Key Engineering Materials Vol. 880

Abstract: The aluminum alloy Al–5%Mg–2%Si, the chemical content of which is close to that of the Magsimal-59 aluminum alloy commonly for die casting, was successfully cast into strips using a vertical high-speed twin-roll caster at a speed of 30 m/min. This means that Al–5%Mg–2%Si is suitable for the high-speed twin roll-casting. The as-cast Al–5%Mg–2%Si strip was then successfully cold-rolled to a thickness of 0.7 mm. Tension and cup tests were conducted on the cold-rolled annealed strips. The tensile stress was 205 MPa and the elongation was 20% for a thickness of 1 mm. The limiting drawing ratio was 2.0 at a 0.7 mm thickness. The present results demonstrates that Al–5%Mg–2%Si can be used for die casting and sheet forming. This means that use of this alloy for both sheet forming and die casting could eliminate the need for the separation of wrought aluminum alloys from cast aluminum prior to processing at recycling plants.

Abstract: Casting of a thin aluminum alloy strand was investigated using two-and three-wheel casters. Molten metal was poured through a launder into a trapezoidal groove in the lower wheel of the caster. In the two-wheel caster, the level of molten metal was lower than the height of the walls of the lower wheel groove, and a puddle was formed between the lower and upper wheels. As a result, it was possible to cast the strand without the formation of burrs. In the three-wheel caster, the level of molten metal was higher than the height of the walls of the lower wheel groove by effect of surface tension. However, with the use of a grooved first upper wheel, the molten metal became semisolid, and it was possible to cast the strand without burrs as this semisolid metal passed under the second upper wheel.

Abstract: This study introduces the direct cladding of magnesium and aluminum alloys using a horizontal twin roll caster in one step. A horizontal twin roll caster can cast a Mg/Al clad strip with thickness exceeding 5mm at a roll speed of 8m/min in one step, which is difficult for a vertical twin roll caster. Therefore, it is possible to cast a thick clad strip with different melting point alloys using a horizontal twin roll caster at low speed. It is also possible to cast clad strips using as the overlay an alloy that has a higher melting point than that of the base strips. The thickness of the Mg/Al clad strip is 6.5mm, and the ratio of the Mg layer to the Al layer is 3:2. The surface of the clad strip is good, and there is no void between bonding interfaces. The mixing layer of the bonding interface is deeply related to the reduction rate. As the reduction rate increases, the mixing layer becomes more balanced and the thickness of the mixed layer decreases to 68μm. By observation of the interface of the cladded material, the mixed layer of the bonding interface is divided into two layers. It has been found the mixed layer near the Al layer has the highest hardness (up to 228HV), and the tensile shearing strength of the manufactured Mg/Al clad strip was 44MPa.

Abstract: Because of the general problem of the welding workpiece such as fatigue fracture caused by tensile residual stress lead to initial and propagation crack in the fusion zone. Thus, the mechanical surface treatment of deep rolling on Gas Tungsten Arc Welded (GTAW) surfaces of AISI 316L was studied. Deep rolling (DR) is a cold working process to induce compressive residual stress in the surface layer of the workpiece resulting in hardening deformation which increased surface hardness, and smooth surface that inhibit crack growth and improve fracture strength of materials. The present study focuses on compressive residual stress at the surface of stainless steel AISI 316L butt welded joint of GTAW. The three parameters of DR process were used; pressure 150 bar, rolling speed 400 mm/min, and step over 1.0 mm. The residual stresses analysis by X-ray diffraction with sin²Ψ method at 0, 5, 10, and 20 mm from the center of the welded bead. The results showed that the DR process on the welded of GTAW induce the minimum compressive residual stress-408.6 MPa and maximum-498.1 MPa in longitudinal direction. The results of transverse residual stress in minimum and maximum are 43.7 MPa and-34.8 MPa respectively. The FWHM of DR both longitudinal and transverse direction were increased in the same trend. Furthermore, the microhardness after DR treatment on workpiece surface layer higher than GTAW average 0.4 times.

Abstract: This paper presents an experimental investigation with the objective to determine the root causes for the cracking of a large size bar made of a medium carbon low alloy steel after open die forging and heat treatments operations. The cracks were observed below the surface during the machining step. In order to understand the mechanisms of crack initiation and propagation, micro-CT tomography and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were employed. Microstructural damage analysis revealed oxidation of different alloying elements, more specifically manganese, chromium and silicon. The presence of defects in the form of cavities and porosities were also observed at the grain boundaries. Some of the above defects were observed along the crack path, while others were on both sides of the cracks without any connection to them and finally, a third group completely isolated from any crack. The characteristics of the defects were thoroughly analyzed and it was found that the crack initiation could be attributed principally to the porosities/cavities formed during solidification. The analysis also showed that crack propagation occurred during solidification and/or forging and heat treatment steps.

Abstract: Temperature dependences of the kinematic viscosity, density, and electrical resistivity of Fe_72.5Cu₁Nb₂Mo_1.5Si₁₄B₉ and Fe_84.5Cu_0.6Nb_0.5Si_1.5B_8.6P₄C_0.3 multicomponent melts have been studied. We found different behavior of the temperature dependences of viscosity near the critical point T_k = 1760 K during heating, which is associated with different chemical compositions of the clusters in the melt. In the cooling stage, the activation energy of the viscous flow for these two melts is the same and equal to 43 kJ·mol^-1. At a temperature of 1720 K, the relative free volume is 5.1 and 7.5 % of the total melt volume for Fe_72.5Cu₁Nb₂Mo_1.5Si₁₄B₉ and Fe_84.5Cu_0.6Nb_0.5Si_1.5B_8.6P₄C_0.3 respectively. In the cooling stage, the electrical resistance of melt is higher than at the heating stage.

Abstract: We investigated the relationship of the vacancy formation energy with kinematic viscosity and self-diffusion coefficient in liquid metals at the melting temperature. Formulas are obtained that relate experimental values of the vacancy formation energy, kinematic viscosity, and self-diffusion coefficient to the atomic size and mass, the melting and Debye temperatures. The viscosity and self-diffusion parameters are introduced. The ratio of these parameters to vacancy formation energy is equal to dimensionless constants. It is shown that the formulas for viscosity and self-diffusion differ only in dimensionless constants; the values of these constants are calculated. Linear regression analysis was carried out and formulas with the highest adjusted coefficient of determination were identified. The calculated values of the self-diffusion coefficient for a large number of liquid metals are presented.

Abstract: A scraper was attached to an unequal-diameter twin-roll caster without requiring large modifications. This caster was used as a 1000 mm diameter single roll caster equipped with a scraper, and its strip casting ability was tested. The effects of the scraper angle and load, the roll speed, and the pouring temperature of the molten metal on the scribed surface, thickness distribution and average strip thickness were investigated. The scribed surface characteristics were sound and the thickness distribution was flat when the scraper angle was 60° and the scraper load was in the range of 1 to 4 kg. When the scraper load was more than 1 kg, the thickness distribution was uneven. The average strip thickness decreased as the roll speed increased. The pouring temperature of the molten metal influenced the evenness of the solidified layer thickness. The solidified layer became even as the molten metal temperature was decreased. A strip cast with the determined optimal conditions was then cold rolled down to 1 mm to improve its surface quality.

Abstract: Stirring tool is one of the important factor that contribute to the successful of Friction Stir Welding (FSW). Role of tool, is to heat the welding zone and stir the material along the process. Many studies have been conducted by other researchers to improve the performance of stirring tool. Similar to this work, it is aimed to investigate and analyze the effect of stirring tool surface condition on wear characteristics in friction stir welding process. Four tools have been fabricated with pre-determined surface condition. Tool 1: H13 without heat treatment and without coating. Tool 2: H13 with heat treatment only. Tool 3: H13 with TiCN coating only and Tool 4: H13 with heat treatment and with TiCN coating. Friction stir welding was performed to test and verify the performance of fabricated tools. Process parameter used are 1270 RPM for rotating speed while 218 mm/min for welding speed. From the result, Tool 4 performed better in terms of physical wear as well as wear rate.