previous studies on 3CR12. Further study includes that of substitutional element partitioning in the prior states of the commercially produced hot-rolled and annealed 3CR12 alloy. These include the as cast slab and the hot-rolled slab, as well as the final hot-rolled and annealed slab. Segregation was found to occur in the as cast slab. Subsequent investigation showed the presence of δ-ferrite in the final processing stages of the hot-rolled and annealed product.
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    Processing and properties of silicon nitride ceramics
    (1993) Nel, Jacqueline Margot; Shaw, Martin; Paterson, Adrian; Allen, Colin
    Silicon nitride, Si₃N₄, ceramics were produced using either silicon or silicon nitride powder. The silicon was reaction bonded in nitrogen atmosphere to form reaction bonded Si₃N₄,which was then sintered between 1700°C and 1800°C to form a dense Si₃N₄ ceramic. The silicon nitride powder compacts were also sintered between 1700°C and 1800°C. In order to achieve densification Y₂O₃-A1₂O₃ additive combination was used in both processing routes. The physical and mechanical properties of the Si₃N₄ materials was found to be dependent on the processing conditions. The post sintered reaction bonded Si₃N₄ materials had the highest densities and hardness values, while the sintered Si3N4 materials had the highest strength and toughness values. The microstructure was also influenced to a great extent by the processing conditions, and this in tum influenced the mechanical properties of the ceramics.