Characterization of microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of the spray-deposited AZ31 magnesium alloy

The cylindrical billets of a Mg-3Al-1Zn (AZ31) alloy were synthesized by spray deposition processing. The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of the alloy were investigated. The results reveal that the microstructure of the AZ31 alloy is refined significantly by spray deposition processing. A homogeneous and equiaxial-grain structure with an average grain size of 17 μm is obtained. Further grain refinement with an average grain size of 5 μm is attributed to dynamic recrystallization during extrusion processing. The great increase in the density of grain boundary nucleation sites by the finer initial grain sizes makes the dislocation pile-ups near subgrain boundaries being absorbed easily by the boundaries, resulting in an accelerated recrystallization process. The average tensile ultimate and yield strengths of the extruded rods are 321 MPa and 237 MPa, respectively, with an elongation of 15.2% at room temperature, which are remarkably higher than those of the conventional as-cast AZ31 alloy.     

Effect of ECAP temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy

The effect of equal channel angular pressing(ECAP) at different temperatures(room temperature, 120,150 and 180 °C) on microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-7075 solid solution alloy was investigated. Microstructure of the specimens was examined using orientation imaging microscopy,transmission electron microscopy as well as X-ray diffractometer, and mechanical properties were measured by Vickers microhardness and tensile tests. Microstructural investigations showed that after3 or 4 passes of ECAP, fi ne grains with average grain sizes in range of 300–1000 nm could be obtained at different ECAP temperatures. Increasing ECAP temperature from 120 to 180 °C caused a decrease in mechanical properties as a result of increasing grains and precipitates sizes, decreasing fraction of high angle boundaries and also transformation of η′ into η phase, while increasing ECAP temperature from RT to 120 °C leads to an increase in mechanical properties due to the formation of small η′ precipitates. So it can be concluded that ECAP process at 120 °C is the optimum process for attaining maximum mechanical properties. Quantitative estimates of various strengthening mechanisms revealed that the improvement of mechanical properties was mainly attributed to grain re fi nement strengthening, precipitation strengthening and dislocation strengthening.     

Effects of solidification parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties of continuous columnar-grained Cu–Al–Ni alloy

Effects of melt temperature and casting speed on microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu-14%Al-3.8%Ni(mass fraction) alloy wires fabricated by continuous unidirectional solidification technology were investigated.It was found that the average size of columnar grain in the alloy decreased and grain boundary turned clear and straight with increasing the casting speed at a given melt temperature.When the melt temperature was up to 1 280℃,theβ_1 phase gradually transformed into lozenged and lanciformγ...     

Effect of equal channel angular pressing on aging treatment of Al-7075 alloy

The effect of aging treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of equal channel angular pressed Al-7075 alloy was examined.Commercial Al-7075 alloy in the solid solution heat-treated condition was processed by equal channel angular pressing through route BCat both the room temperature and 120 1C. Only three passes of equal channel angular pressing was possible due to the low ductility of the alloy at both temperatures. Followed by equal channel angular pressing, the specimens have been aged at 120 1C for different aging times. Mechanical properties were measured by Vickers microhardness and tensile tests and microstructural observations were undertaken using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometer as well as optical microscopy. Microstructural investigations showed that ultrafine-grained materials with grain size in the range of 200–350 nm and 300–500 nm could be obtained after three passes of equal channel angular pressing at room temperature and 120 1C, respectively. Equal channel angular pressing of solid solution heat-treated Al-7075 alloy accelerates precipitation rate and subsequently leads to a significant decrease in aging time to attain maximum mechanical properties. Furthermore, it is possible to achieve maximum mechanical properties during equal channel angular pressing at 120 1C as a result of dynamic aging and formation of small η′ phase.     

Effect of rheo-diecast process on the mechanical properties of A390 alloy by serpentine channel

In this paper, the effects of rheo-diecast process parameters and T6 heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the rheo-diecasting (RDC) semi-solid A390 alloy prepared through pure copper serpentine channel were investigated. The results indicate that the mechanical properties of the RDC samples change with the pouring temperature and injection pressure. In this case, a lower pouring temperature results in better tensile strength and elongation of the RDC A390 alloy; however, the tensile strength and elongation decrease when the pouring temperature decreases to 660°C. Higher injection pressures result in the improved mechanical properties of the RDC A390 alloy. To some extent, T6 heat treatment improves the tensile strength and ductility of the RDC A390 alloy compared to those of the non-heat treated alloy. However, when the pouring temperature and injection pressure are greater than 670°C and 70 MPa, respectively, the mechanical properties are sharply diminished.     

Effects of small additions of Zn on the microstructure,mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of WE43B Mg alloys

Zn is a commonly used alloying element for Mg alloys owing to its beneficial effects on mechanical properties. To improve the mechanical and corrosion properties of WE43B Mg alloys, the effects of 0-0.7wt% Zn addition on the microstructure and properties of sample alloys were investigated. Addition of Zn to as-cast WE43B alloy promoted the formation of the Mg₁₂Nd phase; by contrast, after T6 heat treatment, the phase composition of WE43B alloys with and without Zn addition remained mostly the same. A long-period stacking ordered phase was predicted by CALPHAD calculation, but this phase was not observed in either the as-cast or heat-treated Zn-containing WE43B alloys. The optimum temperature and duration of T6 heat treatment were obtained using CALPHAD calculations and hardness measurements. Addition of Zn resulted in a slight reduction in the average grain size of the as-cast and T6 heat-treated WE43B alloys and endowed them with increased corrosion resistance with little effect on their mechanical properties.     

Martensitic transformation and magnetic properties of aged Ni-Fe-Ga-Ti shape memory alloy

This article reports the effect of ageing on the microstructure, martensitic transformation, magnetic properties, and mechanical properties of Ni₅₁Fe₁₈Ga₂₇Ti₄ shape memory alloy. There are five specimens of this alloy aged at 573 up to 973 K for 3 h per each. This range of ageing temperature greatly affects the microstructure of the alloy. As the ageing temperature increased from 573 up to 973 K, the microstructure of Ni₅₁Fe₁₈Ga₂₇Ti₄ alloy gradually changed from the entirely martensitic matrix at 573 K to the fully austenitic microstructure at 973 K. The volume fraction of precipitated Ni₃Ti particles increased with the ageing temperature increasing from 573 to 773 K. Further increasing the ageing temperature to 973 K decreased the content of Ni₃Ti in the microstructure. The martensitic transformation temperature was decreased steadily by increasing the ageing temperature. The magnetization saturation, remnant magnetization, and coercivity increased with the ageing temperature increasing up to 773 K. A further increase in ageing temperature decreased these magnetic properties. Moreover, the hardness values were gradually increased at first by increasing the ageing temperature to 773 K, and then dramatically decreased to the lowest value at 973 K.     

Effect of continuous induction annealing on the microstructure and mechanical properties of copper-clad aluminum flat bars

Copper-clad aluminum (CCA) flat bars produced by the continuous casting–rolling process were subjected to continuous induction heating annealing (CIHA), and the effects of induction heating temperature and holding time on the microstructure, interface, and mechanical properties of the flat bars were investigated. The results showed that complete recrystallization of the copper sheath occurred under CIHA at 460°C for 5 s, 480°C for 3 s, or 500°C for 1 s and that the average grain size in the copper sheath was approximately 10.0 μm. In the case of specimens subjected to CIHA at 460–500°C for longer than 1 s, complete recrystallization occurred in the aluminum core. In the case of CIHA at 460–500°C for 1–5 s, a continuous interfacial layer with a thickness of 2.5–5.5 μm formed and the thickness mainly increased with increasing annealing temperature. After CIHA, the interfacial layer consisted primarily of a Cu₉Al₄ layer and a CuAl₂ layer; the average interface shear strength of the CCA flat bars treated by CIHA at 460–500°C for 1–5 s was 45–52 MPa. After full softening annealing, the hardness values of the copper sheath and the aluminum core were HV 65 and HV 24, respectively, and the hardness along the cross section of the CCA flat bar was uniform.     

Effect of cold rolling process on microstructure and mechanical properties of high strength β titanium alloy thin sheets

The microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-3.5Al-5Mo-6V-3Cr-2Sn-0.5Fe high strength titanium alloy sheets prepared by unidirectional cold rolling and two-step cross cold rolling were investigated. Results showed that the β phase grains were refined significantly by cold rolling followed by solution treatment for a short time.Compared to unidirectional cold rolling, the short time solution treatment after two-step cross rolling could significantly reduce the non-uniformity of the microstructure of the alloy sheets. After aging treatment at 550 ℃,the anisotropy of the mechanical properties still existed in the unidirectional rolled sheets, and the tensile strength was highest along the rolling direction. After solution and aging treatment, the anisotropy of the mechanical properties of the two-step cross rolling process sheet was not obvious than unidirectional cold rolling,and alloy had good strength and plasticity matching.     

Preparation of high-strength Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Fe alloy via heat treatment and rolling

An Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Fe alloy was solid-solution treated at 560°C for 3 h and then cooled by water quenching or furnace cooling. The alloy samples which underwent cooling by these two methods were rolled at different temperatures. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the rolled alloys were investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and tensile testing. For the water-quenched alloys, the peak tensile strength and elongation occurred at a rolling temperature of 180°C. For the furnace-cooled alloys, the tensile strength decreased initially, until the rolling temperature of 420°C, and then increased; the elongation increased consistently with increasing rolling temperature. The effects of grain boundary hardening and dislocation hardening on the mechanical properties of these rolled alloys decreased with increases in rolling temperature. The mechanical properties of the 180°C rolling water-quenched alloy were also improved by the presence of β″ phase. Above 420°C, the effect of solid-solution hardening on the mechanical properties of the rolled alloys increased with increases in rolling temperature.     

ZTM630镁合金双级时效实验研究

通过改变Mg-6Zn-3Sn-0.5Mn合金终时效时间,利用金相显微镜、扫描显微镜、透射电子显微镜观察挤压态ZTM630合金在双级时效后的微观组织特征。结果表明,该合金比较适宜的双级时效参数为90 ℃×12 h+180 ℃×8 h,在该参数下合金的抗拉强度、伸长率分别为383.1 MPa、7.667%。双级时效之后,在基体与晶界处都有弥散细小的析出相析出,主要为Mg2Sn、MgZn2相化合物。在拉伸过程中弥散细小析出相的析出强化作用和阻碍晶粒移动产生的强化作用,使得合金的力学性能更优。     

热处理制度对7039铝合金抗腐蚀性能的影响

采用拉伸力学性能测试、金相显微观察、扫描电镜及透射电镜等分析手段,研究不同热处理制度下7039铝合金的力学性能及其在腐蚀液中浸泡后的腐蚀形貌.结合不同热处理制度后合金的腐蚀形貌与晶界析出相形貌,建立该系列合金晶界析出相形貌与腐蚀形貌的关系的示意模型.结果表明:在保持与T6处理的合金强度相当的基础上,经RRA处理可使抗腐蚀性能明显提高;在腐蚀液中浸泡腐蚀后,T6和RRA处理的合金表面呈成块状剥落腐蚀的现象,T73处理的合金呈点状腐蚀现象;T6处理后合金的纵向和横向最大腐蚀深度分别为378.53μm和31.91μm;T73处理的合金纵向和横向腐蚀深度分别为19.21 μm和8.07 μm:RRA处理的合金纵向和横向腐蚀深度分别为178.15 μm和15.38 μm.     

低频电磁铸造7050铝合金的组织与性能

采用新型低频电磁铸造技术制备了7050铝合金120 mm铸锭,研究了低频电磁场对铸锭组织和性能的影响.并对比研究了常规DC铸造和低频电磁铸造铸锭挤压和热处理后的组织与性能.结果表明,低频电磁铸造显著细化晶粒组织,并使组织分布均匀,改善铸锭的铸态力学性能.固溶并时效处理后,常规DC铸锭挤压棒材抗拉强度达到676.5 MPa,延伸率达到11.2%;低频电磁铸锭挤压棒材抗拉强度略有提高,达到677.5 MPa,延伸率提高较大,达到13.2%.低频电磁铸造对7050铝合金挤压棒材最终抗拉强度影响不大,但能够显著提高延伸率.     

固溶时效处理对Ni50Ti44Al6合金微观组织和力学性能的影响

采用扫描电子显微镜、X射线衍射、室温和高温压缩试验等方法研究了固溶时效对Ni50Ti44Al6合金微观组织和力学性能的影响.Ni50Ti44Al6合金的铸态微观组织是由NiTi基体和沿晶界分布的网状组织构成.随着固溶温度升高,合金中的网状组织部分消失,第二相在基体中趋向于均匀的弥散分布;随时效时间延长,合金的强度先升高后降低.固溶时效处理能有效改善Ni50Ti44Al6合金的力学性能.最佳的处理制度为:合金在1150℃固溶6 h,水淬,再在700℃时效6 h.     

Mechanical behaviors of extruded Mg alloys with high Gd and Nd content

The influence of alloying elements and heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical behaviors of extruded Mg–Gd–Nd ternary alloys was investigated in this study. The grain sizes dramatically decreased after extrusion, and the particles which distributed in Mg matrix had great effect on the grain size. The grain sizes of extruded alloys decreased from 26 to 5 ​μm with the alloying content increasing. The mechanical test results show that both Gd and Nd had positive effect on the hardness, yield strength and Young's modulus. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) was enhanced by Gd content, decreased with Nd content. The elongation of alloys was lower with higher alloying elements. Those extruded alloys were aged for 200 ​h in 200 ​°C. The Young's moduli were decreased by ageing treatment. Combined with microstructure study, the part of the reinforcement which identified as Mg₅(Gd/Nd) was dissolved in Mg matrix. Nd element obviously has influence on the solubility of Gd in Mg alloys.     

挤压温度对Mg-Zn-Mn变形镁合金组织和性能的影响

对新型变形镁合金Mg-6%Zn-1%Mn铸锭在320、360、420℃等不同温度下进行挤压实验,成型后实施不同热处理,并分析不同状态下合金的微观组织和力学性能.结果表明:在320~420℃条件下,该合金能实现平稳地挤压成型并完成动态再结晶.挤压温度越低,再结晶晶粒越细小,挤压棒材性能越好.高温(420℃)挤压成型,动态再结晶越易进行,且再结晶晶粒越均匀,更有利于后期通过热处理改善合金性能.     

Reverse-transformation austenite structure control with micro/nanometer size

To control the reverse-transformation austenite structure through manipulation of the micro/nanometer grain structure, the influences of cold deformation and annealing parameters on the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of 316L austenitic stainless steel were investigated. The samples were first cold-rolled, and then samples deformed to different extents were annealed at different temperatures. The microstructure evolutions were analyzed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), magnetic measurements, and X-ray diffraction (XRD); the mechanical properties are also determined by tensile tests. The results showed that the fraction of stain-induced martensite was approximately 72% in the 90% cold-rolled steel. The micro/nanometric microstructure was obtained after reversion annealing at 820-870℃ for 60 s. Nearly 100% reversed austenite was obtained in samples annealed at 850℃, where grains with a diameter ≤ 500 nm accounted for 30% and those with a diameter >0.5 μm accounted for 70%. The micro/nanometer-grain steel exhibited not only a high strength level (approximately 959 MPa) but also a desirable elongation of approximately 45%.     

热机械循环淬火调质处理对AISI 1345钢组织、力学和电化学性能的影响

Thermomechanical cyclic quenching and tempering (TMCT) can strengthen steels through a grain size reduction mechanism. The effect of TMCT on microstructure, mechanical, and electrochemical properties of AISI 1345 steel was investigated. Steel samples heated to 1050°C, rolled, quenched to room temperature, and subjected to various cyclic quenching and tempering heat treatments were named TMCT-1, TMCT-2, and TMCT-3 samples, respectively. Microstructure analysis revealed that microstructures of all the treated samples contained packets and blocks of well-refined lath-shaped martensite and retained austenite phases with varying grain sizes (2.8–7.9 μm). Among all the tested samples, TMCT-3 sample offered an optimum combination of properties by showing an improvement of 40% in tensile strength and reduced 34% elongation compared with the non-treated sample. Nanoindentation results were in good agreement with mechanical tests as the TMCT-3 sample exhibited a 51% improvement in indentation hardness with almost identical reduced elastic modulus compared with the non-treated sample. The electrochemical properties were analyzed in 0.1 M NaHCO₃ solution by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. As a result of TMCT, the minimum corrosion rate was 0.272 mm/a, which was twenty times less than that of the non-treated sample. The impedance results showed the barrier film mechanism, which was confirmed by the polarization results as the current density decreased.     

Enhancement of ductility and improvement of abnormal Goss grain growth of magnetostrictive Fe-Ga rolled alloys

The influences of initial microstructures on the mechanical properties and the recrystallization texture of magnetostrictive 0.1at% NbC-doped Fe₈₃Ga₁₇ alloys were investigated. The directionally solidified columnar-grained structure substantially enhanced the tensile elongation at intermediate temperatures by suppressing fracture along the transverse boundaries. Compared with tensile elongations of 1.0% at 300℃ and 12.0% at 500℃ of the hot-forged equiaxed-grained alloys, the columnar-grained alloys exhibited substantially increased tensile elongations of 21.6% at 300℃ and 46.6% at 500℃. In the slabs for rolling, the introduction of <001>-oriented columnar grains also promotes the secondary recrystallization of Goss grains in the finally annealed sheets, resulting in an improvement of the saturation magnetostriction. For the columnar-grained specimens, the inhomogeneous microstructure and disadvantage in number and size of Goss grains are improved in the primarily annealed sheets, which is beneficial to the abnormal growth of Goss grains during the final annealing process.     

Solidification,microstructure, and mechanical properties of the as-cast ZRE1 magnesium alloy with different praseodymium contents

The influence of praseodymium (Pr) content on the solidification characteristics, microstructure, and mechanical properties of ZRE1 magnesium (Mg) cast alloy was investigated. The obtained solidification parameters showed that Pr strongly affected the solidification time, leading to refinement of the microstructure of the alloys. When the freezing time was reduced to approximately 52 s, the grain size decreased by 12%. Mg₁₂Zn (Ce,Pr) was formed as a new phase upon the addition of Pr and was detected via X-ray diffraction analysis. The addition of Pr led to a substantial improvement in mechanical properties, which was attributed to the formation of intermetallic compounds; the ultimate tensile strength and yield strength increased by approximately 10% and 13%, respectively. Pr addition also refined the microstructure, and the hardness was recovered. The results herein demonstrate that the mechanical properties of Mg alloys are strongly influenced by their microstructure characteristics, including the grain size, volume fraction, and distribution of intermetallic phases.