Materials Science Forum Vol. 879

Abstract: The effect of various factors on the kinetics of microstructure evolution in commercial-purity titanium and two-phase Ti-6Al-4V alloy during deformation was studied. The kinetics of microstructure refinement can be raised via intensification of deformation twinning. In two-phase titanium alloys the kinetics of spheroidization can be increased considerably by decrease in the thickness of initial α lamellae. The influence of interphase boundaries energy on deformation behavior was discussed with respect to Ti-6Al-4V and Ti/TiB alloys.

Abstract: In this study, the modification effects and mechanism of manganese (Mn) and ultrasonic vibration (USV) on the needle-like Fe-containing intermetallic compounds of Al-20Si-xFe-2.0Cu-0.4Mg-1.0Ni (x=1, 2 wt.%) alloy have been studied respectively. The effect of Fe-containing phases on volume fraction of hard phases is also investigated. The results show that the mechanism and effect of Fe-containing intermetallic compounds improved by Mn are in close relationship with Fe content. Mn can promote to form less harmful α-Al₁₅(Fe,Mn)₃Si₂ phase, or replace some Fe atoms of β-Al₅FeSi and δ-Al₄FeSi₂ according to different Fe content. When USV was applied to this alloy containing 2%Fe near liquidus temperature, most of the acicular β phases formed in traditional process are substituted by fine plate δ phases. With the combined effects of 0.5%Mn and USV, the acicular β phases are almost repressed and the Fe-containing phases exist in form of fine Al₄(Fe,Mn)Si₂ and Al₅(Fe,Mn)Si particles about 20~30μm. Consequently, the total volume fraction of hard phases which are composed of primary silicon particles and Fe-containing phases increases significantly.

Abstract: An intercritical annealing process was applied to a medium manganese steel plate (Fe-0.01C-5.3Mn-1.53Si) after the thermo-mechanical controlled processing (TMCP) and ultrafast cooling (UFC). The microstructures were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The retained austenite was measured by XRD and mechanical properties were measured by uniaxial tensile and impact tests. The influence of different annealing temperature was compared and the relationship between microstructures and mechanical properties was investigated. Results showed that the microstructures of the medium manganese steel plate were characterized by ultrafine grained lath-like ferrite and retained austenite and the excellent mechanical properties could be obtained at the annealing temperature of 640°C for 5 h. The volume fraction of the retained austenite reached up to 21%, which could significantly increase the elongation compared with the traditional steel plate. The mechanical property results revealed that the steel possessed adequate ultimate tensile strength of 865MPa and excellent impact energy of 121J (-20°C). The outstanding combination of strength and toughness indicates that the steel has a bright application prospect.

Abstract: Solution treatments (T4) at 380 °C for 16 h and 500 °C for 8 h were performed for ZK60 magnesium alloys modified with addition of 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 wt% of mischmetal (combination of rare-earth (RE) elements). The compression behaviour was investigated at room temperature and at 300 °C correlated with the microstructure and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data. The as-cast microstructure is formed by a-Mg matrix with globular grains reinforced by a semi continuous network of Mg-Zn, Mg-Zn-RE and Mg-RE intermetallic particles. Solution-treated alloys show lower yield strengths due to partial dissolution of precipitates. Work hardening was not observed for the alloys compressed at 300°C with the compression speed of 10^-3 s^-1, whereas it was observed for the compression speed of 10^-2 s^-1 for the all as-cast, ZK60-1.5RE-T4 at 380 °C and ZK60-1.5RE-T4 at 380 °C.

Abstract: The microstructure and mechanical properties of dissimilar butt-joints between a high-strength low alloyed (HSLA) grade and an austenitic high Mn TRIP steel were investigated. The tool rotation and the tool offset toward the TRIP steel were varied between 300–500 rpm and 1–2 mm, respectively. Tool advancing speed amounted to 100 mm/min. Maximum tension stress was observed for the butt-joint welded with 300 rpm and 2 mm offset. The lowest increase in hardness within the stirred zone also occurred for this FSW condition, indicating that this tool rotation is more promising for welding dissimilar joints of commercial HSLA and high Mn TRIP steels. The weld microstructure consisted mainly of a stirred zone, and neither significant HAZ nor TMAZ are observed. However, two main lobular regions are observed, one at the bottom and another one at the top side of the welds. Besides, the HSLA develops a multiphase microstructure consisting of bainite, martensite and retained austenite phases, whereas no e/a martensite is found in the stirred zone of the austenitic high-Mn TRIP steel.

Abstract: The effects of warm working on microstructural, retained austenite characteristics and shear deformation properties of 0.2C–1.5Si–1.5Mn–1.0Cr–0.2Mo TRIP-aided martensitic (TM) steel for applications to automotive frame and forging parts were investigated. When warm working at 550 °C and post cooling at 1 °C/s was conducted to the TM steel, volume fractions of retained austenite and martensite-austenite constituent phase increased and mixture matrix of ultra fine granular bainitic ferrite and fine bainitic ferrite lath was obtained, whereas microstructure of TM steel warm worked at 750 °C exhibited granular bainitic ferrite matrix. These were caused by the dynamic recrystallization and the promotion of bainitic transformation of austenite due to the worm forging at 550 °C with the post cooling rate of 1 °C/s. Maximum shear stress decreased and total shear displacement increased with decreasing working temperature in TM steel. These were caused by the effective strain induced transformation of a large amount of retained austenite and the refined matrix structure.

Abstract: Metastable β titanium alloy Ti-15Mo was investigated in this study. In-situ electrical resistance and thermal expansion measurements conducted on solution treated material revealed influence of ongoing phase transitions on measured properties. The monotonicity of the dependence of electrical resistance on temperature changes at 225, 365 and 560 °C The thermal expansion deviates from linearity between 305 and 580 °C.

Abstract: The effects of Si and/or Ge addition on the microstructure and creep properties at 650°C and 137 MPa were investigated in near-α Ti–Al–Sn–Zr–Mo alloys. Si and/or Ge addition decreased the minimum creep strain rate owing to the solid solution of Si and Ge in the matrix and the precipitation of silicide, germanide, and their solid solutions. The decrease in the minimum creep strain rate in the alloy with 1 wt% Ge without Si was the most significant because of the formation of very fine germanide precipitates. In addition, a marked shift in the lattice parameters of the α and β phases was detected for the alloy with 4 wt% Ge. The Moiré fringe patterns at the α/β interfaces in the alloys were investigated using high-resolution transmission electron micrographs to discuss the alloying effect on the structure of the interfaces.

Abstract: Hydride precipitation due to the spontaneous and fast hydrogen diffusion is often pointed as causing embrittlement and rupture in zirconium alloys used in the nuclear industry. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-Rays Diffraction (XRD) have been used to study the precipitation of hydride phases in zirconium alloys as a function of the hydrogen content. The orientation relationships observed between the hydride phase and the substrate were similar to those previously observed in Titanium hydrides grown on Titanium. Dislocation emission from the hydride precipitates has been directly related to the relaxation of the misfit stresses appearing during the transformation. The stability of the hydride phases after several dissolution-reprecipitation cycles have been studied by DSC, TEM and XRD for different total hydrogen content in several alloys. The energy of precipitation observed is lower than that of the dissolution in each case studied. The temperature associated with these two processes slightly increase as a function of the cycle number, as a result of the homogenizing hydrogen distribution in the alloy bulk. The same hydrides phases present before cycling were also observed after 20 cycles. However, transition phases poorer in hydrogen than the dominant one may precipitate at the interface with the substrate. The evolution of these transitions phases with the temperature increase will be investigated by TEM in-situ heating in the next future.

Abstract: The microstructure of as-extruded Al-9.8Zn-2.0Mg-1.8Cu aluminum alloy and its evolution during solution treatment were investigated by means of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis and electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD). The results indicated that second phase of the as-extruded alloy mainly consisted of Mg (Zn, Cu, Al)₂ and Fe-rich phases. After solution treated at 475°C for 4h, Mg (Zn, Cu, Al)₂ phases were dissolved into the matrix, while Fe-rich phases still existed. Fe-rich phases cannot dissolve by prolonging solution time. The room temperature tensile strength gradually increased by prolonging solution time at 475^oC. The ultimate tensile strength of the alloy reached 700MPa after both single and two-step solution treatments.