Materials Science Forum Vol. 1016

Abstract: Microstructure and crystallographic texture play an important role in the sputtering target properties. The effect of asymmetric cross rolling (ACR) and deformation strain during ACR on texture homogeneity is not clear. Thus, high-purity tantalum (Ta) plates were ACR to 60% and 87% reduction in thickness. Texture of the rolled Ta sheets in the surface and center layer are characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD results indicate that ACR is effective to weaken the texture gradient existing in the as-received Ta plate. Besides, more homogeneous texture distribution along the thickness can be obtained with the increasing strain during ACR process.

Abstract: The WC composite powder was synthesized by a new specific chemical activation technique. A large number of lattice defects such as surface humps, dislocations and stacking fault exist in the surface of the WC powder after chemical activation technique. By using such activated WC powder, the binderless WC cemented carbide with high density (15.54 g/cm³), super hardness (average 26.29 GPa) and excellent fracture toughness (8.9 MPa.m^1/2) can be fabricated by SPS at 1700 °C and 50 MPa pressure. The improvement in density, hardness and fracture toughness are respectively 4.5%, 15.3% and 17.1% compared to when using the original WC powder. This improvement is because microscopic defects on the surface of the WC powder can greatly improve surface free energy of the powder, which improves the sintering activity and reduces the sintering temperature of the WC powder.

Abstract: The morphological and crystallographic characteristics of noble metal nanoisland films play an important role in determining their properties, performance, and reliability. In this work we have applied a rapid three-dimensional orientation mapping technique in the transmission electron microscope (3D-OMiTEM) in the characterization of a gold nanoisland film. A volume of 200×1024×1024 nm³ has been analyzed, generating a 3D orientation map composed of more than 500 nanoislands and 7000 grains constituting the islands. The 3D shapes and sizes of individual islands and grains have been analyzed, revealing their true 3D morphological features and the correlation between the number of grains within individual islands and the size of the islands. The crystallographic orientations of the grains and the misorientations across the grain boundaries have been quantified, revealing a weak texture but a preferential presence of Σ3 and Σ9 grain boundaries in the gold nanoisland film.

Abstract: Friction stir butt welding of C1020 and A1050 were carried out. To avoid the deterioration of strength and workability of the joints, dispersion of copper fragments into aluminum was suppressed. The effect of tool tilt angle on root flaw at the bottom part was investigated. To obtain unmixed joints, the probe was plunged into only aluminum. Under the condition of tool tilt angle of 0°, equiaxed grains were observed at the bottom of A1050 near the bonding interface. It indicates that material flow and heat input could promote the reaction of copper and aluminum at the bottom part. In contrast, under the condition of tool tilt angle of 3°, unbonded area remained at the bonding interface at the bottom. The lack of penetration near the bonding interface was larger than that of tool tilt angle of 0°.

Abstract: This paper describes the influence of sintering temperature on phase composition and microstructure of paper-derived Ti₃AlC₂ composites fabricated by spark plasma sintering. The composites were sintered at 100 MPa pressure in the temperature range of 1150-1350 °C. Phase composition and microstructure were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The multiphase structure was observed in the sintered composites consisting of Ti₃AlC₂, Ti₂AlC, TiC and Al₂O₃ phases. The decomposition of the Ti₃AlC₂ phase into Ti₂AlC and TiC carbide phases was observed with temperature rise. The total content of Ti₃AlC₂ and Ti₂AlC phases was reduced from 84.5 vol.% (1150 °C) to 69.5 vol.% (1350 °C). The density of composites affected by both the content of TiC phase and changes in porosity.

Abstract: In this study, we sucsess the fabrication of dense compornent of Ti-20at.%X (X = Cr and Nb) alloys by Selected laser melting (SLM) pwocess, from a mixture of poweder element powders. The volume rasio of pore and non-molten particles is dependent of the enegy density. The difficulty of fabrication of Ti-X alloy comporment is dependent of melting temperature of X element. Thus, Ti-20at.%Cr alloys, which has the lowest melting temperature of X is easier to monufacture of dense comporment. The Ti-20at.%Cr alloys and Ti-20at.%Nb comprise β-Ti single-phase components without any non-molten particles and macroscopic defects. In addtion, the {001}〈100〉 crystallographic texture of these Ti-Cr and Ti-Nb alloys can be controlled effectively by optimizing the SLM parameters. This means that the SLM is key techmelogy of controlling of Young’s modulus and shape at the same time because Young's modulus of be-ta phase in Ti alloys is strongly related to the crystal orientation.

Abstract: As new generation of high-temperature shape memory alloys, high-entropy alloys (HEAs) have been attracted for strong solid-solution hardened alloys due to their severe lattice distortion and sluggish diffusion. TiPd is the one potential high-temperature shape memory alloys because of its high martensitic transformation temperature above 500 °C. As constituent elements, Zr expected solid-solution hardening, Pt expected increase of transformation temperature, Au expected keeping transformation temperature, and Co expected not to form harmful phase. By changing the alloy composition slightly, two HEAs and two medium entropy alloys (MEAs) were prepared. Only two MEAs, Ti₄₅Zr₅Pd₂₅Pt₂₀Au₅, and Ti₄₅Zr₅Pd₂₅Pt₂₀Co₅ had the martensitic transformation. The perfect recovery was obtained in Ti₄₅Zr₅Pd₂₅Pt₂₀Co₅ during the repeated thermal cyclic test, training, under 200 MPa. On the other hand, the small irrecoverable strain was remained in Ti₄₅Zr₅Pd₂₅Pt₂₀Au₅ during the training under 150 MPa because of the small solid-solution hardening effect. It indicates that Ti₄₅Zr₅Pd₂₅Pt₂₀Co₅ is the one possible HT-SMA working between 342 and 450 °C.

Abstract: The 7000 series aluminum alloys suffer from intergranular fracture (IGF) that limits the use of the alloys, although they have highest strength among aluminum alloys. The types of IGF can be classified into two categories: (i) with smooth fracture surface showing practically no plastic deformation that takes place in hydrogen embrittlement and stress corrosion cracking, and (ii) with shallow and fine dimples on the fracture surface showing localized plastic deformation inside precipitate free zones. In this study, attempts have been made to suppress the IGF of both types by (a) controlling precipitate microstructure on grain boundaries by quench control and (b) controlling grain boundary morphology by strain induced boundary migration. The IGF of type (i) (hydrogen embrittlement) was successfully suppressed both by the two controlling processes.

Abstract: The increasing demand on thermo-mechanical strength, lightweight and formability in engineering applications require metallic materials with high sophisticated properties. Such functional alloys consist of heterogeneous composite-like microstructures, which are responsible for their stability in demanding service conditions (high temperature strength, low fatigue and creep resistance). External loads are distributed in between the phases of the alloys introducing high micro stress gradients, responsible for elastic and plastic deformation at the interfaces and micro crack initiation. Thus, the properties of such materials depend mainly on their phase shapes and 3D architectures leading to high stress gradients and elasto-plastic deformation under service conditions.This manuscript describes experimental studies on phase strain distribution for different heat treatment conditions in an AlMg4Si10 alloy. Neutron diffraction was used for strain measurement at an angle dispersive strain scanner with in-situ tensile test setup. Strain evolution under load and after unloading was measured to show elasto-plastic deformation behaviour in between the ductile α-Al matrix and stiff reinforcing Mg₂Si and Si phases. The degree of plastification, its effect on micro stress gradients and its influence on crack initiation could be discussed and comparisons to other composite materials could be drawn.

Abstract: In single-phase austenitic steels, the optimum deformation temperature in the tensile test to obtain high tensile strength-elongation balance (TS×El) and work hardening rate (dσ/dε) depends on control of the stability of austenite. In order to clarify the effects of the deformation temperature in complex phase steels containing austenite, in this study, the effects of the tensile testing temperature on mechanical properties and deformation behavior were investigated in detail using steel A and steel B with a chemical composition of 0.15C-0.5Si-5.0Mn (wt%). Steels A and B consisted of ferrite and retained austenite, but contained different volume fractions of retained austenite, namely, 29 % and 17 % as a result of annealing at 660 °C and 620 °C for 2 h, respectively. The stability of the retained austenite of steel B was higher than that of steel A. In steel A, TS×El and dσ/dε achieved their maximum values at 20 °C, decreased from 20 to 100 °C, and then remained almost unchanged at more than 150 °C. On the other hand, in steel B, TS×El and dσ/dε achieved their maximum values at -40 °C, decreased from -40 to 50 °C and remained almost unchanged at more than 100 °C. These results can be explained by the stability of retained austenite and the transformation rate from retained austenite to martensite. It should be noted that control of the stability of retained austenite and the transformation rate from retained austenite to martensite led to an adjustment of the optimum deformation temperature to achieve the high TS×El and dσ/dε in medium Mn steels, in the same manner as in single-phase austenitic steels.