Advanced Materials Research Vol. 409

Abstract: The application of hot deformation during Friction Stir Welding (FSW) gives rise to produce a weld nugget consisting usually of dynamically recrystallized grains whose size is substantially lower than that of the base material. In the present study, several specimens with different conditions were first prepared using 2024 and 5083 aluminum alloys, which were then welded with FSW method. The microstructures of weld nugget in both series of specimens were examined using optical and scanning electron microscopes. The specimen of 2024 with anneal (O) and artificial aging (T6) conditions, and type 5083 with anneal (O), 30% and 50% cold work conditions were friction stir welded. Grain size distribution, hardness and temperature profiles in the welded zones were determined in order to obtain the relationship between the grain structure and the hardness profile in these regions. In each alloy, the average grain size in the weld nuggets was identical. The hardness of nugget zones in each alloy was the same due to their similar microstructures. According to the results obtained in this investigation, the initial microstructure showed no considerable effect on final microstructure and hardness of the weld nuggets, which this effect may be attributed to continuous dynamic recrystallization phenomenon.

Abstract: Especially for aluminium and its alloys friction stir welding (FSW) has become an established welding process. In contrast FSW for steel is still challenging and in basic research. Some reasons are the high price of the tungsten based tools, the durability of the tools and the low welding speeds. For further development of the process, it is necessary to understand the metallurgical changes in the stirred material during welding. In this work, a 4mm thick stainless steel plate (1.4301) was welded with different types of tungsten-alloyed tools. A so called stop-action-technique was used at the end of the weld and the sheet was quenched immediately to prevent metallurgical changes caused by slow cooling. During the process, the temperatures on the top of the welded plate, close to the tool shoulder (10 mm beside the weld centre line) and at the bottom of the plate, directly below the weld centre were measured. On the bottom side, the temperature was also measured 35mm in front of the end of the weld to compare the differences in the cooling rate. The measured peak temperatures ranged from 330°C on top to about 1200°C on the bottom of the specimen. Moreover rotational speed was varied up to 1200 RPM to test the possibility to reduce the process forces and spindle torque. In addition the influences of the welding process parameters on the microstructural changes were investigated. E.g. the average grain size was measured which ranged from 6 to 12 µm in the stirzone.

Abstract: 5 mm thick 2014Al-T6 alloy plates were friction stir welded at the welding speeds of 100-400 mm/min and the rotation rates of 400-800 rpm. The influence of post weld artificial aging and T6 treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of FSW 2014Al-T6 joints were investigated. It was found that artificial aging did not alter the grain structure but T6 heat treatment caused the abnormal grain growth at the nugget zone. The tensile strength of the joints could not be enhanced by the artificial aging treatment but were improved by the T6 treatment. The effectiveness of T6 treatment is related with the distribution of “S” line.

Abstract: The catalytic properties of the cold-rolled foils of intermetallic compound TiNi were studied for hydrogen production from methanol in a temperature range of 513-793 K. The catalytic activity for methanol decomposition increased with a reaction temperature, especially above 673 K. The SEM and EDS analyses revealed the formation of numerous Ni-enriched particles dispersed in the layer of carbon fibers during the reaction. The catalytic activity of TiNi foils is attributed to those Ni-enriched particles.

Abstract: Two atomic percent of refractory elements Ta and Re were added to an L1₂-type Ni₃(Si,Ti) intermetallic alloy in two methods of substituting for Ni or Ti. Alloying effect and substitutional behavior of the refractory elements on microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. All the alloys were doped with 50 wt.ppm boron to suppress intergranular fracture. The Ta-added Ni₃(Si,Ti) alloys showed an entire or almost L1₂ single-phase microstructure. Their hardness was enhanced due to solid solution hardening which was primarily caused by the atomic size misfit. Also, the yield stress and tensile strength of the alloy where Ta was added by substituting for Ti, increased keeping a high level of tensile elongation. The Re-added Ni₃(Si,Ti) alloys showed a two-or three-phase microstructure containing fine Re-rich dispersions. The Re-added alloys exhibited relatively small grain size, and showed significantly high yield stress and ultimate tensile strength with a high level of tensile elongation.

Abstract: The effect of a concomitant doping of interstitial type elements boron (B) and carbon (C), and boron (B) and nitrogen (N) on tensile properties of a Ni₃(Si,Ti) intermetallic alloy was investigated in the temperature range between room temperature and 973 K. It was found that the concomitant doping of (C/B) and (N/B) remarkably improved the intermediate-temperature tensile elongation of the Ni₃(Si,Ti) alloy compared with the simple doping of B or C. It was also shown that the fracture surface of the alloy doped with (C/B) and (N/B) exhibited the ductile transgranular fracture mode while that of the alloy doped with only B showed a brittle intergranular fracture mode at 773 K. These results clearly indicate that the concomitant doping of the interstitial type elements are useful for improving the intermediate-temperature tensile ductility of the Ni₃(Si,Ti) alloy.

Abstract: In this study, age-hardening behavior of Mg-Xmass%Al alloys (X=3, 4.5, 6, 7.5 and 9mass%) were investigated by Vickers hardness measurement and optical microscopic observation. Each alloy was solution-treated and then isothermal-aged at 473, 498 and 523K. In the case of aluminum content less than 6mass%, Mg-3mass%Al and Mg-4.5mass%Al alloys, occurred insignificant age hardening. In the case of aluminum content higher than 6mass%, Mg-6mass%Al, Mg-7.5mass%Al and Mg-9mass%Al alloys, occurred remarkable age hardening. For each aging temperature, with heighten aluminum content, increase the value of maximum hardness and shorten time to maximum hardness. Mean hardness of discontinuous precipitation during aging increased with lower aging temperature and higher aluminum content. Furthermore, over-aged microstructure of Mg-Al system alloys differed from aluminum content or aging temperature.

Abstract: High resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) observations were performed to investigate the age hardening precipitates in Mg-Gd-Sc alloys. The maximum hardness of these alloys increased with Gd content. The precipitates with the features of β” phase and β’ phase in Mg-Gd alloy were observed in Mg-15Gd-6.4Sc and Mg-10Gd-6.4Sc alloys. Maximum hardness and number density of precipitate in Mg-15Gd-6.4Sc alloy were higher than that in Mg-10Gd-6.4Sc alloy, and the finer precipitates with higher number of density were contributed to the maximum hardness in Mg-Gd-Sc alloys.

Abstract: In solidification theory, with a slow cooling rate such as sand mold casting, it is easy to segregate the solute aluminum near the grain boundary of primary α-Mg phase under the solidification in Mg-Al system alloys. Thus, volume fraction of none-equilibrium crystallized β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ phase showed the higher value compared with metal mold casting with faster cooling rate. However, in our microstructure observation results, the volume fraction of β phase in permanent mold castings was larger than that of sand mold castings. In the present study, these contradictory behavior was investigated by observation of as-solidified microstructure obtained from rapid cooling castings at the just below the solidus temperature of 723, 773 and 823K.

Abstract: Magnesium (Mg) is a hexagonal close-packed light metal whose deformation re-sponse is characterized predominantly by easy slip on the f0002g basal plane at temperaturesbelow 200°C. Rolled sheet products develop a strong basal texture and become \plasticallychallenged" in subsequent forming operations. In the literature, additions of rare earth ele-ments (REE) to Mg have inconsistently reported non-basal texture formation. In this work,Mg-0.2wt%Gd and 0.2-wt%La were investigated to determine whether the presence of theseelements contributed to non-basal texture formation after elevated temperature plane straincompression. Test specimens were prepared from book-mould castings after homogenization at400°C, and reduced 50% in a channel die at 250, 325, or 375°C and 10^-2/s. The stress-strainbehaviours were all characterized by apparent twin-related softening, followed by monotonichardening to the end of the imposed deformation. The yield stress for Mg-0.2%La (15-22 MPa)was higher and less temperature dependent than for Mg-0.2%Gd (10-18 MPa). Texture mea-surements indicate the spread of ideal basal texture about TD with increased temperature, butalso also greater non-basal textures in the Mg-0.2%Gd alloy, particularly at 325°C. Electronchanneling contrast imaging revealed a more re ned and homogeneous substructure in the Gd-containing alloy compared with larger microbands in the La-containing alloy, and suggests thatcontinuous recovery and other available slip systems may contribute to these di erences.