International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

An experimental study was carried out to develop a technique for manufacturing a high silicon Al-Si-Ni sintered alloy with a coefficient of thermal expansion close to steels. A stage of hot forging was added to overcome porosity and improve silicon inclusions morphology to obtain better mechanical properties. Liquid and solid phase regimes of sintering were studied for the material made of the elemental components powders mixture as well as of a pre-alloyed powder. The impracticality of liquid-phase sintering modes is shown for this type of material primarily because of the tendency to liquid-phase exudation. It was proposed to carry out a solid-state vacuum sintering with subsequent hot deformation. Only the pre-alloyed powder is suitable for the technique; the other way, it leads to the course and sometimes, not equilibrium intermetallic inclusions will form in place of nickel particles because of the insolubility of Ni in solid Al. It is shown the possibility of successful plastic deformation of this material after sintering despite its extremely low ductility, which helps successfully overcome porosity and improve the characteristics of the microstructure of the material.

The low-temperature method of Sn–Ni–Zn powders synthesis by cementation of tin and nickel with zinc powder from acidic solutions with the formation of “zinc core – porous nickel shell – external tin layer” structures has been proposed. The method provides metals ratio control in wide ranges (7–41 at. % of tin, 38–86 at. % of nickel and 7–24 at. % of zinc) by variation of the process duration. X-ray phase analysis data give evidence on the presence of β-Sn and Zn phases as well as NiZn3 and NiSn intermetallics in the powders obtained. Differential scanning calorimetry data show the availability of Sn–Zn eutectic with the melting point at 171.2 °C in the powders with high tin content (30–40 at. %). The formation of the ternary intermetallic τ1 phase (Ni3+xSn4Zn) has been established to occur as a result of the powders heating at 260 °C. The discovered low-temperature phase transformation in Sn–Ni–Zn system at 260 °C is of interest for electronic equipment assembly processes that include consecutive stages of soldering and resoldering.

Structural investigations performed by the methods of X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy of electrodeposited iron-based coatings revealed common and specific features and regularities of influence of nickel and chromium on their structure formation. Significant changes in surface morphology, crystallographic texture and microhardness of the electrodeposited coatings caused by the insertion of nickel and chromium in the sulfate iron-plating electrolyte were found and compared.

Demand for alloys with high mechanical performance and optimum qualities in the service conditions require new studies regarding thermal stability, wear resistance and corrosion resistance to them. Of interest are materials in which the deficient and expensive Ni is partially or completely substituted with Mn, such as the alloys of the systems Fe-Cr-Mn-C or Fe-Cr-Mn-Ni. To build an accurate picture of the structural features, properties and their behavior in the operating conditions need to be carried out relevant studies. The objectives of the study are related to clarify the processes of structure formation in heating and cooling of this type of austenitic alloys. Object models are cast with an increased concentration of carbon and constant chromium and manganese in the starting composition, as well as those supplemented with vanadium and nickel.