Papers by Author: Keiichiro Oh-ishi

Abstract: Friction stir processing (FSP) has been employed for localized modification and control of microstructures in NiAl bronze materials, which are widely utilized for marine components. The thermomechanical cycle of FSP results in homogenization and refinement and the conversion of microstructures from a cast to a wrought condition within stir zones in the material. However, the direct measurement of stir zone temperatures, strains, strain rates and cooling rates is difficult due to steep gradients and transients in these quantities, and this is an impediment in the assessment of FSP-induced microstructures and properties. Quantitative microstructure analyses following FSP of cast NiAl bronze materials have been used to develop estimates of stir zone thermomechanical cycles. The estimation procedures will be reviewed and the microstructure-based estimates will be compared to results from computational models and embedded thermocouples measurements. Stir zone microstructures comprise a mixture of primary α grains and transformation products of the β that formed during processing. Recrystallization in the primary α occurred due to particle-stimulated nucleation in this low stacking fault energy material. Factors that influence the distribution of strength and ductility in the stir zone appear to include the mixture of microstructure constituents and gradients in microstructure due to gradients in processing conditions.

Abstract: Friction stir processing (FSP) is a severe plastic deformation (SPD) method that has been applied to as-cast NiAl bronze (NAB) materials, which are widely used for marine components. The thermomechanical cycle of FSP results in homogenization and refinement, and the selective conversion of microstructures from a cast to a wrought condition. The physical metallurgy of NAB is complex and interpretation of the effects of FSP on microstructure has required detailed analysis by optical and electron microscopy methods. Annealing and isothermal hot rolling have been employed to confirm microstructure-based estimates of stir-zone peak temperatures. The variation of mechanical properties was assessed by use of miniature tensile samples and correlated with microstructure for samples from stir zones of single and multi-pass FSP. Exceptional improvement in strength – ductility combinations may be achieved by FSP of NAB materials.

Abstract: This paper describes experiments in which high purity copper single crystals of two different orientations were processed for one pass by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) and the deformed structures were examined using optical microscopy (OM), orientation imaging microscopy (OIM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The first single crystal (0° specimen) was oriented within the entrance channel of the die so that the {111} slip plane and the <110> slip direction were parallel to the theoretical shear plane and shear direction, respectively. The second crystal (20° specimen) was oriented with the {111} slip plane and the <110> slip direction rotated by 20° in a clockwise sense from the theoretical shear plane and shear direction, respectively. For the 0° specimen, after passing through the shear plane there were two crystallographic orientations representing the initial orientation and an orientation rotated by 60° in a counter-clockwise sense from the initial orientation. For the 20° specimen, there was an orientation rotated by 20° in a counter-clockwise sense from the initial orientation after passing through the shear plane.

Abstract: The influence of strain path during equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) has been evaluated in pure aluminum by orientation imaging microscopy (OIM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The material was examined after four pressing operations by route BC in a 90° die, or eight pressing operations by route BC in a 135° die. The von Mises equivalent strains were essentially the same for these two ECAP procedures. The microtexture data indicate that the distortion during ECAP corresponds to a simple shear in a direction approximately parallel to diechannel exit and on a plane perpendicular to the flow plane. For both procedures the OIM data reveal prominent meso-scale band-like features. Lattice orientations in each band correspond to a texture orientation but the particular combinations of orientations depend upon ECAP die angle. High-angle boundaries in the structure correspond to interfaces between the bands.

Abstract: In this study, severe plastic straining through equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) is imposed on age-hardenable Al-Mg-Si alloys having two different compositions of excess Si or Mg in the Al-Mg2Si pusedo-binary system. Thereafter, the alloys are subjected to aging and the microstructures are examined using transmission electron microscopy. It is shown that the precipitation behavior is significantly changed through application of ECAP.