Materials Science Forum Vols. 667-669

Abstract: Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of Al-4.11 wt% Cu alloys subjected to multi-axial compression (MAC) and subsequent annealing were investigated. To clarify the influence of precipitated phases on mechanical properties, special samples containing only one kind of precipitated phase were prepared. During MAC at room temperature, θ"-phase-contained and θ′-phase-contained samples simultaneously showed increased strength and ductility as a function of MAC passes. This was ascribed to the considerable dissolution of precipitated phases induced by MAC that formed a supersaturated solid solution. In subsequent annealing at 393 K for 1 h, new precipitated phases appeared and the strength and ductility of deformed samples increased as precipitation proceeded. Additionally, transmission electron microscopy indicated that the MAC process accelerated the phase precipitations. Annealed mechanical properties were a function of MAC passes, annealing time, and temperature. In this study, an optimum comprehensive mechanical property was achieved in the θ"-phase-contained specimen, after eight passes of MAC and 1 h annealing at 393 K.

Abstract: The ribbons of rapidly solidified Mg-6wt%Zn-1wt%Y-0.6wt%Ce-0.6wt%Zr alloy were reciprocatingly extruded and forward extruded into dense bar material. Room-temperature fatigue behavior of the alloy was tested in axial tension-tension stress condition. The fracture morphologies of the alloy after fatigue were observed by SEM. The results show that the fatigue limit is 159.2MPa with 106 cycles when the load frequency was 10Hz. The S-N curve of the alloy can be regarded as Type Ⅱ fatigue curve. The fatigue cracks originate from surface or subsurface of the fatigue specimens generally. The second phases or inclusions in these areas were prone to be the crack sources. The high fatigue properties of the alloy can be attributed to grain refinement strengthening and dispersion strengthening resulted from rapid solidification and reciprocating extrusion.

Abstract: A new continuous severe plastic deformation (SPD) method called accumulative back extrusion (ABE) was employed to fabricate ultra-fine grained AZ31 Mg alloy. Microstructures of AZ31 alloy processed by ABE up to four passes at a temperature of 230 °C were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The results showed that the initial average grain size of 25 µm was reduced to about 1 µm. It was also found out that the more passes gave more homogenous microstructure. In addition, in order to find the effect of grain size on the mechanical properties, micro-tension tests were carried out and the changes in the yield and tensile strength and fracture elongation were analyzed. The obtained tensile properties were discussed relying on the characteristics of as-processed microstructures.

Abstract: The extrusion of metals by the KoBo method, which is a new technological solution, allows to perform the process at low temperature with severe plastic deformation (SPD) under cyclic change of deformation path conditions. Apart from the localized plastic flow in shear bands intensive generation of point defects (self interstitials) takes place. It is important that excessive concentration of interstitial atoms is preserved in extruded products and often takes the shape of nanoclusters. Their presence causes that the effect of superplasticity (e.g. about 800% elongation of aluminum alloy 7075) does not require nanometric sizes of the grains and appears in metals extruded by the KoBo method with grains of over dozen or even several dozen micrometers. The results suggest the necessity to verify the mechanisms currently considered as decisive of the superplastic flow of metals.

Abstract: Severe plastic deformation (SPD) techniques are being considered as low cost processing routes for Mg alloys, aiming hydrogen storage applications. The main objective is to develop air-resistant materials, with lower specific surface area in comparison with ball-milled powders, but with still attractive H-sorption kinetics associated to the microstructural refinement. In this study, the effects of different SPD processing routes (high-pressure torsion, extensive cold rolling and cold forging) in the hydrogen activation behavior of Mg was evaluated. The results show that both microstructural and textural aspects should be controlled during SPD processing to obtain Mg alloys with good H-sorption properties and enhanced activation kinetics.

Abstract: In the present work, we have processed 2Mg-Fe mixtures by reactive milling (RM) under hydrogen atmosphere to synthesize Mg2FeH6 phase in the powder form which were then systematically processed by High Pressure Torsion (HPT) to produce bulk samples. The bulk samples were characterized in terms of microstructural and structural analyses and of hydrogen desorption properties. The hydrogen sorption properties after HPT processing was evaluated in comparison with the Mg2FeH6 powder obtained by RM and with commercial MgH2. HPT processing of Mg2FeH6 can produce bulks with a high density of defects that drastically lower the activation barrier for hydrogen desorption. Therefore, the bulk nanocrystalline Mg2FeH6 samples show endothermic hydrogen decomposition peak at a temperature around 320°C. In addition, when compared with the Mg2FeH6 and MgH2 powders, the Mg2FeH6 HPT disks showed the same results presented by the Mg2FeH6 powders and certainly decreases the onset transition temperature by as much as 160°C when compared with the MgH2 powders.

Abstract: Severe plastic deformation (SPD) processes, are successfully employed to produce ultra fine grain (UFG) and nanocrystalline (NC) microstructures in Ni50.7Ti49.3 shape memory alloy. The effect of grain size on phase transformations during annealing is investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results of comparative studies of phase transformations in coarse-grained, UFG and NC alloys after SPD and subsequent long-term (up to 100 hours) annealing at 400С is presented. The functional properties and the innovation potential of UFG NiTi alloys is considered and discussed.

Abstract: In the present work a study of the influence of structural state on magnetic hysteresis properties of (Nd,Ho)2(Fe0.8Co0.2)14B compound was carried out. Starting alloy was prepared by induction melting in an Ar atmosphere. Nd-Ho-Fe-Co-B alloys with a nanograin structure were obtained by severe plastic deformation (SPD). Electron microscopy and X-ray analysis were used for the structural investigation. The magnetization measurements were performed using a SQUID magnetometer. It is shown that the relatively high values of coercive force are observed in case of achieved nanograin structure in (Nd,Ho)2(Fe0.8Co0.2)14B. The effect of structural state on hysteresis properties of Y2(Fe0.8Co0.2)14B is also investigated.

Abstract: Microstructure and mechanical behavior of Ti-25 at. % Nb shape memory alloy processed by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) at 673 K have been investigated. The effect of multi-passes ECAP on the martensitic transformation temperature and superelastic recovery strain of Ti-26 at. %Nb alloy have been analyzed. It is found that the Ti-25 at. % Nb alloy exhibits superelasticity with a recovery strain of 1.6 % after one pass ECAP process. As the ECAP pass numbers increases to four passes, the superelasticity increases a little. The yielding stress (σ0.2) of Ti-25 at. % Nb alloy increases to 430 MPa and the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) is near 678 MPa after one pass ECAP process at 673 K, but the yielding stress and ultimate tensile strength increases little after four pass ECAP. The grain size decreases sharply from 100 μm to no more than 500 nm after four passes ECAP process. Effect of ECAP on the microstructure evolution and Young's modulus has been analyzed.

Abstract: The effect of severe plastic deformation in Bridgman’s chamber on magnetic properties of the amorphous alloys of metal-metalloid type Ni44Fe29Co15Si2B10, Fe50Ni33B17, Fe70Cr15B15 obtained by the melt quenching was studied. The substantial alteration of saturation magnetization depending on the number of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic components in the alloy was revealed. It was supposed that the internal separation into nanoscaled areas enriched and depleted by ferromagnetic components took place in the amorphous matrix under the action of severe plastic deformation.