Papers by Author: Carl C. Koch

Abstract: We report recent research in our laboratory on the thermal stabilization of nanocrystalline binary alloys with ternary additions. Fe-Cr and Fe-Ni alloys with the ternary addition of Zr are studied. The thermal stability of these nanocrystalline alloys, prepared by mechanical alloying of powders, is studied by XRD, TEM and hardness as a function of annealing temperature. The relative importance of thermodynamic or kinetic stabilization in various temperature ranges is discussed for the different alloys. In agreement with our recent model for thermodynamic stabilization, it is found that Zr solute additions are more effective in stabilizing the nanocrystalline grain size in the Fe-Cr than in the Fe-Ni system.

Abstract: This paper describes the stabilization of nanocrystalline grain sizes in Pd and Fe by the addition of Zr solute atoms. The grain size as a function of annealing temperature was measured by both x-ray diffraction (XRD) line broadening analysis and microscopy methods. The latter methods showed that the XRD grain size measurements for the samples annealed at the higher temperatures were not valid. It appears that thermodynamic stabilization may still be operative in the Fe-4at.% Zr alloy but not in the Pd-19at.% Zr alloy from the experimental results and calculations of the enthalpy of segregation.

Abstract: Nanocrystalline and microcrystalline Fe-10Cr alloys were prepared by high energy ball milling followed by compaction and sintering, and then oxidized in air for 52 hours at 400°C. The oxidation resistance of nanocrystalline Fe-10Cr alloy as determined by measuring the weight gain after regular time intervals was compared with that of the microcrystalline alloy of same chemical composition (also prepared by the same processing route and oxidized under identical conditions). Oxidation resistance of nanocrystalline Fe10Cr alloy was found to be in excess of an order of magnitude superior than that of microcrystalline Fe10Cr alloy. The paper also presents results of secondary ion mass spectrometry of oxidized samples of nanocrystalline and microcrystalline Fe-Cr alloys, evidencing the formation of a more protective oxide scale in the nanocrystalline alloy.

Abstract: Shear punch test (SPT) has been used to study the mechanical properties of Cu, Cu–10 wt.% Zn, Cu–20 wt.% Zn and Cu–30 wt.% Zn after ball milling with an average grain size in the range of 33-12nm. The strain rate sensitivity (SRS) and physical activation volume have been determined. The magnitude observed for these characteristic deformation parameters is very different from their course-grained (cg) counterpart. This suggests that the thermally activated process in nanocrystalline (nc) metal/alloys is different from the conventional forest dislocation cutting mechanism. The stacking fault energy (SFE) of Cu-Zn alloys decreased with the adding of Zn, and deformation twins are anticipated to introduce into the nc Cu-Zn alloys during process of ball milling. Dislocations could accumulate along the TBs and carry the plastic strain, so the ductility of nc Cu-Zn alloys could be improved.

Abstract: This paper reviews a method, “in situ consolidation ball milling” that provides artifactfree bulk nanocrystalline samples for several ductile metals such as Zn, Al and Al alloys, and Cu and Cu alloys. The preparation method is described in this paper and examples of the mechanical behavior of nanocrystalline materials made by this technique are given. It is found that in such artifact-free metals, combinations of both high strength and good ductility are possible.

Abstract: Bulk ultra fine grained (UFG) Zn was produced by in situ consolidation of Zn elemental powder with ball milling at room temperature and annealed for 1 hour at 200
after pure Zn milled. The 150 % elongation is obtained in UFG Zn during tensile test at 20
which is equal to 0.43 Tm (Tm is the melting temperature of pure Zn). The elongation of UFG Zn is higher than the 110 % elongation of nanocrystalline Zn ball milled at tensile elongation. The largest tensile elongation (150%) was observed at room temperature in UFG Zn.