{"title":"Unveiling the mechanism behind irregular inclusions triggering no HIC cracks in steels","authors":"Rongzhe Hu, Zhixian Peng, Shiqi Zhang, Liquan Ding, Feng Huang, Zhengliang Xue, Jing Liu","doi":"10.1038/s41529-024-00525-y","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41529-024-00525-y","url":null,"abstract":"This research investigates a specific type of irregularly shaped inclusions in steel, which are typically considered detrimental. A comparative study of two steels, treated with different inclusion modification methods by oxide metallurgy technology, reveals that spherical inclusions with complex structures can provide beneficial multipoint trap sites for hydrogen, thereby reducing the risk of hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC). Notably, irregular stripe-shaped silicate-oxide inclusions with sharp tips, due to their hot-soft characteristics during the process of hot-rolling, do not exacerbate cracks but instead mitigate local stresses. Conversely, large single-phase hard inclusions are detrimental to HIC resistance. This investigation provides insights into the mechanisms behind why certain irregular inclusions do not trigger HIC crack after the NACE TM 0284-2016 standard test.","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41529-024-00525-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142574201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A data-driven strategy for phase field nucleation modeling","authors":"Yang Hu, Kai Wang, Robert Spatschek","doi":"10.1038/s41529-024-00529-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41529-024-00529-8","url":null,"abstract":"We propose a data-driven strategy for parameter selection in phase field nucleation models using machine learning and apply it to oxide nucleation in Fe-Cr alloys. A grand potential-based phase field model, incorporating Langevin noise, is employed to simulate oxide nucleation and benchmarked against the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov model. Three independent parameters in the phase field simulations (Langevin noise strength, numerical grid discretization and critical nucleation radius) are identified as essential for accurately modeling the nucleation behavior. These parameters serve as input features for machine learning classification and regression models. The classification model categorizes nucleation behavior into three nucleation density regimes, preventing invalid nucleation attempts in simulations, while the regression model estimates the appropriate Langevin noise strength, significantly reducing the need for time-consuming trial-and-error simulations. This data-driven approach improves the efficiency of parameter selection in phase field models and provides a generalizable method for simulating nucleation-driven microstructural evolution processes in various materials.","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41529-024-00529-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142555537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
L. Brunswic, F. Angeli, S. Gin, E. D. van Hullebusch, M. Tarrago, L. Gautron, D. R. Neuville
{"title":"Surface treatments on commercial glasses: durable impact on the retention of lead, barium and boron","authors":"L. Brunswic, F. Angeli, S. Gin, E. D. van Hullebusch, M. Tarrago, L. Gautron, D. R. Neuville","doi":"10.1038/s41529-024-00526-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41529-024-00526-x","url":null,"abstract":"Glass durability is one of the properties that can be affected by surface treatments such as coatings or chemical attacks. These treatments can be used to reduce the quantities of potentially toxic elements contained in glass that may be released in solution. Five surface treatments were selected: three different coatings (SnO2, TiO2, SiO2) and two acidic attacks (SO2 dealkalization and acid polishing). These treatments were performed on five glass compositions (soda-lime, borosilicate, barium silicate, opal, and lead crystal). Their effects on alteration rates and mechanisms were investigated through a single protocol (acetic acid 4%, 70 °C) simulating accelerated aging conditions for containers of beverages or food. The data collected over 1.3 years showed significant reduction of lead leaching with all treatments except acid polishing. The best reduction factor was obtained with SO2 dealkalization, which also demonstrated beneficial effects towards the retention of Ba by reducing the diffusion of alkalis.","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41529-024-00526-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142519205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evolution of carbides and Charpy toughness in a low alloy bainitic steel during step-up aging process","authors":"Long Jin, Kun Zhang, Ming-Liang Zhu, Fu-Zhen Xuan","doi":"10.1038/s41529-024-00527-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41529-024-00527-w","url":null,"abstract":"The low alloy bainitic steel used in reactor pressure vessels deteriorates during thermal service while the macroscopic thermodynamic parameters that cause thermal aging remains unknown. In this work, a thermal aging restructuring scheme was proposed by step-up aging the steel from 350 °C to 490 °C, with a total duration of 7500 hours. Samples from varied thickness of the steel were characterized in terms of carbides evolution and Charpy impact toughness at 20 °C. The carbide size and its fraction were statistically analyzed showing partial coarsening and dissolution during aging, while the carbide fraction was found linearly correlated with the impact energy for the first time. The critical transition temperature parameter of the aging process was found to be 470 °C for the steel. The macroscopic thermodynamic parameters, including the thermal aging time and temperature, facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the material degradation mechanism and provide a basis for long-term safety of equipment.","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41529-024-00527-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142519183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Simultaneous accelerated stress testing of membrane electrode assembly components in polymer electrolyte fuel cells","authors":"Wataru Yoshimune, Akihiko Kato, Tetsuichiro Hayakawa, Satoshi Yamaguchi, Satoru Kato","doi":"10.1038/s41529-024-00524-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41529-024-00524-z","url":null,"abstract":"The durability of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) in fuel cell electric vehicles is important for the shift from passenger cars to heavy-duty vehicles. The components of a PEFC, namely the proton exchange membrane (PEM), catalyst layer (CL), and gas diffusion layer (GDL), contribute to the degradation of the fuel cell performance. In this paper, we propose a method for simultaneously evaluating the degradation rates of these components by combining electrochemical characterization with operando synchrotron X-ray radiography. The open-circuit voltage, electrochemically active surface area (ECSA), and water saturation were used as the degradation indicators for the PEMs, CLs, and GDLs, respectively. The results of two accelerated stress tests (loading and start-stop cycles) after 10,000 cycles showed that the increase in water saturation owing to the loss of hydrophobicity due to carbon corrosion in the cathode GDL occurred on the same timescale as the degradation in the PEM and cathode CL. Specifically, during the load cycle AST, the cathode CL degraded with a 26% reduction in the ECSA along with the cathode GDL degradation with a 10% increase in water saturation. This suggests that more efforts should be devoted to studies on the durability of GDLs for heavy-duty applications.","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41529-024-00524-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142439145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Patricia Jovičević-Klug, J. Manoj Prabhakar, Cristiano Kasdorf Giesbrecht, Tim M. Schwarz, Carsten Bonnekoh, Michael Rieth, Michael Rohwerder
{"title":"Hydrogen diffusion and trapping in a cryogenic processed high-Cr ferrous alloy","authors":"Patricia Jovičević-Klug, J. Manoj Prabhakar, Cristiano Kasdorf Giesbrecht, Tim M. Schwarz, Carsten Bonnekoh, Michael Rieth, Michael Rohwerder","doi":"10.1038/s41529-024-00522-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41529-024-00522-1","url":null,"abstract":"The effect of hydrogen diffusion and trapping was studied in a high-Cr ferrous alloy using an inverted scanning Kelvin probe and thermal desorption spectroscopy in correlation with microstructure and residual stress study. In addition, different processing of ferritic/martensitic 9Cr1WTaV alloy (EUROFER97) was tested in correlation with observed selected properties to observe induced changes in material degradation and surface. The activation energies for hydrogen traps were shown to have distinct peaks corresponding to different trapping mechanisms, including matrix dislocations and grain boundaries. For the cryogenically treated sample, an additional peak was also identified and correlated with increased carbide precipitation.","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41529-024-00522-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142439144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. I. Ahuir-Torres, S. Jabar, P. Franciosa, D. Ceglarek, H. R. Kotadia
{"title":"The microstructure-corrosion relationships in laser-welded dissimilar steel-to-aluminium joints","authors":"J. I. Ahuir-Torres, S. Jabar, P. Franciosa, D. Ceglarek, H. R. Kotadia","doi":"10.1038/s41529-024-00517-y","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41529-024-00517-y","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigated the corrosion behaviour of dissimilar steel-to-aluminium laser-welded conduction, and keyhole mode (partial- and full-penetration) lap joints through electrochemical techniques and advanced microstructural characterisation. The corrosion resistance of the weld was found to be higher than the base materials, primarily due to the presence of cathodic FexAly (η-Fe2Al5, θ-Fe4Al13, β-FeAl) intermetallic compounds (IMCs) with high corrosion potential. The different micro and macro-galvanic corrosion mechanisms were found at various interfaces around the weld, resulting in localised pitting corrosion. The keyhole mode welding showed improved corrosion resistance, primarily attributed to the type, size, and distribution of IMCs.","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41529-024-00517-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142439132","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Nanoscale heterogeneities dictate corrosion pathways in a high-strength aluminum alloy","authors":"S. Choudhary, R. G. Kelly","doi":"10.1038/s41529-024-00520-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41529-024-00520-3","url":null,"abstract":"Micro-segregation and resulting nanoscale microstructural heterogeneities are unavoidable in wrought 7xxx aluminum alloys produced using current casting and thermomechanical processes. This study demonstrates that these nanoscale heterogeneities significantly impact pit growth in an extruded, age-hardened aluminum alloy 7075-T651. The alloy exhibits a complex microstructure with heterogeneously distributed E-Al18Mg3Cr2 dispersoids, which promote the precipitation of coarse ƞ-Mg(ZnAlCu)2 nanoparticles resulting in the formation of solute-depleted regions both within the grain interior and along the grain boundaries in dispersoid-rich areas. These alterations affect resistance to pit growth at the nanoscale, governing the transition of micro-galvanic sites into large pits with potential for crack initiation. This work underscores the necessity for modifying alloy composition and casting processes to develop superior aluminum alloys for critical applications.","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41529-024-00520-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142383589","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Inhibitor_Mol_VAE: a variational autoencoder approach for generating corrosion inhibitor molecules","authors":"Haiyan Gong, Zhongheng Fu, Lingwei Ma, Dawei Zhang","doi":"10.1038/s41529-024-00518-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41529-024-00518-x","url":null,"abstract":"Deep learning-based generative modeling demonstrates proven advantages as an effective approach in molecular discovery. This study introduces a generative-network based method called Inhibitor_Mol_VAE, which uses a variational autoencoder model to generate corrosion inhibitor molecules with targeted inhibition efficiency. We first evaluate the model’s ability to reconstruct molecules. Then, we assess the model’s ability to generate new inhibitor molecules using physiochemical properties (including MolWt, LogP, Vdw_volume, and Electronegativity). New molecules with high inhibition efficiencies at low concentrations, such as [ethoxy(methoxy)phosphoryl]-phenylmethanol and (alpha-methylamino-benzyl)-phosphonsaeure-monoaethylester are successfully discovered.","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41529-024-00518-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142383555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The dual role of dissolution at a crack tip","authors":"Mingjie Zhao, Wenjia Gu, Derek H. Warner","doi":"10.1038/s41529-024-00513-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41529-024-00513-2","url":null,"abstract":"The scientific literature is rife with conflicting reports regarding the effect of dissolution on fracture. The complexity arises, in part, due to dissolution often being intertwined with various other mechanisms such as hydrogen embrittlement and the formation of debris behind an advancing crack, which can obfuscate the sole contribution of dissolution. Here, we report on the effect of dissolution when acting in isolation via the utilization of an efficient atomistic-based multiscale modeling technique and a specialized interatomic potential. Our results reveal a dual role of dissolution on crack behavior, introducing an additional layer of complexity to the mechanistic basis of environmental effects. This finding, while challenging for engineering prognosis, provides a route for engineering improved materials. Recognizing and navigating this duality could be pivotal to precluding potentially disastrous consequences in a broad array of engineering applications, from harnessing earth’s energy resources to aerospace technologies.","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41529-024-00513-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142329450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}