Papers by Author: Hiroyuki Y. Yasuda

Abstract: Selective laser melting (SLM) can produce Ni-based superalloys with a unique hierarchical structure consisting of micrometer-scale crystallographic lamellar microstructure and nanometer-scale cellular structure under optimized process parameters. This work investigated the effects of input energy density on the morphology of the cells and its influence on the tensile properties of Ni-based superalloy prepared by SLM. We found that the cell spacing decreases with decreasing input energy density. Further investigation of the cells clarified that the boundary of cells is a low angle grain boundary with dislocation cell wall and segregation of certain elements such as Nb and Ti. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the boundary of cells performs as a significant barrier to the griding dislocation. Thus, the cell boundary leads to strong strengthening through the Hall-Petch law.

Abstract: In Cr-rich CoCrFeMnNi alloys, the precipitation of the σ phase at grain boundaries during recrystallization is so fast that ultrafine-grained structure is formed due to the pinning effect of the precipitates. The average grain size of the fcc parent phase is found to be consistent with modified Zener-Smith model. If conventional alloys come to equilibrium, volume fraction of precipitates should approach a saturation value. However, it is interesting to note that the volume fraction of the σ phase in Cr-rich CoCrFeMnNi alloys is inversely proportional to the average grain size of the fcc parent phase. For instance, in Co₂₀Cr₂₅Fe₂₀Ni₁₅Mn₂₀ alloys, the volume fraction changes from 6.5% to 1.2% with increasing average gran size from 14 μm to 210 μm even after annealing at 1273 K for 100 h. It is well known that heterogeneous nucleation of precipitates at grain boundary is energetically favorable and fast diffusion through grain boundary can assist the precipitation. However, they cannot account for the grain size dependence of the volume fraction after reaching equilibrium. Based on stereology, the reciprocal of grain size is proportional to grain boundary area. Thus, chemical fluctuation at grain boundaries (e.g. segregation) is considered to be related to the unusual precipitation at the grain boundaries.

Abstract: In Al_xCoCrFeNi high entropy alloys (x = 0.3–0.5), the NiAl phase with the B2 structure is precipitated rapidly along the fcc grain boundaries. During recrystallization after conventional cold rolling, the NiAl precipitates effectively suppress the grain growth, which results in the ultrafine-grained microstructure. It should be noted that no severe plastic deformation is necessary to obtain the microstructure. The volume fraction of the NiAl precipitates increases with increasing x. As a result, the average grain size of the fcc matrix (d_m) after the recrystallization decreases with increasing x, and therefore, a minimum d_m of 0.5 μm can be obtained at x = 0.5. The grain refinement by the NiAl precipitates is consistent with the Zener-Smith model. At x = 0.5, the alloy with d_m = 0.5 μm exhibits a yield stress of 1163 MPa and an elongation of 24% at room temperature.

Abstract: Ni-Cr binary alloys containing high amount of Cr demonstrate gamma/alpha-Cr lamellar structure by discontinuous precipitation (DP) reaction from grain boundary. The mechanism of DP reaction is caused by supersaturated Cr in the gamma phase. Supersaturated Cr concentration influences the driving force for the DP reaction and the lamellar spacing. Moreover, the Ni-based alloys with high Cr, containing Al, significantly increase the hardness and strength due to the very narrow lamellar structure. Al addition brings on Ni consumption in the matrix by precipitation of the gamma prime phase. Therefore, Cr supersaturates dramatically in the matrix. The wrought Ni-Cr-Al alloy, Ni-38Cr-3.8Al (mass%) , reaches extremely high tensile strength, which is over 2 GPa, after annealing treatment. Even though chemical composition of Ni-38Cr-3.8Al is simple, the microstructure is complex because it consists of the gamma/alpha Cr lamellar structure with the fine gamma prime particles. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the influence of Cr concentration on the cellular precipitation behaviour. In order to understand the influence of Cr concentration, Ni-34, 36 and 38Cr-3.8Al alloys were prepared. Forged bars were subjected to solution treatment in the gamma single phase region. Subsequently, the alloys were aged from 873K to 1073 K for various times. The cellular precipitation reaction is suppressed by a decrease in Cr concentration, particularly at low temperature annealing treatment condition. The hardness is low in lower Cr concentration alloys in all range of annealing treatment temperature. These results indicate that Cr concentration remarkably affects the driving force for the DP reaction.

Abstract: The effect of a unique layered microstructure consisting of duplex-like region and equiaxed γ grains (γ bands) on the fatigue properties of Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy bars fabricated by electron beam melting (EBM) at an angle (θ) of 90° between the building direction and cylinder (loading) axis was investigated focusing on the layered microstructure and test temperature. We found the room temperature (RT) fatigue strength of the alloy bars fabricated at θ = 90° is higher than that of the bars fabricated at θ = 0°. Moreover, it is comparable to that of the cast alloys with hot isostatic pressing (HIP) treatment in low-cycle fatigue life region, even without HIP treatment. The high fatigue strength of the bars at RT is attributed to the γ band, which acts as a resistance for crack propagation directed perpendicular to the γ band. On the other hand, the fatigue strength of the bars at θ = 90° is lower than that of the bars at θ = 0° in low-cycle fatigue life region at 1023 K. This is because the γ bands dose not act as a resistance for crack propagation at 1023 K. Although the bars at θ = 90° exhibits low fatigue strength in the region at 1023 K, that value is comparable to that of HIP-treated cast alloys due to the fine grain size, which is one of the features for the alloys fabricated by the EBM.

Abstract: In the present study, effects of heat treatment on microstructures and tensile properties of the cylindrical bars of Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb (at.%) alloy with unique layered microstructure consisting of equiaxed γ grains region (γ band) and duplex-like region fabricated by electron beam melting (EBM) were investigated. We found that it is possible to control width of the γ bands (W_γ) by heat treatments at 1100°C and 1190°C. The W_γ increases with decreasing heat treatment temperature. The bars heat-treated at 1190°C exhibit high elongation of 2.9% at room temperature (RT) with maintaining high strength. The RT elongation increases with increasing the W_γ because of increasing deformable regions. In contrast, the RT elongation of the bars decreases with increasing the W_γ when W_γ is very large. This is because the large γ band leads intergranular fracture. These results indicate that there is appropriate width for the γ band to obtain excellent tensile properties at RT.

Abstract: Fe-20Al-5Ti (at.%) single crystals composed of the bcc Fe-Al matrix and the Fe₂AlTi precipitates with the L2₁ structure was examined. In the single crystals furnace-cooled (FC) from 1373 K to room temperature, coarse Fe₂AlTi phase about 300 nm in diameter were precipitated in the bcc matrix. A misfit strain and a dissolution temperature of the L2₁ precipitates are +0.59% and 1151 K, respectively. The single crystals exhibited high yield stress above 600 MPa up to 973 K while further increase in temperature resulted in a decrease in yield stress due to the dissolution of the precipitates. In the FC crystals, 1/2<111> dislocations in the bcc matrix bypassed the coarse L2₁ precipitates due to their large misfit strain, resulting in high strength. In contrast, the fine L2₁ precipitates about 30 nm in diameter were observed in the crystals after solutionization and annealing at 873 K. The crystals with the fine L2₁ precipitates demonstrated high yield stress above 1100 MPa at and below 773 K. Uncoupled or paired 1/2<111> dislocations cut the fine L2₁ precipitates, leaving an anti-phase boundary (APB) inside the precipitates. The APB inside the precipitates was considered to be responsible for strong precipitation hardening.

Abstract: In this study, to clarify the effects of Mo addition on deformation behavior of Ti-Mn alloys, the mechanical properties and the deformation structures of the alloys were investigated using Ti-Mn and Ti-Mn-Mo alloys polycrystals and single crystals. We found that the elongation of Ti-Mn alloys are improved from approximately 5% to 30% by Mo addition, with maintaining ultimate tensile strength of 900 MPa. The excellent strength-ductility balance of Ti-Mn-Mo alloys is caused by {332}<113> twinning, which is unique twinning for metastable β-type titanium alloys. Additionally, the deformation behavior of Ti-Mn and Ti-Mn-Mo alloys was investigated in detail by using single crystals focusing on a critical resolved shear stress (CRSS). As a result, we found for the first time that CRSS for {332}<113> twinning in Ti-Mn-Mo alloy was lower than that in Ti-Mn alloy. Moreover, in Ti-Mn-Mo alloy, CRSS for {332}<113> twinning was lower than that for {112}<111> slip. These results suggest that CRSS for {332}<113> twinning in Ti-Mn alloys is decreased by Mo addition.

Abstract: Deformation behavior of Fe-15Al-18Co-3Ti (at.%) single crystals containing the Co₂AlTi precipitates was examined. In the single crystals furnace-cooled (FC) from 1373 K to room temperature, coarse Co₂AlTi phase with the L2₁ structure was precipitated in the bcc matrix. The L2₁ phase showed a cuboidal shape with a misfit strain of 0.59%. It is also noted that large amount of Fe substituted for Co in the Co₂AlTi precipitates. The FC single crystals exhibited high yield stress above 600 MPa up to 823 K while further increase in temperature resulted in a decrease in yield stress. In the FC crystals, 1/2<111> dislocations in the bcc matrix bypassed the coarse L2₁ precipitates due to their large misfit strain, resulting in high strength. In contrast, the fine L2₁ precipitates about 30 nm in diameter were observed in the crystals after solutionization and annealing at 823 K. The crystals with the fine L2₁ precipitates demonstrated high yield stress above 1400 MPa at room temperature. Paired 1/2<111> dislocations cut the fine L2₁ precipitates, which led to high strength. The dependence of the yield stress on the precipitate size was also discussed.

Abstract: The effect of the CoAl precipitates on the deformation behavior of Fe-15.0Al-15.0Co (at.%) single crystals was examined. The spherical CoAl phase with the B2 structure was precipitated in the single crystals and was stable below 974 K. The bcc matrix and CoAl phase satisfied the cube-on-cube orientation relationship with a misfit strain of 0.25%. The single crystals showed a high yield stress up to 923 K while the stress dropped at 1023 K due to the dissolution of the CoAl phase into the matrix. Moreover, the activated sip system of the crystals containing the CoAl precipitates depended strongly on loading axis. At <149> orientation, {101} <111> slip favorable for the bcc matrix and the CoAl precipitates were sheared by a pair of 1/2<111> dislocations without forming Orowan loops. The CoAl single phase was known to hardly deform by <111> slip which resulted in high strength at <149> orientation. In contrast, {010} <001> or {hk0} <001> slip favorable for the CoAl precipitates was activated at <011> orientation, although the volume fraction of the CoAl phase was very small. <001> slip was generally impossible to take place in the bcc matrix, leading to the extreme hardening. Therefore, the difference in primary slip system between the bcc matrix and CoAl precipitates was responsible for the significant precipitation hardening.