2008 DEC 22 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to recent research from Taipei, Taiwan, "A multi-stage transformation (MST) has been observed in cold-worked Ti-50.3 at%Ni shape memory alloy by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)."

  "When thickness reduction reaches about 5% strain, the phenomenon is able to occur in 50.3 at%Ni alloy," wrote C.H. Li and colleagues, National Taiwan University.

  The researchers concluded: "The multi-stage transformation behavior is due to interior microstructure variation, i.e., texture formation and defects aggregation which caused localized stress fields and affected the phase transformation behavior. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.MER2008138]'. ...read more

  2008 DEC 1 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "Anodic polarization on SUS304 stainless steel with crevice was carried Out in 3.5 mass% NaCl aqueous solution. After the anodic current density reached i = 10, 12 or 50 A/m(2), the potential at that moment was held constantly for a prescribed period," researchers in Japan report.

  "When an ultrasound (US) was applied to the specimen through the solution during the holding period (if the potential, the current density on the specimen surface was measured and compared to that without the application of US. As a result, both the pitting corrosion and the crevice corrosion were largely suppressed by the application of US in the solution, and the corrosion current density changed almost synchronistically with the cyclic application and the stop of US," wrote R.G. Wang and colleagues ...read more

  2008 DEC 1 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "Slight amounts of carbon (0.015-0.1 mass%) were added into the Fe-30Mn-6Si-5Cr shape memory alloy. The microstructure, precipitation behaviour and shape memory performance of these Fe59Mn30Si6Cr5CX alloys with various thermo-mechanical treatments were investigated," scientists writing in the journal Materials Transactions report.

  "Experimental results show that two particles, the X-phase and M23C6 carbide, are observed within the grain-boundary phases. M23C6 carbide only appears in an alloy with high carbon content, but the X-phase can form in all alloys with low and high carbon contents. The deformation-induced defects in the 10% pre-deformed specimens are preferential sites for nucleation of precipitates (the chi-phase and M23C6 carbide) in the following aging treatment. After 550-800 degrees C aging, the rearranged uniform defects and homogeneous precipitates within the grain interior will strengthen the matrix and increase the shape recovery ability," wrote C.H. Yang and colleagues, National Taiwan University ...read more