Materials Science Forum Vol. 850

Abstract: Ultrafine alumina powders were synthesized through pyrocatechol and resorcinol mediated sol-gel process. Aluminum nitrate was applied as the Al source and PVP was the dispersant. X-ray diffraction (XRD) study displayed that γ-Al₂O₃ powders formed in the range of 800-900 °C, and then γ-Al₂O₃ transformed to α-Al₂O₃ at higher temperatures, pure α-Al₂O₃ powders could be obtained at 1000 °C by using resorcinol as organic monomer. The results of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that Al₂O₃ nanoparticles with γ crystalline phase had grain sizes in the range of 5-40 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation displayed that the morphology of the prepared α-Al₂O₃ powders had aggregated bodies formed by Al₂O₃ grains in the range of 0.2-0.5μm. These results provide a new way of preparation of alumina powders.

Abstract: A series of slag were fabricated by self-shield welding of different flux-cored wire. The microstructure and phase composition of those slag were investigated by means of metallographic microscope, SEM,EDX and X-ray diffraction respectively. The result demonstrated that the slag forming material of TiO₂ and Al₂O₃ tenders to form the framework structure of slag, while CaO and MnO₂ inclines to incorporate in the grain boundary. Furthermore, the dense and dendrite phase structure of slag was beneficial for the removal of slag. On the contrary the slag with tiny needle and skeleton-like structure was difficult to clear up. In conclusion, the detachability performance was not only affected by the microstructure, but also by the chemical composition of the slag system.

Abstract: Sheets of Cu-24wt.%Ag alloy were prepared through the process of forging, cold rolling and heat treatment to reveal the evolution of microstructures, mechanical properties and electrical conductivity. The experimental results showed that nanomultilayered structure of Cu and Ag phases arranged alternatively was obtained, with numerous nanoscale Ag precipitate-fibers embedded in Cu matrix. The lamellas in longitudinal section became curved gradually and shear bands appeared when the deformation exceeded 90.79%. With the increase of rolling strain, the average layer thickness and spacing decreased progressively and reached to less than 200 nm as the strain surpassed 96%, resulting in rapid enhancement of the hardness. The heat treatment at 250°C markedly improved electrical conductivity of the alloy, with little decline of the hardness. The anisotropy of the alloy reduced with rising temperature. Local spheroidization occurred when the alloy was heat treated at 300°C. Hardening of this Cu-Ag alloy is predominated by Cu/Ag interface in strain stage of 80%~99%, leaning mainly upon layer thickness and spacing.

Abstract: In the present investigation the casting-forging integrated technology was adopted to manufacture Al-1.1Mg-0.6Si-0.4Cu alloy automobile brake calipers. The effect of forging pressure on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-1.1Mg-0.6Si-0.4Cu alloy calipers were studied. The results showed that the shrinkage porosities and cracks in the Al-1.1Mg-0.6Si-0.4Cu alloy calipers could be removed by the forging process. The ultimate tensile strength and elongation of Al-1.1Mg-0.6Si-0.4Cu alloy calipers increased with the increase of forging pressure. When the forging pressure was 120 MPa, the ultimate tensile strength and elongation of Al-1.1Mg-0.6Si-0.4Cu alloy calipers with T6 heat treatment were 365.3 MPa and 11.5%, which were improved by 22.8% and 38.2%, respectively compared with that of Al-1.1Mg-0.6Si-0.4Cu alloy calipers without forging. The tensile fracture images revealed that the fracture modes of Al-1.1Mg-0.6Si-0.4Cu alloy calipers were more ductile at higher forging pressure.

Abstract: The as-casted Al-Si-Mg alloy was treated by solution and aging process of 545°C/10h/water cooling plus 175°C/6h /air cooling. The effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical property of Al-Si-Mg was investigated by metallographic analysis, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersion spectrum analysis and mechanical testing. The experimental results showed that the alloy had the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 317MPa and the elongation of 2%, and suitable for squeezing cast. During solution treatment, the plate-like eutectic Si particles became small granular or short bacilliform morphology, and the non-uniformly distributed eutectic phase was eliminated substantially. In addition, Si particles distributed uniformly and finely in the matrix. The tensile strength of as-casted alloy was 180 MPa, while it was up to 317 MPa after solution and aging treatment process, and the elongation increased from 2% to 3%, which is consistent with the microstructure. Fracture surface analysis showed that fracture mode of the alloy transformed from brittle fracture into co-existence of ductile fracture and brittle fracture during T6 treatment.

Abstract: The influence of solution treatment on microstructure evolution and mechanical behavior of Cu-20Ni-20Mn alloy was investigated by optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and hardness test. The results revealed that both solution temperature and holding time had effect on the grain growth behavior. The grain growth activation energy was determined by grain size of Cu-20Ni-20Mn alloy for different heat treatment temperatures and periods. With increasing temperature of solution treatment, the second phase is gradually dissolved into the Cu-rich matrix, and the lattice parameter of the matrix solution treated at 1173K for 0.5 h was about 3.668 Å. The hardness of the solution-treated alloy was lower than that of hot forging, and the hardness value decreased with the increase of solution temperature, which may be attributed to grain size. The hardening ability, corresponding to the Hall-Petch relationship, decreased linearly with D^-1/2.

Abstract: Friction stir processing (FSP) is a novel severe plastic deformation technique developed in recent years to produce fine-grained structural materials. Through increasing the processing pass, further grain refinement can be achieved. In this paper, the microstructure and mechanical properties of AZ91 magnesium alloy prepared by the single-pass and two-pass FSP were studied. The results showed that the coarse, network-like eutectic β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ phase was broken into particles and some of them dissolved into the magnesium matrix, and the α-Mg grains were remarkably refined after FSP. The average grain sizes of the single-pass and two-pass FSP alloys were 8.3 μm and 5.8 μm respectively. The ultimate tensile strengths of the specimens were 284.5 MPa and 319.7 MPa, and elongations were 13% and 14.5%, respectively. The improved mechanical properties of the two-pass FSP specimen were mainly attributed to the finer grain size and more homogenized microstructure.

Abstract: AZ31 magnesium alloy was friction stir spot welded in air and cooling in water. The effect of the enhanced cooling rate on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the joint was analyzed. The results showed that flowing water had obvious cooling effect instantaneously, which significantly restrained the growth of dynamic recrystallized grains. The average grain size in stir zone was 1.3μm in cooling water condition, which is far smaller than that of the joint prepared in air cooling condition. Under the condition of enhanced cooling, the microhardness in stir zone significantly increased, the ultimate tensile load (~ 3.99kN) increased by 15.7%, and the tensile deformation value (~ 3.65 mm) increased by 62.2%. Dimples in SEM fracture morphologies indicated the better plastic deformation capacity of joints prepared by cooling water, which failed through a mixture mode of ductile and brittle fracture.

Abstract: AZ91D magnesium alloy is one of the most widely used magnesium alloys in the production of metal forming, which use the characteristics from liquid state to solid state of metal to form. The present status of the research and application of the semi-solid forming for AZ91D magnesium alloys at present was reviewed in this paper, including the microstructural characteristics, the thixotropic and rheological behavior, the forming process of semi-solid for AZ91D magnesium alloys and the mechanical properties of the parts made of semi-solid magnesium alloys. The developing prospects and the key points of the semi-solid forming for AZ91D magnesium alloys were forecasted, and the industrial application of the alloy were also discussed.

Abstract: In semi-solid rheocast and thixocast industry, T6 heat treatment was one key factor to improve the mechanical properties of the castings. The microstructure evolution was closely influenced by heat treatment temperature and time. In this paper, the morphology change of eutectic silicon in semi-solid alloy during different heat treatment time was firstly observed. The changes of both roundness and aspect show that the silicon particles underwent fragmentation, coarsening and growing up processes during solution treatment. Then, the mechanical properties after stand T6 and T6 with higher temperature were compared. It may be concluded that the higher temperature doesn’t have obvious effect to increase the mechanical strength, but severe negative effect on the elongation. Finally, the incipient melting defect appeared in higher temperature T6 was proved and its relationship with elongation was analysed.