Abstract A new approach for the development of thermoelectric materials, which focuses on a high-power factor instead of a large figure of merit zT, has drawn attention in recent years. In this context, the thermoelectric properties of Cu-Ni-based alloys with a very high electrical conductivity, a moderate Seebeck coefficient, and therefore a high power factor are presented as promising low-cost alternative materials for applications aiming to have a high electrical power output. The Cu-Ni-based alloys are prepared via an arc melting process of metallic nanopowders. The heavy elements tin and tungsten are chosen for alloying to further improve the power factor while simultaneously reducing the high thermal conductivity of the resulting metal alloy, which also has a positive effect on the zT value. Overall, the samples prepared with low amounts of Sn and W show an increase in the power factor and figure of merit zT compared to the pure Cu-Ni alloy. These results demonstrate the potential of these often overlooked metal alloys and the utilization of nanopowders for thermoelectric energy conversion.

Abstract Magnesium–Aluminium alloys can decompose from a supersaturated solid solution by either continuous or discontinuous precipitation. Deformation prior to precipitation has been shown to strongly suppress the discontinuous precipitation mode and promote continuous precipitation. In this work, a model is used to explore the interaction between deformation and precipitation in the Mg–Al system. It has been shown that accelerated nucleation of continuous precipitates on dislocations is predicted to have the dominant effect in suppressing discontinuous precipitation by reducing the solute supersaturation. A secondary effect is the direct role played by twins in the deformed structure, which act as impenetrable barriers to discontinuous precipitate growth. However, even in the deformed case, small regions of discontinuous precipitation are still observed.It is proposed that this is due to the high level of strain concentration expected in the grain boundary regions, which provides a locally enhanced driving force for the migration of grain boundaries such that limited discontinuous precipitation occurs before continuous precipitation becomes established.

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM) processes are not solely used where maximum design freedom meets low lot sizes. Direct microstructure design and topology optimization can be realized concomitantly during processing by adjusting the geometry, the material composition, and the solidification behavior of the material considered. However, when complex specific requirements have to be met, a targeted part design is highly challenging. In the field of biodegradable implant surgery, a cytocompatible material of an application-adapted shape has to be characterized by a specific degradation behavior and reliably predictable mechanical properties. For instance, small amounts of oxides can have a significant effect on microstructural development, thus likewise affecting the strength and corrosion behavior of the processed material. In the present study, biocompatible pure Fe was processed using electron powder bed fusion (E-PBF). Two different modifications of the Fe were processed by incorporating Fe oxide and Ce oxide in different proportions in order to assess their impact on the microstructural evolution, the mechanical response and the corrosion behavior. The quasistatic mechanical and chemical properties were analyzed and correlated with the final microstructural appearance.

Abstract First principles calculations were carried out on six different grain boundaries with complex,non-symmetrical, crystallography’s. Solute species (Gd and Zn) were placed in multiple locations to investigate their effect on the boundary energetics. The grain boundaries were found to have an intrinsic grain boundary energy, and this energy was not markedly affected by the solute concentration at the boundary. However, the work of separation (WSEP) was very sensitive to grain boundary chemistry. Boundaries of higher disorder were found to be more sensitive to boundary chemistry and showed higher values of WSEP and in the case of Gd, were more sensitive to solute concentration at the boundary. No correlation between the boundary behaviour and crystallography could be found, apart from the over-riding conclusion that all six boundaries showed markedly different behaviours, and the effect of solute on each were unique.