Structure and corrosion resistance of Al–Cu–Fe alloys

The microstructure and electrochemical properties of Al–Cu–Fe alloys with the atomic compositions of Al_(65)Cu_(20)Fe_(15),Al_(78)Cu_7Fe_(15)and Al_(80)Cu_5Fe_(14)Si_1have been studied.The alloys were produced by induction melting of pure elements with copper mold casting.The microstructure of the alloys was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.The formation of quasicrystalline phases in the Al–Cu–Fe alloys was confirmed.The presence of intermetallic phases was observed in the alloys after crystallization in a form of ingots and plates.The electrochemical measurements were conducted in 3.5%NaCl solution.The electronic structure of the alloys was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.The post corrosion surface of the samples was checked using a scanning electron microscope equipped with the energydispersive X-ray detector.It was observed that the Al_(65)Cu_(20)Fe_(15)alloy had the highest corrosion resistance.The improved corrosion resistance parameters were noted for the plate samples rather than those in the as-cast state.And the hardness of the Al_(65)Cu_(20)Fe_(15)alloy was significantly higher than the other alloy samples.     

Microstructure and properties of Cu–Ti–Ni alloys

The effects of Ni addition and aging treatments on the microstructure and properties of a Cu–3Ti alloy were investigated. The microstructure and precipitation phases were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy; the hardness, electrical conductivity, and elastic modulus of the resulting alloys were also tested. The results show that Ni addition increases the electrical conductivity and elastic modulus, but decreases the hardness of the aged Cu–3Ti alloy. Within the range of the experimentally investigated parameters, the optimal two-stage aging treatment for the Cu–3Ti–1Ni and Cu–3Ti–5Ni alloy was 300°C for 2 h and 450°C for 7 h. The hardness, electrical conductivity, and elastic modulus of the Cu–3Ti–1Ni alloy were HV 205, 18.2% IACS, and 146 GPa, respectively, whereas the hardness, electrical conductivity, and elastic modulus of the Cu–3Ti–5Ni alloy were HV 187, 31.32% IACS, and 147 GPa, respectively. Microstructural analyses revealed that β′-Ni3 Ti and β′-Cu4 Ti precipitate from the Cu matrix during aging of the Cu–3Ti–5Ni alloy and that some residual Ni Ti phase remains. The increased electrical conductivity is ascribed to the formation of Ni Ti, β′-Ni3 Ti, and β′-Cu4 Ti phases.     

Corrosion behavior of as-cast Mg–8Li–3Al+xCe alloy in 3.5wt% NaCl solution

Mg–8Li–3Al+xCe alloys (x = 0.5wt%, 1.0wt%, and 1.5wt%) were prepared through a casting route in an electric resistance furnace under a controlled atmosphere. The cast alloys were characterized by X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The corrosion behavior of the as-cast Mg–8Li–3Al+xCe alloys were studied under salt spray tests in 3.5wt% NaCl solution at 35°C, in accordance with standard ASTM B–117, in conjunction with potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) tests. The results show that the addition of Ce to Mg–8Li–3Al (LA83) alloy results in the formation of Al₂Ce intermetallic phase, refines both the α-Mg phase and the Mg₁₇Al₁₂ intermetallic phase, and then increases the microhardness of the alloys. The results of PDP and salt spray tests reveal that an increase in Ce content to 1.5wt% decreases the corrosion rate. The best corrosion resistance is observed for the LA83 alloy sample with 1.0wt% Ce.     

Effect of Sr on microstructure and aging behavior of Mg–14Li alloys

The as-cast and as-extruded Mg–14 wt%Li–x Sr ( x=0.14, 0.19, 0.39 wt%) alloys were,respectively, prepared through a simple alloying process and hot extrusion. The effects of Sr addition on microstructure and aging behavior of the Mg–14 wt%Li–xSr alloys were studied. The results indicated that β(Li) and Mg2Sr were the two primary phases in the microstructures of both as-cast and as-extruded Mg–14 wt%Li–xSr alloys. Interestingly, with the increase of Sr content from 0.14 wt% to 0.39 wt%, the grain sizes of the as-cast and as-extruded Mg–14 wt%Li–xSr alloys markedly decreased from 5000mm and 38mm to 330 mm and 22mm respectively, while no obvious changes of the micro-hardness and microstructure of the as-extruded alloys were observed during the aging treatment.     

Microstructures and mechanical properties of as-extruded Mg–5Sn–1Zn–xAl(x=1, 3 and 5) alloys

As-extruded Mg–5Sn–1Zn–xAl alloys(x=1, 3, and 5) were fabricated by hot extrusion. The experimental results revealed that the yield strength of alloys initially decreased and then increased with the increase of Al content. These changes were mainly attributed to the difference in crystallographic texture and volume fractions of second phases. The ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation of the alloys were greater than 310 MPa, 227 MPa, and 11%, respectively. The strain hardening ability of the alloys was also discussed.     

Effects of Gd solutes on hardness and yield strength of Mg alloys

Relative contribution of individual strengthening mechanisms to the yield strength of Mg–0–15 wt%Gd alloys were investigated.Alloys with different grain size were prepared by adding Zr and hot extrusion.Hardness and tensile/compression yield strength were tested on the alloys after solid solution treatment and extrusion.HallPetch constants were calculated with hardness and tensile/compressive data.The results showed that the hardness of Mg–Gd alloys with similar Gd content and different grain size were almost the same,which indicates that grain size had little effect on hardness.The hardness linearly increased with rising Gd content(d H_v/dc≈25 kg mm~(-2)/at%Gd).The tensile and compressive yield strengths enhanced with the increase of Gd content for all alloys in different conditions.In addition,the tensile/compressive(t/c)yield asymmetry of extruded alloys decreased with increasing Gd content.Large t/c yield asymmetry ratio(1.77)was observed for pure Mg,and with increasing Gd content this value decreased to 1.With the increasing of tensile strength,the stress intensity factor,k_y,decreased from 0.27 MPa m~(1/2)for Mg–2 wt%Gd alloy to 0.19 MPa m~(1/2) for Mg–5 wt%Gd alloy,then increased to 0.29 MPa m~(1/2) for Mg–15 wt%Gd alloy.However,k_yincreased linearly form 0.16–0.31 MPa for compression test.The influence of grain size strengthening was eliminated,and the yield strength of tension and compression both linearly increased with c~n,where c is the atom concentration of Gd,and n=1/2 or 2/3.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of the micrograined hypoeutectic Zn–Mg alloy

A biodegradable Zn alloy, Zn–1.6Mg, with the potential medical applications as a promising coating material for steel components was studied in this work. The alloy was prepared by three different procedures: gravity casting, hot extrusion, and a combination of rapid solidification and hot extrusion. The samples prepared were characterized by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Vickers hardness, tensile, and compressive tests were performed to determine the samples’ mechanical properties. Structural examination reveals that the average grain sizes of samples prepared by gravity casting, hot extrusion, and rapid solidification followed by hot extrusion are 35.0, 9.7, and 2.1 μm, respectively. The micrograined sample with the finest grain size exhibits the highest hardness (Hv = 122 MPa), compressive yield strength (382 MPa), tensile yield strength (332 MPa), ultimate tensile strength (370 MPa), and elongation (9%). This sample also demonstrates the lowest work hardening in tension and temporary softening in compression among the prepared samples. The mechanical behavior of the samples is discussed in relation to the structural characteristics, Hall–Petch relationship, and deformation mechanisms in fine-grained hexagonal-close-packed metals.     

Synthesis of core–shell acrylic–polyure thane hybrid latex as binder of aqueous pigment inks for digital inkjet printing

Acrylic–polyurethane (PUA) hybrid aqueous emulsion with core–shell structure was prepared via semibatch emulsion copolymerization of the acrylate monomers (AC) in the presence of a commercial polyurethane dispersion as seeds. The core–shell structure of the emulsion was observed by TEM. The particle size and distribution of the emulsion was found to vary d rastically with the core–shell ratio. The thermal response properties of emulsion film swere measured by DSC, and the results indicated the good compatibility between PA and PU moieties in PUA hybrids. The chemical structures of emulsion films were studied by FTIR, and the surface p roperties were tested by contact angle measurement. The results supported the idea that the surface of the cast films was rich in polyurethane component. The water resistance o f the cast films became better by increasing the AC fraction. The rheological properties of the latex and its utilization as a binder for aqueous pigment inks of digital inkjet printing were thoroughly investigated , indicating that the prepared hybrid emulsion could be used safely for aqueous pigment inks of digital ink jet printing.     

Optimization of wear parameters of binary Al-25Zn and Al-3Cu alloys using design of experiments

Zinc-aluminum alloys have been used as bearing materials in the past. In recent years, binary Al-Zn alloys and Al-Zn-Cu alloys are being used as an alternative to the Zn-Al alloys for bearing applications. In this study, both binary Al-25Zn and Al-3Cu were prepared using stir casting process. Homogenization of the as-cast alloys was performed at 350℃ for 8 h and then, the alloys were furnace-cooled to 50℃. The homogenization led to the removal of the dendritic structure of the as-cast alloys. After homogenization, wear parameters optimization was carried out using Taguchi technique. For this purpose, L₉ orthogonal array was selected, and the control parameters selected are load, velocity, and sliding distance. The optimum parametric condition was obtained using signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio analysis, and specific wear rate (SWR) is the selected response. The "smaller-the-better" is the goal of the experiment for S/N ratio analysis. After the optimization, confirmation tests were carried out using analysis of variance (ANOVA) from the developed regression equation. Finally, wear mechanism studies were conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) images.     

Effect of Zn addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of an Al–Mg–Si alloy

In the present work, an Al–0.66Mg–0.85Si–0.2Cu alloy with Zn addition was investigated by electron back scattering diffraction(EBSD), high resolution electron microscopy(HREM), tensile and Erichsen tests. The mechanical properties of the alloy after pre-aging met the standards of sheet forming. After paint baking, the yield strength of the alloy was improved apparently. GP(Ⅱ) zones and η’phases were formed during aging process due to Zn addition. With the precipitation of GP zones, β″ phases, GP(Ⅱ) zones and η’phases, the alloys displayed excellent mechanical properties.     

Characterization of NbSi_2–Al_2O_3 nanocomposite coatings prepared with plasma spraying mechanically alloyed powders

The present study characterized NbS i2–Al2O3 nanocomposite powders plasma-sprayed on Ti–6Al–4Vsubstrates. The powders were agglomerated to obtain suitable particle sizes for spraying. The agglomerated powders were then plasma-sprayed using atmospheric plasma spraying. The structural transformations of the powders along with the morphological and mechanical changes of the coatings were examined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and hardness testing. The results showed that after plasma spraying, the grain size increased, and the lattice strain decreased. However, the grain size of this compound after spraying was still in the nanometer range. The coating was uniform and exhibited good adhesion to the substrate. The microhardness and fracture toughness of the nanocomposite coating were higher than those of a nanostructured NbS i2 coating.     

Investigation on the homogenization treatment and element segregation on the microstructure of a γ/γ'-cobalt-based superalloy

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of element segregation on the microstructure and γ' phase in a γ/γ' cobalt-based superalloy. Several samples were prepared from a cast alloy and homogenized at 1300℃ for different times, with a maximum of 24 h. A microstructural study of the cast alloy using wavelength-dispersive spectroscopic analysis revealed that elements such as Al, Ti, and Ni segregated mostly within interdendritic regions, whereas W atoms were segregated within dendrite cores. With an increase in homogenization time, segregation decreased and the initial dendritic structure was eliminated. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that the γ' phases in the cores and interdendritic regions of the as-cast alloy were 392 and 124 nm, respectively. The size difference of γ' was found to be due to the different segregation behaviors of constituent elements during solidification. After homogenization, particularly after 16 h, segregation decreased; thus, the size, chemical composition, and hardness of the precipitated γ' phase was mostly uniform throughout the samples.     

Investigation on the homogenization treatment and element segregation on the microstructure of a γ/γ′-cobalt-based superalloy

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of element segregation on the microstructure and γ′ phase in a γ/γ′ cobalt-based superalloy. Several samples were prepared from a cast alloy and homogenized at 1300°C for different times, with a maximum of 24 h. A microstructural study of the cast alloy using wavelength-dispersive spectroscopic analysis revealed that elements such as Al, Ti, and Ni segregated mostly within interdendritic regions, whereas W atoms were segregated within dendrite cores. With an increase in homogenization time, segregation decreased and the initial dendritic structure was eliminated. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that the γ′ phases in the cores and interdendritic regions of the as-cast alloy were 392 and 124 nm, respectively. The size difference of γ′ was found to be due to the different segregation behaviors of constituent elements during solidification. After homogenization, particularly after 16 h, segregation decreased; thus, the size, chemical composition, and hardness of the precipitated γ′ phase was mostly uniform throughout the samples.     

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.     

Effects of P addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–5%Sn–1.25%Si alloy

The effects of Al-P addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast Mg–5%Sn–1.25%Si magnesium alloy were investigated. The results show that the phases of the as-cast alloy are composed of α-Mg, Mg2 Sn, Mg2 Si, little P, and AlP. The Chinese character shape Mg2 Si phase changes into a granular morphology by P addition because AlP can act as a heterogeneous nucleation core for the Mg2 Si phase. When 0.225wt% of Al–3.5%P alloy is added, the mechanical properties of the Mg–5%Sn–1.25%Si alloy are greatly improved, and the tensile strength increases from 156 to 191 MPa, an increase of 22.4% compared to the alloy without P addition. When the amount of Al–3.5%P reaches 0.300wt%, a segregation phenomenon occurs in the granular Mg2 Si phase, and the tensile strength and hardness decrease though the elongation increases.     

Effect of magnesium on the aluminothermic reduction rate of zinc oxide obtained from spent alkaline battery anodes for the preparation of Al–Zn–Mg alloys

The aluminothermic reduction of zinc oxide (ZnO) from alkaline battery anodes using molten Al may be a good option for the elaboration of secondary 7000-series alloys. This process is affected by the initial content of Mg within molten Al, which decreases the surface tension of the molten metal and conversely increases the wettability of ZnO particles. The effect of initial Mg concentration on the aluminothermic reduction rate of ZnO was analyzed at the following values: 0.90wt%, 1.20wt%, 4.00t%, 4.25wt%, and 4.40wt%. The ZnO particles were incorporated by mechanical agitation using a graphite paddle inside a bath of molten Al maintained at a constant temperature of 1123 K and at a constant agitation speed of 250 r/min, the treatment time was 240 min and the ZnO particle size was 450-500 mesh. The results show an increase in Zn concentration in the prepared alloys up to 5.43wt% for the highest initial concentration of Mg. The reaction products obtained were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, and the efficiency of the reaction was measured on the basis of the different concentrations of Mg studied.     

Microstructure and properties of a wear resistant Al–25Si–4Cu–1Mg coating prepared by supersonic plasma spraying

A high content silicon aluminum alloy(Al–25Si–4 Cu–1Mg) coating was prepared on a 2A12 aluminum alloy by supersonic plasma spraying. The morphology and microstructure of the coating were observed and analyzed. The hardness, elastic modulus, and bonding strength of the coating were measured. The wear resistance of the coating and 2A12 aluminum alloy was studied by friction and wear test. The results indicated that the coating was compact and the porosity was only 1.5%. The phase of the coating was mainly composed of α-Al and β-Si as well as some hard particles(Al_9Si,Al_(3.21)Si_(0.47), and CuAl_2). The average microhardness of the coating was HV 242, which was greater than that of 2 A12 aluminum alloy(HV 110). The wear resistance of the coating was superior to 2A12 aluminum alloy. The wear mechanism of the 2A12 aluminum alloy was primarily adhesive wear, while that of the coating was primarily abrasive wear. Therefore, it is possible to prepare a high content silicon aluminum alloy coating with good wear resistance on an aluminum alloy by supersonic plasma spraying.     

Microstructural analyses of aluminum–magnesium–silicon alloys welded by pulsed Nd: YAG laser welding

Revealing grains and very fine dendrites in a solidified weld metal of aluminum–magnesium–silicon alloys is difficult and thus,there is no evidence to validate the micro-and meso-scale physical models for hot cracks. In this research, the effect of preheating on the microstructure and hot crack creation in the pulsed laser welding of AA 6061 was investigated by an optical microscope and field emission electron microscopy. Etching was carried out in the gas phase using fresh Keller’s reagent for 600 s. The results showed that the grain size of the weld metal was proportional to the grain size of the base metal and was independent of the preheating temperature. Hot cracks passed the grain boundaries of the weld and the base metal. Lower solidification rates in the preheated samples led to coarser arm spacing;therefore, a lower cooling rate. Despite the results predicted by the micro and meso-scale models, lower cooling rates resulted in increased hot cracks. The cracks could grow in the weld metal after solidification;therefore, hot cracks were larger than predicted by the hot crack prediction models.