Papers by Author: Kenji Matsuda

Abstract: Traditionally, Mg-Gd alloys have been strengthened by dispersed precipitates. Several reports are available about Sc addition to Mg alloys for improving a creep resistance. In this research, aging behavior of Mg-Gd, Mg-Sc and Mg-Gd-Sc alloys including the same amount of solute elements were investigated to understand the effect of Sc on microstructures and mechanical properties during aging. Hardness measurement revealed that Sc addition delayed to form precipitate. Close inspection of TEM micrographs, β” phase formed at an initial stage of aging and β’ phase was observed at a peak-aged stage in Mg-Gd and Mg-Gd-Sc alloys. In Mg-Sc alloy, there is no evidence of precipitate formation during aging at 473K.

Abstract: Cast iron is an iron alloy mainly composed of carbon and silicon, the amount of carbon is more than 2.1 mass%. Cast irons, gray cast iron and ductile cast iron, have been used as industrial parts and automobile parts widely because they have a good wear resistance and an excellent machinability. Graphite formation mechanism have been proposed, but, it is not established clearly yet. In this study, the microstructure of flake graphite was investigated to reveal the graphite formation mechanisms using FC250 alloy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) samples were prepared using focused ion beam (FIB). In the case of a cross section of flake graphite taken perpendicular to its elongated direction using TEM, internal microstructure of flake graphite was observed layered structure. In the case of a cross section of flake graphite taken parallel to its elongated direction, clear microstructure was not observed. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) from flake graphite showed <0001> direction of graphite are mostly parallel to their thickness.

Abstract: In this paper, comprehensive studies on the age-hardening behavior and precipitate microstructures of severely deformed and then artificially aged aluminum alloys have been conducted to clarify whether or not concurrent strengthening by ultrafine-grained and precipitation hardenings can be achieved. From our graphically-illustrated equivalent strain dependence of both the attained hardness and increment/decrement in hardness during aging (i.e. age-hardenability), three strategies to maximize the combined processing of severe plastic deformation and age-hardening technique are proposed. (1) Lowering of aging temperature and (2) utilization of microalloying elements can improve not only the attained hardness but also the age-hardenability of high-pressure torsion (HPT) specimens of Al-Mg-Si (-Cu) alloy due to the increased volume fraction of transgranular precipitates. A further increase in hardness can be achieved by (3) taking advantage of spinodal decomposition for HPTed Al-Li-Cu alloy, in which nanoscale precipitates of δ’ phase are successfully formed within ultrafine grains, irrespective of the higher number density of grain boundaries. The attained hardness of >HV290 in the latter alloy is almost the highest among conventional wrought aluminum alloys, and therefore our proposed strategies will be useful for designing concurrently strengthened severely-deformed age-hardenable aluminum alloys.

Abstract: In this study, the aging behaviour of several Al-Mg-Si alloys (Al-Mg-Si-Cu , Al-Mg-Si-Ag and Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Ag) has been investigated by hardness tests and TEM observations. Comparing the age-hardening rate in the early period of these alloys, the alloys with Cu or/and Ag addition are faster than that of the base alloy, and the aging time to reach the maximum hardness of the alloys with Cu or/and Ag addition is shorter than that of the base alloy.Therefore the aging behaviour of that alloys has been investigated by TEM observations to understand the effect of Cu, Ag and Cu+Ag additions on aging precipitation.

Abstract: The precipitation sequence in Al-Mg-Si alloy is generally accepted as supersaturated solid solution GP-zone β β β (Mg2Si). The effect of Ag or Cu in Al-Mg-Si alloy was reported in our previous work. There is little report about effect of Ag or Cu on the metastable phase and equilibrium phase in this alloy the system. Hexagonal plate like β-phase and Q-phase were observed the Cu added alloy. This hexagonal-shaped β-phase has unique orientation relationship to the Al matrix. This work was performed to compare the shape of effect of the additional elements on the equilibrium phase. The hexagonal shape precipitate was observed in Cu or Ag added alloys aged at 673K.

Abstract: It has been known that transition metals improve the mechanical property of Al-Mg-Si alloy. The thermo-mechanical treatment is also effective to improve the strength of Al-Mg-Si alloy. In this work, the aging behavior of deformed excess Mg-type Al-Mg-Si alloy including Ag and Cu was investigated by hardness test and TEM observation. The needle-shaped precipitates were aligned in the <001> directions of the matrix in Cu addition alloy at 473K for 3.84ks. The contrast of dislocation was observed in 10% rolled specimens, which increased with amount of deformation. The precipitates were observed on dislocations but not in the matrix for 0.24ks. The precipitates were observed in the matrix with increasing aging time.

Abstract: It is known that Al-Mg-Ge alloys show a similar precipitation sequence to that of Al-Mg-Si alloys, and that ther equilibrium phase is β-Mg₂Ge according to the phase diagram. In this study, the precipitation sequence and age-hardening behavior of Al-1.0mass%Mg₂Ge alloys has been investigated by hardness test, write out in full first time used TEM and HRTEM observations on.The hardness curves showed no big difference between peak values hardness for samples aged at 423, 473 and 523K. The precipitates in the peak-aged samples have been classified as some metastable phases, such as the β’-phase and parallelogram-type precipitates by HRTEM observation. The large precipitates are similar to the A-type precipitate in the Al-Mg-Si alloy with excess Si.

Abstract: Al-Zn-Mg alloy has been known as one of the aluminum alloys with the good age-hardening ability and the high strength among commercial aluminum alloys. The mechanical property of the limited ductility, however, is required to further improvement. In this work, three alloys, which were added Cu or Ag into the Al-Zn-Mg alloy, were prepared to compare the effect of the additional elements on the aging behavior. The content of Ag and Cu were 0.2at.% and the same as, respectively. Ag or Cu added alloy showed higher maximum hardness than base alloy. The particle shape and rod shape precipitates were observed in all alloys peak-aged at 423K. According to addition of Ag or Cu, the number density of the precipitates increased higher than that of base alloy.

Abstract: It is well know that the 7000 series Al-Zn-Mg alloy has good age hardening ability and high strength among commercial aluminum alloys. In this study, hardness measurement, tensile test, SEM and TEM observation have been performed in order to understand the effect of the Zn/Mg ratio on age hardening behaviour in Al-Zn-Mg alloys. It was seen from hardness measurement that the peak hardness increased with increasing amount of Zn and Mg. Tensile tests were performed for the samples of peak aged condition. It was seen that UTS increased with increasing amount of the Zn and Mg. The elongation decreased with increasing the amount of the Zn and Mg. Intregranular fracture was observed in alloys with low amount of Zn and Mg.Transgranular fracture was observed with high amount of Zn and Mg alloy. TEM observation was performed for peak aged samples. The size of precipitates became finer and the number density increased with increasing Zn and Mg contents.T’ Phase and h₁ phase were observed in low Zn/Mg alloy. The h’ phase was observed in high Zn/Mg alloy.

Abstract: Severe plastic deformation (SPD) techniques, such as equal channel angular pressing (ECAP), accumulative roll bonding (ARB) and high pressure torsion (HPT) have been extensively investigated to achieve. SPD techniques make use of plastic deformation process where no change in the cross-sectional dimension of a work piece occurs during straining. In this work, the effect of HPT on the aging behavior and microstructure in excess Mg-type Al-Mg-Si alloys including Cu are investigated. These alloys were investigated by hardness test and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation.The results show that processing by HPT leads to significant grain refinement with a grain size of 200-250nm.An age-hardening phenomenon is observed at 343K and 373K for the Al-Mg-Si alloys with HPT. Some precipitates were observed on grain boundaries.