Papers by Keyword: Segregation

Abstract: Through a series of homogenization and extrusion experiments, the extrusion efficacy of 5056 seamless tubes is improved. Although better extrusion practice was apparent with better homogenization parameters for 5056 alloy, a little over-burning structure and phenomena were found on and in the surface and segregation zone of homogenized billet. The extrudability is worse than theoretical level with no aluminum and magnesium oxide particles on the billet surface. Additional, another quality problem in this study is the segregation zone in 5056 larger billets. The over-heat structure was smoothly flowed into the seamless tube by indirect extrusion, and that makes surface bubbles.

Abstract: The present paper deals with the influence of the duration of isothermal spheroidization annealing on the evolution of pearlite bands in various initial states. In this study, two initial conditions of the steel 16MnCrS5 are considered: a) industrially hot-rolled pearlite structures in their ferritic matrix and b) a specifically adjusted microstructure in the lab condition. Based on the experimental investigations and quantitative microstructural analyses, an empirical model for the prediction of pearlite banding within a broad range of annealing durations could be derived. Both, experiment and model, agree that pronounced pearlite bands in the initial state almost disappear after 25 h of spheroidization annealing. On the other hand, a marginal degree of pearlite banding in the initial state increases slightly during annealing. This fact could be explained by inhomogeneous cementite formation inside and outside the primary segregation regions of manganese.

Abstract: Controlling the morphology of the microstructure of the slurry is important during semi-solid die casting. For this project, semi-solid slugs were produced using the SEED (Swirled Enthalpy Equilibrium Device) process, where a fully liquid metal is poured into a steel crucible and cooled into the semi-solid temperature range, and the crucible and slurry are then swirled and cooled to the appropriate temperature (and solid fraction) for semi-solid casting. The pouring temperature of the melt into the crucible during SEED processing has been shown to influence the morphology and size of the aluminum solid particles within the slurry, which can influence the distribution and segregation of the solid particles during die casting. In this study, a specially-designed die with a serpentine-shaped flow channel has been used to study the distribution of the solid particles during semi-solid die casting. The experimental results show that a dendritic structure is formed when the liquid is poured from a high temperature, while a globular semi-solid morphology is more easily formed when poured from a low superheat. The current results also show that a dendritic structure leads to severe segregation during die casting.

Abstract: The present study focuses on characterizing cracks and fracture that appeared during solidification in the segregated zones of the as-cast structure of a large size ingot made of high strength low alloy steel. Solidification experiment was conducted, using Gleeble^® 3800 thermo-mechanical simulator, on samples taken from the ingot/hot top interface of a 40 MT (Metric Ton) ingot. The thermal cycle consisted in heating from ambient temperature to 1385 °C with a constant heating rate of 2 °C/s followed by a free cooling. Optical and scanning electronic microscopies were used to analyze and quantify the cracked regions. Microstructural observations revealed that shrinkage during rapid solidification of melted grain boundaries ultimately led to the initiation and propagation of cracks.

Abstract: Titanium aluminides based on the L1₀ ordered g-phase are promising structural light-weight materials for applications in aircraft engines. Typical compositions for γ-TiAl alloys lie in the range Ti-(44-48)Al (at.-%). For high creep resistance, a two-phase microstructure based on lamellar (α₂+γ)-colonies is desirable that may be tuned towards better ductility by introducing pure γ-grains (near lamellar or duplex microstructure).γ-TiAl alloys are often alloyed with niobium for increased oxidation resistance and improved mechanical properties. HEXRD and TEM studies of the alloy Ti-42Al-8.5Nb revealed that the orthorhombic O-phase forms during annealing at 500-650°C. This orthorhombic phase has been known in Nb-rich, Al-lean, α₂-based Ti-aluminides since the late 1980ies (Nb> 12.5 at.-%, Al< 31 at.-%) but the finding in γ-based alloys is new.TEM imaging showed that the O-phase is located within α₂ lamellae of lamellar (α₂+γ)-colonies. O-phase domains and α₂ phase form small columnar crystallites based in the α₂/γ interface. The columnar crystallites grow parallel to the [0001] direction of the α₂ phase and appear as facets when observed along this direction. The evolution of domains and facets with annealing time and the chemical homogeneity of the phases are investigated.The results of STEM imaging show that O-phase domains form during annealing at 550 °C for 8hours or 168 hours. After 168 hours of annealing Nb segregations are observed by EDX mapping within O-phase domains. In comparison, no segregation of niobium is detected after 8 hours of annealing.

Abstract: In this paper, the effect of Al content on the recrystallization behavior and mechanical properties of Pb-Al alloys were studied. The segregation behavior of Al in Pb-Al alloy was investigated. Moreover, the microstructures and precipitates of the alloys were also studied. The results show that the addition of Al can affect the recrystallization behavior of lead and improve its tensile strength. The recrystallization grains are effectively refined with the addition of 0.05%Al and the tensile strength increases obviously. However, the Al-rich phase grows significantly and its refinement effect is reduced with further increasing the Al content, thus, the tensile strength decreases. The mechanical stirring can effectively decrease the segregation degree of Al in Pb-Al alloys, but the yield of Al reduces. After the mechanical stirring, the sizes of Al phases decrease and theirs distribution is more uniform.

Abstract: In material science, there is an increased demand for mapping of microstructural components and their composition. EPMA (Electron Probe Micro Analysis) with WDS (Wavelength Dispersive Spectrometry) is known as having high spectral resolution and sensitivity, but in practice considered to be slow in mapping applications. The present work describes a development of EPMA including design of both instrumental hardware and software related to electronics and calibration.

Abstract: The paper reports the findings on the effect of various casting methods on the quality and development of primary dendritic structure in large-sized forging ingots of steel 38ХН3МФА. One ingot was teemed as per a conventional teeming method while the other was teemed with an inoculated metal stream. It was established that the dendritic parameter value in the inoculated ingot is much smaller than that in the conventional ingot. Consequently, the solidification process occurs at a higher rate in the inoculated ingot compared with that in the conventional ingot, and this assumption is supported by a more homogeneous dendritic structure. It is demonstrated that disperse inoculants positively affect the structure, physical and chemical homogeneity as well as the mechanical properties of cast metal. This finding is clearly supported by the examination of the forgings made of the conventionally teemed ingot and the one teemed with an inoculated stream. When inoculants were introduced in the metal stream, total chemical heterogeneity increased on the average by 1.2-2 times. It is established that the best results for the inoculation casting method are achieved when 2.4-2.6% inoculants are introduced in the stream. Such quantity of inoculants forms at a distance of 5 meters between the guiding pipe and the hot top.

Abstract: The paper contains a thermal performance calculation which proves that the basic items of heat loss include heat losses spent heating the hot top casing and lining. If thermal insulation is used, losses through the metal mirror do not exceed 3.5%. It is shown that in order to improve hot top efficiency it is required to minimize losses spent on heating the lining and the hot top casing; consequently, the amount of the heat transferred to the solidifying ingot can be increased. The assessment of the performance of the hot top with various heat insulators proves that the most efficient one is the untapered (straight) hot top insulated with the MKPB-340 inserts: in this case the quantity of heat transferred to the chill amounts to 70% of the overall value. An alteration of the hot top insulation type and geometry makes it possible to improve hot top thermal performance. As a result, the heat center of the solidifying ingot shifts to the hot top. Consequently, the shrinkage of solidifying steel is efficiently compensated, which decreases the physical and chemical heterogeneity of the billets produced and improves the ingot-to-product yield.

Abstract: Spouted bed simulations are usually performed using only one granular phase with a mean particle diameter representing the entire particle mixture, instead of a particle size distribution. In this study, the effect of the particle size distribution is accounted through the simulation of a mixture with five granular phases. The results showed that the particle segregation occurs. Larger particles are more concentrated in the upper region, while the smaller particles are preferably positioned in the lower region of the bed. Computational simulation using CFD method reproduced well the segregation experiments with different participle sizes of sand.