Life Words Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Life Words - Essay Example In a sense, people create their own realities which are objective as far as the self is concerned. Given the argument that there is no single reality, it is then quite unreasonable for the society to adopt a universal principle – as in the case of beauty. Yet no matter what the argument is, the question would always go back to the importance of beauty itself in the society. Perhaps, it is rooted to the fact that it is in man’s instinct to dwell into pleasure – and the concept of beauty itself draws pleasure. But then again, whose pleasure has to be satisfied? Is it the person possessing the attribute or the one perceiving it from the outside? Perhaps, it works both ways such that what actually gives delight to a person possessing the attribute is being recognized by the other as beautiful. The one who is looking finds beauty desirable while the one who possess beauty wants to be desired. This is how the society works. Unfortunately, someone would always follow so meone else’s standard – and this standard becomes the society’s reality. Nonetheless, if the society would adopt the belief exemplified by the old adage, given that its meaning has been justified by the idea of varying realities, then people would take delight of their own self rather than of the perceptions of others towards them. If this happens, standards set by the society will be broken as people will be beautiful in their own ways. Having established the essence of the phrase, it is now worthwhile to set the argument on why it should be adopted. First, the concept of beauty – at least, in the modern times – is not necessarily a product of shared cultural beliefs and perceptions but of mass media. In today’s society, the concept of beauty is largely influenced by the mass media which dictate people’s standards that are readily accepted without giving a second thought. The media becomes the standard such that it identifies those w ho are blessed with beauty and those who are not. It is actually absurd that it tends to contradict even the nature of humans itself. Products that promise flawless skin, for instance, came only after people are born with genetically acquired freckles – something which is not supposed to be a big deal as it is natural. But then again, just because these products emerge in the market, freckled individuals, are now consider not beautiful. Needless to say, while people struggle to meet the so-called requirements of being beautiful, the big industry makes profits. The second argument is that the notion of beauty being portrayed seems to encompass only the physical attributes of a person. As such, beauty has become superficial. To a large extent, it degrades the essence of being human. Physical appearance is something that people are born with; hence, it does not reflect anything about them – it is merely a product of nature. It is the character and the abilities that refle ct the kind of person someone is. More than anything, a person who aims to be desirable should prove that he or she is more than just a pretty face. While the society remains to be blinded by superficial standards, the physical appearance does not define a person. In relation to the previous argument, another issue is that the concept of beauty leads to false assumptions. Ideally, someone who possesses beauty is assumed to be good in whatever ways. Yet this issue has been settled that physical appearan

Comparison Essay Example for Free

Comparison Essay Both of Emily Dickinson’s poems are about death. â€Å"Because I Could Not Stop For Love† is more about the cycle of life than death. â€Å"I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died† relates to the final moment before death. Emily Dickinson’s poems are both centered on death; â€Å"Because I Could Not Stop For Death† is based more around upbeat and happy scenes, as where â€Å"I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died† talks about the preparation before death. Although both poems have very different meaning, the two poems both focus on the ending of life. In the last line of â€Å"Because I Could Not Stop For Death† Emily Dickinson says were toward eternity. In Dickinson’s second poem it says, now she waits for the king to come. In the first poem Dickinson refers to eternity meaning after death living for forever. In the second poem waiting for the king to come relates to the end of existence, when the king comes back to take us all. In â€Å"Because I Could Not Stop For Death† has a happy ending and is a very appealing poem. Dickinson describes a girl being picked up in a carriage for all of life’s journeys. Where Dickinson’s second poem was a serious poem, describing the build up right before death. She mentions the stillness in the air, and breath-gathering firm. One poem is very heart warming and, the other is very serious. These poems ultimately have the same meaning, but both take a different look at death. The first poem contains the process of life before death, and how she is working for a new beginning. Dickinson’s second poem talks about her death being the end of everything, Dickinson even mentions decaying in the grave. The first poem has a positive outlook on death, and the second portrays a rough end to life.

Freedom for Women in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gillman

Freedom for Women in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gillman and The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gillman and 'The Story of an Hour' by Kate Chopin are two feminist works in which liberation is the overlying theme. Both of the main characters achieve freedom from their husbands' oppression in these short stories; however, freedom is only achieved through insanity in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' and death in 'The Story of an Hour.' The women in these stories are viewed as very powerful, as they do whatever it takes to free themselves from the oppressive holds of their husbands. Their strength proves these two short stories very influential works of feminism. Oppression is chief in the achievement of liberation in both short stories. Both of the narrators are oppressed by their husbands, and though they want to be happy, it is impossible due to the way they are treated by their spouses. In ?The Yellow Wallpaper,? John, the nameless narrator?s husband, confines his wife to a room with barred windows and hideous yellow wallpaper because she is ill. He does not allow her to exert herself physically or mentally, prevents her from seeing her friends and family and keeps her under intense scrutiny. While isolated in this room, she begins to go mad, believing that the wallpaper is somehow watching her, and eventually she believes she is a prisoner inside it. The narrator proves that her husband is oppressive when she reveals how afraid she is of him. She says, ?There comes John, and I must put this away?he hates to have me write a word? (Gillman 41). Likewise, in Kate Chopin?s ?The Story of an Hour? it is perceived that the main character Louise Mallard is oppre... ...reedom proves to be the overlying theme in ?The Story of an Hour? and death is the way in which freedom is achieved in the short story. ?The Yellow Wallpaper? and ?The Story of an Hour? are two feminist works that highlight the importance of freedom for women in the oppressive world of men. Freedom is not achieved normally in either of the short stories, but is gained through insanity and death. These two stories prove that women?s liberation is an extremely important issue, and the means by which these women gained their freedom is remarkable. Works Cited Chopin, Kate. The Story of an Hour. (1894). 31 Apr. 2003. http://www.4literature.net/Kate_Chopin/Story_of_an_Hour/> Gillman, Charlotte Perkins. ?The Yellow Wallpaper.? The Yellow Wallpaper and Selected Stories of Charlotte Perkins Gillman. Newark: University of Delaware Press, 1994. PID 0230

Profiles of a Spa Customer Essay

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Business travelers who want to minimize jet lags, mothers who wants to spend time for themselves, persons with back problems seeking for relief, weekend warriors who are sore from overexertion, an obese man who needs help in controlling his weight, or a couple who wants to reconnect, all come to one place to seek help, the spa. Today’s spa is a center for healing and nourishing mind, body, and spirit. People go to spas for fitness, stress management, peace of mind, pampering and pleasure, and health and wellness. Spas are everywhere. According to the International Spa Association (ISPA), the number of spas in the United States grew at an annual rate of 21% from 1995-1999 and continues to show strong growth. The size of the U. S. spa industry in 2001 was estimated at 9,632 locations; in 2000, that number was 5,689. (Register, 2008). Here in the Philippines, the demand for spa services continues to grow. According to Libarios (2006), as more and more people pine for inner-healing-this and alternative-lifestyle-that, the market for spas and wellness centers has ballooned over recent years. These so-called health-hubs sprouted in the metro like wild mushrooms in the forest—from the most exclusive centers that cater only to society’s well-heeled set down to the modest hole-in-the-wall that offer services at affordable rates. Libarios further adds that even the Department of Tourism (DOT) has sunk its teeth into the trend. Sensing that the demand for spas is not a novelty that would later die a sudden death, it took the initiative to transform the Philippines into the â€Å"sparadise† of Asia. Despite the noticeable dip in the economy, the demand for spas has shown no signs of slowing down. The demand for spa services is driven by personal income and demographic trends. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient resource use and effective marketing. That is why the profile of spa customers is very essential. This study is intended to determine the profile of spa customers in Bacolod City in order to effectively create an effective feasibility study in putting up a spa business in the future. Statement of the Problem This study tried to determine the profile of spa customers among the selected spa establishments in Bacolod City. Specifically, it tried to satisfy the following questions: . What is the personal profile of spa customers of the selected establishments in Bacolod City in terms of their: a. Gender; b. Marital status; c. Age; d. Employment Status; e. Educational Background; and f. Monthly Income. 2. What is the customers’ prevalence of spa visits in a year? 3. What are the factors that influence their choice of spa to visit? 4. What o ther information may be included in order to support the proposed feasibility study? Operational Framework In this study, the researcher wants to find out the profile of spa customers in the five selected spa establishments in Bacolod City. The personal profile of these spa customers may vary from their gender up to their monthly income. Once their personal profile is established, the next step is to identify the type of spa that they will prefer to avail of once they visit a spa. The researcher is also interested in finding out the influential factors that controls their choice of spa treatments. And finally, the researcher would further sought to find out the necessary information that may be gathered that he deemed were necessary in order to support his proposed feasibility study on the establishment of spa business in Bacolod City. Figure 1 presents the schematic diagram of the operational framework. Figure 1 Schematic Diagram of the Operational Framework Significance of the Study The study is deemed beneficial in the following manner: This study will provide necessary background for future spa entrepreneurs in putting up their own spa establishments. The profile of the customers may also help identify consistency, and repeat purchase and filter posers versus the people who will really come back for not only a 2nd and 3rd massage therapy, but to identify dependable, consistent, steady and reliable customers. The additional information that will be gathered from this study may help ease the possibility that future spa businesses in the city may not suffer the same fate as those business establishments who closed shop early. This study may be replicated by other researchers who are envisioning operating other spa business outside of the city, but on a much wider scope, which may involve other variables not covered in this study. Scope and Limitations of the Study This study was only concerned in finding out the profile of the 5 selected spa establishments in Bacolod City. The respondents of the study were limited only to the customers of the selected spa establishments. The personal profile of the spa customer only covered their age, gender, marital status, educational background, employment status, and monthly income. In the process of conducting this research, the following constraints were identified, namely: the non-participation of some identified respondents in the data gathering and the non-availability of some important respondents during the data gathering. Definition of Terms The following terms were defined operationally for better understanding. Age. This refers to the stage of the life of the spa customers grouped in 6 categories ranging from 18 years and below to over 65 years. Gender. This refers to the sexual characteristics of the spa customers classified as male and female. Educational Background. This refers to highest level of education attained by the spa customers grouped in 4 categories namely: did not complete high school, completed high school, university/college degree holder, and post graduate degree holder. Employment Status. This refers to employment condition of the spa customers grouped in 4 categories: employed full-time, employed part-time, unemployed, and retired. Marital Status. This refers to civil condition of the spa customers grouped in 3 categories namely: single, married, and couple/in a relationship. Monthly Income. This refers to monthly net earnings of the spa customers classified into 6 groups ranging from below Php 20,000. 00 to over Php 20,000. 00. Profile. This refers to personal description of the customers of the selected spa establishments in Bacolod City. Spa Establishments. This refers to five selected spa businesses in Bacolod City such as the Bacolod Spa, Grand Royal Spa, Body and Sole, and Quintessence Spa. Swedish Massage. A kind of massage offered in most spa businesses in Bacolod City. It is a system of therapeutic massage and exercise for the muscles and joints, developed in Sweden in the 19th Century. Shiatsu Massage. A kind of massage offered in spa businesses in Bacolod City. It is a traditional hands-on therapy originating in Japan. Spa. A place of treatment, or is associated with water treatment, which is also known as balneotherapy. Facial. A facial is involving a variety of skin treatments, including: steam, exfoliation, extraction, creams, lotions, masks, peels, and massage. Normally performed in a beauty salon but it is also a common spa treatment. Chapter 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Related Literature According to the Spa Signature (2008) website, the word and concept of spa actually originates from the time of the Roman Empire when battle weary legionnaires tried to find a way to recover from their military wounds and ailments. They sought out hot wells and then built baths so that they could heal their aching bodies; calling these places ‘aquae’ and naming the bathing treatments undertaken there † Sanus Per Aquam† (SPA) which means health by or through water. During this period, the town Spa in Belgium was founded for this purpose, rising to fame in the 14th century and still existing today. Having originated from this time, the culture of Spa developed in different ways throughout Europe, from the ongoing use of mineral water, through to using sea water and marine substances (Thalassotherapy) and a wide range of body and other therapies. Yet even today, the concept of health or healing forms the basis of the spa culture worldwide and hydrotherapy is seen as its defining feature. A spa differs from all other beauty businesses principally through the implied promise that the total experience of being there–everything from the initial greeting to checkout–will be exceptionally serene. The spa is a respite from the pressure and rigors of routine life, a genuine escape, and customers can and do expect almost flawless treatment and care ( Preston, 2008) The Spa Book: The Official Guide to Spa Therapy). According to SpaBoom. com, website, spas are booming due to a surge in stress. The International Spa Association (ISA) says this shows that people feel they should reward themselves for working hard. It is expected that specialized spa services that help people quit smoking, lose weight and treat depression will be a big growth market. In the U. S. , 40 percent of spa customers are men, and spas just for men are emerging in many corners of the nation (English. Chosun, 2007). These days spas come a dime a dozen, and massage parlors are as prolific as muscle aches. If before getting a spa treatment was a luxury only few could afford, the times have changed to adapt to the indulgent desires of an evolving status quo. Today spa treatments come in a range of prices, the spas themselves catering to particular markets. There is bound to be one in your neighborhood, just as likely as there is one off-shore in some fancy beach resort. Student prices now apply to the service of Swedish or Shiatsu, and body scrubs can either polish your resources and leave you dry, or keep you satiated without stripping you clean of your budget. The key is finding the right pressure points without pressuring you with the prices. Because at the end of the day, regardless if you’re rich or poor, everyone could do with a little rest and relaxation (Yu, 2009) www. discoverspas. com/book_store/books. shtml). Get the Best from a Spa According to eHow fashion website (n. d), in order to get the best from a spa, a series of steps must be conducted of which the first is to look at the spa facilities – ideally, the spa must be clean and is up to date with the latest technology. The next step is to pick a spa that has a relaxing atmosphere – an ideal spa must have soft lighting and plays relaxing music. The next thing to do is to get the best package since most spas will offer package deals to their clients. The fourth step is to ask for experienced therapist and talked to them during the session. And finally, relax during the treatment since your body will respond much better if you relax your muscles. How to Enjoy Spa Experience According to Ritajo (n. d), so as to enjoy a spa experience, the following procedures must be followed: first, research the type of spa you are interested in visiting; then, decide what treatments you want to experience; third, plan to take advantage of all that the spa facility offers; next, arrive early (at least 30 minutes) before your first treatment; and finally, enjoy the treatment and ask questions if you need to about what is being done. Related Studies In a 1997 spa-goer market study conducted by Health Fitness Dynamics (HFD) Inc. , clearly indicated women become less stressed as they age and that each age group seeks different results from a spa. Female spa-goers comprised 74% of the 2,332 spa-goers who used a spa while staying at a resort, an increase of 5% since HFD’s landmark 1992 study of the spa-goer. This study further revealed the following account: 59% of the women under 30 years of age go to a spa at a resort when they are stressed; 34% of women over 60 visit spas to exercise and get fit; 48% of the younger women go to a spa at a resort when they feel like splurging. Here is what the study found women want from their resort-based spa experience: Women younger than 40 feel higher stress so they want to exercise and be pampered; In the 40-49 age group, a slight shift occurs since pampering becomes more important and exercise is of secondary importance; the 50-59 year olds are the most vulnerable group in terms of considering leaving spas as this group appears to have the least interest in most spa services, whether these services be exercise and fitness oriented or beauty and pampering oriented. In a study conducted by the International SPA Association (2006), in both the U. S. and Canada, about one quarter of adult consumers (26% of Americans and 25% of Canadians) has visited a spa. These percentages translate into roughly 57 million U. S. adults (aged 18 and older) and 6. 3 million Canadian adults. More recently, 15% of all Americans and 14% of all Canadians have visited a spa within the previous 12 months. These active spa-goers, representing 3. 7 million Canadian consumers and 32. 2 million U. S. consumers, are the focus of this study. When presented with a list of possible benefits sought (or highly valued) on most spa visits, U. S. nd Canadian spa-goers concur on the top five benefits they seek: relaxation, calm/quite/peacefulness, pampering, time out for themselves, and refreshment. When seeking information on which spas to visit, consumers (in both countries) are most likely to trust friends, followed by family members and coworkers. In another study conducted by the ISA’s (2007), it revealed that of the 70% of U. S. spas that offer packag es, the most commonly offered are those for men, couples, pregnant women and teens. According to firstresearch. com, Demand for spa services is driven by personal income and demographic trends. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient resource use and effective marketing. Larger companies have some economies of scale in marketing and purchasing. Small companies compete by offering unique services, serving a local market, and delivering a superior customer experience. The spa industry is labor-intensive: average annual revenue per employee is less than $80,000. An industry study by Walter Walsh, author of the Book, â€Å"The Spa Apprentice, Major providers of spa services are day spas (70 percent of industry revenue); resort and hotel spas (20 percent); and medical spas (5 percent). Other providers include club spas, mineral springs spas, and destination spas. About 80 percent of the spa facilities in the US are day spas. Medical spas are similar to day spas, but focus on services by healthcare professionals, such as Botox injections and laser hair removal. Destination spas offer lodging and a specific health regime, such as weight loss or detoxification programs. The most popular spa services are full body massages, manicures and pedicures, and facials. Other services include movement classes, body scrubs or wraps. An article from the Sun Star Cebu, (courtesy of their website- www. Sunstar. com. ph,) ,The health and wellness industry in Cebu is expected to grow further this year as more people seek out services offered by local spas. However, Spa and Wellness Association of Cebu Inc. (Swac) president Johnie Lim warned that small establishments and those with less dedicated owners will not survive as competition becomes stiffer this year. â€Å"The industry will explode with growth in the market but many small spas will close,† said Lim, also owner of Body and Sole. â€Å"Those who will survive are those that have captured their own markets. Lim said growth in the industry will be caused by an increase in the number of people who seek the services of spa and wellness centers. â€Å"More people have realized the benefits of going to a spa, even those in the lower middle income (bracket). The trend can be seen even among people who have never been to a spa before,† he said during the first anniversary celebration of Body and Sole Minglanilla, a fran chised outlet. Lifestyle â€Å"It’s becoming a part of the lifestyle of many Cebuanos. (With the growth), Cebu is becoming wellness island,† he added. He said this year’s growth will surpass that of last year, which saw the number of registered spa centers rise to 160 from 90 in 2006. The competitiveness of a spa center would depend on its services, he said, adding that Body and Sole has a good following because it offers value-for-money services. Body and Sole has 41 company-owned and franchised outlets in the Visayas and will be opening another one in Toledo City, Cebu on Jan. 18. It also has three branches in Luzon. While more people now have enough money to pay for an occasional visit to a local spa, Lim said upscale spa centers in Cebu would not have a lot of room for expansion. The middle-end spa centers will expand but (the) high-end (ones), not so much. Cebuanos will still be price-conscious,† he said. Accreditation With this expected growth in the industry, Lim said Swac will ask the Cebu City Council to require new spa and wellness establishments to get an accreditation from the association. â€Å"The accred itation would ensure that spa and wellness centers in Cebu would follow the same standards,† he said. This is in line with Swac’s goal to promote Cebu as a spa and wellness center in the country, he added. Lim said he disagrees with the notion that Cebu’s spa and wellness industry cannot compare to those in Thailand. â€Å"Thailand has been offering spa and wellness services for more than 20 years. We’ve only just started,† he said. He said that while he is â€Å"very positive† about the local industry, the sector could grow further if government, particularly the tourism department, provides more support. â€Å"We in the private sector have been doing most of the promotion on our own. The government should be more supportive instead of critical,† Lim said. (LAP) Related Literature Sources: 1. http://www.dayspamagazine.com/top-10-spa-wellness-trends-2016/ www. researchandmarket. com/reports/spa_industry_profile 11. http://www.spabusiness.com/digital/index1.cfm?mag=;codeid=0;linktype=XY;ref=n;issue= www. willenbooks. co. uk https://ru.scribd.com/document/262580027/1fb8ee5f097d1c7e70cb2caa6010f859 http://www.galleybayresort.com/massage.htm http://www.yeheyjp.com/product-category/mobile-phone http://lubbockonline.com/news/crime-and-courts/2017-03-08/police-1-critically-injured-shooting-near-downtown-lubbock http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19388160.2013.841502?src=recsys;journalCode=wctr20 http://www.spahandbook.com/ http://www.sunstar.com.ph/ https://www.spafinder.com/blog/content/affiliates/ http://www.cdaresort.com/discover/spa/treatments www. firstresearch. om/ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-titanium-dioxide-market-research-report-2017—research-and-markets-300401915.html ;

Government Spending and Revenues in America and China

Government spending and revenues in China and America International accounting four 0092962 Chen Yuting Public finance is a subject about the taxing and spending activities of government. Considering the function of government, two opposite views stand out. One is organic view of government. The main idear is that the government can be though of as the society’s heart. Another is mechanisitic view of government. It insists that government is not an organic part of society while it is a contrivance created by individuals to better achieve their individual goals.Government Regulation on Media in AmericaNeverthless, nobody can deny that the spending and revenues have a significant influence on our society. Our living standard is associated with government actions. As a result, it is meaningful to compare the government spending and revenues in China and America. Without doubt, the revenues of government is the root of spending of government. In addition, it gives the government t he power and the ability to put policy into effect. At the beginning of 2011, a piece of news comes that it is the first time for China that its annual revenues are more than 8,000 billion yuan. Details are from: http:// paper. people. com. cn/rmrbhwb/html/2011-01/22/content_730659. htm? div=-1) Just in terms of the number of total revenues, American holds the number of 4214 billion dollars. (Details are from: http://www. usgovernmentrevenue. com/ ) If we conver the dollars to RMB, it is far more than China. However, in my opinions, the number of total revenues is not the unique factor affecting the size of government revenues. In my opinion, it is more rational to consider the rate of revenues in GDP. The rate of China is 20. 88%. The number of GDP is from the website: http://baike. baidu. com /view/368359. htm) Compared to America, its rate is 29. 05%. ( The number of GDP is from the website: http://www. usgovernmentrevenue. com/classic. html? year=2010) As a result, the shortfall between China and America shrinks. In spite of the analysis of government revenues’s size, maybe the structure of the revenues is more attractive and more significant. In China, value-added tax play an important role in the revenues, accounting for almost 25%. (The tax is from: http://gks. mof. ov. cn/zhengfuxinxi/tongjishuju/201101/t20110120_421479. html) The following tax is business income tax and business tax. However, the major portion in America is income tax and ad-valorem taxes, accouting for 32. 99% and 26. 29%. ( The tax is from: http://www. usgovernmentrevenue. com/classic. html? year=2010 ) Actually,the considerable part of taxation in China almostly belong to commodity tax while that of America is income tax. As far as the function of regulating social incomes, America’s revenue is more beneficial to accomplish the mission.Because the commodity tax is nonexcludable. Everyone who buys the product will undertake the tax. On the contraty, the policy of Ameri ca is progressive. The richer you are, the more you pay. So, I think it’s more appropriate. In this day and age, a commonly held belief is that the size of revenue have a positive effect on the balance of social economy. Concretly, its object is that maximuming the social investment, maximuming the efficience of social resources and maximuming the social welfare. Another opinon is balancing revenues with spendings.To some extend, it is reasonable. When the revenues is far more than spendings, it is a waste of resources. When the spendings is far more than revenues, it will add burden to government. So it is also important to compare the spending in China and Ameirica. The total spending of America is 5797 billion (The number is from the website: http://www. usgovernmentspending. com/)while the revenue of Ameirica is 4214. Compared to China, its spending is 8957. 5 billion (http://gks. mof. gov. cn/zhengfuxinxi/tongjishuju/201101/t20110120_421479. html) while the revenue is 83 08.Just compare the revenue to spending, both America and China spend more than it received. To some extent, America is spending the money they haven’t received yet. Personally, it is a bit dangerous and risky to do this. Because excessive deficits will have a negtive effect on dollars and interst rate when investors look down on the ability of government to control the deficits. Eventually, it will present a serious drag on the economy. There is a world of difference between the structure in America and in China. The first three portion of American spending is pensions, health care and education.The counterpart in China is economic construction spending and administrative spending. From what is said above, it is easy to see the primary function of each government. America is a developed country so that it do well in the social securiry. The percent are almost 60%. (http://www. usgovernmentspending. com/classic. html? year=2010)As a result, people in America don’t worr y about the life when they are old. Then let us take a look on China. Because China is a developing country, its main aim is to develop economy. The economic construction spending is always taking an important part.However, in recent years, the spending on economic construction is decreasing while the spending on education, health care and other things related to the people’s livehood is increasing. The impressive increasing items are spending on demnificatory housing and on environmental protection, accouting for 30. 7% and 25. 4%. (http://gks. mof. gov. cn/zhengfuxinxi/tongjishuju/201101/t20110120_421479. html) It is a neccesary and significant step to act on international convention and turn to developed country. As a rising power, it is time to shoulder the responsibility of the world and pay more attention to Gross National Happiness.On the other hand, there are still some problems to deal with. The most urgent problem is the increasing administrative spending. Though ad ministrative department is a huge institution, the percent in Ameirica is about 10%. So the efficiency and effect of Chinese department are supposed to be improved. The act of government should be more apparent and public. On March 14th, Premier Wen said corruption is the most dangerous thing in China. The best method to solve the problem is promoting the system of reform, both in politics and economy.Comparing the revenues and spending in China and America, there is something we can learn from America. Firstly, increasing the percent of things related to people’s livehood, especially education. Secondly, improving the legislation of public finance. Thirdly, enhancing check and balance between people and government. It is a long and endless way for government to improve itself. But the same purpose is to make people live a better life. For public finance, it is important for government to ensure what is taken from people is used in the

Major General Carl Schurz in the Civil War

Major General Carl Schurz in the Civil War Carl Schurz - Early Life Career: Born March 2, 1829 near Cologne, Rhenish Prussia (Germany), Carl Schurz was the son of Christian and Marianne Schurz.   The product of a schoolteacher and a journalist, Schurz initially attended the Jesuit Gymnasium of Cologne but was forced leave a year before graduation due to his familys financial problems.   Despite this setback, he secured his diploma via a special exam and commenced study at the University of Bonn.   Developing a close friendship with Professor Gottfried Kinkel, Schurz became engaged in the revolutionary liberal movement that was sweeping through Germany in 1848.   Taking up arms in support of this cause, he met future fellow Union generals Franz Sigel and Alexander Schimmelfennig.   Serving as a staff officer in the revolutionary forces, Schurz was captured by the Prussians in 1849 when the fortress of Rastatt fell.   Escaping, he traveled south to safety in Switzerland.   Learning that his mentor Kinkel was being held at Spandau prison in Berlin, Schurz slipped into Prussia in late 1850 and facilitated his escape.   After a brief stay in France, Schurz moved to London in 1851.   While there, he married Margarethe Meyer, an early advocate of the kindergarten system.   Shortly afterwards, the couple departed for the United States and arrived in August 1852.   Initially living in Philadelphia, they soon moved west to Watertown, WI.   Ã‚   Carl Schurz - Political Rise: Improving his English, Schurz quickly became active in politics through the newly-formed Republican Party.   Speaking out against slavery, he gained a following among the immigrant communities in Wisconsin and was an unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor in 1857.   Traveling south the following year, Schurz spoke to German-American communities on behalf of Abraham Lincolns campaign for US Senate in Illinois.   Passing the bar exam in 1858, he commenced practicing law in Milwaukee and increasingly became a national voice for the party due to his appeal to immigrant voters.   Attending the 1860 Republican National Convention in Chicago, Schurz served as the  spokesman of the delegation from Wisconsin. Carl Schurz - The Civil War Begins: With the election of Lincoln that fall, Schurz received an appointment to serve as US Ambassador to Spain.   Assuming the post in July 1861, shortly after the start of the Civil War, he worked to ensure that Spain remained neutral and did not provide aid to the Confederacy.   Eager to be part of the events unfolding at home, Schurz left his post in December and returned to the United States in January 1862.   Immediately traveling to Washington, he pressed Lincoln to advance the issue of emancipation as well as give him a military commission.   Though the president resisted the latter, he ultimately appointed Schurz a brigadier general on April 15.   A purely political move, Lincoln hoped to win additional support in German-American communities. Carl Schurz - Into Battle: Given command of a division in Major General John C. Frà ©monts forces in the Shenandoah Valley in June, Schurzs men then moved east to join Major General John Popes newly-created Army of Virginia.   Serving in Sigels I Corps, he made his combat debut at Freemans Ford in late August.   Performing poorly, Schurz saw one of his brigades suffer heavy losses.   Recovering from this outing, he showed better on August 29 when his men mounted determined, but unsuccessful assaults against Major General A.P. Hills division at the Second Battle of Manassas.   That fall, Sigels corps was re-designated XI Corps and remained on the defensive in front of Washington, DC.   As a result, it did not take part in the Battles of Antietam or Fredericksburg.   In early 1863, command of the corps passed to Major General Oliver O. Howard as Sigel departed due to a dispute with new army commander Major General Joseph Hooker.   Ã‚      Carl Schurz - Chancellorsville Gettysburg: In March 1863, Schurz received a promotion to major general.   This caused some ire in the Union ranks due to its political nature and his performance relative to his peers.   In early May, Schurzs men were positioned along the Orange Turnpike facing south as Hooker conducted the opening moves of the Battle of Chancellorsville.   To Schurzs right, the division of Brigadier General Charles Devens, Jr. represented the right flank of the army.   Not anchored on any type of natural obstacle, this force was preparing for dinner around 5:30 PM on May 2 when it was surprised attacked by Lieutenant General Thomas Stonewall Jacksons corps.   As Devens men fled east, Schurz was able to realign his men to meet the threat.   Badly outnumbered, his division was overwhelmed and he was forced to order a retreat around 6:30 PM.   Falling back, his division played little role in the rest of the battle.   Carl Schurz - Gettysburg: The following month, Schurzs division and the rest of XI Corps moved north as the Army of the Potomac pursued General Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia towards Pennsylvania.   Though a diligent officer, Schurz became increasingly overbearing during this time leading Howard to correctly guess that his subordinate was lobbying Lincoln to have Sigel returned to XI Corps.   Despite the tension between the two men, Schurz moved quickly on July 1 when Howard sent him a dispatch stating that Major General John Reynolds I Corps was engaged at Gettysburg.   Riding ahead he met with Howard on Cemetery Hill around 10:30 AM.   Informed that Reynolds was dead, Schurz assumed command of XI Corps as Howard took overall control of Union forces on the field. Directed to deploy his men north of town to the right of I Corps, Schurz ordered his division (now led by  Schimmelfennig) to secure Oak Hill.   Finding it occupied by Confederate forces, he also saw the XI Corps division of Brigadier General Francis Barlow arrive and form too far forward of Schimmelfennigs right.   Before Schurz could address this gap, the two XI Corps divisions came under attack from the divisions of Major General Robert Rodes and Jubal A. Early.   Though he showed energy in organizing a defense, Schurzs men were overwhelmed and driven back through the town with around 50% losses.   Re-forming on Cemetery Hill, he resumed command of his division and aided in repelling a Confederate attack against the heights the next day.      Carl Schurz - Ordered West:       In September 1863, XI and XII Corps were ordered west to aid the beleaguered Army of the Cumberland after its defeat at the Battle of Chickamauga.   Under the leadership of Hooker, the two corps reached Tennessee and took part in Major General Ulysses S. Grants campaign to lift the siege of Chattanooga.   During the resulting Battle of Chattanooga in late November, Schurzs division operated on the Union left in support of Major General William T. Shermans forces.   In April 1864, XI and XII Corps were combined into XX Corps.   As part of this reorganization, Schurz left his division to oversee a Corps of Instruction in Nashville. In this post briefly, Schurz took leave to serve as an orator on behalf of Lincolns reelection campaign.   Seeking to return to active duty following the election that fall, he had difficulty securing a command.   Finally obtaining a post as chief of staff in Major General Henry Slocums Army of Georgia, Schurz saw service in the Carolinas during the final months of the war.   With the end of hostilities, he was tasked by President Andrew Johnson with conducting a tour of the South to assess conditions throughout the region.   Returning to private life, Schurz operated a newspaper in Detroit before moving to St. Louis. Carl Schurz - Politician: Elected to the US Senate in 1868, Schurz advocated fiscal responsibility and anti-imperialism.   Breaking with the Grant Administration in 1870, he helped start the Liberal Republican movement.   Overseeing the partys convention two years later, Schurz campaigned for its presidential nominee, Horace Greeley.   Defeated in 1874, Schurz returned to newspapers until appointed Secretary of the Interior by President Rutherford B. Hayes three years later.   In this role, he worked to reduce racism towards Native Americans on the frontier, fought to keep the Office of Indian Affairs in his department, and advocated for a merit-based system of advancement in the civil service. Leaving office in 1881, Schurz settled in New York City and aided in overseeing several newspapers.   After serving as a representative of the Hamburg American Steamship Company from 1888 to 1892, he accepted a position as president of the National Civil Service Reform League. Active in attempts to modernize the civil service, he remained an outspoken anti-imperialist.   This saw him speak out against the Spanish-American War and lobby President William McKinley against annexing land taken during the conflict.   Remaining engaged in politics into the early 20th century, Schurz died in New York City on May 14, 1906.   His remains were interred at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, NY.           Ã‚     Ã‚   Selected Sources Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Carl SchurzGettysburg: Major General Carl SchurzMr. Lincolns White House: Carl Schurz

Qu es I-9 para verificar que se puede trabajar en USA

Qu es I-9 para verificar que se puede trabajar en USA El formulario I-9 es la herramienta  que utiliza el gobierno federal para verificar que las personas que buscan empleo  en Estados Unidos cumplen con los requisitos migratorios para trabajar. Por ley, el I-9 es un documento que deben completar todos los empresarios, compaà ±Ãƒ ­as, reclutadores y personas que refieren a un empleado a cambio de una compensacià ³n econà ³mica. Cmo funciona el I-9 para verificar que se puede trabajar en USA Cuando un trabajador busca trabajo y encuentra a un empleador dispuesto a contratar, debe probar su identidad y que est autorizado para aceptar empleo en los Estados Unidos. Por ley, en estos casos el empresario debe colectar documentos que prueben dos cosas. En primer lugar la identidad de la persona que solicita el trabajo, es decir, que es quien dice ser. Y, en segundo lugar, que est autorizado por ley para trabajar en los Estados Unidos. Para cumplir con ese doble requerimiento el formulario I-9 admite como prueba una serie de documentos, divididos en lo que se conoce como listas A, B y C. Documentos incluidos en la lista A Sirven para probar, al mismo tiempo, la identidad del solicitante de empleo y su derecho a trabajar conforme a las leyes migratorias de los Estados Unidos.    Si se presentar un documento de la Lista A, es suficiente con 1 sà ³lo. Por el contrario, si se elige un documento de la lista B, tambià ©n hay que presentar otro de la lista C   Los siguientes son documentos de la lista A para el formulario I-9: Pasaporte americano Tarjeta de pasaporte de los Estados UnidosPasaporte de los Estados Federados de Micronesia, junto con el documento I-94 de entrada y salidaPasaporte de las Islas Marshall con I-94 de registro de entrada y salida. Tarjeta de residencia permanente, tambià ©n conocida como green card. Para trabajar son vlidas las tarjetas que tienen firma de su titular y tambià ©n las que carecen de ella.Pasaportes extranjeros con residencia temporal estampada en pasaporte. Es lo que se   conoce como I-551Pasaportes extranjeros con una anotacià ³n temporal I-551 en una visa de inmigrante que puede ser leà ­da por una mquina. Lo que se conoce en inglà ©s por sus siglas MRIV (machine-readable immigrant visa.Las tarjetas de autorizacià ³n de empleo que se conocen en inglà ©s por las siglas EAD. Deben tener foto de su titular. Pasaportes extranjeros con una visa de trabajo y con el documento I-94 de registro de entrada y de salida. En el caso particular de visas de estudiante o de las J-1 de intercambio puede que resulte necesario presentar ms documentacià ³n. Esto à ºltimo va a depender del caso particular de cada uno. Documentos admitidos para probar la identidad para trabajar: lista B Cuando no es posible presentar un documento de la Lista A seà ±alada anteriormente, entonces es necesario presentar 2  documentos. Uno para probar identidad de la persona que quiere trabajar, que es lo que se conoce como Lista B. Adems, es imprescindible otro documento para demostrar que puede trabajar legalmente en los Estados Unidos, que es lo que se conoce como lista C. En otras palabras, se puede mostrar 1 documento de la lista A, o dos documentos, en cuyo caso 1 tiene que ser de la lista B y el otro de la lista C.   Todos los documentos siguientes estn incluidos en la lista B para demostrar la identidad y, por lo tanto, se puede presentar cualquiera de ellos: Licencia de manejar emitida por uno de los estados de los Estados Unidos o uno de sus territorios, como por ejemplo, Puerto Rico. Debe contener fotografà ­a de su titular y datos como nombre completo, fecha de nacimiento, gà ©nero, altura, color de los ojos y direccià ³n actual.Una tarjeta identificativa (ID card) emitida por una agencia o entidad del gobierno federal, del estado o local. El caso ms comà ºn es el emitido por las autoridades del departamento de vehà ­culos de los estados y que son como una licencia de manejar pero precisamente no sirven para conducir, sino solo para identificarse. En todo caso deben estas tarjetas identificativas deben contener la foto de su titular e informacià ³n como nombre completo, direccià ³n, fecha de nacimiento y datos fà ­sicos como altura, gà ©nero y color de ojos.Licencia de manejar emitida por una autoridad de Canad La tarjeta de registracià ³n para votarUna tarjeta identificativa de la escuela que incluya fotografà ­a de su ti tularTarjeta militarTarjeta de familiar de militar Record del servicio militar Tarjeta de Marineros mercantes de la Guardia Costera de los Estados Unidos, que se conoce por sus siglas en inglà ©s de MMDDocumento de una de las tribus nativas de los Estados Unidos Adems, los menores de 18 aà ±os que no tienen ninguno de esos documentos mencionados, pueden presentar en su lugar cualquiera de los siguientes:   Rà ©cord de la escuela o de las calificacionesRà ©cord de la guarderà ­aRà ©cord mà ©dico de un doctor, clà ­nica u hospital Tener en cuenta que en los casos en los que se presenta un documento de la lista B que justo se acaban de listar, es necesario tambià ©n presentar un documento de la lista C para demostrar que desde el punto de vista de las leyes migratorias se est autorizado para trabajar Documentos de la Lista C para probar que se puede trabajar en USA Una tarjeta del Nà ºmero del Seguro Social sin restricciones. Es decir, NO se puede presentar como documento de la Lista C una tarjeta que incluye limitaciones como not valid for employment o valid for work only with DHS authorization.La Certificacià ³n de Nacimiento en el Extranjero (FS-545) o la Certificacià ³n de Reporte de Nacimiento (DS-1350). Estos documentos son emitidos por el Departamento de Estado a los nià ±os hijos de estadounidenses que nacen fuera de los Estados Unidos y que adquieren la ciudadanà ­a americana al nacer por derecho de sangre. La certificacià ³n de nacimiento emitida por la autoridad de un estado, condado o municipio de los Estados Unidos o de uno de sus territorios. En estos casos se admite tanto el original como copia certificada pero en ambos casos es necesario que contenga el sello de la autoridad que los emite.El certificado de naturalizacià ³n   El certificado de ciudadanà ­a americana, documentos N-560 o el N-561Documento de una tribu Nat ivo-americana.El I-197, que es una tarjeta que identifica a ciudadano de los Estados Unidos o el I-179, que es una tarjeta de identificacià ³n de ciudadanos residentes El registro de ingreso y salida I-94 emitido a un asilado El Permiso de Reentrada que no est expirado, que tambià ©n se conoce como I-327Y, en el caso de residentes condicionales, se puede presentar la planilla que se conoce como I-797 junto con su green card expirada (I-551). A tener en cuenta Si no se cumple con el requisito del I-9, tanto la empresa como el empleado pueden enfrentarse a castigos. Por otro lado, no confundir el I-9, que es obligatorio en todos los casos, con el sistema e-verify, que es voluntario en la mayorà ­a de los casos y tiene como requerimientos siempre el tener que presentar la tarjeta del nà ºmero del seguro social y un I.D. con foto. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

Be a Ruthless Editor

Be a Ruthless Editor Be a Ruthless Editor Be a Ruthless Editor By Michael Hard rules are a good thing for writers sometimes. The sonnet is one of the strictest forms of poetry, but some of the worlds greatest poems are sonnets. A haiku form is even stricter, seventeen syllables in three lines. Hard word counts force a writer to overcome his or her natural laziness by editing ruthlessly. Because writers have no choice but to keep on ruthlessly editing and shortening until the piece is short enough, their job becomes easier, paradoxically. With fewer choices, decision-making becomes faster. There is only room to make one main point, and once you decide what it is, theres no need to struggle to fit any others in. Tighten Your Writing Ruthless editing becomes a necessary skill because some short writing opportunities have very hard word count limits. For example, each of my monthly allotment of academic journal abstracts could never exceed 150 words, After I completed them, they were loaded into a searchable database your local library may have a subscription to it. The database included fields for the author, title and publication, each with limited lengths, but the abstract field in the database could only hold 150 words. So I had to keep editing and reediting until my abstract was less than 150 words. It was a hard rule that could not be broken. Builders talk about load-bearing walls. When youre remodeling your house, if you want to open up the floor plan or provide more space, maybe you decide to remove a wall. Thats fine, unless the wall is a load-bearing wall. If you remove a load-bearing wall, part of the building will fall down. As you remove sentences or words, parts of the sentence or paragraph that used to be cosmetic become load-bearing. This is a good thing: it makes you pay more attention to what youre writing. It requires your writing to be more efficient. And that makes your writing easier to read, because there is less fluff to read through, and it makes your writing more powerful. Ruthless editing can lead to honest evaluation. Summarizing your work in a shorter form, as in a pitch letter or synopsis, provides you a reality check on what you wrote. If you cant briefly present your work without sounding ridiculous, maybe (I gently suggest) maybe it is ridiculous. Help the Reader Besides the invigorating, astringent benefits to the writer learning to edit ruthlessly, brief writing benefits the reader too. The human mind can only hold so many thoughts and words at once, just as a computer screen or the page of a book can only hold so many words. So for example, academic researchers need abstracts to be brief so that several can be compared on a single page or computer screen. Short summaries let readers get a taste of the writers ideas or many writers ideas in a small space and time. By limiting the number of ideas in the summary, the writer also limits the number of ideas that need to fit into the readers head at one time. With fewer ideas to focus on, the reader has more room to think about them. With fewer words to move around in your head, words can be moved around more easily, compared, pondered and felt. Which is more effective: a single powerful, precise word or a string of twenty words that mean exactly the same thing and add nothing more? Here are some tips for editing ruthlessly: Cut Riskily Set a goal for yourself, if your editor hasnt already, to cut 10% from your draft. But why stop there? Choose a paragraph and cut out one-fourth. Or take a risk, let the adrenaline flow and cut it down one-half. Youll be surprised at how often the passage still works. (Often it wont thats why its called a risk.) If it doesnt work, simply restore the cut passage from your recently saved draft. Some reasons why such ruthless cutting often works: You may find you had more fluff than you thought. The passage still works because the cut part never did. You may find that the cut part wasnt as necessary as you thought. Only when its gone do you realize you can live without it. It was pulling some weight, but not so much. If you want, take the best words from it, use them elsewhere, and move on. You may find that your reader doesnt need the cut part to figure out whats happening. When a character leaves the room, your reader will assume the character went through a door without being explicitly told. Make Less More Even if I increase it to 1,000 or 100,000 words, I still cant improve on the classic six-word-novel: For sale: baby shoes, never worn No one is saying that War and Peace would be improved if it were edited down from 587,287 words to 1,000 words. If you want to deal with five families and the Napoleonic War, you will need a lot of words. But a key to ruthless editing and having the heart to do it in the first place is being able to see when you have gained more than youve lost by cutting words. Maximize Your Space If you have a limited number of words to work with, make each word carry its weight. For example: The river flowed through the river bed, making a sound like thunder. We can cut some of those words without losing any meaning. Rivers always flow, usually through river beds, and thunder is always a sound. Changing it to The river thundered or The thundering river says as much in three words as the original sentence did in eleven really, it says more. Now I have to find a new, sleek sentence to put them into. It will take a little work to make the most of them, just as it takes a little work to make the most of the garlic chives I just harvested from my garden. But should I give up a good thing because it takes work? Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:60 Synonyms for â€Å"Walk†That vs. WhichTypes of Ignorance

Customer Service at Nordstrom Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Customer Service at Nordstrom - Case Study Example The habitual ways that are encompassed in the theory can be illustrated in two entities namely cooperativeness and assertiveness. The dimension gave rise to five different styles of conflict management. These styles are accommodation, competition, collaboration, compromising and avoiding. These styles are essential in the life of human beings. People need to adopt them so as to live in harmony with each other in the society.   The approach of Nordstrom to the management of customer relationship and service is a crucial way of defusing or preventing possible conflict situation. Customers have varying preference and needs. The Nordstrom’s approach involves the provision of personalized and customized services to every customer. This ensures that the organization is addressing the unique necessities of individual customers thereby avoiding probable conflict situations. Customers are normal people with names, independent as well as rational. They understand what they specifically looking for from any organization. They hence need to be attended to person rather than generally, with respect and honesty. Listening to and addressing the complaints of customers makes the customers feel respected. The organization understands that returning money to their customers once they demand it demonstrates the respect of the customer’s intelligence as well as their choices.   The Nordstrom approach enhances customer’s experience. Each time a customer interacts with the organization, they gain a particular experience. They may leave the organization feeling either valued or exploited by the organization. The approach involves listening to customers and responding appropriately to their needs as well as complaints (Bolman & Deal, 2013).  

Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Preventing Child Sexual Abuse - Research Paper Example One of the essential research parts of Tamera is the environmental restoration of a nation and the self-sufficiency of a larger society with healthy food on the basis of  Ã‚   assistance with all beings of the environment. Since 2007, the people of Tamera region have been working in the company of the perm culture specialists and the mountain farmer on this basis, constructing a widespread and diverse water landscape (Holzer, & Mà ¼ller, 1). A representation plan for landscape healing is being made that presents a real ecological way out for many regions of the globe: making a water landscape can undo a beginning desertification of a landscape. An intellectual water management is the best central aspect of it. This is attained with the building of decentralized, joined water preservation spaces; situated in the basins of a landscape - that are prepared out of natural construction equipments and harvest, store and control rain water in the soil or body of earth. In the subsequent y ears, Tamera inhabitants plan to construct a smallest amount of ten more preservation spaces in Tamera to be in a position to store or keep the winter rain. Therefore, the neighboring body of earth will be in a position to permanently refill with water. This is the only technique to make the greening and reforestation o f the landscape probable. The worldwide shortage of water, desertification, the food crisis, overflows all over the globe and huge fires are not natural disasters but the consequence of water negligence. The technological and ecological knowledge of how to provide all inhabitants on the globe with high quality water, with enough food and with sustainable energy is at present available.In Tamera, a water preservation landscape, constructed with natural substances, is in the process of being developed with the aid of the creative Perm culture professional called Sepp Holzer (Holzer, & Mà ¼ller, 1). The water preservation landscape harvests and stores rainwater, gives it duration to go under into the soil, therefore, regulating the entire water cycle. This in the long land prevents deforestation.In comparison   to the above given instances, Water Retention Landscapes can smoothen the progress of complete change by restoring the water cycles that can in nature supply fresh, uncontaminated and vitalized water in large quantity, even in the globes’   dry lands. The decentralized structure of retention space assists rainwater to remain on the land and seep into the ground. Healthy ecosystems can bring back around the retention or preservation spaces, and organic agriculture needing less synthetic irrigation and assorted reforestation are enabled (Anderson, p. 45-56).   

George At Asda Brand Image and Positioning Essay

George At Asda Brand Image and Positioning - Essay Example To begin with, Asda is a chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom that began as a subsidiary to Wal Mart 1999. In recent times, it has come to occupy the position of the second largest chain in UK after TESCO. Asda is owned by Wal Mart and it consists of 37 supermarkets, 5 Asda Living stores, 10 George Clothing Stores, and 24 depots. To this effect, it makes use of 150,000 employees in all of its 340 units. (www.wikipedia.com) With the Asda Public Campaings becoming huge successes, the chain retains a 16.8% market share as of February 2007. This is second only to TESCO which has a 31.4% share. Its closest competitor is Sainsbury which follows at 16.5%. (www.wikipedia.com) Besides promoting itself as the lowest price supermarket by remaining loyal to the Advertising Standards Agency, Asda has paid special attention to its clothing line that goes by name of George. The marketing and branding features that have been related with this brand in the last two years are as follows: The aim of this paper is to study the changes made by George clothing as far as branding and brand image are concerned, in the past two years, with a focus on measuring the success of the same. This will be studied from various aspects like conception of brand image, and others, so as to measure the same on various counts. The methodology used in this case is that of the Elaboration Likelihood... In order to become a more global brand, it has marketed its clothes in Mexico, UK, Canada, Argentina, Japan, and the US. It has launched various new categories of clothing in the past two years including lingerie, kids wear, baby wear and many others. It has retained an image of being easy to maintain besides being affordable due to its association with Asda, yet it has created a niche market of its own. It has raced ahead of Marks and Spencer's in the last two years as far as market share is concerned. (Official Website: George; http://www.george.com/company/) Methodology and Purpose Statement The aim of this paper is to study the changes made by George clothing as far as branding and brand image are concerned, in the past two years, with a focus on measuring the success of the same. This will be studied from various aspects like conception of brand image, and others, so as to measure the same on various counts. The methodology used in this case is that of the Elaboration Likelihood Model. The choice of the Elaboration likelihood Model was one that came directly from the consumer oriented characteristics of brand equity and brand knowledge. Elaboration Likelihood Model (Petty & Cacioppo 1983), for instance, identified message relevance as one of these factors. According to this model, when message relevance is high, individuals will actively process and evaluate the information in the advertisement when forming or changing attitudes. When message relevance is low, individuals will not actively process the information in the advertisement, but will instead rely on peripheral message cues to form or change attitudes. This dissertation will therefore draw on the elements of the Elaboration Likelihood Model in order to study the elements that define the nuances of

Book Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 12

Book Review - Essay Example Neil Shubin employs comprehensive, but conversational style to introduce the story of Big Bang carefully navigating its evolutionary path (Shubin 28). Despite the fact the many people are familiar with the Big Bang theory; the contemporary human being still has no clear understanding of the theory and would be very eager to listen to it whenever any chance comes by. The modern man has the interest of hearing the story of the big bang until some sense sinks in about intimate links that they share with other species. However, critically dissecting Shubin’s book, he fails to utilize the valuable opportunity to make these connections that are of fundamental interest to the modern man. Commencing with fossils, he tilts his vision skyward telling the audience how the human body reflects the 13.7 billion-year history of the universe. Beginning right at the minutest level, the molecular composition of humans, Shubin seeks to demonstrate why people look the way they do, tracking the creation of the universe via the development of various components of the human body such as genes, organs as well as cells. Shubin’s The Universe Within: Discovering the Common History of Rocks, Planets, and People is basically a hilarious presentation of the human body together with his dwelling-the earth, were shaped by the universe’s 13.7 billion year evolution cosmic and chemical forces (Shubin 190). Besides its emergence as one of the best fits for individuals with undying interest in science, The Universe Within incorporates landmark and late-breaking studies. Shubin’s argument is that all astronomers are paleontologists. According to him, a distant star light is an indication of conditions numerous years ago. Staring at stars was a means of exploring our own origins. Rocks and bodies are time shells that convey the authority of the enormous events that fashioned them. The

DIOPHANTUS A KEY FIGURE IN THE HISTORY OF ALGEBRA Essay

DIOPHANTUS A KEY FIGURE IN THE HISTORY OF ALGEBRA - Essay Example He was a Greek mathematician who was born, raised and lived in Alexandria in Egypt which was considered a striking center for learning and culture in the Greek world. During his time he was best known for his collection of books arithmetica which was a landmark work in the algebra history. He had a very huge influence on the development of number theory with the Diophantine equations (Book Rags, n.d). Diophantus’ book The Arithmetica was a much higher one on level compared to the others as it had (or it gave) many amazing solutions to the difficult indeterminate equations. He was very keen as he did not have any impression for zero and tried as much as he could to avoid negatives in his equations. His keenness drove him at three types of quadratic equations that include ax2 + bx = c, ax2 = bx + c and ax2 + c = bx. However despite him using the three types, today’s mathematics only one case (only one quadratic equation) is looked at. He also considered other various types of problems. He was good at solving many mathematics problems that included the pairs of simultaneous quadratic equations (Algebra.com) Diophantus made many contributions to algebra and one of contributions which will be discussed in detail is the problems of Arithmetica. There are six books of Arithmetica that present the indeterminate and determinate problems and they are treated using algebraic inequalities and algebraic equations. Diophantus moves from the simple to difficult in the degree of the unknown numbers and equations. All his works are summed in the sixth book which has a number of exercises that belong to a variety of group problems. The exercises are related to the right triangle and without taking into consideration the dimensions; the polynomials are created from the surface and from the sides and once from the angle bisector (encyclopedia.com., 2011). The first book by Diophantus contains the determinate problems that are of the second and the first degree.

Book Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 12

Book Review - Essay Example Neil Shubin employs comprehensive, but conversational style to introduce the story of Big Bang carefully navigating its evolutionary path (Shubin 28). Despite the fact the many people are familiar with the Big Bang theory; the contemporary human being still has no clear understanding of the theory and would be very eager to listen to it whenever any chance comes by. The modern man has the interest of hearing the story of the big bang until some sense sinks in about intimate links that they share with other species. However, critically dissecting Shubin’s book, he fails to utilize the valuable opportunity to make these connections that are of fundamental interest to the modern man. Commencing with fossils, he tilts his vision skyward telling the audience how the human body reflects the 13.7 billion-year history of the universe. Beginning right at the minutest level, the molecular composition of humans, Shubin seeks to demonstrate why people look the way they do, tracking the creation of the universe via the development of various components of the human body such as genes, organs as well as cells. Shubin’s The Universe Within: Discovering the Common History of Rocks, Planets, and People is basically a hilarious presentation of the human body together with his dwelling-the earth, were shaped by the universe’s 13.7 billion year evolution cosmic and chemical forces (Shubin 190). Besides its emergence as one of the best fits for individuals with undying interest in science, The Universe Within incorporates landmark and late-breaking studies. Shubin’s argument is that all astronomers are paleontologists. According to him, a distant star light is an indication of conditions numerous years ago. Staring at stars was a means of exploring our own origins. Rocks and bodies are time shells that convey the authority of the enormous events that fashioned them. The

London Life Insurance Company Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

London Life Insurance Company - Assignment Example Sales and administrative operations of the company were supported by a professional team of around 2,700 and 2,600 working as the sales and administrative workforce for the company respectively. The product mix of London Life Insurance Company was duly optimized through encompassing a large number of benefits pertaining to life, disability, medical and group insurance products with also existence of other retirement and saving plans. Through the use of the Group Insurance Plans the company was able to enhance its sales network with the corporate client base encompassing around 16,000 different concerns. The management and administrative functions within the London Life Insurance Company was effectively synchronized through the use of information technology connecting the activities of the different branches. Moreover, London Life Insurance Company being a member of the Trilon Financial Corporation concern an its enhanced affiliation with the Royal Trust in the region contributed in d evelopment of its network base in gaining potential customers in the region. Strategic activities carried out by the company relating to market and product development along with restructuring the organizational objectives contributed to the gaining of assets amounting to around $ 8.5 Billion. Enhanced focus rendered to the parameters of customization and personalization helped the company in becoming a market leader pertaining to financial and insurance products in Canada (London Life Insurance Company 854-855). Problem Statement The main problem that Ralph Simon faces relating to the salespersons pertains to the failure in understanding of the process of motivating them to sustain and enhance their sales activities pertaining to insurance and financial products. The compensation received by the people in terms of commissions and bonuses failed to effectively distinguish between the new sales force and the old thereby reflecting a lack of motivation in terms of enhancing the spirit of the new members. Ralph Simon also countered a problem relating to the Monthly Activity Report for the Points rendered refer more to the ‘Efficiencies’ of the individuals in gaining appointments and closed and open deals rather than assessing the ‘Effectiveness’ of the individuals based on the amount of insurance business sourced from the market. This feature was inferred by Simon in reducing the operational effectiveness of the company for increasing the inability of the company in gaining new leads. Simon also visualized the existence of a problem wherein the new sales persons were required to handle surmountable amount of work loads and responsibilities pertaining to the meeting of targets and gaining new contacts while the experienced sales people enjoyed over the existing contacts and other renewals carried out by the customers. This feature reflected the existence of role conflicts and role ambiguity that in turn contributed in reduction of the mot ivation of the sales people and thereby required adequate management intervention (London Life Insurance Company 858-859). Analysis of Alternative The first alternative that can be sought relates to the creating of a basic salary slab for the sales people in the concern. This salary slab can range from $20,000 to $52,000 relating to the composition of new and old people in the sales tea

The arch Deceiver and Spiv in love Essay Example for Free

The arch Deceiver and Spiv in love Essay In Tony Kytes Tony uses a horse-drawn carriage, so it is expected that he and his family were not poor, but do not own a vast amount of wealth. In Spiv the main character deals on the Black Market, and also appears to be a classy dresser so he owns some amount of money. The way the characters and presented in each story is radically different. Tony Kytes is presented as someone who is looking for a wife and is engaged to Milly, so we expect to find Tony settling down with Milly. The Spiv is presented as someone who takes a small amount of liking to himself. He opens with She was a bit of a drip was old Myra, but absolutely gone on me. Immediately we may think that hes popular with women. He cares a lot about his appearance, and the womens appearance aswell, saying, I cant turn my back on a woman who looks up to me even if I cant bear the sight of her otherwise. He also enjoys a bit of the old flannel, which is flattery, and likes being complimented on his dress sense. Tony Kytes appearance isnt described in as much detail, but he was quite the womens favourite, so we understand he is popular with women. The female characters arent described in as much detail as the main characters, but the females in both stories appear to be lead on by the main characters. In Spiv, Myra is described as someone who he had no intention of sticking with. On one occasion when the spiv is explaining this to Myra, after acknowledging what he says, she goes back to talking about clothes, which is one of his favourite discussion topics, believing she can win him over with it, and it works for so long. In Tony Kytes the females all seem to crave Tonys attention, in particular the character Unity Sallet, who questions Tonys decision to marry Milly. Unity asks him if hes seen anything to complain about, if she is prettier than Milly, and reminds Tony that they have known each other for a long time, since childhood. In Spiv we dont learn much about Eunice, the spivs steady, other than that she was a real classy dresser and different as chalk from Myra. Generally the stories arent intentionally humourous, but do contain small amounts of amusing parts. In the spivs story it is funny to learn how in a rough-house with the Hammersmith Gang, he cares more about his bleedin titfer (his hat) then he does about his black eye. In Tonys story an element of slapstick comedy is used where the three girls are quarrelling in the cart, and as the cart tips over, out roll the three maidens into the road in a heap. Despite the stories not being intentionally humourous, in the end it is amusing how both men struggle to find happiness with more than one woman, and end up with either the woman they started out with in the first place, or alone (in Tony Kytes and Spiv respectively). Both stories are narrated in the first person, and both stories are narrated in a similar style to the dialogue of the characters. In Tony Kytes the narrator uses thee and ee, and in Spiv the story is told by the spiv himself. This technique places a sense of realism in the story, bringing us closer to the story than if the narrative was written in standard English. During the times these stories were set, a womans career was to marry and look after the home. A man leading women on or taking on a couple of women wasnt too uncommon, because the man was, without being too sexist, the dominant sex, and needed to find a good woman to settle down with. Times have changed since then, and so by reading this I find that the behaviour of the main characters is not strictly unacceptable, but immoral. Over the last century, women have become more independent and have earned more respect, and will not be lead on by a man as easily as in the stories. During the times in which they were set it wouldnt have been seen as wrong as such, but still during both settings a woman might have taken offence to either Tonys or the spivs actions. I think that placing the stories into different social and historical contexts would bring out different reactions, but the idea of a woman not being a slave to a male is the issue raised in both stories. Shaun Collier 7/2/2001 Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Miscellaneous section.

Microstructure-mechanical Property Relationships

Microstructure-mechanical Property Relationships Microstructure-mechanical property relationships in high strength low alloy steels for automotive applications Chapter 1 Introduction The production of steel is an ancient process which has evolved over time. Where and when Steel was first created is unknown and a topic of much debate, however most historians believe earliest production of steel originates from China from as early as 202BC. A later form of steel named Wootz Steel was later developed in India, which used wind power to fuel a furnace producing nearly pure steel. In the 11th century China developed steel further was the first country to mass produce steel. Two methods were developed. A berganesque method which produced inhomogeneous steel, and a process which that relied on partial decarbonisation through repeated forging under a cold blast, this was seen as the superior method, and one which lead on to the Bessemer process [1].The Bessemer process involved using a blast furnace to extract iron from its ore and is the basis of modern steel extraction. Steel is produced firstly by extracting iron from its ore. Iron extraction differs slightly from other metals as it can only be found naturally in oxide form. This means that a smelting process is required. This involves a reduction reaction followed by alloying with additional elements like carbon to stabilise and strengthen the steel. Iron smelting requires a high temperature which produces a ferrous material made of a combination of iron and steel. The addition of alloying elements such as carbon affect the materials properties greatly. Changing the temperature at which the iron is smelted affects the phase of the resultant steel, giving rise to the possibility of producing steels with varying properties which are suitable for a range of applications. In the automotive industry, body frames were originally made of hardwood. This was replaced in 1923 when the American Rolling Company developed steel sheet production. The wooden frames were inferior in energy absorption which was a big safety issue. Steel was also much easier to form than wood and did not warp over time. As the automobile has evolved over time, there has been an increasing public awareness of the environmental impact of the car. This has forced manufacturers to produce lighter cars which are more economical. This brought about the development of thin, highly formable sheet steel. The main competitor to steel in the automotive industry is Aluminium, which offers a much better strength to weight ratio and also a better resistance to corrosion. However steel is still the most commonly used material mainly due to lower production cost. Increasing competition from aluminium is forcing the development of modern steels. Steel naturally has a higher formability and elongation than aluminium which is one of the reasons it is used so extensively in the automotive sector. This can be seen in Figure 1.1: Figure 1.1- Yield strength vs total elongation of aluminium alloys and automotive steels [3] Ultra low carbon (ULC) steels are used commonly in the production of automobiles. Their, highy formability and suitability for hot dip galvanising make them very attractive to automobile producers[4]. Pressure is being put on the manufacturers to produce lightweight cars that minimise emissions without compromising safety. Metallic properties required to achieve this consist of a high tensile strength, high r- value, good ductility and also the ability to be made resistant to corrosion (either naturally or through the use of chemical surface treatment). Various high performance steels have been developed to meet these requirements, of these, one of the most important being HSLA steels. High strength low alloy steels provide a much better strength to weight ratio than conventional low carbon steels allowing for thinner grades to be used, saving weight. HSLA steels have a manganese content of up to 1.5%, as well as microalloying elements such as vanadium and titanium. HSLA steels are increasingly replacing traditional low carbon steels for many automotive parts. This is due to their ability to reduce weight without compromising strength and dent resistance. Typical applications include door-intrusion beams, chassis members, reinforcing and mounting brackets, steering and suspension parts, bumpers, and wheels [5]. High strength low alloy steel properties are determined by the way in which they are processed. High deep drawability, can be achieved through precipitation of elements by annealing to produce a strong {111} recrystallisation texture [7], producing highly formable steels which are very desirable for automotive applications. In this study, two grades of IFHS strips are studied. A titanium only stabilised steel grade and a titanium-vanadium stabilised steel grade. These have been treated using a Viking tube furnace and studied using a scanning electron microscope, Photoshop and Optilab Software. Both steel grades have been studied using carefully selected thermo mechanical heat treatment cycles. The heating variables are expected to cause varying effects to the mechanical properties and microstructure of the two materials. The addition of vanadium in one of the steel grades is also expected to influence the mechanical properties. With the data obtained from my experiments I hope to determine the optimum processing route for similar HSLA steels. Chapter 2 Aims Carry out selective batch annealing heat treatments on two microalloyed High Strength IF strip steels. Measure grain size evolution samples using scanning electron microscopy and quantitave optical microscopy techniques. Measure mechanical properties of obtained samples using hardness and tensile testing techniques Determine the optimum processing characteristics, resulting in optimum mechanical property characteristics. Chapter 3 Literature Review 3.1 AUTOMOTIVE STEELS Automotive manufacturers make use of many different metals in the production of cars, of which the most predominant being steel. This is for several reasons, steel is relatively easy to recycle in comparison with polymers and aluminium, and this is an issue which is growing in importance as the public are becoming more and more environmentally aware. Steel is also a very good material in terms of its practicality, as it is easily welded, has good formability, elongation and ductility. As the environmental impact of cars is becoming more and more important, stringent regulations regarding emissions are being forced upon manufacturers. One of the ways that manufacturers have chosen to meet these requirements is to make the cars lighter by switching from mild steel to high strength steel grades which enables components to have a thinner cross section, saving weight. The three main types of steels used in automobiles today are; Low strength (IF and mild steels), High strength (Carbon manganese, bake hardening, IFHS and HSLA) Advanced high strength steels (dual-phase, complex phase, transformation induced plasticity and matensitic steels) These steel types can be seen below on figure 3.1 comparing their elongation and strength. Figure 3.1: Classification of automotive steels [8]. 3.1.1 Mild Steels Mild steels are normally found in two different forms for automotive purposes. Drawn Quality and Aluminium killed. These are both cheap to manufacture are used for high volume parts. They are usually of a ferrite microstructure. [8] 3.1.2 Interstitial Free Steels IF steels are used for car body panels extensively due largely to their deep drawability. The high elongation achieved in comparison with other steel grades can be seen in figure 3.1.The main characteristic of IF steel is a low carbon and nitrogen content. These elements are removed from solution by adding specific elements for alloys. Commonly used elements for this microalloying process include Manganese, Sulphur, Titanium and Niobium. As well as a deep drawability, IF steel have low yield strength but a poor dent resistance which is undesirable for certain automotive applications [6] Bake Hardening Steels BH steels keep carbon in solution either during processing before it is precipitated or during the paint baking state [8]. This strengthens the steel through solid solution strengthening, resulting in steel with both high formability and high strength. 3.1.4 Carbon-Manganese Steels Carbon-manganese steels are solid solution strengthened and are used in strip form on automobile bodies, although they are becoming replaced by lighter steel grades. They offer high drawability and are relatively cheap to produce. [9] D.T.Llewellyn: Steel: Metallurgy and Applications, Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd, Great Britain, 1992. 3.1.5 High-Strength Low-Alloy (HSLA) Steels HSLA steels are strengthened through the addition of microallying elements. These react with the carbon and nitrogen within the steel to form carbides and nitrides. Common elements include Nb, V and Ti. The resultant steel has both high strength and a high formability due to very fine grain sizes [10] Dual-Phase (DP) Steels Dual-phase steels contain two phases within their microstructure. These are ferrite and martensite. This two phase structure is produced through a complex series of contolled heating and cooling. Martensite regions are produced by heating and rapidly cooling. It is the marteniste regions tha give the hardness to the material where as the ferrite regions are much softer. The structure of DP steels takes advantages of the properties of each of the phases, where the hard maternsite regions are surrounded by softer ferrite which reduces brittleness, shown in figure 3.2. DP steel has good ductility, low yield strength but high work hardening rate [8]. Figure 3.2: Microstructure of DP steel [8]. 3.1.7 Transformation-Induced Plasticity (TRIP) Steels TRIP steels consist of a mainly ferrite microstructure with a low austenite content within the matrix. An isothermal hold during production at an intermediate temperature is used to produce bainite [8]. Strength is increased by transformationing of austenite regions to harder martensite regions. TRIP steels have a good work hardening rate and good strength. Work hardening in TRIP steels continues at higher strain levels than those of DP steels so TRIP steels is a superior material from this aspect. Figure 3.3 shows the multi phase microstructure of TRIP steel. Figure 3.3: Microstructure of TRIP steel [8]. Martensitic (MS) Steel MS steels are mainly of a martensitic microstructure but contain small amounts of ferrite and bainite. During heat treatment the steel is rapidly cooled transforming austenite into martensite. This gives a very high tensile strength since martensite produces a very hard material, but the drawback is this also gives a low formability. In order to overcome this low formability further processing such as heat treatments must be undertaken. [11] 3.1.9 High Strength Interstitial Free (HS-IF) Steels HSIF steels are strengthened through the addition of microalloying elements. Commonly used alloying elements include P, B, Si, Mn, Ti, N. The combinations in which the microalloying elements are used have an effect on the properties of resultant steel allowing a range of requirements to be met. HSIF steels can produce nearly twice the potential yield strength as conventional IF steels, although there is a reduction in formability. 3.2 Microalloying Elements 3.2.1 Carbon Carbon is one of the most important interstitial elements within steel, giving very different mechanical properties as its percentage content is altered and therefore must be studied in depth. Carbon is an element commonly found in automotive steels due to its high strength properties. Although adding carbon increases strength, it also affects the formability, i.e. its deep drawability. A set of experiments were carried out to determine the effect of carbon content within steel. When analysing the tensile test results it was noted that the ultimate tensile strength, the proof stress and the yield stress all increased as the amount of carbon increased in the steel. The plastic region as well as the general elongation of the steel under tensile stress decreased as the carbon content increased. These are significant changes in the mechanical properties. Hardness and Tensile strength increase as carbon content approaches 0.85% C as shown in figure 3.4. The elongation percentage decreases as the carbon content increases. This suggests that the more carbon present in the material, the stronger and less ductile it becomes. Figure 3.4: Affect of Carbon content in Steel Yield Strength Carbon content influences the yield strength of steel because carbon molecules fit into the interstitial crystal lattice sites of the body-centred cubic arrangement of the iron molecules. The interstitial carbons make it more difficult for any dislocation to occur as it reduces mobility. This has a hardening effect on the metal. Phase diagram Using the phase diagram one can understand why the properties of steels change with differing carbon content. Figure 3.5: Phase Diagram The gamma phase, relates to an Austenite range which has a Face Centred Cubic (FCC) structure. The alpha phase relates to a ferritic Body Centered Cubic crystal structure. Ferrite is found extensively in automotive steels, its BCC structure is much less dense than the FCC of austenite which makes it easily formable and therefore relatively cheap to manufacture. Fe3C refers to cementite and the mixture of alpha (ferrite) + cementite is called pearlite. On the phase diagram steels only apply up to about 1.4% carbon. The eutectoid point is at 723 degrees and is where there are three phases in equilibrium. The eutectoid composition is Fe-0.83%C. The reaction that happens at the eutectoid point is: austenite > ferrite + cementite gamma > alpha + Fe3C High carbon content means a greater precense of austenite, whereas low carbon content will give less austenite and a more ferritic microstructure. The affect of these differing microstructures is reflected in their mechanical properties. This is because Ferrite is soft and ductile and Cementite is hard and brittle. It can be seen by looking at figure 3.5 that as the carbon content is increased, strength increases. This relationship occurs up to the eutectoid point after which it starts to reduce. This where cementite grain-boundaries are created. The figure below shows how the varying content of carbon in steel affects its properties and suitability for different applications. Figure 3.6 Carbon Steel Applications Lever rule The lever rule can be used to calculate expected proportions of the phases present in each of the tested carbon steel specimens. These values can then be compared to the values obtained through testing. Figure 3.7 Lever Rule Calculations: a = Ferrite a + Fe3C = Pearlite 0.1wt%C Normalised Steel Tensile Specimen: % Ferrite = (0.8- 0.1)   Ã‚   = 0.897   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (0.8-0.02) % Pearlite= (0.1- 0.02)    = 0.103   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (0.8- 0.02) 0.4wt%C Normalised Steel Tensile Specimen: % Ferrite = (0.8- 0.4)   Ã‚   = 0.513   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (0.8-0.02) % Pearlite= (0.4- 0.02)    = 0.487   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (0.8- 0.02) 0.8wt%C Normalised Steel Tensile Specimen: % Ferrite = (0.8- 0.8)    = 0   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (0.8-0.02) % Pearlite= (0.8- 0.02)   = 1   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (0.8- 0.02) These results suggest that as the carbon content increases the pearlite to ferrite ratio also increases. So the ratio of Pearlite to ferrite increases as carbon content is increased the material is made harder, stronger and more brittle but less ductile. These results obtained using the lever rule support the results obtained from the tensile test, showing the steel with the highest carbon content to be the least ductile and most brittle. The results are also supported by the findings from the hardness test which shows the steel with the highest carbon content to be the hardest. 3.2.2 Titanium The addition of Titanium to IFHS steels is particularly useful in the manufacturing of strip steels where good drawability is a requirement. The addition of Ti or Nb results in a lower Yield Strength/Tensile Strength ratio giving an increased formability. This can be seen in figure 3.8. When Titanium reacts with Carbon and Nitrogen it forms TiC and TiN, these precipitates work to delay recrystallisation of austenite, thus refining the grains to a favourable smaller size [12]. Figure 3.8: The effect of Titanium and Niobium on Yield Srength/UTS ratio [12] Titanium precipitates exist within steels and these affect the mechanical properties. TiN precipitates help to promote recrystallisation and encourage the {111} texture. TiS precipitates are commonly found in the austenite region as well as Ti4C2S2, Ti4C2S2 is formed by reacting with Carbon and in the highest regions of the austenite range there is little to no Carbon. These conditions are created at very high temperatures similar to those during hot rolling processes. This leaves the steel highly formable and suitable for deep drawability application such as car body panels. It is very difficult however to form Ti4C2S2 as it is less stable than TiS, although it can be encouraged through specific heat treatment processes. [13] 3.2.3 Vanadium Titanium is commonly added with Niobium to steels to increase formability through precipitation. However these additions can result in a retardation of recrystallisation meaning a higher temperature or longer soaking time is required for recyrstallisation to occur. Vanadium offers a replacement to Niobium in the form of carbides and nitrides, VC and VN, which does not cause such a drastic retardation of recyrstallisation. This is attractive to manufacturers as lower temperatures and shorter processing time during annealing are more cost effective. The effectiveness of Vandium in essentially lowering the recrystallisation temperature is shown in Figure 3.9. Figure 3.9: The effect of Ti + Nb, Ti + V and V stabilised steels on the Temperature for Complete Recrystallisation in 30 Seconds [44]. Figure 3.9 shows that the V only stabilised steel recrystallises at a lower temperature than the TiV and TiNb steels. 3.2.4 Sulphur Sulphur is found in all steels including Interstitial Free High Strength Steels. It acts as an interstitial elements and other elements to form precipitates such as TiS, MnS and Ti4C2S2. These precipitates have different effects on the mechanical properties of the material. In particular the precipitation of carbosulphides is beneficial to the steel as this causes the steel to form in the austenite range and helps to reduce the TiC formation which could occur during heat treatment processing and cause the material to become less likely to form the {111} texture.[13] Promoting Ti4C2S2 therefore encourages the formation of the favourable {111} texture, increasing the formability of the material. In order for Ti4C2S2 to develop, Sulphur, Carbon and Titanium must all be present, and processed in such a way as to form a reaction, which can difficult. 3.2.5 Niobium Niobium if found extensively in IFHS Steels reacting with carbon to form carbides such as NbC. Solute Niobium can be used to segregate austenite and ferrite grain boundaries and increase the strength of the austenite region [14]. As Niobium content increases the r-value decreases as well as the ductility. Generally Nb content is minimised as much as possible as the positive effect it has on strength in the austenite region is relatively small and is outweighed by the negative effect it has on ductility. Boron can be used instead of Niobium as it has a much greater effect on strength than Niobium. This can be seen in figure 3.9 Figure 3.9: Average Flow Stress vs. Temperature for B, C, and Nb and Mo solutes in steel [15]. 3.2.6 Phosphorus Phosphorus, P, is a common alloy of IFHS steel, offering increases in strength through solid solution hardening. Adding Phosphorus can also have a direct effect on the grains within a structure by increasing the Hall-Petch slope (described below). Adding P however can have a negative effect on the brittleness of the material. This can be particularly problematic during the cold working process where brittle fracture is a distinct possibility. The Hall-Petch relationship says that as the grain size decreases the yield strength of a material increases. This is due to the dislocations piling up at grain boundaries, which act as barriers to dislocation movement at low temperatures. If the grain size is large, then a high number of dislocations will pile up at the edge of the slip plane. When the stress exceeds a critical value the dislocations cross the boundary. So the larger the grain size, the lower the applied stress required to reach this critical stress at the grain boundary, meaning the larger the grain size, the lower the yield stress due to easier dislocation movement. This is true down to a grain size of 100nm. Below this size the yield strength remains constant or starts to decrease. This is effect is called the reverse Hall-Petch effect. Phosphorus along with Silicon and Manganese are added via solid solution strengthening to strengthen steel allowing for a thinner sheet of metal to be used for car body panels, and thus reducing the weight. Phosphorus is the most effective out of the three elements in terms of cost and strengthening effect. This can be seen below in figure 3.11 where the effects of P and S additions are compared. Figure 3.11: Comparison of Stress vs. Temperature between Phosphorus and Silicon microalloyed Steels [16]. Phosphorus is also found in the form of FeTiP precipitates. These precipitates have a negative affect on strength and drawability. The effects of these precipitates are greater in batch annealed steels than in continuous steels. This is due to the long soaking times required in batch annealing which provides optimum conditions and sufficient time for these precipitates to form [17]. 3.2.7 Manganese Manganese is added through solid solution strengthening to IFHS steels in a low concentration in order to react with the Sulphur to produce MnS precipitates. These MnS precipitates act to refine grain structure during processing when there is a transformation in phase between austenite and ferrite. Mn is to strengthen steels through solid solution strengthening. The effect of Mn is relatively small in the austenite range but compared to the ferrite range. This is due to a difference in Mn solubility between the austenite and ferrite ranges. Where Mn in ferrite is 10wt% higher than in austenite [18] Mn acts to stabilize the austenite region and slows down the rate of austenite transformation and also the temperature at which the transformation takes place. This lowering of transformation temperature between austenite and ferrite promotes finer grains through grain refinement. Mn can be found in oxide and sulphide forms as well as combinations of the two, oxysulphides. These oxides and sulphides act to deoxidise and desulphurise the steel. When in sulphide form, MnS helps to reduce embrittlement of steel without reducing hardness. When mixed with common impurities such as Al2O3, SiO2, MnO, CaO, CaS and FeS an increase in hardness and strength occurs [19]. When in the oxide form, MnO at the surface acts a barrier layer to prevent surface oxidisation and corrosion. 3.2.8 Silicon Silicon is a useful element and is used to increase the strength through solid solution strengthening, although there is a compromise as increasing Silicon content decreases ductility. Silicon is also found in oxide form, as silicon dioxide. Silicon dioxide is found with Manganese Oxide or as Silicomanganese to give a strong oxygen stabilisation and prevent corrosion of steel. [20]. 3.2.9 Aluminium Aluminium is used to deoxidise steel by reacting with oxygen within the steel to form Al2O3. These Aluminium Oxides are later removed leaving an oxygen free steel. However the low density of Aluminium means that oxidisation could occur at the steel interface resulting in corrosion. Aluminium content can have a negative effect on formability. This is due to the precipitation of AlN during recrystallisation preventing the {111} development and thus preventing the formation of finer grains. So minimising the amount of AlN in solid solution results in higher formability. A more stable alternative to AlN which is commonly used in IFHS steels is TiN. 3.3 Hardening and processing There are many different compositions of steel which offer various advantageous properties. The main reason for altering composition or alloying is to strengthen the material. This can be done in several ways; 3.3.1 Precipitation strengthening This process uses heat treatment to raise the yield strength of a material. As temperature changes during heat treatment processing, fine particles are produced due to differing melting points of impurities. These fine particles impede dislocation movement. This in turn reduces the ductility and plasticity of the material and increases its hardness. 3.2.2 Solid – solution strengthening Solid solution strengthening is a form of alloying. It is a commonly used technique to improve the strength of a material. Atoms of the alloying element are added to the crystal lattice of the base metal via diffusion. There are two ways in which this can occur, depending on the size of the alloying alloying element. These are via substitutional solid solution, and interstitial solid solution. Substitutional solid solution This takes place when the sizes of the alloying atoms are equal in size to the base atoms, (Differing in size by no more than 15% according to the Hume-Rothery rules) The alloying atoms replace the solvent atoms and assume their lattice positions. The solute atoms can produce a slight distortion of the crystal lattice, due to the size variation. The amount of distortion increases with the size of the solute atom. This distortion has an effect on microstructural properties. The formation of slip planes is altered making dislocation movement more difficult, meaning a higher stress is required to move the dislocations. This gives the material a higher strength. A generalisation associated with substitution is that large substitutional atoms put the structure under compressive stress, and small substitutional atoms give tensile stress. Interstitial solid solution This occurs when the alloying atoms are much smaller than the base atoms. The alloying atoms fit into spaces within the crystal lattice. This is the case with carbon in steel, where carbon is a solute in the iron solvent lattice. The carbon atoms are less than half the size of the iron atoms so an interstitial solid solution forms. 3.3.3 Processing The final properties of steel are greatly affected by the manner in which it is first made and then processed. Typical processes include steel making, casting, hot and cold rolling and annealing. Each individual process has a distinct affect on the properties of the steel. To make the steel free from interstitial elements, Ti and Nb are often added to react with interstitials after a process called vacuum degassing. Vacuum degassing is the name given to the process where a metal is melted within a vacuum and the gasses are evaporated out. Hot and cold rolling Hot rolling is the first process to take place after steel making. After steel has been cast into uniform slabs or billets it is the rolled under a high temperature to reduce its cross sectional thickness. The hot rolling process is undertaken at a temperature above that at which recrystallisation occurs. Hot rolling reduces allows recrysallisation to occur during processing (dynamic recrystallisation) and the material is left stress free due the new grain nucleation and equiaxed grains. Effect of hot working on microstructure: Hot working occurs at high temperatures, this means that there is often enough thermal energy present for recrsytallisation to occur during deformation. This is called dynamic recrystallisation and it occurs with most metals, apart from aluminium. Recrystallisation occurs during the working process and also as the metal is cooling. Dynamic recrystallisation occurs by new grains nucleating at existing grain boundaries. The amount of recyrstallisation depends on several factors. It depends on the strain rate, temperature and amount of strain on the metal. Generally, as strain within the metal increases, so does the amount of recrystallisation. Cold working is when steel is plastically deformed below its recrystallisation temperature. This process increases the yield strength due to the plastic deformation causing slight defects within the microstructure of the metal. These defects make it difficult for slip planes to move. The grain size of the metal is also reduced, making the material harder through a process called Hall petch hardening. Hall Petch hardening, also known as grain boundary strengthening, increases materials strength by altering the grain size. This is because grain boundaries act as barriers to dislocation movement. So altering the grain size, through hot and cold rolling at various temperatures and rates will have an effect on dislocation movement and yield strength. Cold working will increase the strength of the metal by making it increasingly difficult for slip to occur. However as more and more of the larger grains split to form smaller grains the ductility is greatly reduced as the material hardens. Eventually fracture would occur. To avoid this, the material is annealed. Cold working occurs at a temperature below 0.4 of the metals melting point. Some of the energy created by the process is expelled as heat but some energy is stored within the structure putting it into a high energy state. The energy is stored within the grain boundaries of the deformed crystals and within the stress fields of the dislocations created through the plastic deformation. The structure is highly stressed after cold working and would prefer to return to its former low energy state. It is howeve Microstructure-mechanical Property Relationships Microstructure-mechanical Property Relationships Microstructure-mechanical property relationships in high strength low alloy steels for automotive applications Chapter 1 Introduction The production of steel is an ancient process which has evolved over time. Where and when Steel was first created is unknown and a topic of much debate, however most historians believe earliest production of steel originates from China from as early as 202BC. A later form of steel named Wootz Steel was later developed in India, which used wind power to fuel a furnace producing nearly pure steel. In the 11th century China developed steel further was the first country to mass produce steel. Two methods were developed. A berganesque method which produced inhomogeneous steel, and a process which that relied on partial decarbonisation through repeated forging under a cold blast, this was seen as the superior method, and one which lead on to the Bessemer process [1].The Bessemer process involved using a blast furnace to extract iron from its ore and is the basis of modern steel extraction. Steel is produced firstly by extracting iron from its ore. Iron extraction differs slightly from other metals as it can only be found naturally in oxide form. This means that a smelting process is required. This involves a reduction reaction followed by alloying with additional elements like carbon to stabilise and strengthen the steel. Iron smelting requires a high temperature which produces a ferrous material made of a combination of iron and steel. The addition of alloying elements such as carbon affect the materials properties greatly. Changing the temperature at which the iron is smelted affects the phase of the resultant steel, giving rise to the possibility of producing steels with varying properties which are suitable for a range of applications. In the automotive industry, body frames were originally made of hardwood. This was replaced in 1923 when the American Rolling Company developed steel sheet production. The wooden frames were inferior in energy absorption which was a big safety issue. Steel was also much easier to form than wood and did not warp over time. As the automobile has evolved over time, there has been an increasing public awareness of the environmental impact of the car. This has forced manufacturers to produce lighter cars which are more economical. This brought about the development of thin, highly formable sheet steel. The main competitor to steel in the automotive industry is Aluminium, which offers a much better strength to weight ratio and also a better resistance to corrosion. However steel is still the most commonly used material mainly due to lower production cost. Increasing competition from aluminium is forcing the development of modern steels. Steel naturally has a higher formability and elongation than aluminium which is one of the reasons it is used so extensively in the automotive sector. This can be seen in Figure 1.1: Figure 1.1- Yield strength vs total elongation of aluminium alloys and automotive steels [3] Ultra low carbon (ULC) steels are used commonly in the production of automobiles. Their, highy formability and suitability for hot dip galvanising make them very attractive to automobile producers[4]. Pressure is being put on the manufacturers to produce lightweight cars that minimise emissions without compromising safety. Metallic properties required to achieve this consist of a high tensile strength, high r- value, good ductility and also the ability to be made resistant to corrosion (either naturally or through the use of chemical surface treatment). Various high performance steels have been developed to meet these requirements, of these, one of the most important being HSLA steels. High strength low alloy steels provide a much better strength to weight ratio than conventional low carbon steels allowing for thinner grades to be used, saving weight. HSLA steels have a manganese content of up to 1.5%, as well as microalloying elements such as vanadium and titanium. HSLA steels are increasingly replacing traditional low carbon steels for many automotive parts. This is due to their ability to reduce weight without compromising strength and dent resistance. Typical applications include door-intrusion beams, chassis members, reinforcing and mounting brackets, steering and suspension parts, bumpers, and wheels [5]. High strength low alloy steel properties are determined by the way in which they are processed. High deep drawability, can be achieved through precipitation of elements by annealing to produce a strong {111} recrystallisation texture [7], producing highly formable steels which are very desirable for automotive applications. In this study, two grades of IFHS strips are studied. A titanium only stabilised steel grade and a titanium-vanadium stabilised steel grade. These have been treated using a Viking tube furnace and studied using a scanning electron microscope, Photoshop and Optilab Software. Both steel grades have been studied using carefully selected thermo mechanical heat treatment cycles. The heating variables are expected to cause varying effects to the mechanical properties and microstructure of the two materials. The addition of vanadium in one of the steel grades is also expected to influence the mechanical properties. With the data obtained from my experiments I hope to determine the optimum processing route for similar HSLA steels. Chapter 2 Aims Carry out selective batch annealing heat treatments on two microalloyed High Strength IF strip steels. Measure grain size evolution samples using scanning electron microscopy and quantitave optical microscopy techniques. Measure mechanical properties of obtained samples using hardness and tensile testing techniques Determine the optimum processing characteristics, resulting in optimum mechanical property characteristics. Chapter 3 Literature Review 3.1 AUTOMOTIVE STEELS Automotive manufacturers make use of many different metals in the production of cars, of which the most predominant being steel. This is for several reasons, steel is relatively easy to recycle in comparison with polymers and aluminium, and this is an issue which is growing in importance as the public are becoming more and more environmentally aware. Steel is also a very good material in terms of its practicality, as it is easily welded, has good formability, elongation and ductility. As the environmental impact of cars is becoming more and more important, stringent regulations regarding emissions are being forced upon manufacturers. One of the ways that manufacturers have chosen to meet these requirements is to make the cars lighter by switching from mild steel to high strength steel grades which enables components to have a thinner cross section, saving weight. The three main types of steels used in automobiles today are; Low strength (IF and mild steels), High strength (Carbon manganese, bake hardening, IFHS and HSLA) Advanced high strength steels (dual-phase, complex phase, transformation induced plasticity and matensitic steels) These steel types can be seen below on figure 3.1 comparing their elongation and strength. Figure 3.1: Classification of automotive steels [8]. 3.1.1 Mild Steels Mild steels are normally found in two different forms for automotive purposes. Drawn Quality and Aluminium killed. These are both cheap to manufacture are used for high volume parts. They are usually of a ferrite microstructure. [8] 3.1.2 Interstitial Free Steels IF steels are used for car body panels extensively due largely to their deep drawability. The high elongation achieved in comparison with other steel grades can be seen in figure 3.1.The main characteristic of IF steel is a low carbon and nitrogen content. These elements are removed from solution by adding specific elements for alloys. Commonly used elements for this microalloying process include Manganese, Sulphur, Titanium and Niobium. As well as a deep drawability, IF steel have low yield strength but a poor dent resistance which is undesirable for certain automotive applications [6] Bake Hardening Steels BH steels keep carbon in solution either during processing before it is precipitated or during the paint baking state [8]. This strengthens the steel through solid solution strengthening, resulting in steel with both high formability and high strength. 3.1.4 Carbon-Manganese Steels Carbon-manganese steels are solid solution strengthened and are used in strip form on automobile bodies, although they are becoming replaced by lighter steel grades. They offer high drawability and are relatively cheap to produce. [9] D.T.Llewellyn: Steel: Metallurgy and Applications, Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd, Great Britain, 1992. 3.1.5 High-Strength Low-Alloy (HSLA) Steels HSLA steels are strengthened through the addition of microallying elements. These react with the carbon and nitrogen within the steel to form carbides and nitrides. Common elements include Nb, V and Ti. The resultant steel has both high strength and a high formability due to very fine grain sizes [10] Dual-Phase (DP) Steels Dual-phase steels contain two phases within their microstructure. These are ferrite and martensite. This two phase structure is produced through a complex series of contolled heating and cooling. Martensite regions are produced by heating and rapidly cooling. It is the marteniste regions tha give the hardness to the material where as the ferrite regions are much softer. The structure of DP steels takes advantages of the properties of each of the phases, where the hard maternsite regions are surrounded by softer ferrite which reduces brittleness, shown in figure 3.2. DP steel has good ductility, low yield strength but high work hardening rate [8]. Figure 3.2: Microstructure of DP steel [8]. 3.1.7 Transformation-Induced Plasticity (TRIP) Steels TRIP steels consist of a mainly ferrite microstructure with a low austenite content within the matrix. An isothermal hold during production at an intermediate temperature is used to produce bainite [8]. Strength is increased by transformationing of austenite regions to harder martensite regions. TRIP steels have a good work hardening rate and good strength. Work hardening in TRIP steels continues at higher strain levels than those of DP steels so TRIP steels is a superior material from this aspect. Figure 3.3 shows the multi phase microstructure of TRIP steel. Figure 3.3: Microstructure of TRIP steel [8]. Martensitic (MS) Steel MS steels are mainly of a martensitic microstructure but contain small amounts of ferrite and bainite. During heat treatment the steel is rapidly cooled transforming austenite into martensite. This gives a very high tensile strength since martensite produces a very hard material, but the drawback is this also gives a low formability. In order to overcome this low formability further processing such as heat treatments must be undertaken. [11] 3.1.9 High Strength Interstitial Free (HS-IF) Steels HSIF steels are strengthened through the addition of microalloying elements. Commonly used alloying elements include P, B, Si, Mn, Ti, N. The combinations in which the microalloying elements are used have an effect on the properties of resultant steel allowing a range of requirements to be met. HSIF steels can produce nearly twice the potential yield strength as conventional IF steels, although there is a reduction in formability. 3.2 Microalloying Elements 3.2.1 Carbon Carbon is one of the most important interstitial elements within steel, giving very different mechanical properties as its percentage content is altered and therefore must be studied in depth. Carbon is an element commonly found in automotive steels due to its high strength properties. Although adding carbon increases strength, it also affects the formability, i.e. its deep drawability. A set of experiments were carried out to determine the effect of carbon content within steel. When analysing the tensile test results it was noted that the ultimate tensile strength, the proof stress and the yield stress all increased as the amount of carbon increased in the steel. The plastic region as well as the general elongation of the steel under tensile stress decreased as the carbon content increased. These are significant changes in the mechanical properties. Hardness and Tensile strength increase as carbon content approaches 0.85% C as shown in figure 3.4. The elongation percentage decreases as the carbon content increases. This suggests that the more carbon present in the material, the stronger and less ductile it becomes. Figure 3.4: Affect of Carbon content in Steel Yield Strength Carbon content influences the yield strength of steel because carbon molecules fit into the interstitial crystal lattice sites of the body-centred cubic arrangement of the iron molecules. The interstitial carbons make it more difficult for any dislocation to occur as it reduces mobility. This has a hardening effect on the metal. Phase diagram Using the phase diagram one can understand why the properties of steels change with differing carbon content. Figure 3.5: Phase Diagram The gamma phase, relates to an Austenite range which has a Face Centred Cubic (FCC) structure. The alpha phase relates to a ferritic Body Centered Cubic crystal structure. Ferrite is found extensively in automotive steels, its BCC structure is much less dense than the FCC of austenite which makes it easily formable and therefore relatively cheap to manufacture. Fe3C refers to cementite and the mixture of alpha (ferrite) + cementite is called pearlite. On the phase diagram steels only apply up to about 1.4% carbon. The eutectoid point is at 723 degrees and is where there are three phases in equilibrium. The eutectoid composition is Fe-0.83%C. The reaction that happens at the eutectoid point is: austenite > ferrite + cementite gamma > alpha + Fe3C High carbon content means a greater precense of austenite, whereas low carbon content will give less austenite and a more ferritic microstructure. The affect of these differing microstructures is reflected in their mechanical properties. This is because Ferrite is soft and ductile and Cementite is hard and brittle. It can be seen by looking at figure 3.5 that as the carbon content is increased, strength increases. This relationship occurs up to the eutectoid point after which it starts to reduce. This where cementite grain-boundaries are created. The figure below shows how the varying content of carbon in steel affects its properties and suitability for different applications. Figure 3.6 Carbon Steel Applications Lever rule The lever rule can be used to calculate expected proportions of the phases present in each of the tested carbon steel specimens. These values can then be compared to the values obtained through testing. Figure 3.7 Lever Rule Calculations: a = Ferrite a + Fe3C = Pearlite 0.1wt%C Normalised Steel Tensile Specimen: % Ferrite = (0.8- 0.1)   Ã‚   = 0.897   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (0.8-0.02) % Pearlite= (0.1- 0.02)    = 0.103   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (0.8- 0.02) 0.4wt%C Normalised Steel Tensile Specimen: % Ferrite = (0.8- 0.4)   Ã‚   = 0.513   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (0.8-0.02) % Pearlite= (0.4- 0.02)    = 0.487   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (0.8- 0.02) 0.8wt%C Normalised Steel Tensile Specimen: % Ferrite = (0.8- 0.8)    = 0   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (0.8-0.02) % Pearlite= (0.8- 0.02)   = 1   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (0.8- 0.02) These results suggest that as the carbon content increases the pearlite to ferrite ratio also increases. So the ratio of Pearlite to ferrite increases as carbon content is increased the material is made harder, stronger and more brittle but less ductile. These results obtained using the lever rule support the results obtained from the tensile test, showing the steel with the highest carbon content to be the least ductile and most brittle. The results are also supported by the findings from the hardness test which shows the steel with the highest carbon content to be the hardest. 3.2.2 Titanium The addition of Titanium to IFHS steels is particularly useful in the manufacturing of strip steels where good drawability is a requirement. The addition of Ti or Nb results in a lower Yield Strength/Tensile Strength ratio giving an increased formability. This can be seen in figure 3.8. When Titanium reacts with Carbon and Nitrogen it forms TiC and TiN, these precipitates work to delay recrystallisation of austenite, thus refining the grains to a favourable smaller size [12]. Figure 3.8: The effect of Titanium and Niobium on Yield Srength/UTS ratio [12] Titanium precipitates exist within steels and these affect the mechanical properties. TiN precipitates help to promote recrystallisation and encourage the {111} texture. TiS precipitates are commonly found in the austenite region as well as Ti4C2S2, Ti4C2S2 is formed by reacting with Carbon and in the highest regions of the austenite range there is little to no Carbon. These conditions are created at very high temperatures similar to those during hot rolling processes. This leaves the steel highly formable and suitable for deep drawability application such as car body panels. It is very difficult however to form Ti4C2S2 as it is less stable than TiS, although it can be encouraged through specific heat treatment processes. [13] 3.2.3 Vanadium Titanium is commonly added with Niobium to steels to increase formability through precipitation. However these additions can result in a retardation of recrystallisation meaning a higher temperature or longer soaking time is required for recyrstallisation to occur. Vanadium offers a replacement to Niobium in the form of carbides and nitrides, VC and VN, which does not cause such a drastic retardation of recyrstallisation. This is attractive to manufacturers as lower temperatures and shorter processing time during annealing are more cost effective. The effectiveness of Vandium in essentially lowering the recrystallisation temperature is shown in Figure 3.9. Figure 3.9: The effect of Ti + Nb, Ti + V and V stabilised steels on the Temperature for Complete Recrystallisation in 30 Seconds [44]. Figure 3.9 shows that the V only stabilised steel recrystallises at a lower temperature than the TiV and TiNb steels. 3.2.4 Sulphur Sulphur is found in all steels including Interstitial Free High Strength Steels. It acts as an interstitial elements and other elements to form precipitates such as TiS, MnS and Ti4C2S2. These precipitates have different effects on the mechanical properties of the material. In particular the precipitation of carbosulphides is beneficial to the steel as this causes the steel to form in the austenite range and helps to reduce the TiC formation which could occur during heat treatment processing and cause the material to become less likely to form the {111} texture.[13] Promoting Ti4C2S2 therefore encourages the formation of the favourable {111} texture, increasing the formability of the material. In order for Ti4C2S2 to develop, Sulphur, Carbon and Titanium must all be present, and processed in such a way as to form a reaction, which can difficult. 3.2.5 Niobium Niobium if found extensively in IFHS Steels reacting with carbon to form carbides such as NbC. Solute Niobium can be used to segregate austenite and ferrite grain boundaries and increase the strength of the austenite region [14]. As Niobium content increases the r-value decreases as well as the ductility. Generally Nb content is minimised as much as possible as the positive effect it has on strength in the austenite region is relatively small and is outweighed by the negative effect it has on ductility. Boron can be used instead of Niobium as it has a much greater effect on strength than Niobium. This can be seen in figure 3.9 Figure 3.9: Average Flow Stress vs. Temperature for B, C, and Nb and Mo solutes in steel [15]. 3.2.6 Phosphorus Phosphorus, P, is a common alloy of IFHS steel, offering increases in strength through solid solution hardening. Adding Phosphorus can also have a direct effect on the grains within a structure by increasing the Hall-Petch slope (described below). Adding P however can have a negative effect on the brittleness of the material. This can be particularly problematic during the cold working process where brittle fracture is a distinct possibility. The Hall-Petch relationship says that as the grain size decreases the yield strength of a material increases. This is due to the dislocations piling up at grain boundaries, which act as barriers to dislocation movement at low temperatures. If the grain size is large, then a high number of dislocations will pile up at the edge of the slip plane. When the stress exceeds a critical value the dislocations cross the boundary. So the larger the grain size, the lower the applied stress required to reach this critical stress at the grain boundary, meaning the larger the grain size, the lower the yield stress due to easier dislocation movement. This is true down to a grain size of 100nm. Below this size the yield strength remains constant or starts to decrease. This is effect is called the reverse Hall-Petch effect. Phosphorus along with Silicon and Manganese are added via solid solution strengthening to strengthen steel allowing for a thinner sheet of metal to be used for car body panels, and thus reducing the weight. Phosphorus is the most effective out of the three elements in terms of cost and strengthening effect. This can be seen below in figure 3.11 where the effects of P and S additions are compared. Figure 3.11: Comparison of Stress vs. Temperature between Phosphorus and Silicon microalloyed Steels [16]. Phosphorus is also found in the form of FeTiP precipitates. These precipitates have a negative affect on strength and drawability. The effects of these precipitates are greater in batch annealed steels than in continuous steels. This is due to the long soaking times required in batch annealing which provides optimum conditions and sufficient time for these precipitates to form [17]. 3.2.7 Manganese Manganese is added through solid solution strengthening to IFHS steels in a low concentration in order to react with the Sulphur to produce MnS precipitates. These MnS precipitates act to refine grain structure during processing when there is a transformation in phase between austenite and ferrite. Mn is to strengthen steels through solid solution strengthening. The effect of Mn is relatively small in the austenite range but compared to the ferrite range. This is due to a difference in Mn solubility between the austenite and ferrite ranges. Where Mn in ferrite is 10wt% higher than in austenite [18] Mn acts to stabilize the austenite region and slows down the rate of austenite transformation and also the temperature at which the transformation takes place. This lowering of transformation temperature between austenite and ferrite promotes finer grains through grain refinement. Mn can be found in oxide and sulphide forms as well as combinations of the two, oxysulphides. These oxides and sulphides act to deoxidise and desulphurise the steel. When in sulphide form, MnS helps to reduce embrittlement of steel without reducing hardness. When mixed with common impurities such as Al2O3, SiO2, MnO, CaO, CaS and FeS an increase in hardness and strength occurs [19]. When in the oxide form, MnO at the surface acts a barrier layer to prevent surface oxidisation and corrosion. 3.2.8 Silicon Silicon is a useful element and is used to increase the strength through solid solution strengthening, although there is a compromise as increasing Silicon content decreases ductility. Silicon is also found in oxide form, as silicon dioxide. Silicon dioxide is found with Manganese Oxide or as Silicomanganese to give a strong oxygen stabilisation and prevent corrosion of steel. [20]. 3.2.9 Aluminium Aluminium is used to deoxidise steel by reacting with oxygen within the steel to form Al2O3. These Aluminium Oxides are later removed leaving an oxygen free steel. However the low density of Aluminium means that oxidisation could occur at the steel interface resulting in corrosion. Aluminium content can have a negative effect on formability. This is due to the precipitation of AlN during recrystallisation preventing the {111} development and thus preventing the formation of finer grains. So minimising the amount of AlN in solid solution results in higher formability. A more stable alternative to AlN which is commonly used in IFHS steels is TiN. 3.3 Hardening and processing There are many different compositions of steel which offer various advantageous properties. The main reason for altering composition or alloying is to strengthen the material. This can be done in several ways; 3.3.1 Precipitation strengthening This process uses heat treatment to raise the yield strength of a material. As temperature changes during heat treatment processing, fine particles are produced due to differing melting points of impurities. These fine particles impede dislocation movement. This in turn reduces the ductility and plasticity of the material and increases its hardness. 3.2.2 Solid – solution strengthening Solid solution strengthening is a form of alloying. It is a commonly used technique to improve the strength of a material. Atoms of the alloying element are added to the crystal lattice of the base metal via diffusion. There are two ways in which this can occur, depending on the size of the alloying alloying element. These are via substitutional solid solution, and interstitial solid solution. Substitutional solid solution This takes place when the sizes of the alloying atoms are equal in size to the base atoms, (Differing in size by no more than 15% according to the Hume-Rothery rules) The alloying atoms replace the solvent atoms and assume their lattice positions. The solute atoms can produce a slight distortion of the crystal lattice, due to the size variation. The amount of distortion increases with the size of the solute atom. This distortion has an effect on microstructural properties. The formation of slip planes is altered making dislocation movement more difficult, meaning a higher stress is required to move the dislocations. This gives the material a higher strength. A generalisation associated with substitution is that large substitutional atoms put the structure under compressive stress, and small substitutional atoms give tensile stress. Interstitial solid solution This occurs when the alloying atoms are much smaller than the base atoms. The alloying atoms fit into spaces within the crystal lattice. This is the case with carbon in steel, where carbon is a solute in the iron solvent lattice. The carbon atoms are less than half the size of the iron atoms so an interstitial solid solution forms. 3.3.3 Processing The final properties of steel are greatly affected by the manner in which it is first made and then processed. Typical processes include steel making, casting, hot and cold rolling and annealing. Each individual process has a distinct affect on the properties of the steel. To make the steel free from interstitial elements, Ti and Nb are often added to react with interstitials after a process called vacuum degassing. Vacuum degassing is the name given to the process where a metal is melted within a vacuum and the gasses are evaporated out. Hot and cold rolling Hot rolling is the first process to take place after steel making. After steel has been cast into uniform slabs or billets it is the rolled under a high temperature to reduce its cross sectional thickness. The hot rolling process is undertaken at a temperature above that at which recrystallisation occurs. Hot rolling reduces allows recrysallisation to occur during processing (dynamic recrystallisation) and the material is left stress free due the new grain nucleation and equiaxed grains. Effect of hot working on microstructure: Hot working occurs at high temperatures, this means that there is often enough thermal energy present for recrsytallisation to occur during deformation. This is called dynamic recrystallisation and it occurs with most metals, apart from aluminium. Recrystallisation occurs during the working process and also as the metal is cooling. Dynamic recrystallisation occurs by new grains nucleating at existing grain boundaries. The amount of recyrstallisation depends on several factors. It depends on the strain rate, temperature and amount of strain on the metal. Generally, as strain within the metal increases, so does the amount of recrystallisation. Cold working is when steel is plastically deformed below its recrystallisation temperature. This process increases the yield strength due to the plastic deformation causing slight defects within the microstructure of the metal. These defects make it difficult for slip planes to move. The grain size of the metal is also reduced, making the material harder through a process called Hall petch hardening. Hall Petch hardening, also known as grain boundary strengthening, increases materials strength by altering the grain size. This is because grain boundaries act as barriers to dislocation movement. So altering the grain size, through hot and cold rolling at various temperatures and rates will have an effect on dislocation movement and yield strength. Cold working will increase the strength of the metal by making it increasingly difficult for slip to occur. However as more and more of the larger grains split to form smaller grains the ductility is greatly reduced as the material hardens. Eventually fracture would occur. To avoid this, the material is annealed. Cold working occurs at a temperature below 0.4 of the metals melting point. Some of the energy created by the process is expelled as heat but some energy is stored within the structure putting it into a high energy state. The energy is stored within the grain boundaries of the deformed crystals and within the stress fields of the dislocations created through the plastic deformation. The structure is highly stressed after cold working and would prefer to return to its former low energy state. It is howeve