Advanced Materials Research Vols. 89-91

Abstract: This paper considers the prediction of the effects of tensile and compressive residual stress in fracture mechanics specimens by the application of a mechanical pre-load. This is considered in the context of a ‘C’ shape specimen which is mechanically pre-tensioned or pre-compressed to produce, respectively, a compressive or tensile residual stress in the region where the crack is introduced. Finite-element analysis is performed to simulate the pre-loading and the subsequent fracture loading of the cracked specimens. The finite-element predictions are compared with experimental data including residual stress measurements using neutron diffraction. A discussion is presented on modelling and material issues pertaining to the use of mechanical pre-loading as a means for introducing residual stress.

Abstract: The direct metal laser sintering process was applied to produce density gradient materials of stainless steel 316L. In order to understand the mechanism of forming porous structure, the influence of laser power, scan rate and scan pitch on the porosity were investigated by measuring density of produced samples and observing cross-sectional microstructures. Laser power greatly affected to the porosity by forming clusters of melted metal powders. It was found that the size change of clusters plays a role in forming porous structure. Eventually, three dimensional sample owing density gradient structures was manufactured.

Abstract: A356 alloy is one of the wide used casting aluminum alloys and intense research activities of worldwide on casting process or refinement agent and procedure. In this study, we attempted refinement on Al primary phase and eutectic phase of A356 alloy by ultrasonic injection into the melts. The effect of ultrasonic injection into the melts could be summarized as follows: the morphology of the Al primary phase was refined and changed shape from dendritic to nondendritic and the eutectic phase of A356 was also refined and changed morphology from dendritic to plate shape.

Abstract: A study was made to investigate the precipitation behavior of sigma phase via various heat treatments and corresponding mechanical properties of super duplex stainless steels. Isothermal heat treatment was performed at temperature range of 600~1000°C to draw TTT diagram for sigma phase. Tensile and Charpy impact tests were performed at room temperature and the results were analyzed in relation with the microstructure. The effect of lattice misfit strains due to the precipitation of sigma phase on the mechanical properties was also discussed.

Abstract: The microstructural changes in a 3%Co modified P911 heat resistant steel were examined under static annealing and creep at elevated temperatures. The quenched steel was tempered at temperatures ranging from 673 to 1073 K for 3 hours. The temperature dependence of hardness for the tempered samples exhibits the maximum at 723 – 823 K which is associated with the precipitations of fine carbides with an average size of about 20 nm. The transverse lath size of martensitic structure is  200 nm after air quenching and remains unchanged under tempering at temperatures below 800 K. An increase in tempering temperature to 1073 K resulted in hardness drop. Coagulation of carbides and growth of martensitic laths takes place at these temperatures. The creep tests were carried out at 873 and 923 K up to rupture, which occurred after about 4.5 × 103 hours. The structural changes in crept specimens were characterized by the development of coarse laths/subgrains. The mean transverse size of which was  0.67 and  1.3 m after the creep tests at 873 and 923 K, respectively. On the other hand, an average size of second phase particles of  165 nm was observed in the samples tested at both temperatures.

Abstract: Cold rolling followed by ageing in two grades of superaustenitic stainless steel was performed in order to assess the effect of cold deformation on the precipitation characteristics of these steels. Samples were cold rolled from 20% to 60% reduction in thickness and aged within the temperature range of 650οC to 950οC for times up to 120h. Following ageing precipitation of secondary phases took place, with sigma (σ) phase formation being the predominant precipitate species forming. Secondary phases have been reported to form following isothermal exposure to high temperatures, yet the precipitation behaviour of cold deformed samples has received less attention. When compared to the ageing characteristics of undeformed samples, cold deformation was found to accelerate precipitation during ageing. This study helped clarify a time-temperature-transformation regime relating isothermal ageing of cold deformation that could be applied to these steels in order to avoid occurrence of undesirable microstructural constituents with the associated reduction of mechanical and corrosion properties.

Abstract: Effects of 3d transition metal element additions on phase constitution at room temperature and mechanical properties of Ti-Cr and Ti-Cr-Sn alloys were investigated in this study. Ti-5Cr and Ti-5Cr-3Sn (in mol%) alloys with or without 3mol% of 3d-transition-metals of V, Mn, Fe, Co and Ni were investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that Ti-5Cr binary and Ti-5Cr-3Sn ternary alloys consisted of α' (hcp) and β (bcc) two phases, and the others were β single phase. Then, the additions of the 3d transition metals stabilize  phase. The results were in good agreement with optical microscopy observation. Vickers hardness tests revealed hardening occurred by the additional elements, and the hardening must be mainly due to solid solution hardening. Besides, the hardness was lowered by 3mol%Sn addition. Tensile tests revealed that the additions of Fe, Co and Ni improve strength while V and Mn improve ductility.

Abstract: In order to investigate the influence of -phase precipitation during high temperature forging of Inconel 718, hot axi-symmetric compression tests have been performed on specimens with two distinct initial microstructures: i) as-received material containing a dense population of  precipates at grain boundaries and along intragranular slip planes, and ii) material solution-treated to dissolve the  phase. Results indicate that the presence of  leads to a slight increase in peak stress and a proportionately greater post-peak reduction in flow stress, as compared to solution-treated material. For both types of microstructure flow softening is associated with grain refinement, but in different ways: in -free material conventional dynamic recrystallisation leads to the formation of new grains, whereas the presence of plate-like  appears to cause the mechanical break-up and segmentation of prior grains.

Abstract: Non-homogenous cooling rates and solidification conditions during DC-casting of high strength aluminum alloys result in the formation and accumulation of residual thermal stresses with different signs and magnitudes in different locations of the billet. Rapid propagation of micro-cracks in the presence of thermal stresses can lead to catastrophic failure in the solid state, which is called cold cracking. Numerical models can simulate the thermomechanical behavior of an ingot during casting and after solidification and reveal the critical cooling conditions that result in catastrophic failure, provided that the constitutive parameters of the material represent genuine as-cast properties. Simulation of residual thermal stresses of an AA7050 alloy during DC-casting by means of ALSIM5 showed that in the steady-state conditions large compressive stresses formed near the surface of the billet in the circumferential direction. Stresses changed sign on moving towards the centre of the billet and became tensile with high magnitudes in radial and transverse directions, which made the alloy prone to hot and cold cracking.

Abstract: The effects of hot isostatic pressing temperature and cooling rate on the microstructure of two powder metallurgy beta-gamma titanium aluminide alloys with nominal compositions TiAl 4Nb 3Mn (G1) and TiAl-2Nb-2Mo (G2) are investigated. Particular attention is placed on the volume fraction of the beta phase, which is known to improve the hot workability. The alloys are consolidated by hot isostatic pressing at 1200 °C, 1250 °C, and 1300 °C, and cooled at rates between 3.0 °C/min and 17.5 °C/min. The volume fraction of beta phase in both alloys was unaffected by the change in cooling rates. The volume fraction of the beta phase in G2 decreased linearly from ~9.5 vol.% to ~3.5 vol.% with increasing HIP temperature from 1200 °C to 1300 °C.