Papers by Author: Yves Bréchet

Abstract: The Fe-Si-Ti system is known to show nanoscale precipitation of the Fe₂SiTi Heusler phase with potentially high volume fraction (~4%), very high density and a size ranging from 1 to 20nm after artificial aging. The strong hardening potential of these precipitates make these steels candidates for automotive applications; however no understanding of the precipitation sequence (competition with other phases) nor the precipitation kinetics are available. The present study presents a quantitative study of the precipitation kinetics (size, volume fraction and number density) in a wide temperature range (450-800°C), realised by coupling systematically Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS), Transmission Electron microscopy (TEM) and Tomographic Atom Probe (TAP). Tensile tests were also carried out so as to determine the microstructure/properties relationships. Along the complete temperature range, it is shown that a compromise between time for precipitation and small precipitate sizes can be reached around 550°C. At this intermediate temperature, precipitation is shown to occur in two steps, linked with a second nucleation process after nucleation & growth of the first family of Fe₂SiTi has been completed. This second precipitation step results in a temporary decrease in precipitate size and an increase in hardness. The nature of these precipitates is discussed in view of the TEM and TAP observations.

Abstract: Ferrite growth behavior in Fe-C-Mn alloys has been studied using controlled decarburization experiments. Two types of kinetic transition are considered. A first transition is proposed which involves a change from ParaEquibrium (PE) contact conditions at short times to Local-Equilibrium with Negligible Partitioning at longer times (LENP). This transition is attributed to the gradual build up of an alloying element spike due to the diffusion of Mn across the interface. The cross-interface mobility of Mn is estimated based on the experimental results. In some alloys, we observe a transition to extended PE states at high temperatures. A simple model which quantitatively describes the experimental observations over a range of composition and temperature is proposed. A key feature of this model is the introduction of an alloying element capacity of the moving ferrite/austenite interface, X*. The introduction of this quantity is purely guided by the experimental data and, at present, there is no physically based method for calculating it.

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: Interlocked materials are new examples of “hybrid materials”, mixing materials and structures at a millimetric scale. They consist of periodic assemblies of elementary blocks with specific shapes, maintained in contact by compressive boundary conditions. These “pre-fragmented materials” can simultaneously fulfil antagonistic properties such as high strength together with good damage tolerance. We performed indentation tests on two different structures: (i) an assembly of osteomorphic ice blocks and (ii) an assembly of plaster made cubes. The tests being performed up to the failure, it is found that these structures dissipate much more mechanical energy than similar monolithic plates and preserve their integrity up to much larger deformation. A numerical modelling is then developed in order to reproduce this behaviour. Using finite elements, we simulated the friction contact between two elastic cubes or blocks, for a given lateral load and friction coefficient. The outputs are then introduced as local contact rules in a “Discrete Elements code” specially developed for this study. The discrete code is then used to model the elastic and damage behaviour of assemblies of cubes or osteomorphic blocks. The comparison with experimental results is satisfactory. Finally, the code is used to model larger assemblies of interlocked structures for which the force path is analysed.

Abstract: Entangled materials are similar to cellular materials, with regard to their low density and discrete architecture. In this work steel wool (sintered in a furnace for various time at two temperatures) and non sintered steel wool are investigated. Experimental mechanical compression tests were performed on both materials. Compression stress and Young’s modulus are extracted and compared with the time and temperature of sintering, and initial density. The results are analyzed using a classical Toll’s model. A special attention is paid to the value of the exponent which relates stress and Young’s modulus to density. This exponent ranges from 3 to 5 for non sintered wool, and is close to 3 for the stress law and 4 for the Young’s modulus law for sintered wool.

Abstract: Softening kinetics of two 17% chromium (Cr) stainless steel grades that differ in niobium (Nb) content are compared. In the experiments, we observed that a low Nb stabilization makes recrystallization nucleation much faster and prevents incomplete recrystallization. A qualitative interpretation, based on interaction with precipitates, is proposed and explains the main features of the softening kinetics as well as the microstructures obtained. For the Nb stabilized grade, magnetic losses were measured in the deformed state and after recrystallization. Above a specific magnetizing frequency, the deformed state led to smaller losses than the recrystallized state. These results are believed to be attributed to a grain size effect.

Abstract: The comparative effectiveness of solute Nb and NbC particles at impeding grain boundary motion is treated theoretically. It is shown that, for a steel containing ~0.05 at% Nb (~0.1 wt%Nb), under typical recrystallization conditions, solute Nb is more effective in the ferrite, whereas in the austenite, depending on the exact recrystallization temperature, either solute Nb or NbC precipitates may be more effective.

Abstract: The effect of low temperature recovery treatments on the recrystallization kinetics during subsequent high temperature annealing was investigated in three Al-2.5%Mg alloys with various Fe additions. Recovery treatments were carried out at 190oC for times ranging from 0.25 to 65 hrs. Recrystallization treatments were carried out at 280oC. The kinetics of recrystallization was followed using the techniques of hardness measurement, optical metallography and calorimetry.

Abstract: This paper presents a detailed study of the microstructure and mechanical properties of AA7449 alloy during the two step heat treatment leading to the industrial T7651 temper. It is first shown that reproducing the heat treatment without a deformation step as used in the T7651 industrial temper leads to 2-fold decrease of the precipitation kinetics due to the absence of dislocations, while the resulting mechanical properties (if this change in kinetics is accounted for) are very similar. The work hardening rate is shown to strongly evolve during the heat treatment, and this evolution has been correlated to the evolution of microstructure using a Kocks-Mecking-Estrin analysis. Finally, an analysis in terms of activation volume of the strain rate sensitivity allows for the determination of the dislocation / precipitate interaction in the overaged temper.

Abstract: The kinetics and morphology of the grain boundary grooving of Zn bicrystals with 16° <1010> tilt GB by Sn(Zn) melt has been studied at 325°C in equilibrium conditions in vacuum. It is shown that grooving process is interface controlled at least on the first stage. Groove walls mobility is evaluated. Changing of GB grove shape from “faceted walls” corner for annealing time < 78 h to concave “Mullins type” groove for annealing time > 78 h at the same experimental temperature was observed for the first time.