UNIT - III

MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR OF
MATERIALS
NITROGEN STEEL
All steels contain some nitrogen which is effective in improving
the mechanical and corrosion properties of steels if it remains
in solid solution or precipitates as very fine and coherent
nitrides
When nitrogen is added to austenitic steels it can
simultaneously improve fatigue life, strength, work hardening
rate, wear and localized corrosion resistance.
High nitrogen martensitic stainless steels show improved
resistance to localized corrosion (pitting, crevice and
intergranular corrosion) over their carbon containing
counterparts
However, solidification of steel may result in three nitrogen-
related phenomena: formation of blowholes; precipitation of
one or more nitride compounds; and/or the solidification of
nitrogen in interstitial solid solution.
EFFECT OF NITROGEN ON STEEL
PROPERTIES
The effect of nitrogen on steel properties can be either
detrimental or beneficial, depending on the other alloying
elements present, the form and quantity of nitrogen present,
and the required behavior of the particular steel product.

In general, however, most steel products require that nitrogen
be kept to a minimum. High nitrogen content may result in
inconsistent mechanical properties in hot-rolled products,
embrittlement of the heat affected zone (HAZ) of welded
steels, and poor cold formability.

Hardness is the resistance of a material to surface indentation


Nitrogen absorbed during steelmaking results in interstitial
solid solution strengthening and grain refinement, both of
which increase hardness.
further, the diagram shows that nitrogen absorbed during the
steelmaking process has a more significant impact than that
absorbed during batch annealing in a nitrogen-rich
atmosphere, although both have a measurable effect

INTERMETALLICS
When a solution solidifies, alloys of metals which have a
limited mutual solubility may form new phases at certain
ratios. These new phases possess crystal structures different
from either component and are called intermetallic compound
It refers to solid-state phases involving metals
Intermetallic compounds are generally brittle and have a high
melting point.
They can also display desirable magnetic, superconducting and
chemical properties, due to their strong internal order and
mixed (metallic and covalent/ionic) bonding, respectively
Note that many intermetallic compounds are
often simply called 'alloys', although this is
somewhat of a misnomer. Both are metallic
phases containing more than one element, but
in alloys the various elements substitute
randomly for one another in the crystal
structure, forming a solid solution with a range
of possible compositions; in intermetallic
compounds, different elements are ordered into
different sites in the structure, with distinct local
environments and often a well-defined, fixed
stoichiometry. Complex structures with very
large unit cells can be formed.
NICKEL ALUMINIDE
Nickel aluminide (Ni3Al) is an intermetallic alloy of
nickel and aluminum
The alloy is very resistant to heat and corrosion,
and finds use in heat-treating furnaces and other
applications where its longer lifespan and
reduced corrosion give it an advantage over
stainless steel.
Nickel aluminide is unique in that it has very high
thermal conductivity combined with high strength
at high temperature.
Used in coating blades of gas turbines and jet
engines.

COMPOSITION AND
STRUCTURE
Boron additions were critical for achieving the reasonable level
of ductility in the alloys

Boron is thought to increase grain boundary cohesiveness,
thereby reducing the tendency for brittle intergranular
structure

The unit cell consists of FCC arrangement in which the
aluminium atoms occupy the corner position, nickel atom
preferably occupy the face centred position
This type of atom packing leads to mechanical properties

As the temperature increases, also the yield strength increases,


CORROSION RESISTANCE
CORROSION RESISTANCE
Oxidation and carburization resistance of nickel
aluminide alloy are shown in above diagram
Nickel aluminide alloy form a protective Al
2
O
3

scale on the surface have significantly better
oxidation resistance than aluminium free alloy
Carburization resistance also high under
oxidation
APPLICATIONS
Pistons and valves, automotive turbo charges,
aircraft fasteners,gas water and steam turbines

TITANIUM ALUMINIDE
. It is lightweight and resistant to oxidation [1]and
heat, however it suffers from low ductility.
Titanium aluminide has three major intermetallic
compounds: gamma TiAl, alpha 2-Ti
3
Al and TiAl
3


TiAl based alloys have a strong potential to
increase the thrust-to-weight ratio in the aircraft
engine.