Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of a large-sized ingot of Mg–9Gd–3Y–1.5Zn–0.5Zr(wt%) alloy after a lower-temperature homogenization treatment

In this paper,a large-sized ingot of Mg–9Gd–3Y–1.5Zn–0.5Zr(wt%) alloy with a diameter of 600 mm was successfully prepared by the semi-continuous casting method.The alloy was subsequently annealed at a relatively low temperature of 430°C for 12 h as a homogenization treatment.The microstructure and room-temperature mechanical properties of the alloy were investigated systematically.The results show that the as-cast alloy contained a mass of discontinuous lamellar-shaped 18 R long-period stacking ordered(LPSO) phases with a composition of Mg10 Zn Y and an α-Mg matrix,along with net-shaped Mg5(Y,Gd) eutectic compounds at the grain boundaries.Most of the eutectic compounds dissolved after the homogenization treatment.Moreover,the amount and dimensions of the lamellar-shaped LPSO phase obviously increased after the homogenization treatment.The structure of the phase transformed into 14H-type LPSO with composition Mg12Zn(Y,Gd).The mechanical properties of the heat-treated large-sized alloy ingot are uniform.The ultimate tensile strength(UTS) and tensile yield strength(TYS) of the alloy reached 207.2 MPa and 134.8 MPa,respectively,and the elongation was 3.4%.The high performances of the large-sized alloy ingot after the homogenization treatment is attributed to the strengthening of the α-Mg solid solution and to the plentiful LPSO phase distributed over the α-Mg matrix.     

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.     

Effects of gadolinium addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-9Al alloy

This research aims to study the significance of Gd addition (0wt%-2wt%) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-9Al alloy. The effect of Gd addition on the microstructure was investigated via X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The Mg-9Al alloy contained two phases, α-Mg and β-Mg17Al12. Alloying with Gd led to the emergence of a new rectangular-shaped phase, Al₂Gd. The grain size also decreased marginally upon Gd addition. The ultimate tensile strength and microhardness of Mg-9Al alloy increased by 23% and 19%, respectively, upon 1.5wt% Gd addition. We observed that, although Mg-9Al-2.0Gd alloy exhibited the smallest grain size (181 μm) and the highest dislocation density (5.1×1010 m-2) among the investigated compositions, the Mg-9Al-1.5Gd alloy displayed the best mechanical properties. This anomalous behavior was observed because the Al₂Gd phase was uniformly distributed and present in abundance in Mg-9Al-1.5Gd alloy, whereas it was coarsened and asymmetrically conglomerated in Mg-9Al-2.0Gd.     

Improved strength and ductility of high alloy containing Al-12Zn-3Mg-2.5Cu alloy by combining non-isothermal step rolling and cold rolling

Al-12Zn-3Mg-2.5Cu alloy was prepared using a liquid metallurgy route under the optimized conditions. A sample cut from the ingot was rolled non-isothermally from 400℃ to 100℃ in 100℃ steps, with 15% reduction in thickness; it was then cold rolled isothermally at room temperature for 85% reduction. The cold-rolled alloys were characterized by electron microscopy, hardness test, and tensile test to elucidate their structural evolution and evaluate their mechanical behavior. In the results, the cast alloy consists of α-aluminum and various intermetallic compounds. These compounds are segregated along the grain boundaries, which makes the alloy difficult to roll at room temperature. The combined effect of non-isothermal step rolling and cold rolling results in the nano/microsized compounds distributed uniformly in the matrix. The hardness is substantially increased after rolling. This increase in hardness is attributed to the ultra-fine grain size, fine-scale intermetallic compounds, and structural defects (e.g., dislocations, stacking faults, and sub-grains). The ultimate tensile strength of the rolled alloy is approximately 628 MPa with 7% ductility.     

Microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of bobbin-tool friction stir welded 2024-T3 aluminum alloy

Cold-rolled 2024-T3 sheet alloy was subjected to bobbin-tool friction stir welding (BTFSW). The microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of the nugget zone in the as-welded state were investigated. The results show that the equiaxed grain size of BTFSW 2024-T3 alloy decreases from 7.6 to 2.8 μm as the welding speed is increased from 80 to 120 mm/min; in addition, fine grains are generated in the nugget zone and the size distribution is non-uniform. All Al₂CuMg (S') precipitates dissolve into the Al matrix, whereas Mn-rich phases confirmed as T phases (Al₂₀Cu₂Mn₃, Al₆Mn, or Al₃Mn) remain unchanged. The optimized parameters for BTFSW are verified as the rotation speed of 350 r/min and the travel speed of 100 mm/min. The variations in precipitation and dislocation play more important roles than grain size in the nugget zone with respect to influencing the mechanical properties during the BTFSW process. After the BTFSW process, the fracture mode of base material 2024-T3 alloy transforms from ductile rupture to ductile-brittle mixed fracture.     

Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of an Fe–18Ni–16Cr–4Al base alloy during aging at 950℃

The development of Gen-IV nuclear systems and ultra-supercritical power plants proposes greater demands on structural materials used for key components. An Fe–18Ni–16Cr–4Al (316-base) alumina-forming austenitic steel was developed in our laboratory. Its microstructural evolution and mechanical properties during aging at 950℃ were investigated subsequently. Micro-structural changes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Needle-shaped NiAl particles begin to precipitate in austenite after ageing for 10 h, whereas round NiAl particles in ferrite are coarsened during aging. Precipitates of NiAl with different shapes in different matrices result from differences in lattice misfits. The tensile plasticity increases by 32.4% after aging because of the improvement in the percentage of coincidence site lattice grain boundaries, whereas the tensile strength remains relatively high at approximately 790 MPa.     

Effect of pre-annealing treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of extruded Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy bars

Taking extruded Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy (7A04 alloy) bars as the research object, the effect and mechanism of pre-annealing treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the aged alloy bars were investigated. The results show that a pre-annealing treatment at 350℃ for 15 h before a T6 treatment substantially reduced the sensitivity of the microstructure and mechanical properties of the extruded 7A04 aluminum alloy specimens toward the extrusion temperature. The average grain sizes of the specimens extruded at 390 and 430℃ after T6 treatment were 3.4 and 8.1 μm, respectively, and their elongations to failure were 7.0% and 9.2%, respectively. However, after pre-annealing + T6 treatment, the differences in both the grain sizes and the elongations of the specimens became small, i.e., their average grain sizes were 3.2 and 3.8 μm and their elongations were 12.0% and 13.3%, respectively. For the specimens extruded at the same temperature, pre-annealing treatment obviously improved the plasticity of the alloy, which is attributed to an increase in soft texture or to grain refinement in the specimens as a result of the pre-annealing + T6 treatment.     

Microstructure,mechanical, and corrosion properties of extruded low-alloyed Mg–xZn–0.2Ca alloys

The microstructure, mechanical, and corrosion properties of extruded low-alloyed Mg-xZn-0.2Ca (x=0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0) alloys were investigated in this study. Findings from scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy results indicate that the amount of ternary Ca₂Mg₆Zn₃ phase, as the only secondary phase in 1.0Zn, 2.0Zn, and 3.0Zn alloys, gradually increases with the addition of Zn, while the Mg₂Ca phase was observed in the Mg-0.2Ca alloy only. Zn has a strong effect on the orientation and intensity of textures, which also influence mechanical behaviors, as revealed by electron back-scatter diffraction. Among all the alloys, the Mg-2.0Zn-0.2Ca alloy obtains the maximum tensile strength (278 MPa) and yield strength (230 MPa). Moreover, Zn addition has an evident influence on the corrosion properties of Mg-xZn-0.2Ca alloy, and Mg-1.0Zn-0.2Ca alloy exhibits the minimum corrosion rate. This paper provides a novel low-alloyed magnesium alloy as a potential biodegradable material.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of a hot-extruded Al-based composite reinforced with core-shell-structured Ti/Al3Ti

An Al-based composite reinforced with core-shell-structured Ti/Al₃Ti was fabricated through a powder metallurgy route followed by hot extrusion and was found to exhibit promising mechanical properties. The ultimate tensile strength and elongation of the composite sintered at 620℃ for 5h and extruded at a mass ratio of 12.75:1 reached 304 MPa and 14%, respectively, and its compressive deformation reached 60%. The promising mechanical properties are due to the core-shell-structured reinforcement, which is mainly composed of Al₃Ti and Ti and is bonded strongly with the Al matrix, and to the reduced crack sensitivity of Al₃Ti. The refined grains after hot extrusion also contribute to the mechanical properties of this composite. The mechanical properties might be further improved through regulating the relative thickness of Al-Ti intermetallics and Ti metal layers by adjusting the sintering time and the subsequent extrusion process.     

Effects of high-pressure rheo-squeeze casting on the Fe-rich phases and mechanical properties of Al-17Si-(1,1.5)Fe alloys

The effects of high pressure rheo-squeeze casting (HPRC) on the Fe-rich phases (FRPs) and mechanical properties of Al-17Si-(1,1.5)Fe alloys were investigated. The alloy melts were first treated by ultrasonic vibration (UV) and then formed by high-pressure squeeze casting (HPSC). The FRPs in the as-cast HPSC Al-17Si-1Fe alloys only contained a long, needle-shaped β-Al₅FeSi phase at 0 MPa. In addition to the β-Al₅FeSi phase, the HPSC Al-17Si-1.5Fe alloy also contained the plate-shaped δ-Al₄FeSi₂ phase. A fine, block-shaped δ-Al₄FeSi₂ phase was formed in the Al-17Si-1Fe alloy treated by UV. The size of FRPs decreased with increasing pressure. After UV treatment, solidification under pressure led to further refinement of the FRPs. Considering alloy samples of the same composition, the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the HPRC samples was higher than that of the HPSC samples, and the UTS increased with increasing pressure. The UTS of the Al-17Si-1Fe alloy formed by HPSC exceeded that of the Al-17Si-1.5Fe alloy formed in the same manner under the same pressure. Conversely, the UTS of the Al-17Si-1Fe alloy formed by HPRC decreased to a value lower than that of the Al-17Si-1.5Fe alloy formed in the same manner.     

低Gd含量Mg Gd Y Zr Zn镁合金组织及性能

针对Mg Gd系镁合金含Gd量高,导致成本及比重增加,文中采用溶剂保护熔炼法制备Mg 6Gd 3Y 0.4Zr x Zn ( x =1,1.5,2)镁合金。经均匀化处理、热挤压及200 ℃时效处理制得试样,通过光学显微镜(OM)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)等对合金组织、力学性能进行研究。结果表明,与固溶态相比,经过时效处理后析出的第二相更细小、分布更均匀;Mg 6Gd 3Y 0.4Zr 2Zn合金T5态的抗拉强度和屈服强度分别为403 MPa和336 MPa,延伸率为7.0%,达到或接近含Gd量较高的Mg Gd Y系镁合金的综合力学性能。     

Mg-7Sn-Zn(Y)合金的显微组织、时效硬化行为及力学性能

研究了Zn和Y合金化对Mg-7Sn合金显微组织、时效硬化行为和力学性能的影响.铸态Mg-7Sn合金主要由α-Mg和共晶(α-Mg+Mg₂Sn)相组成.Zn添加细化了Mg₂Sn相的尺寸,促进了Mg₂Sn相大量、均匀的弥散分布,同时诱导了Mg₂Sn相的非基面析出,增强了合金时效硬化效果.合金时效峰值硬度从64.6 HV增大到69.7 HV,峰值时效时间从166 h缩小至142 h.Zn和Y元素共同添加形成了针状MgSnY相,有效缩短了合金的时效峰值时间(由166 h缩短至120 h),但合金的峰值硬度略有降低,Mg-7Sn-1Zn合金具有最佳的力学性能,其高力学性能主要归结为细小、高体积分数Mg₂Sn相的析出强化.     

Microstructure, crystalline phase and electrical properties of Li0.06(Na0.5K0.5)0.94Nb(1−2x/5)Mg x O3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

MgO-modified Li_0.06(Na_0.5K_0.5)_0.94NbO₃ (L₆NKN) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were synthesized by normal sintering at a relatively low temperature of 1000°C. The crystalline phase, microstructure, and electrical properties of the ceramics were investigated with a special emphasis on the influence of MgO content. The addition of MgO effectively improves the sinterability of the L₆NKN ceramics. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) separating orthorhombic and tetragonal phases for the ceramics lies in the range of Mg doping content (x) from 0.3at% to 0.7at%. High electrical properties of the piezoelectric constant (d ₃₃=238 pC/N), planar electromechanical coupling coefficient (k _p=41.5%), relative dielectric constant (? _r=905), and remanent polarization (P _r=38.3 μC/cm²) are obtained from the specimen with x=0.5at%, which suggests that the Li_0.06(Na_0.5K_0.5)_0.94Nb_(1?2x/5)Mg _x O₃ (x=0.5at%) ceramic is a promising lead-free piezoelectric material.     

Zr_(42)Co_(58)合金的微观组织和力学性能

利用X射线衍射仪、金相显微镜、万能试验机和扫描电镜等仪器研究在不同热处理温度下的Zr_(42)Co_(58)合金的微观组织、力学性能和断裂机制。结果表明,在723 K和773 K热处理合金的相组成和铸态合金的相组成相同,基体为塑性相B2相,在基体上析出大量的B33相,且B33相相对含量随着热处理温度的增加而减少。铸态合金和热处理合金的组织形貌中,B33相的形状呈等轴状、条状和枝状,其中,等轴状颗粒和条状组织尺寸范围分别为5~15μm和20~100μm。在773 K进行热处理,合金屈服强度为1287 MPa,而断裂强度为1443 MPa,塑性应变为2.27%,维氏硬度为597 HV。再对断口进行分析,铸态合金和在723 K下热处理合金断裂机制均为延性断裂,而在773 K下热处理合金断裂机制为解理断裂。     

Synthesis of (1-x)Pb[(Mg,Zn)1/3Nb2/3]O3-PbTiO3 Dielectric Ceramic Powder by a Coprecipitation Process

A coprecipitation method was used for preparation of 0.95Pb[(Mg_0.8Zn_0.2)_1/3Nb_2/3]O₃-0.05PbTiO₃(PMZN-PT),dielectric ceramic powder. X-ray powder diffraction and electron probe energy dispersive, X-ray analyzer revealed that the powder calcinated at 800℃ for 2 h is the PMZN-PT with 100% single perovskite phase, and the order of magnitude of atomic proportion of Mg to Zn reaches approximately 10:1. In addition, the influence of Zn and Ti content on the perovskite phase and pyrochlore phase formation namely: 0.95Pb[(Mg_1-xZn_x)_1/3Nb_2/3]O₃-0.05PbTiO₃, (1-y)Pb[(Mg_0.7Zn_0.3)_1/3Nb_2/3]O₃-yPbTiO₃ was also analysed.