Topic Review
Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing for Aluminum-Lithium Alloys
Out of all the metal additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, the directed energy deposition (DED) technique, and particularly the wire-based one, are of great interest due to their rapid production. In addition, they are recognized as being the fastest technique capable of producing fully functional structural parts, near-net-shape products with complex geometry and almost unlimited size. There are several wire-based systems, such as plasma arc welding and laser melting deposition, depending on the heat source. The main drawback is the lack of commercially available wire; for instance, the absence of high-strength aluminum alloy wires. Therefore, this entry covers conventional and innovative processes of wire production and includes a summary of the Al-Cu-Li alloys with the most industrial interest in order to foment and promote the selection of the most suitable wire compositions. The role of each alloying element is key for specific wire design in WAAM; this entry describes the role of each element (typically strengthening by age hardening, solid solution and grain size reduction) with special attention to lithium. At the same time, the defects in the WAAM part limit its applicability. For this reason, all the defects related to the WAAM process, together with those related to the chemical composition of the alloy, are mentioned. Finally, future developments are summarized, encompassing the most suitable techniques for Al-Cu-Li alloys, such as PMC (pulse multicontrol) and CMT (cold metal transfer).
  • 421
  • 13 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Wire and Arc Additive Manufactured Materials Corrosion Behaviour
Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) is a deposition rate process for the creation and/or repair of large structural metallic components. The non-equilibrium heating and cooling conditions associated with WAAM lead to the development of heterogenous microstructures. Although there is a large body of work focusing on the microstructure and mechanical properties of WAAM-fabricated components, assessment of the corrosion behaviour of alloys fabricated by WAAM is still in its infancy. Here, the body of knowledge associated with the corrosion behaviour of different WAAM-fabricated engineering alloys is presented and discussed. Future perspectives and potential research topics are also presented. This is the first work focusing on the corrosion of wire and arc additive manufactured materials.
  • 287
  • 18 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Wearable Functional Textiles
Wearable E-textile systems should be comfortable so that highest efficiency of their functionality can be achieved. The development of electronic textiles (functional textiles) as a wearable technology for various applications has intensified the use of flexible wearable functional textiles instead of wearable electronics. However, the wearable functional textiles still bring comfort complications during wear. The purpose of this review paper is to sightsee and recap recent developments in the field of functional textile comfort evaluation systems. For textile-based materials which have close contact to the skin, clothing comfort is a fundamental necessity.
  • 548
  • 03 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Uranyl Carbonate Minerals
Uranyl carbonates are one of the largest groups of secondary uranium(VI)-bearing natural phases being represented by 40 minerals approved by the International Mineralogical Association, overtaken only by uranyl phosphates and uranyl sulfates. Uranyl carbonate phases form during the direct alteration of primary U ores on contact with groundwaters enriched by CO2, thus playing an important role in the release of U to the environment. The presence of uranyl carbonate phases has also been detected on the surface of “lavas” that were formed during the Chernobyl accident.
  • 781
  • 24 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Ultrafine-Grained Stainless Steels after Severe Plastic Deformation
Both mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of various stainless steels can be optimized owing to grain refinement decreasing the grain size down to hundreds of nanometers. The ultrafine-grained (UFG) microstructures can be obtained in ferritic and austenitic stainless steels by means of large strain deformation using severe plastic deformation (SPD) or conventional processing methods under conditions of cold to warm working. The UFG stainless steels are characterized by high strength. However, the strengthening by large strain deformation is accompanied by a substantial degradation of plasticity. Therefore, the UFG stainless steels are frequently subjected to recovery/recrystallization annealing to balance the strength and plasticity. The revealed relationships among a range of microstructural parameters open up a promising approach to clarify the mechanical behaviour of UFG stainless steels. Therefore, UFG stainless steels produced by large strain deformation have great potential for various applications as structural and functional materials.
  • 276
  • 10 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Thermal Stability of Layered LTMO2
Layered lithium transition metal (TM) oxides LiTMO2 (TM = Ni, Co, Mn, Al, etc.) are the most promising cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries because of their high energy density, good rate capability and moderate cost. However, the safety issue arising from the intrinsic thermal instability of nickel-based cathode materials is still a critical challenge for further applications in electric vehicles and energy storage power stations.
  • 456
  • 15 Mar 2023
Topic Review
The Rheological Phase Reaction Method
The term “rheology” stands for the study of a material’s flow behavior under applied deformation forces or stress. The Rheological Phase Reaction (RPR) method is considered a “pollution-less method” to prepare any metal oxides with high crystallinity, phase purity, and fewer agglomerations depending on the proper raw materials and the right temperature conditions are being chosen. 
  • 522
  • 03 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Ternary Al–Ni–Er System
Al–Ni–Er is an essential system in heat-resistant Al alloys. The aluminum-rich corner of this system, which has the most practical application significance. The phase equilibria of the Al–Ni–Er system are investigated via experiments and thermodynamic modeling. The isothermal sections of the Al-rich corner of this ternary system at 600 and 700 °C were determined through equilibrated alloys combined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD).
  • 182
  • 03 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Synthesis and Electron Doping of TiNCl
Layered metal nitride halides MNX (M = Ti, Zr, Hf; X = Cl, Br, I) have two polymorphs, including α- and β-forms, which have the FeOCl and SmSI structures, respectively. These compounds are band insulators and become metals and show superconductivity after electron doping by intercalating alkali metals between the layers. The superconductivity of β-form had been extensively characterized from decades ago, but it is not easy to consistently interpret all experimental results using conventional phonon-mediated Bardeen–Cooper–Schriefer mechanisms. The titanium compound TiNCl crystallizes only in the α-form structure. TiNCl also exhibits superconductivity as high as ~16 K after electron doping by intercalating metals and/or organic basis. It is important to compare the superconductivity of different M–N networks. However, α-form compounds are vulnerable to moisture, unlike β-form ones. The intercalation compounds are even more sensitive to humid air.
  • 435
  • 07 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Sustainable Machining of Steels
To improve occupational health and safety and the reduction of product costs, companies are moving towards sustainable manufacturing. Emphasizes the sustainable machining aspects of steel by employing techniques that require the minimal use of cutting oils, i.e., minimum quantity lubrication, and other efficient techniques like cryogenic cooling, dry cutting, solid lubricants, air/vapor/gas cooling, and cryogenic treatment. Cryogenic treatment on tools and the use of vegetable oils or biodegradable oils instead of mineral oils are used as primary techniques to enhance the overall part quality, which leads to longer tool life with no negative impacts on the environment. 
  • 655
  • 28 Sep 2021
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