Papers by Author: Rinat K. Islamgaliev

Abstract: Precipitation effects in age-hardenable Mg-13wt.%Tb alloy were investigated in this work. The solution treated alloy was subjected to isochronal annealing and decomposition of the supersaturated solid solution was investigated by positron annihilation spectroscopy combined with transmission electron microscopy, electrical resistometry, differential scanning calorimetry and microhardness measurements. Peak hardening was observed at 200°C due to precipitation of finely dispersed particles of β phase with the D0₁₉ structure. Vacancy-like defects associated with β phase particles were detected by positron annihilation. At higher temperatures precipitation of β and subsequently β phase takes place. Formation of these phases lead to some additional hardening and introduces open volume defects at precipitate/matrix interfaces. To elucidate the effect of plastic deformation on the precipitation sequence we studied also a Mg-13wt.%Tb alloy with ultra fine grained structure prepared by high pressure torsion. In the ultra fine grained alloy precipitation of the β phase occurs at lower temperature compared to the coarse grained material and the peak hardening is shifted to a lower temperature as well. This effect can be explained by enhanced diffusivity of Mg and Tb atoms due to a dense network of grain boundaries and high density of dislocations introduced by severe plastic deformation. Moreover, dislocations and grain boundaries serve also as nucleation sites for precipitates. Hence, precipitation effects are accelerated in the alloy subjected to severe plastic deformation.

Abstract: Copper based materials are still the most attractive low resistivity materials for microelectronics and electrotechnics applications, though, all variants developed to combine strength and conductivity, such as solid solutions and composites, suffer from decay in electric conductivity while strength is increased . In a addition, linear decay was also conjectured for pure copper when grain size is refined below the UFG and nanostructured domains (except when grain boundaries are pure twins). Copper alloys with low content of silver and chromium were prepared by high pressure torsion (HPT) with various annealing conditions. Vickers hardness and electric resistivity in the temperature range of 4K-340K, were measured as well as microstructural characterizations were performed using quantitative X-ray diffraction. Depending on the annealing conditions the alloys exhibit from 25% to 75% of IACS electric conductivity at room temperature and hardness in the range of 200 Hv. Origins of both high strength and high electric conductivity were investigated from microstructures analysis, using transmission electron microscopy and mechanical testing.

Abstract: The paper reports on microstructure, strength and fatigue of ultrafine-grained (UFG) samples of the Al-Cu-Mg-Si aluminum alloy processed by high pressure torsion (HPT) at various temperatures. Application of the HPT treatment led to strong grain refinement, as well as to a raise of the mean-root square strains and dynamic precipitation. In case of optimal HPT treatment the UFG samples have demonstrated the enhanced thermal stability, an increase in ultimate tensile strength in 2.5 times and enhancement in fatigue endurance limit by 20 % in comparison with coarse-grained alloy subjected to standard treatment. It is shown that the regime of the HPT treatment governs the volume fraction of precipitates and segregations, thereby affecting a grain size and thermal stability of ultrafine-grained structure.

Abstract: Microstructure of ultra fine grained (UFG) Mg-Gd alloy prepared by high-pressure torsion (HPT) was investigated in the present work. Lattice defects introduced by HPT were characterized at first. Subsequently thermal stability of UFG structure and its development with annealing temperature were studied and correlated with changes of hardness and ductility. Precipitation effects in the alloy with UFG structure were compared with those in a conventional coarse-grained alloy. Defect studies were performed by positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS), which represents well established non-destructive technique with a high sensitivity to open volume lattice defects like vacancies, dislocations, misfit defects etc. PAS investigations were combined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Changes of mechanical properties were monitored by Vicker’s microhardness (HV) and deformation tensile tests. It was found that HPT deformed Mg-Gd alloy exhibits UFG structure with mean grain size of 100 nm and a dense network of dislocations distributed uniformly throughout the whole sample. Although recovery of dislocations takes place at relatively low temperatures, it is not accompanied by grain growth and the mean grain size remains around 100 nm up to 300oC. Tensile tests performed at elevated temperatures to examine ductility showed that HPT-deformed alloy exhibits a superplastic behavior at 400oC. Moreover, it was found that the precipitation sequence in HPT-deformed alloy differs from that in conventional coarse-grained material.

Abstract: This paper reports on the microstructures and fatigue properties of ultrafine-grained (UFG) AM60 magnesium alloy processed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) at various temperatures. After ECAP processing, samples exhibited an increase in fatigue endurance limit, which correlates well with a decrease in grain size. In case of lowest ECAP temperature, the mean grain size is as small as 1 2m which leads to an increase in fatigue endurance limit by 70 % in comparison to coarse-grained alloy. The temperature of ECAP not only governs the grain size and misorientation angles of grain boundaries but also the volume fraction of precipitates, thus affecting the probability of twinning and grain growth after fatigue treatment.

Abstract: Mg-Tb-Nd ternary alloy represents a novel hardenable Mg-based alloy with enhanced strength and favorable creep properties. In the present work we studied microstructure of ultra fine grained (UFG) Mg-Tb-Nd alloy prepared by high pressure torsion (HPT). Lattice defects introduced into the specimen by the severe plastic deformation play a key role in physical properties of UFG specimens. It is known that positron lifetime (PL) spectroscopy is highly sensitive to open volume defects (like vacancies, dislocations, etc.). Therefore, PL spectroscopy is an ideal tool for defect characterizations in the HPT deformed specimens. In the present work we combined PL studies with transmission electron microscopy and microhardness measurements. After detailed characterization of the as-deformed structure, the specimens were step-by-step isochronally annealed and we investigated the development of microstructure with increasing temperature.

Abstract: Microstructure and mechanical properties of the ultrafine-grained (UFG) 1421 aluminum alloy processed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) have been studied. This UFG material was successfully rolled under the conditions of superplasticity. It was established that the rolled material exhibited not only the enhanced superplasticity, but also high strength retaining initial ductility at room temperature after additional short-term annealing and low-temperature aging.

Abstract: Precipitation effects in ultra fine grained (UFG) lightweight Mg-based alloys were studied in the present work by means of positron lifetime spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and microhardness. The UFG samples with grain size around 100 nm were fabricated by high pressure torsion (HPT). The UFG structure contains a significant volume fraction of grain boundaries and exhibits a high number of lattice defects (mainly dislocations) introduced by severe plastic deformation during the HPT processing. A high dislocation density and volume fraction of grain boundaries enhance the long range diffusion of solute elements. Moreover, dislocations and grain boundaries act as nucleation centers for precipitates. As a consequence, the precipitation effects are facilitated in the UFG alloys compared to the conventional coarse-grained samples. This phenomenon was examined in this work by comparison of the precipitation sequence in Mg alloys with UFG structure and solution treated coarse-grained alloys.

Abstract: The ultrafine-grained (UFG) 1421 aluminum alloy processed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) has demonstrated enhanced superplasticity at low temperature and high strain rates. This UFG material was successfully rolled at temperatures of 330-370oC retaining small grain size and equiaxed grain structure. The microstructure of the UFG alloy subjected to warm rolling (WR) was studied, and the mechanical properties of the ECAP+WR samples with UFG structures were investigated. We have found that the rolled material exhibited not only the enhanced superplasticity, but also high strength at room temperature.

Abstract: The influence of the equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) temperature (150-350oC) on microstructure of the AM60 magnesium alloy has been investigated using transmission electron microscopy. It was demonstrated that application of various ECAP regimes leads to significant difference in a grain size and volume fraction of precipitates in investigated material. Thermal stability of precipitates and correlation between microstructure and tensile strength are discussed.