Papers by Keyword: S Phase

Abstract: The response of microstructure in high strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu aluminum alloy 7055 to Graff Sargent etchant was investigated. It was found that grain boundaries and subgrain boundaries were easily corroded due to presence of η phase, and grain boundaries were corroded more rapidly than subgrain boundaries. The grain structure could be revealed quite clearly after immersion for about 15s. S (Al₂CuMg) and Al₇Cu₂Fe phase were quite stable during immersion if the time was not very long. A dealloying for Al/Mg in the S and Al₇Cu₂Fe phase was found after long time immersion. Prolonged immersion resulted in serious corrosion of subgrain boundaries, consequently separation of fine subgrains.

Abstract: A precipitation hardenable Al-Cu-Mg alloy was cryorolled with liquid nitrogen followed solution treatment and then aged at 170 ̊C for different time. The microstructure was characterized by optical microscopy (OM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Hardness and tensile strength were also tested. The dislocation loops in the cryorolled alloy are more than the room temperature rolled alloy. Meanwhile the hardness, yield strength and tensile strength are larger than the room temperature rolled alloy.

Abstract: In this paper it is investigated the ageing dynamics of Al-4.2Cu-1.5Mg alloy aged at 170°C for different time. Vickers hardness and transmission electron microscopy were employed to test the hardness and microstructures of the aged alloy. It was found that there are two peaks in the curve. The first peak is attributed to the cluster hardening and the second peak is ascribed to the contribution of GPB zones.

Abstract: The precipitates of bending-age-formed ternary Al-4.31Cu-1.51Mg alloy were studied with load of 6.05 kg aged at 190°C. Transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction has been used to observe the microstructures of the bend-age-formed alloy. The results show that there is no preferential alignment of S phase or GPB zones in the alloys with load compared with that without load. It is interesting to find that the length of S phase is shorter in age-formed sample than that without load. Dislocations generated after loaded can provide enough nucleation sites for the nucleation and growth of S phase.

Abstract: The effect of a modified layer caused by pre-deforming on the low temperature plasma nitriding of AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel was investigated. The aim of using the deformed layer is to produce a thicker nitrided layer and to decrease the nitriding temperature due to the much faster diffusion of nitrogen. The pre-deformed sample was prepared by the rolling in 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4% ratios. Plasma nitriding was carried out at 673 and 723 K for 18 ks under 600 Pa pressures in presence of N2/H2 in 50:50 ratio. The microhardness, thickness and phase composition of nitrided layers formed on the surface of pre-deformed and non-deformed samples were investigated using Vickers microhardness tester, optical microscope and X-ray diffraction techniques, respectively. After nitriding, maximum hardness ~1150 HV was achieved on the pre-deformed sample. XRD pattern showed that most dominant phase of the nitrided layer consisted of the expanded austenite (S phase). In addition, the pre-deforming by rolling had a significant influence on the hardness and thickness of the S phase. That is, the hardness and thickness of the S phase were increased by applying the pre-deformation.

Abstract: An expanded austenite layer is formed on the surfaces of austenitic stainless steels that are nitrided under low-temperature plasma. This S phase is an iron alloy metastable phase supersaturated with nitrogen. We have identified a similar expanded ferrite or ferritic S phase for nitrided ferritic (BCC) stainless steels. Samples of austenitic AISI 304L and AISI 316L and ferritic AISI 409L stainless steels were plasma-nitrided at 350, 400, 450 and 500°C, and the structural and corrosion characteristics of the modified layers were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electrochemical tests. For the austenitic AISI 304L stainless steel, the results showed that a hard S phase layer was formed on the surface, without corrosion resistance degradation, by using low plasma temperatures (350 and 400°C). A similar behavior was observed for the austenitic AISI 316L stainless steel: the modified layers formed at 350 and 400°C were constituted mainly by the S phase. Plasma-nitriding treatment of the ferritic AISI 409L stainless steel caused the formation of a layer having high amount of nitrogen. XRD measurements indicated high strain states for the modified layers formed on the three stainless steels, being more pronounced for the ferritic S phase.

Abstract: Surface layer hardness and concentration profiles of austenitic stainless steels after plasma carburizing and /or nitriding at 673 K were investigated. Carbon and nitrogen concentration were measured by glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GDOES) and carbides or nitrides were detected by x-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and TEM. The state of carbon at the treated surface was investigated by Raman spectroscopy. Separation of carburized layer and nitrided layer was observed in a simultaneous carburizing and nitriding plasma treatment.