Papers by Keyword: Cooling Rate

Abstract: The carbon vacancy (V_C) is the major charge carrier lifetime limiting-defect in 4H-SiC epitaxial layers and it is readily formed during elevated heat treatments. Here we describe two ways for controlling the V_C concentration in 4H-SiC epi-layer using different annealing procedures. One set of samples was subjected to high temperature processing at 1950 °C for 3 min, but then different cooling rates were applied. A significant reduction of the V_C concentration was demonstrated by the slow cooling rate. In addition, elimination of the V_C’s was also established by annealing a sample, containing high V_C concentration, at 1500 °C for a sufficiently long time. Both procedures clearly demonstrate the need for maintaining thermodynamic equilibrium during cooling.

Abstract: The influences of spinning deformation and heat treatment on microstructure and tensile properties of A356 alloy at different cooling rates were investigated in this study by optical and scanning electron microscopes. The results indicated that spinning deformation enhanced the tensile properties of the alloy due to the reduction of Si size and porosity percentage, especially in the samples with coarse microstructure. Heat treatment increased the strength while decreased the ductility of the alloy because of the precipitation of brittle Mg₂Si in Al matrix. It is suggested that the spinning deformation processing is an effective technique to produce A356 alloy wheels with high mechanical properties.

Abstract: Morphology evolution of eutectic Si in Ce-rich mischmetal (RE) modified Al-10wt.%Si alloy at different cooling rates was investigated. The morphology of eutectic Si and modification mechanism of RE was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the RE modified eutectic Si exhibited a plate-like morphology under the low cooling rate (~100K/s). When cooling rate increased to ~600K/s, some branches were observed on the eutectic Si. In the RE modified alloy with a higher cooling rate (~1000K/s), the number of the branches on RE modified eutectic Si increased, and the morphology of eutectic S was modified to coral-like structure. The addition of Sr caused a flake-to-fiber modification of eutectic Si at low cooling rate, and the fiber size decreased with cooling rate increasing. The morphological observations indicated that the morphology of eutectic Si in RE modified alloy was significantly influenced by the cooling rate, while the modification efficiency of RE was lower than that of Sr.

Abstract: Due to its high silicon content, Fe-6.5wt%Si alloy has low iron loss and its magnetostriction is almost zero. And therefore Fe-6.5wt%Si alloy has good development prospect. However it has poor ambient temperature ductility and its cold rolling is very difficult. It’s important to study the effect of cooling rate on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Fe-6.5wt%Si alloy. In the present study the master alloy was melted and cooled through normalization, gas atomization, laser surface remelting and melt spinning. The microstructure, micro-hardness and X-ray diffraction were analyzed. The evolution of the microstructure at different cooling rate was summarized. The results indicated that under high cooling rate, the grain was obviously refined, and the microhardness decreased, but the change of phase was not obvious.

Abstract: Effect rules of cooling rate on phase transformation and microstructure of a α+β titanium alloy were studied by thermal dilatometer method. Specimens under different cooling rates from 0.05°C/s to 2.5°C/s were analyzed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical micrograph (OM) and Vickers micro-hardness. The results showed that the starting temperature of β to α phase transformation gradually decreased with the increase of cooling rate. The finishing temperature of β to α phase transformation firstly decreased and then increased with the increase of cooling rate. The typical lamellar structures were observed under the cooling rates from 0.05°C/s to 0.2°C/s. The layer thickness of α phase became thinner and the precipitation content of α phase reduced under the cooling rate of 0.5°C/s. The α phase was fine acicular and the precipitation content of α phase reduced obviously under the cooling rate of 2.5°C. The effect rule of cooling rate on micro-hardness was that the value of micro-hardness firstly decreased and then increased with the cooling rate increasing.

Abstract: The dependence of microstructure and mechanical properties of Sn-0.7wt.%Cu solder alloys on different cooling rates were investigated. Two cooling rates were employed during solidification: 0.04 °C/s (mold-cooled system) and 1.66 °C/s (water-cooled system). The results showed that the ultimate tensile strength of Sn-0.7wt.%Cu solder alloy increased but the elongation decreased when water-cooled system was used. The microstructure of Sn-0.7wt.%Cu solder alloys solidified by both cooling systems exhibited two phases of Sn-rich and Cu₆Sn₅ intermetallic compounds (IMC_s). However, finer grains were observed in the water-cooled specimens.

Abstract: In this research work, the effect of cooling rate on fatigue behaviour of eutectic A413 Al-Si cast alloy is investigated. Castings produced by two different cooling rates, water-cooled and air-cooled are studied. The structural morphology of alloy castings was characterized using Inverted Trinocular Metallurgical Optical Microscopy. A Comprehensive tension–tension fatigue test was carried out with a stress ratio of R=0.5, and a sinusoidal waveform under three different mean stress conditions (25%, 50% & 75% of UTS) at room temperature (32°C). The microstructural evaluations show that the eutectic script size is smaller for water-cooled casting than the air-cooled casting. It is also observed that the fatigue life of the water-cooled cast alloy is greater than that of cast alloy produced with conventional air-cooled method.

Abstract: The precipitation of primary Fe-rich intermetallics (sludge) in AlSi9Cu3(Fe) type alloys has been investigated for different Fe, Mn and Cr contents and cooling rates. Differential scanning calorimetry was used in order to assess the nucleation temperature and the enthalpy of sludge particles as well as to follow their evolution. The results show that the sludge nucleation temperature and the release of latent heat during sludge formation are functions of the initial concentrations of Fe, Mn and Cr in the molten alloy, i.e. the sludge factor, and the cooling rate. Being able to predict the temperature of sludge formation will support the foundries to set the right molten metal temperature in order to prevent sludge precipitation during the entire high-pressure die-casting process.

Abstract: For a number of methods used in the cooling heat treatment technique, are required quenching media with cooling rate lower than that of water and larger than that of oil. This can be achieved in industrial practice by using the synthetic quenching type media like gels or emulsions. The synthetic quenching coolants offer advantages such as non-flammability, safety of use and low cost price. The cooling medium to be tested is emulsifiable oil dissolved in water at various concentrations and the testing temperature is 50°C. In the paper were measured cooling curves for specified synthetic media and calculated for the same media the cooling rate variation and heat transfer coefficient on intervals. The experimental data were compared with those obtained from traditional media: water and heat treatment oil TT 50.

Abstract: This research was to determine the effect of Cerium and cooling rate on the microstructure of eutectic Al-11Si-Cu-Mg cast alloy. The Cerium was added to produce Al-11Si-Cu-Mg-1.5Ce alloys. The microstructure was characterized by optical microscope. The Si structure was modified with the increase of the cooling rate, where smaller area was achieved. Ce formed rich intermetallic phase, such as Al-Si-Ce.