Microstructure and properties of A2017 alloy strips processed by a novel process by combining semisolid rolling, deep rolling, and heat treatment

A novel short process for producing A2017 alloy strips with notable features of near net shape, saving energy, low cost, and high product performance was developed by combining semisolid rolling, deep rolling, and heat treatment. The microstructure and properties of the A2017 alloy strips were investigated by metallographic microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, tensile testing, and hardness measurement. The cross-sectional microstructure of the A2017 alloy strips is mainly composed of near-spherical primary grains. Many eutectic phases CuAl₂ formed along primary grain boundaries during semisolid rolling are crushed and broken into small particles. After solution treatment at 495℃ for 2 h the eutectic phases at grain boundaries have almost dissolved into the matrix. When the solution treatment time exceeds 2 h, grain coarsening happens. More and more grain interior phases precipitate with the aging time prolonging to 8 h. The precipitated particles are very small and distribute homogenously, and the tensile strength reaches its peak value. When the aging time is prolonged to 12 h, there is no obvious variation in the amount of precipitated phases, but the size and spacing of precipitated phases increase. The tensile strength of the A2017 alloy strips produced by the present method can reach 362.78 MPa, which is higher than that of the strips in the national standard of China.     

Effect of heat treatment on microstructures and properties of a novel Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy for oil drilling

In view of the special requirements for strength, heat resistance and corrosion resistance of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy for oil drilling, the Al-6.2 Zn-2.5 Mg-1.6 Cu alloy was prepared by increasing Cu content on basis of Russian Series 1953 alloy. The effect of heat treatment on the microstructures and properties of the alloy was characterized by optical microscope(OM), scanning electron microscope(SEM) and transmission electron microscope(TEM), and investigated by tensile test at room temperature, thermal exposure test and corrosion test. The results show that the strength after T6 aging treatment exhibit a decrease trend as an increase of the solution temperature from465 °C to 480 °C. After the solution treated by the rate of 470 °C/1 h, second phases dissolve into the matrix very well and the strength property reaches optimum. The alloy has better comprehensive properties treated by a solution treatment of 470 °C/1 h and then followed by an aging treatment of 120 °C/24 h + 170 °C/1 h + 120 °C/24 h. Under the aging state, the precipitated phases inside the grains are suitable in size, while on the grain boundary distribute discontinuously and the precipitate-free zone is obvious. Besides, the alloy still maintain high tensile properties. The yield strength, tensile strength and elongation are 650 MPa, 686 MPa,12.0%, respectively. The yield strength retention after heat exposure is 92%. The alloy has good corrosion resistance and the exfoliation corrosion degree. The average corrosion rate in the H_2S and CO_2 environment is 0.0024 mm/a, which is far less than the required 0.12 mm/a. It is insensitive to H_2S and CO_2 environments.     

Creep behavior and effect factors of a TiAl–Nb alloy at high temperature

The effect of solution treatment on the microstructure and creep properties of forged TiAl–Nb alloys was investigated. The results showed that the microstructure of forged alloy mainly consisted of γ/α₂ lamellar colonies and fine equiaxed recrystallized γ/α₂ grains. During the solution treatment the microstructure of the alloy transformed into a fully lamellar structure due to the lamellar colonies growth by consuming equiaxed grains. Compared with the forged alloy the creep life of the solution treated alloy at 800 ?°C/220 ?MPa increased from 116 ?h to 339 ?h. The better creep resistance may be attributed to the transform of fine equiaxed γ/α₂ grain to the lamellar colonies with serrated grain boundaries due to the solution treatment. The deformation mechanism of the solution treated alloy during creep is considered to be dislocation slipping within the lamellar γ/α₂ phases, and the dislocation movement may be hindered by the γ/α₂ interface and the formation of dislocation tangles. The interaction of the dislocations with the tangles may increase the resistance of the dislocation motion and hence improve the creep resistance of the alloy. It was found that during the creep of the forged alloys the cracks mainly initiated at the equiaxed grain, and in the solution treated alloy the cracks initiated at the grain boundaries. As creep continued the cracks propagated and connected to each other, leading to the damage and rupture of the forged and solution treated alloys.     

Microstructural study and numerical simulation of phase decomposition of heat treated Co–Cu alloys

The influence of heat treatment on the phase decomposition and the grain size of Co–10 at% Cu alloy were studied. Few samples were aged in a furnace for either 3 or 5 h and then quenched in iced water. The materials and phase compositions were investigated using energy dispersive spectrometry and X-ray diffraction techniques. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the samples contained Co, Cu, Cu O, Co Cu2O3, Co Cu O2 phases in different proportions depending on the heat treatment regimes. The formation of dendrite Co phase rendered the spinodal decomposition while the oxidations prevent the initiation of the spinodal decomposition even for a deep long aging inside the miscibility gap.Since the Bragg reflections from different phases of Co–Cu alloy significantly overlap, the crystal structural parameters were refined with FULLPROF program. The shifts in the refined lattice constants(a, b and c), the space group and the grain size were found to be phase- and heat treatment-dependant. Two-dimensional computer simulations were conducted to study the phase decomposition of Co–Cu binary alloy systems.The excess free energy as well as the strain energy, without a priori knowledge of the shape or the position of the new phase, was precisely evaluated. The results indicate that the morphology and the shape of the microstructure agree with SEM observation.     

In vitro corrosion of Mg–1.21Li –1.12Ca –1Y alloy

The influence of the microstructure on mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of the Mg–1.21Li–1.12Ca–1Y alloy was investigated using OM, SEM, XRD, EPMA, EDS, tensile tests and corrosion measurements. The results demonstrated that the microstructure of the Mg–1.21Li–1.12Ca–1Y alloy was characterized by α-Mg substrate and intermetallic compounds Mg2 Ca and Mg24Y5. Most of the fine Mg2 Ca particles for the as-cast alloy were distributed along the grain boundaries, while for the as-extruded along the extrusion direction. The Mg24Y5 particles with a larger size than the Mg2 Ca particles were positioned inside the grains. The mechanical properties of Mg–1.21Li–1.12Ca–1Y alloy were improved by the grain refinement and dispersion strengthening. Corrosion pits initiated at the α-Mg matrix neighboring the Mg2 Ca particles and subsequently the alloy exhibited general corrosion and filiform corrosion as the corrosion product layer of Mg(OH)2and Mg CO3 became compact and thick.     

Improvement of pitting corrosion resistance for Al-Cu alloy in sodium chloride solution through equal-channel angular pressing

Significant corrosion resistance improvement was achieved in solid-solution treated(T4) Al-Cu alloy after severe grain refinement through equal-channel angular pressing.The bulk ultrafine-grained Al-Cu alloy with grain sizes of 200-300 nm has higher pitting potential(elevated by about 34 mV,SCE) and lower corrosion current density(decreased by about 3.88μA/cm~2) in polarization tests than the as-T4 alloy,and increased polarization resistance(increased by about 5.7 kΩ·cm~2) in electrochemical impendence s...     

Grain boundary characteristics and tensile properties of Ti14 alloy after semi-solid deformation

The microstructure and room-temperature tensile properties of Ti14, a new α+Ti₂Cu alloy, were investigated after conventional forging at 950℃ and semi-solid forging at 1000 and 1050℃, respectively. Results show that coarse grains and grain boundaries are obtained in the semi-solid alloys. The coarse grain boundaries are attributed to Ti₂Cu phase precipitations occurred on the grain boundaries during the solidification. It is found that more Ti₂Cu phase precipitates on the grain boundaries at a higher semi-solid forging temperature, which forms precipitated zones and coarsens the grain boundaries. Tensile tests exhibit high strength and low ductility for the semi-solid forged alloys, especially after forging at 1000℃. Fracture analysis reveals the evidence of ductile failure mechanisms for the conventional forged alloy and cleavage fracture mechanisms for the alloy after semi-solid forging at 1050℃.     

Influence of semisolid forging ratio on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti14 alloy

The present work is focused on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti14 alloy with different semisolid deformation ratios during forging tests. The results revealed that the forging ratio had a significant effect on the precipitation of the alloy. Fewer plate-shaped Ti₂Cu tended to precipitate on grain boundaries with higher forging ratios, and finally the plate-shaped Ti₂Cu formed precipitate-free zones along grain boundaries with a forging ratio of 75%. The precipitation on grain boundaries was found to be controlled by a peritectic reaction. Large forging ratios accelerated the extrusion of liquid and resulted in less liquid along the prior grain boundaries, which reduced the peritectic precipitation in this region and formed precipitate-free zones during re-solidification. In addition, increasing the forging ratio could accelerate dynamic recrystallization, which is favorable for improving the semisolid formability. The tensile ductility increased with increasing forging ratio, and a mixed fracture mode, involving both cleavage and dimple fracture, was observed after forging with a forging ratio of 75%, which is attributed to the presence of precipitate-free zones formed along grain boundaries during semisolid processing.     

Effects of Sb and heat treatment on the microstructure of Al-15.5wt%Mg2Si alloy

The modification effects of alloying element Sb and heat treatment on Al-15.5wt%Mg₂Si alloy were investigated by Olympus microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy and energy disperse spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It is found that Sb plays a significant role in shaping primary Mg₂Si phase and eutectic Mg₂Si phase in Al-15.5wt%Mg₂Si alloy. The Sb addition of about 1.0wt% makes the resultant alloy show the finest primary Mg₂Si phase and the eutectic Mg₂Si phase with well distribution. But further increasing the Sb content decreases the amount of primary Mg₂Si phase, and some segregated phases appear at regions between the grains. In addition, heat treatment can modify the microstructural feature of Sb-modified Al-15.5wt%Mg₂Si alloy in terms of obviously shortening the nodulizing time of primary Mg₂Si phase and eutectic Mg₂Si phase.     

Preparation of spherical ultrafine copper powder via hydrogen reduction-densification of Mg(OH)2-coated Cu2O powder

A novel process was developed to produce spherical copper powder for multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC). Spherical ultrafine cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) powder was prepared by glucose reduction of Cu(OH)₂. The Cu₂O particles were coated by Mg(OH)₂ and reduced to metallic copper particles. At last, the copper particles were densified by high-temperature heat treatment. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), tap density, and thermogravimetry (TG). It is found that the shape and size distribution of the copper powder are determined by the Cu₂O powder and the copper particles do not agglomerate during high-temperature heat treatment because of the existence of Mg(OH)₂ coating. After densification at high temperature, the particle tap density increases from 3.30 to 4.18 g/cm³ and the initial oxidation temperature rises from 125 to 150°C.     

Al-Cu-Mn合金铸锭均匀化工艺及组织性能分析

采用光学金相显微镜、扫描电子显微镜及能谱分析、电导率等检测手段,对铸态和均匀化态的2219合金微观组织、第二相分布及电导率进行研究分析。结果表明,2219合金铸态组织存在着枝晶偏析,在晶界上聚集大量的Al₂Cu相,并有长条状的脆性相Al₇Cu₂（Fe、Mn）穿插在晶界上。经525 ℃均匀化处理22 h后,晶界上Al₂Cu相回溶到基体中,枝晶网络被破坏,枝晶偏析消除,Cu元素从晶界到晶内的分布趋于平稳;处于亚稳态的溶质原子从过饱和固溶体中析出,在晶内呈细小、弥散地分布,基体溶质原子固溶度降低,电子散射作用减弱,电导率提高10 %IACS。     

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...     

Microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of Al-2024 alloy processed via a rheocasting route

This article reports the effects of stirring speed and T6 heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-2024 alloy synthesized by a rheocasting process. There was a decrease in grain size of α-Al particles corresponding to an increase in stirring speed. By increasing the stirring speed, however, the globularity of matrix particles first increased and then declined. It was also found that the hardness, compressive strength, and compressive strain increased with the increase of stirring speed. Microstructural studies revealed the presence of nonsoluble Al₁₅(CuFeMn)₃Si₂ phase in the vicinity of CuAl₂ in the rheocast samples. The required time for the solution treatment stage was also influenced by stirring speed; the solution treatment time decreased with the increase in stirring speed. Furthermore, the rheocast samples required a longer homogenization period compared to conventionally wrought alloys. Improvements in hardness and compressive properties were observed after T6 heat treatment.     

Modeling of static coarsening of two-phase titanium alloy in the α+β two-phase region at different temperature by a cellular automata method

A cellular automata (CA) method was employed to model static coarsening controlled by diffusion along grain boundaries at 1173K and through the bulk at 1213 and 1243K for a two-phase titanium alloy. In the CA model, the coarsening rate was inversely proportional to the 3rd power of the average grain radius for coarsening controlled by diffusion along grain boundaries, and inversely proportional to the 2nd power of the average grain radius for coarsening controlled by diffusion through the bulk. The CA model was used to predict the morphological evolution, average grain size, topological characteristics, and the coarsening kinetics of the Ti-6Al-2Zr-1Mo-1V (TA15) alloy during static coarsening. The predicted results were found to be in good agreement with the corresponding experimental results. In addition, the effects of the volume fraction of the phase (Vf ) and the initial grain size on the coarsening were discussed. It was found that the predicted coarsening kinetic constant increased with Vf and that a larger initial grain size led to slower coarsening.     

Morphology and quantitative analysis of O phase during heat treatment of hot-deformed Ti<Subscript>2</Subscript>AlNb-based alloy

A 1040℃-hot-deformed Ti₂AlNb-based alloy solution-treated at 950℃ and aged at different temperatures was quantitatively investigated. The microstructure, size of the phase, and microhardness of the deformed alloys were measured. The results indicated that the microstructure of the deformed Ti₂AlNb-based alloy specimens comprise coarse O lath, fine O lath, equiaxed O/α₂, and acicular O phase. More O phase was generated in the deformed alloy after heat treatment because the acicular O phase was more likely to nucleate and grow along the deformation-induced crystal defects such as dislocations and subgrain boundaries. After deformation and subsequent heat treatment, the acicular O phase of the resultant alloy became finer compared to that of the undeformed alloy, and the acicular O phase became coarser and longer with the elevated aging temperature, while the width of the O lath exhibited unobvious variations. The hot deformation facilitated the dissolution of the O lath but accelerated the precipitation of the acicular O phase. When the 950℃-solution-treated deformed Ti₂AlNb-based alloy was then aged at 750℃ for different periods, the phase content was nearly invariable, O and B2 phases eventually reached equilibrium, and the microstructure became stable and homogeneous.     

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.     

Mechanical properties of TiO2-hydroxyapatite nanostructured coatings on Ti-6Al-4V substrates by APS method

TiO₂-hydroxyapatite (HA) nanostructured coatings were produced by atmospheric plasma spray method. The effects of starting powder composition and grain size on their mechanical properties were investigated. The microstructure and morphology were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It is found that the coating with 10% HA has the best mechanical properties. Based on Rietveld refinement method, the mean grain size of the as-received powder (212 nm) extensively decreases to 66.4 nm after 20 h of high-energy ball milling. In spite of grain growth, the deposited coatings maintain their nanostructures with the mean grain size of 112 nm. SEM images show that there is a lower porosity in the coating with a higher HA content. Optical microscopy images show that uniform thickness is obtained for all the coatings.     

CaCO3在AZ31镁合金中的细化效果及机理

用CaCO3作细化剂研究了对AZ31镁合金凝固组织的影响.结果表明:在AZ31中添加质量分数为0.5%的CaCO3,在760℃保温10 min后细化效果最佳,α-Mg晶粒的尺寸由基体合金的570μm降至209μm,降幅约63.3%.通过能谱分析、结合能和自由能的计算证实,细化机理是CaCO3反应后生成Al4C3,其中部分Al4C3质点作为异质核心,使晶粒细化,其余的Al4C3质点钉扎晶界也阻碍了晶粒长大.Al元素随固/液界面前沿被快速推至晶界,生成沿晶界生长的β-Mg17Al12相,起到进一步固定晶界的作用.合金元素的分布均有改变.     

Influence of yttrium on the structure and magnetostriction of Fe83Ga17 alloy

Polycrystalline Fe₈₃Ga₁₇ alloy rods with various amounts of yttrium were prepared by high vacuum induction melting. It is found that yttrium addition has a significant effect on the structure and magnetostriction of Fe₈₃Ga₁₇ alloy. The small addition of yttrium alters the solidification character and the grain shape of Fe₈₃Ga₁₇ alloy, and as a result, columnar grains with the ??100?? preferential direction are produced. Yttrium addition improves the magnetostrictive performance of the as-cast Fe₈₃Ga₁₇ alloy. The magnetostriction values of the as-cast alloy with 0.32at% and 0.64at% yttrium addition go up to 119×10^?6 and 137×10^?6 under 15 MPa compressive stress, respectively. The energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) result shows that almost all of the yttrium atoms exist in the Y₂Fe_17?x Ga _x phase. A small amount of this kind of secondary phase cannot obviously increase the saturate magnetic field.     

Improving the tensile properties of extruded Mg–Ga alloy by ageing treatment

A hot-extruded Mg-5Ga alloy was subjected to ageing treatment at 150 ?°C, 190 ?°C and 230 ?°C. The microstructures and mechanical properties of the extruded and aged alloy were examined in this study. Microstructure examinations suggested that particle-shaped and rod-shaped Mg₅Ga₂ were precipitated in the alloy after peak ageing treatment. The extruded alloy showed the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation to fracture of 157.6 ?MPa, 248.6 ?MPa and 17.5%, respectively. After peak ageing, the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength can be enhanced by as much as 15.7% and 8.6% reaching 182.3 ?MPa and 270 ?MPa, respectively. The improvement of the tensile strengths is mainly attributed to the enhanced precipitation strengthening by newly formed fine Mg₅Ga₂ precipitates. The ductility of the alloy was slightly increased by peak ageing at low temperatures (150 ?°C and 190 ?°C), but remarkably decreased by peak ageing at high temperature (230 ?°C) due to the formation of coarsened Mg₅Ga₂ particles which easily initiated the cracks during tensile deformation.