Materials Science Forum Vol. 735

Abstract: The microstructure of Al – Cu – Mg – Fe – Ni alloys with Mn and Zr additions was analyzed by optical and scanning electron microscopy, internal friction, X-ray and calorimetric analysis in order to optimize technology of superplastic alloy preparation. It is shown that the S (Al₂CuMg) phase precipitates during hot rolling and dissolves during annealing. This allows to create fine-grained recrystallized structure and to achieve elongation of 320 % at the strain rate of 1×10^-3 s^-1 during superplasticity testing. It is shown that annealing in saltpeter before superplastic deformation improves the superplastic behavior: at the constant strain rate of 4×10^-3 s^-1 elongation is 500 %.

Abstract: As for aluminium alloys, magnesium alloys are generally sensitive to strain induced cavitation when they are deformed in superplastic conditions. It has been widely shown that X-ray micro tomography is a particularly efficient tool for studying in 3D damage mechanisms during superplastic deformation. However, such characterisations are generally performed in post mortem conditions, namely on samples first deformed up to given strains and then characterised. In the present investigation, thanks to particularly short acquisition times offered by ESRF, damage induced by superplastic deformation of a magnesium alloy is studied thanks to tomography analyses performed in 4D conditions, namely directly during high temperature deformation tests. Such conditions provide unique opportunities for investigating nucleation, growth and coalescence of cavities since it is thus possible to follow each cavity up to the fracture process.

Abstract: Abstract. This study examined the critical plastic formability limit of a fine-structure AZ31 magnesium alloy plate under warm and high temperature based on the strength of a magnesium alloy that has cavities at room temperature. The cyclic hot free-forging process as pre-form working following rolling at a light reduction ratio fabricated a fine-structure AZ31 magnesium alloy plate. The appearance of the cavities was examined in detail together with changes in the structure and preparation methods before further damage at high temperatures with increasing uni-and biaxial plastic deformation. The allowable deformation limit in the super plasticity process can be estimated from the strength of the deformed material and forming limit diagram (FLD) at room temperature. During high-temperature deformation, cavities are produced by stress concentrations at grain boundary triple points and striation bands due to grain boundary sliding. The cavitations growth behavior is dependent upon deformation conditions, and a high percentage of large cavities occupy the sample surface as a large amount of grain boundary sliding is present, i.e., as uniform elongation grows larger, the cavity size also increases. In a case where 200% uniaxial strain was applied to a fine-grained structure material at a temperature of 623K under a strain rate of 10-4s-1, the tensile strength at room temperature decreased about 13%, and elongation was 10% less, compared with that of a material to which no load was applied due to the influence of cavities. In a case of biaxial deformation, the values were 28% lower. It is possible to draw a FLD based on the cavity incidence fraction .

Abstract: Closed-cell Zn-22Al superplastic alloy foams were manufactured through the melt foaming process. The Zn-22Al foams were produced with varying porosity of 51-71%. The tensile and compressive properties of the Zn-22Al foams were investigated at 523 K. The compressive specimen has m-value of 0.55 in the low strain rate region. This is because of the superplastic deformation induced by the fine microstructure of the cell wall. Though the superplastic elongation was not obtained in high temperature tensile test, the elongation was higher than that of conventional aluminum foams.

Abstract: It is understood that grains move by grain boundary sliding, and change their relationship to each other during superplastic deformation. Ideal two-dimensional observation of grain movements from the specimen surface is difficult even in the shear deformation because grains move three-dimensionally according to the stress distribution against the specimen surface. In this study, ODS steel with elongated grains aligned along one direction was deformed perpendicular to the aligned axis to achieve ideal two-dimensional grain movements. Surface height profiles with a laser microscope showed small amount of three-dimensional grain movements, while two-dimensional grain movements and rotations were appeared by observations before and after the deformation with SEM-EBSD.

Abstract: Plastic deformation of magnesium alloy is limited because of its HCP structure. Though the grain refined magnesium alloy exhibits superplastic deformation at elevated temperature, the strength decreases due to induced cavitation. This study focusses on developing the random texture of magnesium alloy and causes relatively high plastic deformation even at room temperature. Random texture is produced through newly proposed accumulative diffusion bonding process using commercial AZ91 magnesium alloy sheets. Tensile and V-bending tests reveal that the enhanced ductility of the produced magnesium alloy sheet.

Abstract: Complex sheet metal components can be formed from lightweight aluminum and magnesium sheet alloys using superplastic forming technologies. Superplastic forming typically takes advantage of the high strain-rate sensitivity characteristic of grain-boundary-sliding (GBS) creep to obtain significant ductility at high temperatures. However, GBS creep requires fine-grained materials, which can be expensive and difficult to manufacture. An alternative is provided by materials that exhibit solute-drag (SD) creep, a mechanism that also produces elevated values of strain-rate sensitivity. SD creep typically operates at lower temperatures and faster strain rates than does GBS creep. Unlike GBS creep, solute-drag creep does not require a fine, stable grain size. Previous work by Boissière et al. suggested that the Mg-Y-Nd alloy, essentially WE43, deforms by SD creep at temperatures near 400°C. The present investigation examines both tensile and biaxial deformation behavior of ElektronTM 43 sheet, which has a composition similar to WE43, at temperatures ranging from 400 to 500°C. Data are presented that provide additional evidence for SD creep in Elektron 43 and demonstrate the remarkable degree of biaxial strain possible under this regime (>1000%). These results indicate an excellent potential for producing complex 3-D parts, via superplastic forming, using this particular heat-treatable Mg alloy.

Abstract: In previous papers, the present authors observed grain motion in tetragonal zirconia polycrystal during superplastic deformation, and showed the displacement vector map of 748 grains. The map had an interesting feature such as transient domain structure. However, the authors did not pay much attention to the measurement error at that time. In this paper, the influence of measurement error on the map was quantitatively investigated. After precise calibration, it was revealed that measurement error did not have much influence on the feature, and statistics of grain motion was discussed on the calibrated map.

Abstract: Porous ceramics incorporates pores to improve several properties including thermal insulation, maintaining inherent ceramic properties such as corrosion resistance and large mechanical strength. Conventional porous ceramics is usually fabricated through an insufficient sintering, leading to degraded strength and durability. Contrary to this, we have innovated superplastically foaming method to make ceramic foam only in the solid state. In this method, the previously inserted foam agent evaporates after the full densification of matrix at around the sintering temperature. Closed pores expand utilizing the superplastic deformation driven by the evolved gas pressure. Based on this concept we fabricated 8mol% yttria stabirized zirconia based porous ceramics and examined the properties concerning the high temperature structural material with thermal insulation.

Abstract: Nb-16Si-2Fe alloy were processed by mechanical alloying (MA) and hot pressing sintering (HPS). Microstructure analysis revealed the presence of four phases: Nb solid solution (Nbss), three kinds of intermetallics Nb3Si, Nb5Si3 and Nb4Fe3Si5. The maximum elongation over 500% was obtained at 1450°C and strain rate of 2.31×10-4s-1. TiAl powder pre-alloyed was carried out on pulse current sintering equipment (PCS) with high heating rate. The effect of heating rate on microstructures and high temperature ductility was investigated. The results show that relatively high heating rate is beneficial for obtaining fine grained microstructures. And the resultant intermetallic alloy with equiaxed near gamma structures exhibits superplasticity at relatively low temperature.