Papers by Keyword: Twin

Abstract: In this study, to investigate effects of yttrium and other elements for non-basal slips, magnesium alloy single crystals were stretched parallel to basal plane in various temperatures, and polycrystalline magnesium alloys were also tested to estimate contribution of non-basal slips to their tensile deformation behaviour. In pure magnesium single crystals, second order pyramidal (c+a) slip (SPCS) was observed at 298K. Above room temperature, first order pyramidal (c+a) slip (FPCS) was active. In the Mg - (0.6-0.9) Y alloy single crystals, FPCS was observed at 77K to 298K, while yield stress of the Mg-Y alloy single crystals was higher than that of pure magnesium. In tensile test of polycrystalline specimen, slips lines of non-basal slip systems such as SPCS, FPCS and prismatic slip were observed even at yielding in addition to basal slip lines. Among the non-basal slips, activities of FPCS and prismatic slips were increased with increasing strain in Mg - Y alloy polycrystals. Our study suggested that active non-basal slip system in tension parallel to basal plane is (c+a) pyramidal slip and enhanced ductility of magnesium - yttrium alloy would be caused from increased activity of FPCS by yttrium addition.

Abstract: Manganese-rich austenitic twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steels with high strength and superior ductility have received much attention in the past two decades. Tremendous efforts have been made to explore their unusual hardening behaviour which includes contributions from twins, dislocations, grain boundaries and solid solution. Nevertheless, the individual hardening effects of twins, dislocations, grain boundaries and solid solution on the high strength of TWIP steels are still unclear. In the present work, the flow stress of a TWIP steel was experimentally decomposed into the respective contributions of twins, dislocations, grain boundaries and solid solution. For the forest hardening, synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiments with line profile analysis were carried out to measure the dislocation density. It is found that the yield stress of the present TWIP steel is controlled by solid solution and grain boundary hardening, which contribute to 238.3 and 238.5 MPa, respectively. After yielding, the work-hardening rate is dominated by dislocation multiplication which accounts for up to 922 MPa at a true strain of 0.4, equal to about 60% of the flow stress. In comparison, twins contribute to only 118 MPa at the same true strain, equal to about 8% of the flow stress. In other words, twins have minor effect on the flow stress, in contrast to the current understandings in the literature.

Abstract: Semi-solid injection molding (Thixomolding) is a molding method for magnesium alloys. Our team has been investigating the forging of thixomolded magnesium body in order to improve its mechanical properties so that the thixomolded magnesium parts expand the application in transportation industry. Thixomolded magnesium alloy can include coarse alpha phase grain when the alloy is molded below liquidus temperature. Although it is expected that the mechanical properties of a forged thixomolded magnesium alloy are affected by the existence of the coarse alpha grains, its microstructure evolution during forging process has not been clarified yet. We studied the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behavior of a thixmolded magnesium alloy using a cylinder compression test and microstructure observation. The microstructure observation showed that DRX occurred at the grain boundary and within the alpha phase. The Electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) data showed that DRX is caused not only by diffusion but also by twinning in the alpha phase.

Abstract: The details of the lamellar microstructure in TiAl intermetallic alloys, such as the lath thickness and interfaces type governs the strength, ductility, creep properties and the long term microstructure stability of the alloy. The lamellar microstructure coarsening may induce property degradation of materials when the working temperature is high especially for the aero-engine turbine blades. At the same time, the reliability of the structure will decreases dramatically during long term working. In order to customize highly stable microstructure in high temperature, the phenomenon of lamellar formation during the solid-solid α→α₂+γ phase transformation in fully lamellar TiAl alloys was investigated by phase field simulations. The lamellar structure morphology obtained with simulation is coincides with the experimental results. It is found that the independent nuclei and twin-related nuclei co-exist in the nucleation stage for the random noise nucleation. During growth stage, the independent nuclei grow slowly or disappear for the interfacial energy and elastic energy minimization. While most twin-related nuclei survived. During the following coarsening stage, big nuclei swallow small nuclei for interfacial energy minimization. The statistical character of twin area fraction changes complicated during these processes and it will be analyzed in detail. These findings could shed light on the understanding of the lamellar formation and coarsening mechanisms during phase transformation in TiAl alloys.

Abstract: This work was performed on 3C-SiC layers grown on 4H-SiC substrates by chemical vapour deposition after a surface pre-treatment using GeH₄ gas. By means of TEM, the effects of different GeH₄ fluxes in the 3C layer quality has been studied and compared. An optimal GeH₄ flux permits to drastically reduce twin boundaries but another type of defect occurs and has been widely studied in this paper.

Abstract: An actual case of PTH fracture after soldering process was studied. By means of cross section analysis using metallography microscope and SEM, together with thermal analysis results, root cause of PTH fracture was concluded that a high density of twin copper weakened the mechanical strength so seriously that PTHs could not undergo thermal stress from soldering process, and higher CTE was attributed to an accelerative factor. Moreover, it is recommended to enhance current density properly and make sure the effectiveness of electroplating additives to prevent twin copper by theoretical analysis.

Abstract: The aim of this study is to discuss an effect of stress ratio and loading mode on high cycle fatigue performances of extruded magnesium alloys. Axial loading fatigue tests under three conditions of stress ratio, R, of 0, -1 and-1.5, and also rotating bending fatigue tests have been performed in laboratory air at room temperature using hourglass shaped specimens of AZ31, AZ61, AZ80 and T5-treated AZ80 alloy. From the experimental results, some materials showed a specific stepwise S-N curve on which two knees appear. The shape of S-N diagram depended on a kind of tested materials, applied stress ratio and loading mode. It was suggested from the detail observation of fracture surface that fatigue crack initiation mechanism changed from a twin-induced failure mode at high stress amplitude level to a slip-induced one at low stress amplitude level. This transition was determined with the relation between the minimum stress during a fatigue cycle and the compressive yield stress at which deformation twin occurs.

Abstract: Hydrogen distributions of TC4 electron beam welded joints with different hydrogen contents were measured by hydrogen oxygen analyzer. Microstructures of electron beam welded joints for TC4 titanium alloy with different hydrogen contents were observed and analyzed by optical microscope and TEM. And the influence of hydrogen on microstructure of the joints was investigated. The results show that the hydrogen content of weld HAZ is higher than other zones in the electron beam welded joints, while the hydrogen content of fusion zone is lower than other zones in the electron beam welded joints. The microstructure of the weld metal is fine lamellar α + β phase after hydrogen charging. In the range of hydrogen contents discussed in this study (from 0 to 0.101 wt. %), with the increase of hydrogen content, there is little change in the appearance of the microstructure of the weld metal. There are stacking fault and dislocation in the microstructure of TC4 electron beam welded joints with different hydrogen contents after hydrogen charging. The presence of hydrogen can promote the formation of twins in electron beam welded joints. With the increase of hydrogen content, the number of twins is increased.

Abstract: To improve our understanding of the mechanisms of gold deposition, a comparison was made of the microstructures of a natural gold sample with a synthetic gold foil of similar alloy composition (approximately Au 90%, Ag 10%). The aim was to identify any similarities between the samples that could help increase our knowledge of how the natural gold microstructures formed and were modified post-mineralisation. The samples were analysed using electron backscatter diffraction to map their microstructure, with the synthetic gold foil then heated to and mapped at 400°C, 500°C, 600°C and 700°C. Both the natural and synthetic sample exhibited a dominance of ∑3 twin boundaries, but these were much less abundant in the synthetic sample prior to heating. The natural sample is dominated by coarse grains exhibiting lattice distortion and low angle grain boundaries, which more closely resemble the synthetic gold foil microstructure after recrystallisation has taken place, than the initial microstructure, implying that the grains have had time to grow. Performing experiments such as these allows direct comparison of gold microstructures where the formation conditions are known and the controlling mechanisms can be determined. This will improve our understanding of the important mechanisms behind gold deposition.

Abstract: Abstract. With the advance of electron diffraction techniques in individual orientation analysis, traditional crystallographic characterization methods could be simplified, thus offering chances to develop some new approaches. In recent years, our group has devoted to working on possible extensions of the SEM and TEM based techniques for crystallographic analyses on a microstructure- and orientation-specific level. Several methods are illustrated in this paper, including the determination of dislocation type and Burgers vector without recourse to the traditional g.b invisibility condition, the identification of twinning mode and complete twinning elements for any crystal symmetry that requires minimum initial data input, and the characterization of specific interface plane or slip plane using only one sample observation plane instead of two perpendicular sample planes. These new extensions of characterization methods have proven to facilitate the related microstructural examinations.