Papers by Keyword: Discontinuous Precipitation

Abstract: Ni-Cr binary alloys containing high amount of Cr demonstrate gamma/alpha-Cr lamellar structure by discontinuous precipitation (DP) reaction from grain boundary. The mechanism of DP reaction is caused by supersaturated Cr in the gamma phase. Supersaturated Cr concentration influences the driving force for the DP reaction and the lamellar spacing. Moreover, the Ni-based alloys with high Cr, containing Al, significantly increase the hardness and strength due to the very narrow lamellar structure. Al addition brings on Ni consumption in the matrix by precipitation of the gamma prime phase. Therefore, Cr supersaturates dramatically in the matrix. The wrought Ni-Cr-Al alloy, Ni-38Cr-3.8Al (mass%) , reaches extremely high tensile strength, which is over 2 GPa, after annealing treatment. Even though chemical composition of Ni-38Cr-3.8Al is simple, the microstructure is complex because it consists of the gamma/alpha Cr lamellar structure with the fine gamma prime particles. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the influence of Cr concentration on the cellular precipitation behaviour. In order to understand the influence of Cr concentration, Ni-34, 36 and 38Cr-3.8Al alloys were prepared. Forged bars were subjected to solution treatment in the gamma single phase region. Subsequently, the alloys were aged from 873K to 1073 K for various times. The cellular precipitation reaction is suppressed by a decrease in Cr concentration, particularly at low temperature annealing treatment condition. The hardness is low in lower Cr concentration alloys in all range of annealing treatment temperature. These results indicate that Cr concentration remarkably affects the driving force for the DP reaction.

Abstract: Overall kinetics of lamellar overaging reactions in U-5.5Nb and U-7.5Nb were analyzed by Avrami-Arrhenius analyses of volume fractions measured from an extensive temperature-time (T-t) matrix of specimens. The cellular initiation site (grain boundaries, inclusions) and regimes of lamellar divergency-cum-slowing growth rate were explicitly accounted for. Avrami exponents n from T-t regimes of constant-growth rate were consistent with theory (1<n<3); those from divergent T-t regimes were smaller, n~0.7, which is not surprising given their different growth rate behavior. The apparent activation energies Q were similar for grain-boundary and inclusion-nucleated discontinuous precipitation, indicating that their nucleation site does not alter their overall kinetics. Avrami Analysis of Isothermal Aging Kinetics

Abstract: Impact of a constant magnetic field on decomposition of supersaturated solid solution is investigated for the system Cu-Be-Ni. A technical bronze Cu-1.9Be-0.3Ni (in wt.%) was water-quenched after holding at 800°C (0.5 h) and subsequently heat treated at 325°C, 350°C and 400°C for 1 hour without and with application of a constant magnetic field of 0.7 T. The annealing in magnetic field is found to influence significantly the precipitation characteristics in diamagnetic Cu-based alloy, especially at 325°C. The nucleation barriers for discontinuous precipitation at grain boundaries are decreased, while the growth rates seem to be decreased, too, in magnetic field. A possible mechanism of the magnetic effect on discontinuous precipitation in the Cu-based is discussed.

Abstract: When an alloy component is selectively oxidised but cannot reach the surface quickly enough to form a scale, then internal oxidation results. In this process, a gas phase oxidant dissolves in an alloy and diffuses inwards, reacting with a dilute solute metal to precipitate metal oxide or carbide, etc. Penetration kinetics are parabolic, the rate being controlled by oxidant diffusion and the concentration of reacting metal. Rates are predicted from classical oxidation theory on the basis that the reaction product is exceedingly stable, no solute metal remains in the reacted alloy, and oxidant diffusion is via a solvent metal matrix. This paper is concerned with situations where these approximations fail: the development of low stability precipitates and the growth of elongated precipitates which allow interfacial diffusion of the oxidant. Effects on the rates of internal oxidation are discussed.

Abstract: Discontinuous precipitation is a solid-state transformation involving the decomposition of a supersaturated matrix into two phases arranged periodically as alternate lamellae or rods, which is accompanied by a grain boundary migration. The rate-limiting step of this process is supposed to be boundary diffusion of solute along grain boundaries. However, volume diffusion is generally present as well, and its influence on the occurrence of the discontinuous precipitation reaction is at present not well understood. We investigate this problem using a phase-field model in which the bulk diffusivity, surface diffusivity and grain boundary mobility can all be varied independently. The main results are that (i) when volume diffusion is the dominant mechanism, a close analogy is observed between the precipitate growth and the growth of a crystalline finger in a channel, and (ii) both the geometry of the precipitate’s tip and the growth velocity are strongly influenced by the relative magnitudes of the bulk and surface diffusivities as well as by the grain boundary mobility. Steady-state growth is possible only for a finite range of precipitate spacings, which is limited for low spacings by a fold singularity and for large spacings by an oscillatory or a tip-splitting instability. The values of these limits are found to depend on the supersaturation as well as on the ratio of bulk and surface diffusivities.

Abstract: Discontinuous precipitation (DP) and discontinuous coarsening (DC) reactions have been observed in numerous alloy systems [1]. DP has been observed in the U-Nb system [2, 3, 4, 5]. The U-Nb phase diagram (Fig. 1) exhibits a continuous γ-BCC solid solution at high temperatures and a two-phase mixture of a-orthorhombic and γ-BCC below the 647°C monotectoid isotherm. The DP reaction occurs during continuous cooling and isothermal aging over 300-647°C. No metallographic evidence of a DC reaction in U-Nb has been published, although this is suggested from x-ray observations of distinct changes in the Nb content of the γ phase upon prolonged holding after the DP reaction [2, 3, 6]. This study will provide direct evidence for a DC reaction. Discontinuous and other aging reactions [7] are undesirable in U-Nb alloys, since they degrade corrosion resistance [5], ductility [8], and the shape-memory effect [9]. Hence, an improved understanding of the kinetics of these discontinuous phase transformations in U-Nb alloys is of practical interest.

Abstract: Dual-phase lamellar precipitates can be easily occurred in the austenitic steel valve in heat treatment and use. They affect seriously the performance of the valve at high-temperature, which is one important reason leading to valve failure. The morphology and precipitation location of lamellar precipitates of the 5Cr21Mn9Ni4N (21-4N) exhaust valve were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, and the influencing factors and precipitating mechanisms were analyzed. Experimental results show that, the lamellar precipitation is very sensitive to using or aging temperature, the higher temperature the more precipitates. The lamellar precipitation consists of continuous and discontinuous precipitation. The latter mainly appeared at the locations with larger deformation. Slip bands and deformation twins at high-temperature deformation and grain boundaries are important locations for precipitation.

Abstract: Magnesium alloys have received considerable attention because of their lightweight and recyclability. AM-type and AZ-type Mg-Al alloys have been used for industrial products widely, particularly for AM-type alloys because of the better toughness and impact absorption properties than AZ-type alloys. However, there is little report about the effect of casting method on age-hardening behavior and microstructure of AM-type alloys. The purpose of this study is to investigate the difference of the age-hardening behavior and microstructures of three AM-type alloys cast with steel, copper and sand molds using hardness test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation. Furthermore, the effect of Al content is also investigated in this study using three alloys of AM30 (3%Al), AM60 (6%Al) and AM90 (9%Al).

Abstract: Internal friction (IF) and dynamic modulus measurements on a high nitrogen (0.8 wt%) austenitic steel in the temperature range from room temperature to 800 °C have been carried out by using a vibrating reed technique with electrostatic excitation and frequency modulation detection of flexural vibrations in the frequency range of kHz. The IF spectrum of the as-prepared material shows a broad peak superimposed to an exponentially increasing background. The discontinuous precipitation of Cr2N phase changes the characteristics of the peak. The results have been discussed by considering interstitial-substitutional (i-s) interactions.

Abstract: A model of discontinuous precipitation in binary polycrystalline alloys at low temperatures is presented. The proposed approach allows independent determination of the main parameters, including the interlamellar distance, the maximum velocity of the phase transformation front, and the concentration step at this boundary. This is achieved by using a set of equations for: 1) the mass transfer in the moving interphase boundary; 2) the balance of the entropy fluxes at the phase transformation front, and 3) the maximum rate of the free energy release under constraint of entropy balance. Concepts of mobility and linear interrelation between the driving force and velocity are not used explicitly. Comparison of the model calculation with the experimental results for the Pb-Sn system at different supersaturations is provided.