Materials Science Forum Vol. 1016

Abstract: The evolution of microstructural features such as local grain size and local grain size distribution are essential in view of the final physical and mechanical properties of the nickel base alloy 718 for aircraft parts forged in a multi-step production route. Due to increasing standards and the need of the prediction of fracture mechanical properties, a multi-class grain size model for a more detailed microstructure prediction is necessary. Therefore, a multi-class model considers the real initial non-uniform grain size distribution and structure of the pre-material at the beginning of the forging process, which affects the evolution of grain sizes during thermo-mechanical treatment and leads to different results than commonly used uniform grain structures. The initial distribution is defined by grain classes according the ASTM standard. It is shown that the presence of different classes and distributions of grains are as import as the applied strain, strain rate and temperature on dynamic, meta-dynamic and static recrystallization. Additionally, dissolution processes of delta phase and grain growth kinetics are included in the model to properly indicate the recrystallized fractions and represent the resulting multi-class microstructure. A series of simulations with different initial distributions is discussed and compared with examined forged samples in terms of the resulting microstructure for typical forging parameters. Based on these results the microstructure model can be used in combination with collected process data to predict the resulting properties and for the design of new aircraft parts.

Abstract: Semiconductor alloy films of Cu₂ZnSn_1-xGe_xS₄ (CZTGS) were prepared by deposition and sintering of mixed nanoparticle suspensions composed of Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) and Cu₂ZnGeS₄ (CZGS) nanoparticles with 1-dodecanethiol surfactant. Colloidal CZTS and CZGS nanoparticles were synthesized via the liquid-phase route and used without post-processing treatment. The CZTGS films are crystallized in the form of kesterite structures and form an alloy of CZTS and CZGS without an apparent phase separation. The Sn/Ge ratios in the alloy films were finely controlled by tuning a mixing ratio between CZTS and CZGS nanoparticles. The bandgap energy of the CZTGS film systematically increased from 1.6 to 2.1 eV as the Ge-substitution for Sn in the films proceeded, which indicates the potential of the fabrication method in the manufacture of bandgap-tuned multinary semiconductor thin films.

Abstract: Tensile tests of Mg-Y single crystals with different yttrium concentrations: 0.07 and 0.3 at.% were carried out to investigate effects of yttrium on pyramidal <c+a> slip system. In Mg-0.07at%Y alloy single crystals, {11 2}< 23> second order pyramidal <c+a> slip was activated and yield stress increased, compared to pure Mg single crystals. On other hand, in Mg-0.3at%Y alloy single crystals, {10 1}< 23> first order pyramidal <c+a> slip was activated and yield stress increased, compared to Mg-0.07at%Y alloy single crystals. The change in slip system by yttrium addition would be caused by increasing critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) for second order pyramidal slip.

Abstract: Electrodeposited Ni-11 mass%P alloy plating film was fabricated on the surface of stainless steel SUS304 to conduct brazing of SUS304 plates for a heat exchanger. Brazing of SUS304 plates with electrodeposited Ni-11P layers was carried out using a hydrogen reducing furnace. The microstructure and joint strength of the brazed joint were also investigated. From the result of the microstructural observation of the cross section of the joint, it was found that the brazing filler metal is homogeneously distributed without defects such as voids between the SUS304 plates. The results of electrochemical measurements showed that the P-concentrated phase in the Ni-11P alloy is preferentially dissolved in NaCl aqueous solution.

Abstract: Cube texture ({001}<100>) is a desired final texture in non-oriented electrical steel sheets used as magnetic cores because it contains two easy <100> axes in the sheet plane, which is beneficial to the magnetic properties. However, the cube texture is very difficult to form in non-oriented electrical steels through conventional rolling and annealing. It has been shown that after conventional rolling, the deformed <111>//ND (normal direction) grains provided nucleation sites for the unfavourable <111>//ND texture during recrystallization, leading to a final <111>//ND texture. To eliminate the <111>//ND texture and promote the {001}<100> texture, an uncommon rolling process, i.e. inclined rolling, was adopted in this study. By rotating the hot rolling direction by 60° around the ND, an uncommon initial texture, the rotated Goss ({110}<110>), was intentionally generated. This was intended to change the orientation flow during plastic deformation, and suppress the formation of the conventional <111>//ND texture in the deformed microstructure. Plane-strain compression (rolling) of the rotated Goss grains produced shear bands within these grains due to their large Taylor factor. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) characterization of the shear bands illustrated that, crystallites with the cube orientation were formed within these shear bands. During recrystallization, the shear bands provided preferential nucleation sites, and the cube crystallites preferentially nucleate within the shear bands. These cube crystals can then grow into the deformed matrix, and lead to the formation of a strong cube texture in the final annealed steel sheets.

Abstract: In this study, a random field (RF) model with a Gaussian kernel was applied to generate an artificial microstructure of dual phase (DP) steels. Micrographs obtained from Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were analyzed using image processing software to extract the grain size and the volume fraction of each phase. Based on watershed (Ws) segmentation and quantitative analysis, the real and artificial microstructures were compared by analyzing grain features related the solidity, grain size and aspect ratio (the proportional relationship between its width and its height). Consequently, this approach allows to simulate the overall stress-strain behavior of the analyzed microstructures. As a result, it was shown that the strain localization starts to develop at the ferrite/martensite interface and that the RF model could replicate the micromechanical behavior of DP steels.

Abstract: It is known that metallic materials are characterized by anisotropy of their mechanical properties, with this being attributed to the conditions during the manufacturing process. For sheet metals, this anisotropy occurs symmetrically to the three orthogonal axes of the rolling, transverse and normal direction. This characteristic is referred to as orthotropic behaviour and manifests itself, for example, in earing during cupping tests. Therefore, orthotropic yield criteria are highly relevant for the numerical simulation of sheet metal forming processes. The Lankford coefficient, also known as the r-value, is a good experimental measure for characterizing orthotropic ductile behaviour of sheets, and can easily aid in parameter identification for yield criteria such as the Hill approaches. In the present investigations, Lankford coefficients were determined as a function of local strain in uniaxial tensile tests through high-resolution digital image correlation. The sample direction was varied between 0°, 45° and 90° to the rolling direction and the test temperature varied from RT to 350 °C at three different strain rates (0.01-1 s^-1). By means of a novel backward analysis, the measuring range for the Lankford coefficients was positioned exactly in the necking area. An increase in temperatures showed a decrease in the initial Lankford coefficient. The results showed non-constant Lankford coefficients and commence the course of a natural exponential function depending on the local strain. Regardless of strain rate, the results revealed that the Lankford coefficients (r-values) at 150 °C, 250 °C and 350 °C approaches a steady-state of r = 1.14 with strains greater than 50 %.

Abstract: Microstructures and tensile properties at 233 K, 300 K and 398 K of Sn-3.0 mass%Ag-0.5 mass%Cu (SAC305) and Sn-Ag-Cu-In-Sb solder were investigated by using miniature size specimens with 0.5 mm diameter, which can reproduce the microstructure of the real solder joint. In this study, three kinds of Sn-Ag-Cu-In-Sb solder (SAC305-6.0 mass%In-1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mass%Sb) were used. The microstructure of SAC305 consisted of a single crystal grain. On the other hand, the microstructures of Sn-Ag-Cu-In-Sb solder consisted of polycrystalline. The number of crystal grains per the cross section of SAC305-6.0In-1.0Sb was stably several tens or more. The tensile strength of Sn-Ag-Cu-In-Sb was improved approximately 2 times that of SAC305. Also, the variation in tensile strength of SAC305 at 233 K was large due to anisotropy of the crystal grain. In contrast, the variation in tensile strength of Sn-Ag-Cu-In-Sb at 233 K was lower than that of SAC305. In particular, that of SAC305-6.0In-1.0Sb was reduced to approximately a sixth of that of SAC305. It seems that the effect of anisotropy of the crystal grain is decreased by polycrystallization in SAC305-6.0In-1.0Sb.

Abstract: In real industrial environment there is always a difference between ideal theoretical condition and real production condition which bears the risk of producing defective or low quality parts. Getting closer to this ideal situation requires more effort and investment which tends to increase the production cost. In the P/M production lines, the sintering stage is one of the most critical processes. Maintaining an open continuous sintering furnace in an ideal condition is a challenge, and this issue gets more pronounced when using alloy powder containing oxygen-sensitive elements such as Cr or Mn which provide good hardenability at low cost but on the other hand form stable oxides that weaken the sintering contacts if they are not reduced properly. In the present study, using a carbon master alloy as a sintering enhancer in the sintering process of Cr-Mo alloyed powder compacts has been investigated. For clearly depicting the effect of carbon master alloy addition on carbon dissolution and deoxidation, sintering was done in argon as inert atmosphere to avoid other reducing agents such as H₂. The physical and mechanical properties of the sintered specimens were investigated, and thermal chemical analysis by DIL/MS and carbon/oxygen measurements were performed. The experiments showed that adding iron-carbon masteralloys promote the sintering processes such as reduction of oxides and carbon dissolution in the early stages of sintering, resulting in better properties after final sintering.

Abstract: We have developed a new testing device which is capable of detecting hydrogen gas release during slow strain rate tensile testing (SSRT) under ordinary pressure. The device is composed of an SSRT machine equipped with a closed chamber with an inspection window that is connected to gas chromatography with a semiconductor hydrogen sensor. Local strain distribution in the specimen during the SSRT is monitored dynamically with a digital image correlation (DIC) method. Hydrogen was pre-charged to aluminum alloys by means of friction in water process. Using the device, it was shown that hydrogen was released particularly in the stage of plastic deformation and fracture. In addition, the hydrogen gas release at the moment of fracture was clearly increased when the alloys were hydrogen-charged and tested at a slow strain rate. When we calculated hydrogen gas release from the fracture surface in Al-Zn-Mg base alloys tested at 3.3×10^-6 s^-1, the hydrogen amount was estimated to be 6.24×10^-10 mol /mm² in a hydrogen-uncharged alloy, and 1.30×10^-9 mol / mm² in a hydrogen-charged alloy.