Understanding Alloy Chemistry for Enhanced Environmental Resistance

在具有腐蚀性化学环境的技术中使用的材料，如燃气轮机，燃料电池，电池和太阳能热电厂，正在被推到其操作极限，以满足市场对更高功率和效率的需求，同时减少排放和运营成本。下一代技术的持续发展需要对材料如何应对极端化学环境有基本的了解，这将有助于设计高性能合金。 该奖项支持基础研究，以了解如何设计高性能合金的成分和结构，以提高这些环境中的性能。最终目标是为未来可持续技术中发现的侵蚀性化学环境提供耐腐蚀材料的设计工具，例如用于集中太阳能发电系统，燃气轮机和熔融碳酸盐燃料电池的传热流体。在这个项目中获得的知识在美国竞争力的未来至关重要的领域具有广泛的适用性，包括电化学储能（电池），材料合成和耐腐蚀涂层。该研究将纳入研究生和本科生课程，并将加强K-12外展计划，旨在扩大STEM的参与。该研究的中心是了解合金元素在控制（1）高温下合金与其化学环境之间界面处的降解反应方面的影响（650-950°C），（2）保护性氧化层的结构和化学性质，以及（3）合金的热力学和传质性质-保护性氧化层形成的关键因素。基于模型Ni-Al系统，研究小组将使用电化学技术在合金化学（Cr，Pt和Hf）的系统控制下确定Ni基合金的热力学，传质特性和界面降解反应。研究人员将测试合金元素（Cr，Pt和Hf）可以通过促进保护性氧化层（Al 2 O3）的形成来增强Ni-Al合金的耐环境性的假设。这项工作将导致创建一个数据库的热力学，质量传输和多组分合金的界面腐蚀性能，以及他们的测量实验技术。

Materials used in technologies with aggressive chemical environments such as gas turbines, fuel cells, batteries, and solar thermal power plants are being pushed to their operation limits to meet market demands for higher power and efficiency at reduced emissions and operating costs. The continued development of next-generation technologies requires a fundamental understanding of how materials respond to extreme chemical environments, which will enable the design of high performance alloys. This award supports fundamental research to learn how the composition and structure of high performance alloys can be engineered to improve performance in these environments. The ultimate goal is to provide tools for the design of corrosion-resistant materials for aggressive chemical environments found in future sustainable technologies, such as heat transfer fluid for concentrated solar power systems, gas turbines, and molten carbonate fuel cells. The knowledge gained in this project has broad applicability across fields essential for the future of U.S. competitiveness, including electrochemical energy storage (batteries), materials synthesis, and corrosion-resistant coatings. The research will be incorporated into courses at the graduate and undergraduate level, and will enhance K-12 outreach programs directed at broadening participation in STEM.This research centers on understanding the impact of alloying elements in controlling (1) the degradation reactions at interfaces between the alloy and its chemical environment at elevated temperatures (650-950°C), (2) the structure and chemistry of the protective oxide layer, as well as (3) the thermodynamic and mass transport properties of alloys - critical factors in the formation of protective oxide layers. Based on a model Ni-Al system, the research team will determine the thermodynamic, mass transport properties, and interfacial degradation reactions of Ni-based alloys under the systematic control of alloy chemistry (Cr, Pt, and Hf) using electrochemical techniques. The researchers will test the hypothesis that alloying elements (Cr, Pt, and Hf) can enhance environmental resistance of the Ni-Al alloys by facilitating the formation of a protective oxide layer (Al2O3). The work will result in the creation of a database of thermodynamic, mass transport, and interfacial corrosion properties of multi-component alloys, as well as the experimental techniques for their measurement.