Papers by Keyword: Microstructure

Abstract: This paper presents a metallographic and fractographic study of AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel subjected to mechanical loading in the sensitized condition. Static three-point bending tests and impact tests were carried out to evaluate how sensitization affects the mechanical response and fracture behaviour of AISI 304. The study compares the initial state of the material with its condition after sensitization at 700 °C for 10 h, with emphasis on changes in plastic deformation and fracture mechanisms. Microstructural evaluation was performed using light microscopy, while Vickers microhardness measurements provided insight into local mechanical changes. Fractographic analysis using scanning electron microscopy revealed differences in fracture surface morphology. Results demonstrate a decrease in microhardness, reduced impact energy, and noticeable differences in fracture morphology following the sensitization treatment, indicating that the heat treatment influences both the mechanical response and failure behaviour of AISI 304.

Abstract: Face-centered cubic (FCC) medium-entropy alloys (MEAs) are known for their excellent ductility and fracture toughness, but they suffer from relatively low mechanical strength. Alloying elements are added in FCC MEA matrix to promote the formation of hard secondary phase or intermetallic compounds that improve the mechanical performance of the alloys. In this study, the effect of chromium (Cr) and niobium (Nb) additions on the microstructural and corrosion characteristics of the CoNiV MEA matrix was investigated. A scanning electron microscope coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy was used to analyse the microstructure and composition of the developed alloys. The corrosion properties of the alloys were evaluated using linear polarization. The alloys exhibited a dendritic microstructure with the presence of secondary phases, which is consistent with slow cooling associated with arc melting and the presence of elements with large atomic radii that upset the crystal lattice. Alloy containing Cr possessed better anti-corrosive properties than its Nb counterpart, signalling formation of a more stable Cr₂O₃ passive film. This layer creates a boundary between the corrosive medium and the alloy substrate to prevent further interaction.

Abstract: Austenitic stainless steels are characterised by excellent corrosion resistance and good formability, but their low hardness and fatigue life are limitations in demanding applications. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of solution annealing and plasma nitriding on the microstructure, hardness and fatigue properties of AISI 304 steel. The experimental material was examined in three states: initial, after solution annealing and after plasma nitriding. Solution annealing resulted in the removal of deformation martensite, giving a homogeneous austenitic structure with a decrease in hardness. On the contrary, plasma nitriding produced a hard nitride layer (1291 HV0.01), while no martensite retransformation took place. The results of the fatigue tests showed that the specimens after plasma nitriding reached the highest fatigue limit (878 MPa), while the specimens in the initial condition had the highest number of cycles to fracture. Fractographic analysis revealed typical fatigue failure characteristics in all conditions. The study highlights the possibility of optimising the fatigue properties of austenitic steels through an appropriate combination of thermal and chemical-heat treatments.

Abstract: This paper presents a method for fabricating a porous Ni-Al₂O₃-Al compact using uniaxial double-action pressing, which was subsequently infiltrated with molten aluminium. Al₂O₃ ceramic particles primarily serve to create porosity within the composite compact. Due to the difficulty pressing hard metal powders, aluminium powder was introduced into the Ni+Al₂O₃ mixture to act as a plasticizer, improving the material's compressibility. Experiments indicated that the optimal infiltration temperature was 750 °C with an infiltration duration of 300 seconds. To evaluate the reaction extent among the initial components, a subset of infiltrated samples underwent annealing at 800 °C for 3 hours under an inert argon atmosphere. Both annealed and reference samples were subjected to thermal cycling. The microstructure and thermal stability of the resulting composite materials were analyzed and characterized using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, respectively.

Abstract: It is well known that the work hardening process of low-carbon steels is highly dependent on the movement and accumulation of dislocations in the crystal grains, which affect the stress and strain magnitudes and their distribution. The aim of this paper is to explain the importance of dislocation movement and density on the temperature, i.e. stress and strain changes during cold plastic deformation of low-carbon steels. Therefore, tests were carried out in this paper using the methods of static tensile testing, thermography, digital image correlation (DIC) and microstructural analysis. The microstructure analysis was carried out using a light and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The transmission electron microscope analysis was performed in two different modes, the TEM and scanning TEM (STEM). The results of static tensile testing, thermography and digital image correlation (DIC) are related to the microstructural changes that occur during the work hardening process of low-carbon steel. At the moment of maximum work hardening (immediately before fracture), significant grain elongation and high dislocation density of low-carbon steel were observed.

Abstract: Austenitic stainless steels (ASSs) are characteristic with a combination of good mechanical and corrosion properties. Therefore, they are used in the primary circuits of nuclear power plants. Under the influence of a corrosive environment containing chloride ions and mechanical loading, the phenomenon of stress corrosion cracking occurs in ASSs. SCC can also be initiated by the surface condition of ASSs. Machining is usually the last stage of production, during which a significant deformed zone with high residual tensile stresses can be created, which can accelerate the initiation of stress corrosion cracking. Research is focused on analyzing the influence of final turning on microstructural changes of the surface-machined layer caused by various turning parameters (e.g.: cutting speed, feed, depth of cut, cutting tool geometry). No significant microstructure changes were observed between the samples by light microscopy, so we focused on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on thin lamellas prepared using the focus ion beam (FIB) technique. TEM observation confirmed the presence of a deformed zone and a passivation layer. In the case of the sample that was turned with a higher feed and cutting speed, the passivation layer was discontinuous. Such a microstructural change can significantly affect the corrosion resistance of ASS.

Abstract: To prepare bulk single-crystal REBCO superconductors by the new single-direction growth method (SDMG: Single-Direction Melt-Growth), it is necessary to produce a large-area seed of high quality, for example, based on EuBCO. Since the samples prepared by the SDMG method copy the structure of the seed, for the production of large-area seeds it is necessary to optimize the time-temperature regime in order to grow seeds with a suitable structure and composition and minimize structural defects (limiting the amount of subgrains and others). A higher growth rate was used in comparison with the standard growth rates used to produce EuBCO seeds of larger dimensions. The increased growth rate in the crystal growth window reduces the outflow of the melt from the sample, and thus it is possible to achieve a single-crystal sample in the entire volume of the precursor. The samples were produced at different growth rates: 1; 2; 3 and 5 °C/h. The microstructure of the samples was studied by polarized light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The size and distribution of Eu211 particles in the sample volume and the subgrain structure were studied on the fabricated samples.

Abstract: This study investigated the impact of as-printed and heat-treated additively produced 2507 super duplex stainless steel (also known as SDSS) on microstructure and hardness distribution. Optical microscopy was used to examine the phase transformations of the steel during the as-printed (untreated) and solution-annealed treatment stages of samples. The relationship between microstructure and hardness distribution (center and edge) was studied. Because the LPBF process cools rapidly, the SDSS shows that the main phase in as-printed samples is ferrite, with 5% austenite. The fully balanced microstructure is forming when the solution annealing is performed, with austenite content about 52%. The hardness of SDSS is strictly related to the material microstructure, where the fully ferritic structure shows higher hardness 50.16–46.18 HRC, while the balanced duplex microstructure reveals lower values 34.58–32.26 HRC.

Abstract: During underwater wet welding, the environment has a corresponding effect on the mechanical properties of the weld metal. The use of external electromagnetic action (EEA) during welding is promising for influencing the formation of welded joints and the structure formation in physically inhomogeneous environments. Experimental studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of EEA application in reducing the tendency of weld metal to form pores, enhancing degassing, and lowering hydrogen content etc. The paper presents a metallographic study of the welded joint metal of structural steel (St3) after underwater welding with 12Kh18N9T filler wire, both without and with the use of EEA. Based on calculation methods and predictive modelling, optimal operating modes of the electromagnetic system for an experimental study of the EEA effect during underwater welding have been established and implemented. It has been established that the weld metal mainly has a ferrite-pearlite structure, while an austenitic structure with elongated grains is formed in the weld metal. When using the EEA, the grain structure of the weld metal is refined by an average of 1.5 times with an insignificant decrease in microhardness. In the heat-affected zone (HAZ), in the areas of large grain (I HAZ), recrystallisation (II HAZ) and incomplete recrystallisation (III HAZ), a bainitic structure is formed in the presence of ferrite layers. Under the influence of the EEA, the grain size is refined by 1.2 times in the I HAZ and II HAZ with a decrease in the thickness of ferrite layers and an increase in microhardness by an average of 7 ... 10%. The formation of such a structure will provide a set of strength properties and toughness of the welded joint metal. Research has proven that the technology of wet welding under water using the EEA allows for the production of high-quality welded joints with a high set of physical and mechanical properties of the metal of both welded joints and the HAZ.

Abstract: Phase components of experimental low cost titanium alloys, their substructure and parameters, dislocation structure, features of phase formation in the metal, which differ in alloying systems, were studied using complex research methods. The stoichiometric composition of dispersed phases in the internal volumes of alloy grains was determined by diffraction patterns using transmission electron microscopy. It is shown that in the structure of titanium alloy Ti-2,8Al-5,1Mo-4,9Fe there are dispersed nanoparticles of intermetallic phases of different morphology and stoichiometric composition. These are the phases: Ti₃Al and Fe₂Ti with a size of 10…40 nm; Mo₉Ti₄ - 20…120 nm. Studies of titanium alloy Ti-1,5Fe-O showed the presence in the structure of mainly nanoparticles of oxides: Ti₃O₅ size 10…30 nm and Ti₄Fe₂O, FeTiO₅ (10…90 nm), as well as intermetallics Fe₂Ti (10…40 nm). It is established that the formation of nanoparticles of intermetallic and oxide phases in the thin plate structure of the investigated experimental low cost titanium alloys promotes the formation of the substructure with uniform distribution of dislocation density. This provides a high level of mechanical properties of alloys.