Papers by Author: Wacław Pachla

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the homogeneity of the bulk nanocrystalline titanium rods obtained by Hydrostatic Extrusion (HE). The investigated material was commercially pure titanium grade 2. The final products of extrusion were nanocrystalline rods with diameters of 7 and 10 mm and lengths of about 250 mm. The size and shape of the grains were examined on transverse sections using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The grain size was determined by the average grain equivalent diameter d2. The grain size diversity was quantified in terms of the equivalent diameter coefficient of variation CV (d2). The samples for the microscopic analyses were cut from various regions of the rods i.e. top, end, centre, and from surface of the rods. In all the samples, the average grain size determined on transverse sections was about 70 nm and the nano-grains in the various regions of the rods were similar in the shape. The examinations demonstrated that the nanostructure of the extruded rods was homogeneous. This observation was confirmed by the results of microhardness measurements.

Abstract: CEC has unique characteristic. These are applicability of very large strain and deformation under high hydrostatic pressure. Due to these abilities of CEC, several unique phenomena have been observed. One of them is the possibility of consolidation of metallic powders in room temperature to the form of bulk material. In the present paper the consolidation of AgSnBi and AgNi to bulk composites was presented. Applying the deformation of  = 0.42 in the single cycle of CEC, under high hydrostatic pressure, the samples without pores and discontinuities were fabricated. The microstructure observations were performed by optical microscopy (MO), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). They show refinement of microstructure at all levels of observation. The nanometric-size subgrains/grains were found inside consolidated granules. The microhardness level of AgSnBi in average achieved level 110 μHV100, and AgNi of about 90 μHV100. The AgSnBi samples consolidated by CEC and additional hydrostatically extruded to wires with 3 mm in diameter average showed 500 MPa yield point.

Abstract: Titanium was subjected to hydrostatic extrusion, a method of producing Severe Plastic Deformation (SPD). The experiments were aimed at refining the microstructure of the titanium in order to improve some of its mechanical properties. The effect of the initial state of titanium on the process of extrusion process and the final product was investigated. The results of these investigations are used to establish the optimum conditions for the hydrostatic extrusion process and more easily selecting the initial condition of the material according to the intended application of the extruded product.

Abstract: The corrosion behaviour of 316LVM in NaCl solution steel has been investigated. Large scale polarization measurements and etching tests in V2A solution showed that the hydrostatically extruded (HE) 316LVM steel had a lower corrosion resistance than specimens in the as received condition. Small area measurements were carried out in order to determine the sites that were responsible for the decreased corrosion resistance of the HE 316LVM steel. Tests on cross sections parallel to the HE direction, showed better corrosion resistance than on cross sections perpendicular to the HE direction. These observations indicate, in combination with SEM and AFM measurements, that the inclusions which were deformed during HE, can trigger the onset of corrosion on HE 316LVM steel.

Abstract: Hydrostatic extrusion can be viewed as one of the methods of Severe Plastic Deformation, SPD, for the fabrication of ultra-fine grained alloys which causes a significant increase in the mechanical properties such as tensile strength and hardness. In the present study the microstructure of 6082 aluminium alloy after hydrostatic extrusion was investigated. Hydroextrusion was performed in three steps with accumulated true strains of 1.34, 2.73 and 3.74 respectively. Microstructural observations were carried out using SEM, TEM and light microscopy. Grain and inclusion sizes, shapes and distribution were investigated in the HE processed samples. The study has shown that the hydrostatic extrusion process results in a profound refinement of both the grain size and the inclusions in 6082 aluminium alloy.

Abstract: High strain rates have a similar influence to large deformations on the refinement of microstructure. In both cases, at large strains and high deformation rates, a strong tendency to form microbands is observed. It was found, that the width of the microbands is very sensitive to changes of the deformation parameters. It has been observed particularly, that in severely deformed materials, the width of the microbands is reduced to nanometric dimensions. Hydrostatic extrusion, which has been used in for the deformation of copper in the current work, strain rates exceeding 2 1 3.84 10 − ⋅ ε = × s were employed. In all the samples investigated, numerous microbands were found in the microstructure. The width of microbands varied from 20 to about 400 nm. Thus, the width of some of the microbands exhibited dimensions typical of nanometric materials. Additionally, a special feature was the appearance of large areas of subgrains with an average dimension of about 200 nm. These areas were identified as recrystallized dynamically, or post-dynamically. Large misorientations were found between the microbands and the surrounding “matrix’. Such misorientation facilitates the formation of high angle boundaries, which in turn contribute to the changes of microstructure and mechanical properties. The mechanism for the creation of high misorientation in the microband areas is probably different from that operating during the process of dynamic recrystalization. The results confirm the possibility of obtaining a nanometric structure at lower deformation, but at higher strain rates.

Abstract: The material examined was commercially pure titanium with intermetallic Ti-Al layers produced by magnetron sputtering followed by glow discharge assisted treatment. This material was subjected to hydrostatic extrusion at room temperature. This resulted in substantial grain size refinement in the titanium accompanied by significant property improvement. The intermetallic Ti- Al layers reduced the pressure required during hydroextrusion and also increased the microhardness and frictional wear resistance of the material.

Abstract: The paper presents the results of investigations into the mechanical properties and tribological characteristics of 316 LVM processed by hydrostatic extrusion (HE). The mechanical properties were characterized by microhardness measurements and compression tests. The wear properties were investigated using a pin-on-disc tribometer under dry and lubricated conditions. The friction coefficient was measured as a function of the time of the wear test. The results indicate that the hydrostatic extrusion process significantly improves the mechanical properties and the wear resistance of 316 LVM stainless steel. The results are discussed in terms of the microstructural changes induced during processing by hydrostatic extrusion.

Abstract: An ultra-fine grained microstructure was obtained in high purity nickel by a combination of (a) equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) and (b) hydrostatic extrusion (HE) with a cumulative true strain of ~11.2. The resulting microstructure was examined by light and TEM microscopy. Mechanical properties have been measured by tensile and hardness tests. It was found that HE of ECAP-ed samples leads to a significant grain size refinement (from 330 to 160nm) and to an increase in microstructural homogeneity. SPD nickel, made by a combination of the ECAP and hydrostatic extrusion methods, has high strength and ductility (i.e.: YS=1120MPa and εf = 11%). The microstructure transformation was accompanied by a strength increase of 78% compared to ECAP alone. The results obtained fit well with the Hall-Petch relationship. A combination of ECAP and HE has achieved much better properties than either single process and show it to be a promising procedure for manufacturing bulk UFG nickel.