Artículos SCI

The objective of the present work is the comparative study of the behaviour of the Nb- and Ti-based additives in the MgH2 single hydride and the MgH2 + 2LiBH4 reactive hydride composite. The selected additives have been previously demonstrated to significantly improve the sorption reaction kinetics in the corresponding materials. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis were carried out for the milled and cycled samples in absence or presence of the additives. It has been shown that although the evolution of the oxidation state for both Nb- and Ti-species are similar in both systems, the Nb additive is performing its activity at the surface while the Ti active species migrate to the bulk. The Nb-based additive is forming pathways that facilitate the diffusion of hydrogen through the diffusion barriers both in desorption and absorption. For the Ti-based additive in the reactive hydride composite, the active species are working in the bulk, enhancing the heterogeneous nucleation of MgB2 phases during desorption and producing a distinct grain refinement that favours both sorption kinetics. The results are discussed in regards to possible kinetic models for both systems.

In this work, the endurance of TiAlSiN nanocomposite thin films subjected to tribological solicitation is studied. These coating were deposited on M2 steel substrate by magnetron sputtering. Dry sliding experiments were conducted at ambient temperature against WC-Co ball. Coefficients of friction, wear rates and endurances were correlated with the composition, microstructure, mechanical properties, residual stress and adhesion of the coatings. The hardness and elastic modulus were found dependent not only on the composition but also on the residual stress induced by the deposition process. Friction coefficient was found to be independent on Si content while the wear rate is strongly reduced for higher Si contents. The formation of a nanocomposite microstructure, the amount of amorphous Si-based phase and both, wear resistance and adhesion are shown as the critical factors to determine the endurance of the coating.