Projects / Programmes
Surface physics and chemistry of metallic materials
January 1, 2009
- December 31, 2013
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.04.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Materials science and technology |
|
| 2.09.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Electronic components and technologies |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T450 |
Technological sciences |
Metal technology, metallurgy, metal products |
| P250 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Condensed matter: structure, thermal and mechanical properties, crystallography, phase equilibria |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.05 |
Engineering and Technology |
Materials engineering |
surfaces and interfaces, equilibrium and non-equilibrium segregation, ultra thin segregated and deposited films on the surfaces of transition metals, nanostructured surfaces, microstructure micro texture carbide precipitation mechanism, structural brittleness of stainless steels, surface engineering, metallurgical coatings, material degradation, bio corrosion microstructure and micro texture modelling
Researchers (26)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
In the research program ''Physics and chemistry of surfaces of metallic materials'' investigations of the atomic structure and chemical composition of surfaces as well as experimental investigations of properties of these materials are involved with the aim to establish the relation microstructure-composition-properties. In the program several investigation fields using similar methods of surface analysis are included. The program group is active in fundamental and applied research, and has an active RD cooperation with industrial and energy companies, such as steam power and nuclear power plants in Slovenia.
1 Engineering of interfaces and nanostructure include:
1) Model investigations of the segregation of impurities on the surface of FeSi single crystals;
2) Kinetics and thermodynamics of the equilibrium segregation of Cu, Cr, Sb, Se, Sn, and As on FeSi polycrystalline alloys and its influence on the magnetic properties;
3) Relaxation phenomena, surface reconstruction and micro-texture formation;
4) Theory of non equilibrium segregation on free surfaces of iron alloys;
5) Concept of the grain boundary engineering of iron alloys;
6) Grain boundaries structure, disorientation of grains in polycrystalline materials, microchemistry of free surfaces and formation of carbide precipitates on interfaces in CrMo steels. Modelling of the microstructure and effect of deformation on the kinetics and the composition of carbide precipitates.
7) Phosphorus segregations on grain boundaries in heat treatment steels. This segregation impairs strongly the properties of some steels;
8) Mechanism of the initial oxidation phase of In, Sn, and InSn ''in situ'' deposited on different substrates in the analytical vessel of the AE spectrometer; kinetics and thermodynamics of the dissociation of oxides formed on the liquid InSn alloy and effect of the substrate;
9) Surfaces and coatings of nanocrystalline powders for use in high frequency range;
10) Phase composition of intermetallic compounds in aluminium alloys;
11) Decarburisation mechanism of soft magnetic steels, kinetics and thermodynamics of the process by very low carbon content.
2 Correlation among processes in solids and on the surfaces and interfaces and the related mechanical and physical properties
(1) Structural brittleness of stainless NiFeMo alloys with a two phase microstructure. The aim to determine the kinetics of the spinodal decomposition in ferrite and it effect on the mechanical properties. Parallel, a method for the determination of the decomposition kinetics based on the change of coercitivity will be investigated;
(2) Mechanism of change of notch toughness transition temperature of welds of the fine grained steel Niomol 490 K used on advice of the institute for the construction of the Sermin vessel for liquefied gas;
(3) Mechanism of the increase of the transition temperature of structural steels after strain ageing;
(4) Change of temperature at the fracturing of Charpy notch specimens in transition temperature due to the dissipation of deformation energy as heat will be investigated with the aim to develop computer model for the deduction of the local increase of temperature and to establish the real fracturing temperature;
(5) Development of a modern hot rolling technology suited for the use on existing equipment in Slovenian steelworks.
3 Surface engineering topics, related to the manufacturing of tools for the Slovenian industry are investigated. The properties of vacuum heat treated tools and parts submitted to different types of wear are significantly improved with surface hardening. The research program in this field will consist of:
(1) Optimisation of the nitrided layer in the dependence of the application and the characterisation of it microstruture and mechanical as well as tribological properties;
(2) Optimisation of compound (two and more) coatings with nitride as a base substrate for hot working tools;
(3) Characterisa
Significance for science
The fundamental research of surfaces and grain boundaries and the modification of the surfaces of metallic materials enabled the better understanding of some physical and chemical aspects which are crucial for the processes on the surfaces, such as recrystallization, oxidation, corrosion, formation of nano and microstructures. They all have the crucial influence on mechanical and physical properties of metallic materials. Advanced modifications of the metallic material surfaces, alloys with shape memory effect and the super elasticity enable to develop the advanced applications to the field of biomedical appliances. The modified surfaces preventing biofouling in sea and fresh water as well as for heat exchangers. The research of coherent, semicoherent and noncoherent steel precipitates for steels used at the nuclear and steam power plants enabled to form the model for the determination of creep resistance of materials predicting lifetime of the used components. The extreme importance is given to the three dimensional modelling of microstructure of metallic materials for which the large database of experimental data is needed. The observation of transformation processes on the material surfaces using different techniques was studied. The research of nanostructured bainitic steels enabled the optimization of high strength steels used for the automotive industry. On the field of the surface engineering using the heat treatment and the deposition of HSLA coatings on the steels with the diffusion interlayer formed by the PACVD technique the new findings regarding the composite materials was enabled as well as the better understanding of the correlation between the diffusion of alloy elements of the composite material, the diffusion of nitrogen and the emergence of nitrides.
Significance for the country
The research program Surface physics and chemistry of metallic materials has a very significant impact on the technical development of Republic Slovenia. The engineering of processes on the surface and grain boundaries of metallic material as well as the modification of the surfaces enabled us the development of the advanced metallic materials having the tailored and programmed physical and chemical properties. The results of other research fields and their application to the Slovenian steel and aluminium industry as well as into the tool making and energy production facilities will raise the added values and open the new demands to employ the highly skilled and educated people. The Slovenian tool making industry will significantly benefit through the improved technologies of vacuum heat treatment providing the tool products with better multilayer hard coatings. The plasma PACVD technology will also enable the longer life times for tools with the surface treated materials. One of the aims is also to develop the large scale hard coatings to use at large tools, which poses a significant technological challenge.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
