Papers by Author: Feng Xue

Abstract: High-strength magnesium alloy (AZ31) reinforced poly-lactic acid (PLA) composite rods for potential application of bone fracture fixation prepared by plastic injection process on Mg rod.Thecomposities possess improved the interfacial bonding between poly-lactic acid and Mg rod due to the micro-anchoring which lead to better mechanical performance in Simulated body fluid solution.The present results indicated that this new PLA-clad Mg composite rods show good potential for biomedical applications.

Abstract: The structure stability, mechanical properties and electronic structures of B2 phase FeAl intermetallic compounds and FeAl ternary alloys containing V, Cr or Ni were investigated using first-principles density functional theory calculations. Several models are established. The total energies, cohesive energies, lattice constants, elastic constants, density of states, and the charge densities of Fe₈Al₈ and Fe₈XAl₇ ( X=V, Cr, Ni ) are calculated. The stable crystal structures of alloy systems are determined due to the cohesive energy results. The calculated lattice contants of Fe-Al-X ( X= V, Cr, Ni) were found to be related to the atomic radii of the alloy elements. The calculation and analysis of the elastic constants showed that ductility of FeAl alloys was improved by the addition of V, Cr or Ni, the improvement was the highest when Cr was used. The order of the ductility was as follows: Fe₈CrAl₇ > Fe₈NiAl₇ > Fe₈VAl₇ > Fe₈Al₈. The results of electronic structure analysis showed that FeAl were brittle, mainly due to the orbital hybridization of the s, p and d state electron of Fe and the s and p state electrons of Al, showing typical characteristics of a valence bond. Micro-mechanism for improving ductility of FeAl is that d orbital electron of alloying element is maily involved in hybridization of FeAl, alloying element V, Cr and Ni decrease the directional property in bonding of FeAl.

Abstract: Microstructures, mechanical and creep properties of as-cast and as-annealed Mg-4Al-2Sr-1Ca (AJX421) alloy were investigated. The as cast microstructures of the alloy consists of the α-Mg, lamellar eutectic Mg2Ca and bulky Mg-Al-Sr phase. After annealing at 400°C, lamellar eutectic tended to be spheroidised and the continuous interphase network breaks up gradually, meanwhile, C14-Mg₂Ca completely transforms to C15-Al₂Ca. These results in obvious decrease of creep property. It is proposed that the continuous network distribution of compounds paly a major role in restricting the creep deformation of Mg-Al alloy at elevated temperatures, and the grain boundary sliding is an important creep mechanism for the alloy studied.

Abstract: Microstructures and creep property of the Mg-4Al based alloy with addition of 2% Sr and 1%Ca were investigated. The as-cast microstructures of the present alloy consist of dendritic α-Mg and two major intermetallics: lamellar eutectic C14-Mg₂Ca and bulky type Mg-Al-Sr ternary phase. These intermetallics mainly distribute along grain or cell boundaries and form an almost continuous network. The alloy studied shows an excellent creep resistance under the experimental conditions. This is primarily attributed to formation of the thermostable intermetallics with addition of Sr and Ca to Mg-Al based alloy. The values of stress exponent, n, and creep activation energy, Q, imply that both dislocaiton motion and grain boundary sliding contribute to the creep deformation.

Abstract: The effects of fluxes with different activators (sebacic acid and diethylamine hydrochlcoride) on the wetting behavior of Sn-Zn lead-free solders were investigated. The wettability tests showed that fluxes with the addition of single sebacic acid or diethylamine hydrochlcoride significantly improved wettability of Sn-Zn solder on Cu substrate. However, fluxes with combined additions of above activators promoted wetting performance of the solder further. Thermal analysis (thermal-gravimetry analyzer and differential scanning calorimeter) results demonstrated that the effective temperature range of diethylamine hydrochlcoride is higher than that of sebacic acid. So diethylamine hydrochlcoride could react with oxides on the solder and substrate surfaces at a wider temperature range which resulted in an enhanced spreading of solders. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image showed that two kinds of diffusion layers were formed between Sn-Zn solder and Cu substrate, indicating fluxes with binary activators markedly improved welding quality of Sn-Zn solder.

Abstract: Disks of as-extruded Mg-4Nd alloy were processed by high-pressure torsion (HPT) through ¼ to 5 turns at room temperature. The first 1/4 turn of HPT induces large numbers of twins and some dislocation tangles in the center region of the disk. With increase of torsional straining, the twinning is inhibited gradually and the dislocation density increases relating to the formation of dislocation substructures and ultimately transforming to high fractions of equiaxed gains which have an average grain size of ~200 nm and high-angle boundaries. HPT significantly improves the values of microhardness of this alloy. The hardness values in both the central and edge regions show a sharp rise after HPT for 1/4 turn and exhibit nearly saturation after 1/2 turn although there is a trend of a slight increase with increasing numbers of turns. The experimental results suggest more homogeneous microstructures may be produced by larger numbers of turns in the HPT process.

Abstract: The creep behavior of two series of magnesium alloys, Mg-4Al based alloys with strontium addition and binary Mg-Nd alloys, has been studied. Results show that the high creep properties achieved by the Mg-Nd alloys are attributed to the precipitation of tiny dispersed β’ particles, which form and effectively restrict the dislocation slipping and climb during creep deformation. In terms of values of the stress exponent and apparent activation energy gained from systematic creep tests, the mechanism responsible for creep deformation of the Mg-Nd alloys is inferred as dislocation climb, which is supported by TEM observations performed on the Mg-2Nd alloy after creep test. For the Mg-4Al based alloys, however, microstructural observations reveal that the significant improvement on creep properties caused by Sr addition is accounted for the formation of an interphase network consisting of Al4Sr and a Mg-Al-Sr ternary compound distributing at grain boundaries. The breakage of the interphase network after extrusion results in a sharp drop of creep properties, indicating the creep deformation of the alloy is controlled mainly by grain boundary sliding, which is in contradiction to the mechanism for creep of the alloys inferred by the classical criterions based on the values of stress exponent and apparent activation energy.

Abstract: Additions of grain refiners based on Ca, Ca/Si, Al3Ti and Al4C3 to pure magnesium and AZ31 alloy result in remarkable microstructure refinement. With proper amount of these refiners addition, the grain size in as-cast ingots is one order of magnitude lower than that without refiner addition. Small amount of refiner addition to alloy AZ31 increases both ultimate and yield strength significantly, and the ductility of the alloy is similar to that without refiner addition. Additions of refiner improve the deformation formability of the AZ31 alloy.The extruded and hot rolled specimens (rods or sheets) with refiner addition are crack free and exhibit higher surface quality and mechanical properties than that without refiner addition.