The effect of TiC and VC nano-precipitate size on the hydrogen embrittlement of ferritic steels was studied in this work. Steels containing two size distributions (10 nm or less and 10 - 100 nm) of TiC and VC carbides are subjected to tensile tests in-situ in an electrochemical hydrogen charging environment. Hydrogen is found to be trapped in interstitial matrix sites on the precipitate/matrix interface with activation energies of 14 - 20 kJ/mol and inside misfit dislocation cores with energies of 27 - 37 kJ/mol. All steels are embrittled by 15 to 20%, except the TiC steel with semi-coherent carbides up to 100 nm, which is embrittled by 37%. This is caused by accelerated intergranular fracture as a result of hydrogen trapped in dislocation pile-ups around grain boundary precipitates. The steel with coherent VC nano-carbides retained the highest strength and ductility during in-situ testing. This is therefore the optimal carbide configuration for use in hydrogen environments.@en

Superelastic metamaterials have attracted significant attention recently, but achieving such functionality remains challenging due to partial superelasticity and premature fracture in additively manufactured components. To address these issues, this study investigates the premature fracture in Ni-rich NiTi metamaterials fabricated by laser powder bed fusion. A comparative analysis of two structures (Gyroid network and Diamond shell) reveals that the structural stability of bending- and stretching-dominated structures is reversed compared to typical elastic-plastic response, due to the tension-compression asymmetry of base NiTi. The premature fracture and partial superelasticity of these as-fabricated samples are attributed to low deformation ability for accommodating tensile stress. Based on these findings, a heat treatment introducing Ni₄Ti₃ precipitates was employed, successfully achieving macroscopic superelasticity in the NiTi metamaterials, with consistency between model prediction and experiments.

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In this study, three-dimensional functionally graded NiTi bulk materials were fabricated using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) by in-situ adding Ni powder into equiatomic NiTi powder. The gradient zone exhibited a Ni composition ranging from approximately 49.6 to 52.4 at.% over a distance of about 2.75 mm. The functionalities along the compositional gradient were examined through differential scanning calorimetry analysis and spherical indentation. This unique gradient resulted in location-specific functionalities, including superelasticity characterized by wide and narrow hysteresis loops, shape memory effect, and various phase transformation temperatures. The rapid cooling rate during fabrication led to the presence of excess Ni in the solid-solute state within NiTi. This unique solid-solute compositional gradient in NiTi resulted in varying lattice parameters, influencing the compatibility between martensite and austenite and allowing for tailored hysteresis. This discovery presents new avenues for designing multifunctional materials through in-situ additive manufacturing.

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This study concentrates on the fatigue crack propagation behaviour of a high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel and austenitic stainless (AS) steel bi-material part, as obtained by wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM). Due to partial mixing in the weld pool, the first layer of AS steel laid onto the previously deposited HSLA steel results in a diluted interface layer of distinct chemical and microstructural characteristics. Average Paris parameters are obtained for the interface layer along transverse and longitudinal planes to the deposition direction (BD-LD plane: m = 2.79, log₁₀(C) = –7.83 log₁₀(da/dN)) (BD-TD plane: m = 3.47, log₁₀(C) = –8.39 log₁₀(da/dN)). However, it is observed that this interface layer manifests an intriguing crack propagation behaviour. FCGR consistently drop as the crack front transitions from undiluted AS steel to the interface. At ΔK = 20 MPa⋅m^0.5, the greatest Δ is −0.77 log₁₀ steps (R = 0.1). As cracks near the HSLA fusion line, rates re-accelerate up to + 0.75 log₁₀ steps (R = 0.5). The phenomenon is attributed to the interplay between deformation-induced martensitic transformation and pre-existing allotropic martensite. Our findings, derived from a series of fatigue tests in correlation with multiscale microstructural and fracture characterization, offer insights into the damage-tolerant behaviour of these bi-material structures.

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Microstructure features including grain morphology and texture are key factors in determining the properties of laser additively manufactured metallic components. Beyond the traditional trial-and-error approach, which is costly and time-consuming, microstructure control increasingly relies on predictions from mechanistic models. However, existing mechanistic models to predict microstructure and texture are computationally expensive. Here, we present a cellular automata solidification model, which is up to two orders-of-magnitude faster than traditional models. By analytically calculating growth length and utilizing a multi-level capture algorithm, a large time step can be employed without compromising simulation accuracy. The model is validated through simulations of 316L steel and three NiTi cases, showing good agreement with experimental results. Our findings reveal that preferential orientations are selected by the vertical and the inclined temperature gradients from multi-pass temperature profiles, leading to different microstructures and textures. Three-dimensional additive manufacturing simulations demonstrate that orientation-dependent growth patterns govern grain growth, leading to columnar, planar and spiral shaped grains. This approach offers a significant reduction in computational cost while maintaining accuracy, contributing to the practical application of microstructure control in additive manufacturing. The insights gained on grain and texture evolution pave the way for customized microstructure design through additive manufacturing.@en

Boron doped MoSi₂ particles have been envisioned as sacrificial particles for self-healing thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) but their oxidation behaviour is yet not well understood. In this work, oxidation of MoSi₂ based particle is studied in the temperature range of 1050–1200 °C. The oxidation proceeds from a transient to a steady-state oxidation stage. The kinetics during steady-state oxidation is captured with a thermal diffusion-based model. As compared to the oxidation of pure MoSi₂ particles, the addition of boron strongly enhances the silica formation. Also, a finer dispersion of MoB_x in the MoSi₂ matrix accelerates the formation of silica. The oxide growth rate constant increases proportional with the boron content of the MoSi₂ particles. This enhanced oxidation is related to the microstructure of the oxide scale. Upon oxidation, boron yields B₂O₃, which promptly merge with SiO₂ to form amorphous borosilicate, hindering the formation of crystalline SiO₂. Consequently, the migration of oxygen in the borosilicate oxide scale is faster than in the silica oxide scale on pure MoSi₂ particles.

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This study examines the interface layer between a high-strength low-alloy steel and an overlaying austenitic stainless steel as deposited through wire arc additive manufacturing in a bi-metal block. By utilizing optical and electron microscopy techniques, and accompanied by phenomenological and thermodynamic modeling, the work elucidates on the nature of the distinct microstructural features at a new level of detail. Results showcase martensite in the form of a band along the fusion line of the first dissimilar layer, as well as in segregated islands. Within the same bead, yet away from the fusion line, an austenite matrix is identified alongside a large phase fraction of primary ferrite and sparse bainite. These findings enhance our understanding of the nature of the heterogeneous microstructure at the interface of a bi-metal build and establish empirical evidence for future modeling of microstructural development. Supplementary characterization reveals the impact of these microstructural heterogeneities on bulk mechanical performance. Hardness indents exhibit varied results along the interface, peaking at martensite islands with values up to 370HV_0.2, surpassing the neighboring matrix by 50%. Under quasi-static tensile loading, bi-metallic specimens display strain partitioning along the fusion boundary, as confirmed by Digital Image Correlation. When compared to the adjoining stainless steel, the diluted interface layer exhibits superior strength (σ_y: 411 MPa) and comparable ductility (24%), leading to necking and failure away from this region. These results help predict the structural performance of bi-metal parts, and build a base for further research in more intricate loading scenarios, such as crack propagation processes.

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This study investigated the feasibility of in-situ manufacturing of a functionally graded metallic-regolith multimaterial. To fabricate the gradient, digital light processing, an additive manufacturing technique, and spark plasma sintering were selected due to their compatibility with metallic-ceramic processing in a space environment. The chosen methods were initially assessed for their ability to effectively consolidate regolith alone, before progressing to sintering regolith directly onto metallic substrates. Optimised processing conditions based on the initial powder particle size, different compositions of the lunar regolith powders and sintering temperatures were identified. Experiments have successfully proven the consolidation of lunar regolith simulants first via near-net shaping with digital light processing and then spark plasma sintering at 1050 ℃ under 80 MPa. The metallic powders were fully densified at relatively low temperatures and a pressure of 50 MPa with spark plasma sintering. Furthermore, the lunar regolith and Ti6Al4V gradient were found to be the most promising multimaterial combination. While the current study showed that it is feasible to manufacture a functionally graded metallic-regolith, further developments of a fully optimised method have the potential to produce tailored, high-performance multimaterials in an off-earth manufacturing setting for the production of aerospace, robotic, or architectural components.@en

The binary Fe–Ni system offers alloys with notably low linear coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE), contingent upon their Ni content. In this respect twin-wire arc additive manufacturing (T-WAAM) presents the opportunity of in-situ alloying through the simultaneous feeding of two metal wires into a weld pool to obtain desired alloy compositions. This study aims to deposit a graded wall with Ni contents targeted at 42, 46, and 52 wt% in the building direction of the wall, along with a block comprising of 46 wt% Ni, employing the T-WAAM approach. The results show effective incorporation of additional Ni into the weld pool and geometrically stable weld beads in the continuous metal transfer mode during the T-WAAM process. This mode led to the defect-free and chemically stable deposition of the graded wall and the block with average Ni contents of 42.3 ± 1.1, 45.8 ± 1.4, 52.6 ± 0.8 wt%, and 46.4 ± 0.9 wt%, respectively. The measured Curie temperatures of the as-deposited alloys and the mean CTE values of alloy 46 were found to be comparable to the commercial alloys. In summary, this study validates the feasibility of in-situ deposition of low thermal expansion alloy compositions, thereby enabling the possibility of on-demand thermal expansion properties.

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Abstract: This work studies the effect of TiC and VC precipitate sizes on hydrogen trapping and embrittlement. Two experimental ferritic HSLA steels containing either TiC or VC carbides for precipitation strengthening are annealed in nitrogen and hydrogen gas. This results in a hydrogen uptake of up to 0.91 and 0.44 wppm in the TiC and VC steels, respectively. TEM and TDS analysis indicate that semi-coherent TiC particles trap hydrogen in misfit dislocations with an activation energy of 43 kJ/mol. Coherent VC particles are suggested to trap hydrogen in interface carbon vacancies, with an energy between 53 and 72 kJ/mol. Carbon vacancies are the likely trapping site in incoherent precipitates, where SIMS imaging confirms that incoherent TiC precipitates trap preferentially near the interface, whereas incoherent VC precipitates trap throughout their bulk. Neither alloy is embrittled in SSRT tests after hydrogen absorption, which shows that these precipitates can be used as both a hydrogen sink and a strengthening mechanism in steels. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.)

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Additively manufactured Nitinol (NiTi) architectured materials, designed with unit cell architectures, hold promise for customisable applications. However, the common assumption of homogeneity in modeling and additive manufacturing of these architectured materials needs further investigation because geometric-dependent melt pool behaviour results in inhomogeneous microstructure and thermomechanical properties. This study shows that property inhomogeneity at the mesoscale is one reason for pseudo-linear response and partial superelasticity of the fabricated NiTi body-centered cubic (BCC) architectured materials. We modeled using a phenomenological constitutive relation and additively manufactured NiTi architectured materials with varying relative densities. These fabricated samples showed distinct microstructural textures and compositions that affected their local recoverability. The edge effects and laser turn regions were identified as the causes underlying the observed microstructural inhomogeneity. The dimensionless Fourier number is used to describe the transition of printing modes. This study provides valuable information on rigorous experimental/computational consistency in future work.

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In this work, the hydrogen fatigue of pipeline steel X60, its girth welds and weld defects were investigated through in situ fatigue testing. A novel in situ gaseous hydrogen charging fatigue set-up was developed, which involves a sample geometry that mimics a small-scale pipeline with high internal hydrogen gas pressure. The effect of hydrogen was investigated by measuring the crack initiation and growth, using a direct current potential drop (DCPD) set-up, which probes the outer surface of the specimen. The base and weld metal specimens both experienced a reduction in fatigue life in the presence of hydrogen. For the base metal, the reduction in fatigue life manifested solely in the crack growth phase; hydrogen accelerated the crack growth by a factor of 4. The crack growth rate for the weld metal accelerated by a factor of 8. However, in contrast to the base metal, the weld metal also experienced a reduction of 57% in resistance to crack initiation. Macropores (>500 µm in size) on the notch surface reduced the fatigue life by a factor of 11. Varying the pressure from 70 barg to 150 barg of hydrogen caused no difference in the hydrogen fatigue behavior of the weld metal. The fracture path of the base and weld metal transitioned from transgranular and ductile in nature to a mixed-mode transgranular and intergranular quasi-cleavage fracture. Hydrogen accelerated the crack growth by decreasing the roughness- and plasticity-induced crack closure. The worst case scenario for pipelines was found in the case of weld defects. This work therefore highlights the necessity to re-evaluate pipelines for existing defects before they can be reused for hydrogen transport.@en

Multi-barrier cleavage models consider cleavage fracture which is characterized by a series of microscale events. One of the challenges for multi-barrier cleavage models is the strong variations of cleavage parameters across different types of steels. The source and magnitude of the variations have not been studied systematically. In the current paper, cleavage parameters corresponding to fracture initiation at a hard particle and crack propagation overcoming grain boundaries are determined for three bainitic steels, a martensitic steel, and a ferritic steel, using a recently proposed model. It is found that the particle fracture parameter depends on particle morphology and composition, while the grain boundary cleavage parameter depends on the hierarchical grain structure. The determined values of cleavage parameters present a high degree of consistency among the five different steels, which allows the further application on microstructure design to control macroscopic toughness.

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The pursuit of enhancing NiTi superelasticity through laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) and [001] texture creation poses a challenge due to increased susceptibility to hot cracking in the resulting microstructure with columnar grains. This limitation restricts NiTi's application and contributes to material waste. To overcome this, we introduce a pioneering approach: utilising spark plasma sintering (SPS) to heal directional cracks in [001] textured L-PBF NiTi shape memory alloy. Diffusion bonding and oxygen utilisation for Ti₂NiO_x formation was found to successfully heal the cracks. SPS enhances mechanical properties, superelasticity at higher temperatures, and two-way shape memory strain during thermomechanical cycling. This work provides an alternative solution for healing cracks in L-PBF parts, enabling the sustainable reuse of cracked materials. By implementing SPS, this approach effectively addresses hot cracking limitations, expanding the application potential of L-PBF NiTi parts while improving their functional and mechanical properties.

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High strength steels are widely used for structural applications, where a combination of excellent strength and ductile-to-brittle transition (DBT) properties are required. However, such a combination of high strength and toughness can be deteriorated in the heat affected zone (HAZ) after welding. This work aims to develop a relationship between microstructure and cleavage fracture in the most brittle areas of welded S690 high strength structures: coarse-grained and intercritically reheated coarse-grained HAZ (CGHAZ and ICCGHAZ). Gleeble thermal simulations were performed to generate three microstructures: CGHAZ and ICCGHAZ at 750 and 800 °C intercritical peak temperatures. Their microstructures were characterised, and the tensile and fracture properties were investigated at − 40 °C, where cleavage is dominant. Results show that despite the larger area fraction of martensite-austenite (M-A) constituents in ICCGHAZ 750 °C, the CGHAZ is the zone with the lowest fracture toughness. Although M-A constituents are responsible for triggering fracture, their small size (less than 1 μm) results in local stress that is insufficient for fracture. Crack propagation is found to be the crucial fracture step. Consequently, the harder auto-tempered matrix of CGHAZ leads to the lowest fracture toughness. The main crack propagates transgranularly, along {100} and {110} planes, and neither the necklace structure at prior austenite grain boundaries of ICCGHAZs nor M-A constituents are observed as preferential sites for crack growth. The fracture profile shows that prior austenite grain boundaries and other high-angle grain boundaries (e.g., packet and block) with different neighbouring Bain axes can effectively divert the cleavage crack. Moreover, M − A constituents with internal sub-structures, which have high kernel average misorientation and high-angle boundaries, are observed to deflect and arrest the secondary cracks. As a result, multiple pop-ins in load-displacement curves during bending tests are observed for the investigated HAZs.

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Mo(Al_xSi_1-x)₂ alloy with x in the range of 0.35–0.65 were prepared by a one-step spark plasma sintering. To study the exclusive formation of an α-Al₂O₃ scale, oxidation experiments were conducted in low and high oxygen partial pressure ambient at 1373 K; viz.: 10⁻¹⁴ and 0.21 atm. The oxidation kinetics follows a parabolic rate law after a transient period. A counter-diffusion process of O and Al along grain boundaries of Al₂O₃ scale is responsible for the equiaxed and columnar grain growth based on a two-layered microstructure. The formation of a dense equiaxed α-Al₂O₃ layer contributes to excellent oxidation resistance.

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Sub-size specimen testing offers a potentially elegant solution to accompany fatigue life assessments in determining vital fatigue parameters such as effective fatigue crack growth propagation thresholds (ΔK_th,eff). Additively manufactured parts stand to benefit from this in potential build-by-build fatigue validation without foregoing process-inherent material saving and low lead times. In this study, sub-size Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) produced Ti-6Al-4 V SENB specimens built in two orientations with stress relieved and annealed material states are considered. Scanning electron microscopy with electron backscatter diffraction is used to consider both meso- and microstructural features, complimented by digital image correlation (DIC) for determining local stress intensity and triaxiality around the crack tip. Results show inconsistent near-threshold fatigue behaviour linked to the microstructure of annealed material, where the fatigue threshold in sub-size specimens is reduced. Furthermore, reducing specimen size influences both in- and out-of-plane crack tip constraint, with higher constraint experienced by the sub-size specimens. Overall, this study presents and discusses the domain and suitability in using sub-size specimen FCGR threshold testing for LPBF produced Ti-6Al-4 V builds considering their unique meso- and microstructural features.

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To prevent premature triggering of the healing reaction in Mo-Si containing self-healing thermal barrier coating system, an oxygen impenetrable shell (α-Al₂O₃) around the sacrificial healing particles (MoSi₂) is desired. Here an encapsulation method is presented through selective oxidation of Al in Mo(Al_xSi_1-x)₂ particles. Healing particles of Mo(Al_xSi_1-x)₂ is designed in terms of alumina shell thickness, particle size and fraction Al dissolved. By replacing Si by Al in MoSi₂ up to the maximum solubility (x = 0.65) a strong crack healing ability is maintained (relative volume expansion ≥ 40 %). The formed exclusive α-Al₂O₃, featuring a two-layered structure, results from a counter-diffusion process along the grain boundaries, and its oxidation kinetics fits well with the 3D diffusion-Jander model. After 16 h exposure in gaseous ambient with a pO₂ of 5 × 10^-10 atm. at 1100 °C, a closed and dense shell of α-Al₂O₃ is formed with a thickness of about 1.3 µm. The oxide shell produced under this condition provided healing particles with significantly improved stability upon exposure to high pO₂ of 0.2 atm. at 1100 °C for 50 h. The particles after exposure feature an inner core of MoSi₂ with Al completely consumed and an oxide shell of α-Al₂O₃.

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Electrochemical tests and surface analysis were applied to study the corrosion behavior and passive film characteristics of three-dimensional-printed NiTi shape memory alloys fabricated by laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) in artificial saliva at 37 °C. The passivity of L-PBF NiTi shows to be influenced by the process parameters and resulting morphological and physicochemical surface properties. The results show that the defects at the surface of L-PBF NiTi can promote the passivation rate in the early stages of exposure but a slowly formed passive film shows the best corrosion protection. The thickness of the passive film is positively correlated with its corrosion protective performance. The L-PBF NiTi alloy prepared at a linear energy density of 0.2 J·m⁻¹ and volumetric energy density of 56 J·mm⁻³ shows the least defects and best corrosion protection. An outer Ti-rich and inner Ni-rich dense passive film could be also obtained showing higher corrosion resistance. Graphic Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

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Superelastic metallic materials possessing large recoverable strains are widely used in automotive, aerospace and energy conversion industries. Superelastic materials working at high temperatures and with a wide temperature range are increasingly required for demanding applications. Until recently, high-temperature superelasticity has only been achievable with multicomponent alloys fabricated by complex processes. In this study, a novel framework of multi-scale models enabling texture and microstructure design is proposed for high-performance NiTi fabrication via laser powder bed fusion. Based on the developed framework, a Ni-lean Ni(49.4 at.%)-Ti alloy is, for the first time, endowed with a 4% high-temperature compressive superelasticity. A 001 texture, unfavorable for plastic slip, is created to realize enhanced functionality. The unprecedented superelasticity can be maintained up to 453 K, which is comparable with but has a wider superelastic temperature range (∼110 K) than rare earth alloyed NiTi alloys, previously only realizable with grain refinement, and other complicated post-processing operations. At the same time, its shape memory stability is also improved due to existing textured 100 martensite and intergranular precipitation of Ti₂NiOx. This discovery reframes the way that we design superior performance NiTi based alloys through directly tailoring crystallographic orientations during additive manufacturing.

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