Papers by Keyword: In Situ SEM

Abstract: The effect of recrystallization on the low cycle fatigue life of DZ4 directionally solidified superalloy was investigated for specimens with three different recrystallized layers, which were generated by shot peening (0.1MPa, 0.3MPa and 0.5MPa respectively) and a subsequent annealing heat treatment. The fatigue life showed a decrease for recrystallized specimens with shot-peening of 0.1 MPa and 0.3 MPa, and an unusual increase for that of 0.5MPa, in comparison with the original DZ4 specimen. In-situ SEM observations were performed on the short crack growth behaviors for both original and recrystallized specimens, which revealed the fracture mechanism and the interaction with microstructure. Quantitative analysis of fatigue crack growth rates rationalized the influence of recrystallization on the low-cycle fatigue life of DZ4.

Abstract: Unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced resin matrix composite (CFRP) with different fibre volume fraction are stretched dynamically under static load in SEM, initiation and propagation mechanism of crack is in-situ observed, and tensile fracture of specimens is also observed. The results show that: Microscopic cracks are mainly originated from fracture of fibre, numerous fibre cracks transfixion each other in form of matrix or interface cracking, and cause failure of CFRP. Microscopic crack propagation path is related to the thickness of matrix layer between fibres. Propagation of single fibre crack at interface accord with description of microscopic crack deflection criterion for fibre reinforced composite, but the crack deflection criterion cannot descript microscopic crack propagation mechanism of unidirectional CFRP effectively, because distribution discreteness of fibre and its strength are not considered.

Abstract: A novel high temperature heating method in combination with automated EBSD-data acquisition is presented. A commercially available infrared laser is utilized to heat samples up to a temperature of about 1000°C in high vacuum in a SEM while acquiring EBSD-data of the microstructure. First results on the γ-α-γ phase transformation between 840°C and 865°C in a microalloyed ferritic low carbon steel is presented.

Abstract: Grain growth may occur in two forms, normal grain growth, characterized by a constant grain size distribution during growth, and abnormal grain growth, where one or more abnormally large grains may form in the microstructure. The presence of abnormally large grains in an otherwise uniform microstructure may be detrimental to the mechanical properties of a polycrystalline structure. Little is understood of the exact cause of abnormal grain growth. The annealing conditions leading to the onset of abnormal grain growth have been investigated via a series of grain growth experiments carried out on an Al-4wt%Cu alloy. The structure of which consisted of equiaxed grains (<8μ) pinned by a fine dispersion of sub-micron second phase particles, which may dissolve upon annealing. Minority texture components may experience accelerated growth due to a higher energy and mobility compared to the surrounding grain structure. The combination of these two events may result in the abnormal growth of some grains. SEM imaging and EBSD data has then made it possible to characterize the influence of particle dissolution and grain boundary misorientation on the onset of abnormal grain growth. The stability of ‘island grains’ found to exist internally in abnormally large grains has also been investigated in relation to the misorientation relationship and localized second phase volume fraction found there. There was only weak evidence of special misorientation relationships between the island grains and the abnormally large grains in which they exist, and although there was evidence of an enhanced fraction of pinning particles at island grain boundaries, this was also true of boundaries in general. The larger size of island grains is their dominant characteristic, and grains which become island grains may have been incipient abnormal grains.

Abstract: In-situ observation by scanning electron microscope of the microstructure evolution near the cathode depletion region and the quantitative analysis on the number of hillock phases in the eutectic SnPb edge drift structure made it clear that the dominant migrating element and dominant hillock phase were Sn and Pb, respectively, under 50 oC while both dominant migrating element and dominant hillock phase were Pb above 100 oC. Such temperature-dependence of the dominant hillock phases in the eutectic SnPb solder can be understood by considering the atomic size factors of the metallic solid solutions.