Materials Science Forum Vols. 702-703

Abstract: In this paper, the microstructure, texture and tensile properties of the magnesium alloys AZ91 and ZM21 extruded at 350°C to the ratio 25:1 are investigated. After extrusion, the mean grain size reduces from 400 µm to 30 µm in ZM21 alloy and from 350 µm to 40 µm in AZ91 alloy. Bulk texture analysis indicates the formation of characteristic extrusion texture in both the alloys. The occurrence of dynamic recrystallization, as revealed through necklace structure formation, and the precipitation of second phase (Mg₁₇Al₁₂) particles in the AZ91 alloy are observed.

Abstract: An integrated crystal plasticity-phase field model has been developed to simulate the static recrystallisation textures of both Face-Centred Cubic (FCC) and Body-Centred Cubic (BCC) metals. Nucleation sites are determined using the Orientation Dependent Recovery (ODR) theory. Both the interface mobility and the grain boundary energy are set to be dependent on mis-orientation angles in the simulations. A pre-deformed microstructure without a particular texture is generated using a Monte Carlo simulation. Plane strain compression textures before recrystallisation are predicted by a Crystal Plasticity Finite Element (CPFE) model showing a good agreement with the typical experimental rolling textures. It is shown that the typical recrystallisation textures for FCC and BCC metals can be simulated correctly using a Phase Field (PF) method by choosing appropriate critical values for the nucleation criterion. A comparison between the two different nucleation criteria based on the ODR theory or the stored energy is also presented.

Abstract: The sheet folding process generates both tensile and compressive strains across the folded section, producing systematic strain and texture gradients. In this investigation the EBSD technique has been used to gain insight into this phenomenon in folded ferritic steel and nickel alloys, both in the as folded and after annealing conditions. As expected in the fcc material the {111} and {110} fibre texture components get reinforced in the tensile and compressive regions respectively, while the {110} and {111} components are reinforced in the bcc material during folding. After annealing at 600oC for 40 minutes the texture components formed during the folding process are retained despite the formation of new strain free grains. The new grains were found to be slightly larger in the tensile regions than in the compressed regions this was the case for both materials. However, in the mid-region of the section in the nickel alloy abnormal grain growth took place, while only recovery was observed in the ferritic alloy.

Abstract: In order to increase the sustainability of metals, a more detailed understanding of the corrosion process is of crucial importance. Current literature often considers corrosion as a purely chemical interaction with a nearly exclusive dependence on compositional effects, while ignoring microstructural and crystallographic properties of the metal surface. Some recent literature data, however, suggest an important effect of microstructural elements such as grain size, crystallographic orientation and grain boundary characteristics. The aim of this work is to obtain a better understanding of the relation between the corrosion behaviour of a metal and its microstructural and crystallographic features. Therefore, warm rolled Electrolytic Tough Pitch (ETP-) Cu was immersed in a 0.1 M NaCl and 0.5M Na2SO4 solution and the combination of Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) allowed to identify differences in attack for different crystallographic orientations.

Abstract: Attempt has been made to correlate the cold rolling (CR) texture with the degree of sensitization (DOS) in rolled 304LN after ageing at 500-600oC for various durations. The susceptibility of sensitization is observed to increase with %CR cold rolling from 5-25% and aged at 500-600oC. No one to one correlation between texture and DOS is observed. Brass component, overall, seems better for lower DOS while Goss component led to relatively higher DOS values. It is observed that the ratio of Brass to Copper may have a critical value for lower DOS.

Abstract: Abstract. Experimental evidences of regular differences in the substructure condition of grains depending on their position within texture maxima are demonstrated. Analysis of generalized pole figures (GPF) for rolled metal materials shows that the strain hardening intensifies as an angular distance of grains from the texture maximum centre increases. The mechanisms of this phenomenon are considered using the concepts of the texture formation theory.

Abstract: Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking (IGSCC) of austenitic Stainless Steels (SS) in Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) environment is generic in nature in both the sensitised and the non-sensitized conditions. IGSCC in non-sensitized austenitic SS in the strain hardened condition has been reported without any grain boundary chromium depletion or impurity segregation. The present study ascertains the reason for IGSCC in BWR environment in non-sensitized condition and investigates the effect of nitrogen content in SS on the susceptibility to IGSCC. Two heats of type 304LN stainless steel with 0.08 and 0.16 wt. % nitrogen were used. Strain hardening was done by cross rolling at 200 °C to 20 % thickness reduction (warm rolling) to simulate the weld induced strain in constrained welds. Subsequently, Transmission Electron Microscopic (TEM) examination was carried out on the rolled SS. The deformation mode observed due to warm rolling was predominantly elongated twin and shear band (SB) formation in both the SS, terminating at the grain boundary regions. This resulted in higher stresses and strains making grain boundary susceptible to IGSCC. Presence of more dislocations at grain boundaries is a key feature for such enhancement in the susceptibility of non-sensitized SS to IGSCC. Formation of twins and SB occurred to a greater extent in the SS with higher nitrogen content indicating greater susceptibility to IGSCC in BWR environment. Crack growth studies done in simulated BWR environment at different Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels showed higher crack growth rates in the SS with higher nitrogen content in the non-sensitised and strain hardened condition, confirming the higher susceptibility of SS with a higher level of nitrogen.

Abstract: Thermal aging embrittlement of type 304L stainless steel weld is investigated on the basis of changes in microstructure, microhardness and electrochemical behavior after aging up to 20,000 h at 335, 365 and 400 °C. Spinodal decomposition and G-phase precipitation in the ferrite was observed after thermal aging. Aging led to increase in the hardness of ferrite phase while there was no change in the hardness of austenite. The changes in electrochemical behavior due to aging were studied using double loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (DL-EPR) test. Aging led to increase in the DL-EPR value which is attributed to Cr depletion in the ferrite phase.

Abstract: Nuclear spent fuel reprocessing and waste management plants use nitric acid as process fluid and type 304 L stainless steel as construction material. Tubular products like bars, tubes and pipes are prone to End Grain Corrosion from the exposed cross-sectional surfaces. In this study, type 304 L stainless steel is subjected to different heat treatment to induce selective segregation of phosphorus. The susceptibility to End Grain Corrosion was established in tests using boiling nitric acid containing oxidizing Cr(VI) ions. A clear effect on End Grain Corrosion was found for heat treatment reported to induce phosphorus segregation. Finally, specific annealing heat treatment is developed that erases out the segregation, without affecting the grain size or sensitization.

Abstract: Current issues concerning the characterization of grain boundary networks via five-dimensional (5D) grain boundary distributions are considered. A quantitative measure of reliability of such distributions is adapted from conventional texture analysis. Application of the measure shows that with the currently available size of experimental data sets of boundary parameters, only strong components of the boundary distributions can be reliably evaluated. Improvements of the computational part of the analysis are possible if the the binning based on Euler and polar/azimuth angles is replaced by searching the data sets based on a suitably defined distance. Moreover, it is indicated that for textured materials the stereological approach has limited reliability. Finally, it is suggested that coherent twins can be used for estimating experimental errors, and that the distributions cannot be a basis for conclusions about tilt boundaries unless additional restrictions are applied. The approach used in the paper is theoretical with support by computer simulations.