Papers by Author: Y. Lu

Abstract: Ni3Al shows the unique feature of increasing strength with increasing temperature. However, it is too brittle to use as a structural material due to grain boundary weakness. Ductility could be enhanced by controlling grains using directional solidification. In order to increase the ductility or strength of Ni3Al alloys, a ductile γ (Ni-rich) phase of dendrite fibers or a strong β (NiAl) phase of dendrite fibers were arrayed in the γ´ (Ni3Al) matrix by directional solidification. The dendrite spacing could be controlled by varying the solidification rates, and the volume fraction of the γ or β phase could be changed by using alloy compositions, from 23 to 27 at. % Al-Ni alloy. With increasing solidification rates, the dendrite spacing decreased, which caused the tensile strength to be enhanced and the elongation to decrease, evidently due to the phase boundary augmentation. With increasing Al content, the γ dendritic microstructure changed to β dendrites in the γ´ matrix, which resulted in a decrease in elongation as a result of an increase in the volume fraction of the brittle β dendrites in the γ´ matrix.

Abstract: Homogeneous Cop/Cu coating alloys were fabricated by laser cladding rapid solidification technique and their microstructures were investigated, with the emphasis on the influence of processing on microstructure. The experimental results showed that a Cop/Cu composite coating can be successfully in situ synthesized when the processing conditions were controlled. The as-solidified microstructures were characterized by a homogeneous distribution of small spherical Co-rich particles dispersed in the Cu-rich matrix. The Cop/Cu coating was consisted of γ-Co, Cu-rich solution and et al. With the increasing of line energy, the spherical particles diameter in coating was increasing. The structural evolution and refining mechanism of the Cop/Cu coating were also discussed.

Abstract: Directional or single crystal technique was applied to enhance the ductility, and two phases of γ (Ni) phase or β (NiAl) phase in γ‘(Ni3Al) matrix were also considered to increase the strength and ductility. In this study, directionally solidified rods were prepared at the solidification rate of 50µm/s in 23-27 at.% Al-Ni alloys, and tensile strengths of these rods were analyzed at room temperature. Directionally solidified samples showed the γ dendrite fibers formed in the Ni3Al matrix in the hypo eutectic composition of 23 at.% Al, the γ‘ single phase in the eutectic composition of 24.5 at. % Al, and the β dendrite fibers in the γ‘ matrix in the hyper eutectic compositions of 25, 26, 27 at.% Al. The hypoeutectic alloy including γ dendrites with γ‘ matrix exhibited a large elongation of over 70% with ductile transgranular fracture at room temperature. With increasing Al contents, the γ dendritic microstructure changed to the β dendrite in the γ‘ matrix, which resulted in decreasing the elongation by increasing the volume fraction of the brittle β dendrites in the ductile γ’ matrix.

Abstract: Ni3Al has been considerable research area due to its high temperature behavior increasing strength with increasing temperature. A series of directional solidification studies showed that the eutectic occurred between g’/b and the metastable eutectic of g/b forms under slightly different conditions, however, it is not well established whether the eutectic is composed of g/g‘, g’/b, or g/b . In order to understand solidification behavior of the eutectic structure, directional solidification experiments have been carried out with solidification rate near the Ni3Al composition in this study. The effects of the solidification rate and composition on formation of the equilibrium and metastable eutectics have been discussed. The (g’+g) coupled phase was also shown to form with the eutectic at the solid/liquid interface.