Concerning the use of modern technologies and manufacturing systems in the production of high-stress components from Ni-base superalloys and the optimization of the production process, knowledge of the microstructure–mechanical properties relationship is very important. The microstructure of Ni-base superalloys is very closely related to the chemical composition. With the high number of alloying elements, various phases are presented in the structure of Ni-base superalloys, which have a predominantly positive effect on the mechanical properties, but also phases that reduce, in particular, the heat resistance of these materials. The aim of the presented paper is the quantification of structural parameters of two types of cast alloys, ZhS6K and IN738, where the effect of dwell at 10 and 15 h at 800 °C on the change in morphology and volume fraction of the γ′-phase precipitate was studied. The detected changes were verified by the Vickers hardness test. The IN718 superalloy was chosen as a representative of the wrought superalloy. This alloy was also annealed for 72 h at a temperature of 800 °C, and the quantification of structural parameters was performed by EDS mapping and TEM analysis. Another partial goal was to assess the effect of changes in the volume fraction of the γ′-phase and δ-phase on the change in the high-cycle fatigue life of superalloy IN 718. This superalloy was tested by dynamic cyclic loading with cycle asymmetry parameter R = −1 at an ambient temperature of 22 ± 5 °C and at a temperature of 700 ± 5 °C and with cycle asymmetry parameter R < 1 (three-point bending load) after annealing at 700 °C/72 h. The results of the quantitative analyses and fatigue tests will be further used in optimizing the design of Ni-base superalloy components by modern technologies such as additive technologies for the production of turbine blades and implemented within the philosophy of Industry 4.0.

This study describes the water vapour effect on the oxidation resistance of 9Cr creep resistant steels. Boiler P91 and MarBN steels were oxidized for 3000 h in a simulated humid atmosphere with ~10% water vapour. The oxidation kinetics had a stable course for 1000 h and was evaluated by the weight gain curves for both experimental steels and both oxidation temperatures. The oxidation rate was higher at 650 °C versus 600 °C, as reflected by the oxidation rate coefficient. A significant increase occurred after 1000 h of oxidation, which was related to the local breakdown oxide scale and oxide nodules were formed on steel. This oxidation behavior was influenced by the fact that a compact spinel structure of iron oxides and alloying elements were not formed on the steel. Analysis after 3000 h of exposure showed hematite Fe₂O₃ formed on the outer layer, magnetite Fe₃O₄ on the middle layer, and the bottom layer consisted of iron-chromium-spinel (Fe,Cr)₂O₃.

Corrosion of boiler tubes remains an operational and economic limitation in municipal waste power plants. The understanding of the nature, mechanism, and related factors can help reduce the degradation process caused by corrosion. The chlorine content in the fuel has a significant effect on the production of gaseous components (e.g., HCl) and condensed phases on the chloride base. This study aimed to analyze the effects of flue gases on the outer surface and saturated steam on the inner surface of the evaporator tube. The influence of gaseous chlorides and sulfates or their deposits on the course and intensity of corrosion was observed. The salt melts reacted with the steel surface facing the flue gas flow and increased the thickness of the oxide layer up to a maximum of 30 mm. On the surface not facing the flue gas flow, they disrupted the corrosive layer, reduced its adhesion, and exposed the metal surface. Beneath the massive deposits, a local overheating of the inner surface of the evaporator tubes occurred, which resulted in the release of the protective magnetite layer from the surface. Ash deposits reduce the boiler’s thermal efficiency because they act as a thermal resistor for heat transfer between the flue gases and the working medium in the pipes. The effect of insufficient feedwater treatment was evinced in the presence of mineral salts in the corrosion layer on the inner surface of the tube.

Article deals with problematice of influencing mechanical properties - tensile strength and hardness - of grey cast iron by heat treatment - refinement. Refinement could be in special cases applied also for grey cast iron castings in order to ...

This study investigates the thermoelectric properties of Se-rich β-Ag₂Se synthesized via a mechanochemical method followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS) in less than 30 min of the total reaction time. Importantly, only a short 10 min milling process followed by appropriate SPS was enough to produce single-phase Ag₂Se_1+x samples with varying selenium content (where x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.04). The introduction of excess selenium significantly influenced the thermoelectric performance, optimizing the carrier concentration during synthesis and resulting in substantial thermoelectric improvements. The sample with nominal composition Ag₂Se_1.01 exhibited a high dimensionless figure-of-merit (ZT) >0.9 at 385 K, which is nearly six times higher than the reference sample (β-Ag₂Se). Our findings bring valuable insight into the technology of optimization of thermoelectric characteristics of Se-rich β-Ag₂Se, highlighting its potential for applications in thermoelectric devices. The study demonstrates the energetically efficient and environmental advantage of our mechanochemical route to produce Se-rich β-Ag₂Se, providing a solvent-free and commercially viable alternative synthesis for energy (thermoelectric and solar energy).