Relationship Between Mechanical Properties of Lead-Free Solders and Their Heat Treatment Parameters

The research was undertaken to establish mechanical properties of as-cast and heat-treated Sn-Zn-based alloys of binary and ternary systems as candidates for lead (Pb)-free solder materials for high-temperature applications. The heat treatment of as-cast alloys was made under different combinations of processing parameters (168 h/50 °C, 42 h/80 °C, and 24 h/110 °C). The systematic study of structure-property relationships in Sn-Zn, Sn-Zn-Ag, and Sn-Zn-Cu alloys containing the same amount of Zn (4.5, 9, 13.5 wt.%) and 1 wt.% of either Ag or Cu was conducted to identify the effects of chemical composition and heat treatment processing parameters on the alloy microstructure and mechanical behavior. Structural characterization was made using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques coupled with EDS analysis. Mechanical properties (initial Young’s modulus E, ultimate tensile strength UTS, elastic limit R _0.05, yield point R _0.2, elongation A ₅, and necking Z) were determined by means of static tensile tests. All the examined Sn-Zn-based alloys have attractive combination of mechanical characteristics, especially tensile strength, having values higher than that of common leaded solders and their substitutes of Pb-free SAC family. The results obtained demonstrate that the Sn-Zn-based alloys present competitive Pb-free solder candidates for high-temperature applications.     

Effect of Fe additions on microstructure and mechanical properties of a multi-component Nb–16Si–22Ti–2Hf–2Al–2Cr alloy at room and high temperatures

The phase constitutions, microstructural evolutions, and mechanical properties of Nb–16Si–22Ti–2Hf–2Al–2Cr–xFe alloys (where x = 1, 2, 4, 6 at.%, hereafter referred to as 1Fe, 2Fe, 4Fe and 6Fe alloys, respectively) prepared by arc-melting were investigated. It was observed that the nominal Fe content affected the solidification path of the multi-component alloy. The as-cast 1Fe alloy primarily consisted of a dendritic-like Nb_SS phase and (α+γ)-Nb₅Si₃ silicide, and the as-cast 2Fe and 4Fe alloys primarily consisted of an Nb_SS phase, (α+γ)-Nb₅Si₃ silicide and (Fe + Ti)-rich region. In addition to the Nb_SS phase, a multi-component Nb₄FeSi silicide was present in the as-cast 6Fe alloy. When heat-treated at 1350 °C for 100 h, the 1Fe and 6Fe alloys almost exhibited the same microstructures as the corresponding as-cast samples; for the 2Fe and 4Fe alloys, the (Fe + Ti)-rich region decomposed, and Nb₄FeSi silicide formed. The fracture toughness of the as-cast and heat-treated Nb–16Si–22Ti–2Hf–2Al–2Cr–xFe samples monolithically decreased with the nominal Fe contents. It is interesting that at room temperature, the strength of the heat-treated samples was improved by the Fe additions, whereas at 1250 °C and above, the strength decreased, suggesting the weakening role of the Nb₄FeSi silicide on the high-temperature strength. As the nominal Fe content increased from 1 at.% to 6 at.%, for example, the 0.2% yield strength increased from 1675 MPa to 1820 MPa at room temperature; also, the strength decreased from 183 MPa to 78 MPa at 1350 °C.     

Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of an Nb–16Si in-situ composite with Fe additions prepared by arc-melting

This paper deals with phase constitutions, microstructural evolutions, and mechanical properties of Nb–16Si–xFe in-situ composites (where x = 2, 4, 6 at.%, referred as to 2Fe, 4Fe and 6Fe alloys, hereafter) prepared by arc-melting. It is found that with additions of Fe, Nb₄FeSi silicide arises and microstructures of as-cast samples are consisted of dendritic-like Nb_SS phase, Nb₃Si block, and Nb₄FeSi matrix in the 2Fe and 4Fe alloys, and of the dendritic-like Nb_SS phase and Nb₄FeSi matrix in the 6Fe alloy. When heat-treated at 1350 °C for 100 h, part of the Nb₃Si phase decomposes in the 2Fe and 4Fe alloys, and the 6Fe alloy shows no change in microstructure as compared with the as-cast one. The Nb₄FeSi silicide is found to be brittle, its fracture toughness and elastic modulus are first obtained, having values about 1.22 MPa m^1/2, and 310 GPa, respectively. The fracture toughness of the bulk as-cast and heat-treated Nb–16Si–xFe samples are changed slightly by the Fe additions, which is in a range of 9.03–10.19 MPa m^1/2. It is interesting that at room temperature, strength is improved by the Fe additions, whereas at 1250 °C and 1350 °C the strength decreases. As the Fe content increased from 2 at.% to 6 at.%, for example, the 0.2% yield strength increases from 1410 MPa to 1580 MPa at room temperature, decreases from 479 MPa to 385 MPa at 1250 °C.     

Production and mechanical properties of aluminum alloys with dispersed nanoscale quasicrystalline and amorphous particles

By the dispersion of nanoscale quasicrystalline and amorphous particles in Al phase, new Al-based alloys with good mechanical properties were developed in a high Al concentration range of 93–95 at.% for Al−Cr−Ce−Co, Al−V−Fe, Al−Ti−M and Al−Fe−Cr−Ti alloy systems. The Vickers hardness of a melt-quenched (MQ) Al_84.6Cr_15.4 alloy with almost a single icosahedral quasicrystalline phase (QC) was 710. The addition of Ce and Co in the Al−Cr binary alloys was effective for the extension of the concentration range of the QC to a lower solute concentration range. The fracture strength (σ_f) increased to 1340 MPa for the MQ Al_94.5Cr₃Ce₁Co_1.5 alloy in which the particle size and volume fraction were approximately 40 nm and 70%, respectively. The σ_f of the MQ Al₉₄V₄Fe₂ alloy was 1390 MPa and the particle size and volume fraction were about 10 nm and 50%, respectively. Similarly, σ_f of the MQ Al₉₃Ti₄Fe₃ alloy was 1320 MPa and the particle size and volume fraction were about 11 nm and 30%, respectively. Power metallurgy (P/M) Al₉₃Fe₃Cr₂Fe₂ alloy with dispersed nanoscale QC exhibited ultimate tensile strength (σ_UTS) of 660 MPa, 0.2 % proof stress (σ_0.2) of 550 MPa, plastic elongation (ε_P) of 4.5%, Young's modulus (E) of 85 GPa, Vickers hardness (Hv) of 192 and specific strength (σ_UTS/ρ) of 2.20×10⁵ Nm/kg at room temperature and σ_UTS of 350 MPa, σ_0.2 of 330 MPa and ε_P of 1.5% at 573 K. The QC structure in the P/M Al₉₃Fe₃Cr₂Ti₂ alloy remained almost unchanged even after annealing for 720 ks at 573 K and good wear resistance against S50C steel was also maintained for the extruded alloy tested at sliding velocity of 0.5 to 2 m/sec. These mechanical properties are promising for the future extension of the new Al-based alloys to practical materials. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium “The 3rd KIM-JIM Joint Symposium on Advanced Powder Materials”, held at Korea University, Seoul, Korea, October 26–27, 2001 under auspices of The Korean Institute of Metals and Materials and The Japan Institute of Metals.     

High-Strength Weldable Corrosion-Resistant Aluminum Alloy for Bearing Building Structures

A weldable corrosion-resistant alloy based on the Al - Zn - Mg system has been developed. The alloy has high strength characteristics (σ_r ≥ 500 MPa and σ_0.2 ≥ 450 MPa) and is well weldable (the factor of weld concavity is 0.8 – 0.95). The substrate metal and welded joints of this metal are characterized by high corrosion resistance, good ductility and fracture toughness, and high fatigue resistance. The alloys and the process of its production are based on known scientific achievements of the All-Russia Institute of Light Alloys (VILS) in the field of alloys of the Al - Zn - Mg system and in the field of alloying of aluminum alloys with scandium. __________ Translated from Metallovedenie i Termicheskaya Obrabotka Metallov, No. 8, pp. 30 – 35, August, 2005.     

Structural Aspects of the Behavior of Lead-Free Solder in the Corrosive Solution

In oxidizing environments, most tin-based lead (Pb)-free alloys form a tin oxide that is easily eroded or mechanically damaged, affecting corrosion resistance and thus reliability of the soldered joints. In this study, the effect of microstructure heterogeneity on corrosion behavior of Pb-free solder candidate systems has been investigated on the example of as-cast and heat-treated alloys. The research was focused on a comparison between the corrosion resistance of binary Sn-Zn and ternary Sn-Zn-Cu alloys. Accelerated corrosion tests were performed by means of electrochemical methods in the sodium sulfate solution (VI), Na₂SO₄, of about 0.5 M concentration, pH adjusted to 2 by means of concentrated H₂SO₄ acid. In these tests, the corrosion potentials as well as polarization curves were determined for the selected alloys in as-cast state and after their heat treatment using different combinations of processing parameters. The measurements of basic electrochemical characteristics were made, i.e., the corrosion current (i _corr μA/cm²) and Tafel coefficients, both cathodic (b _c V/dec) and anodic (b _a V/dec) ones. Detailed structural characterization of as-cast and heat-treated alloys before and after accelerated corrosion tests has been made under a wide range of magnifications using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy observations. The results showed that structural heterogeneity of the examined alloys, attributed to the presence of secondary phases, and affected by their size and distribution, significantly influences the behavior of the examined Pb-free Sn-Zn-based alloys in the corrosive environment.     

Hot deformation behavior of Mg-7.22Gd-4.84Y-1.26Nd-0.58Zr magnesium alloy

The behavior evolvement of Mg-7.22Gd-4.84Y-1.26Nd-0.58Zr(GWN751K) magnesium alloy during the hot deformation process was discussed.The flow stress behavior of the magnesium alloy over the strain rate range of 0.002 to 2.000 s-1 and in the temperature range of 623 to 773 K was studied on a Gleeble-1500D hot simulator under the maximum deformation degree of 60%.The experimental results showed that the relationship between stress and strain was obviously affected by strain rate and deformation temperature.The flow stress of GWN751K magnesium alloy during high temperature deformation could be represented by the Zener-Hollomon parameter in the hyperbolic Arrhenius-type equation.The stress exponent n and deformation activation energy Q were evaluated by linear regression analysis.The stress exponent n was fitted to be 3.16.The hot deformation activation energy of the alloy during hot deformation was 230.03 kJ/mol.The microstructures of hot deformation were also influenced by strain rate and compression temperature strongly.It was found that the alloy could be extruded at 723 K with the mechanical properties of σ0.2 = 260 MPa,σb = 320 MPa,and δ = 18%.     

不同凝固压力条件下A356-10%SiC复合材料的微观组织及性能

通过搅拌法制备A356?10%10SiC复合材料,并分别在0.1(重力条件)、25、50和75 MPa压力条件下进行该复合材料的直接挤压铸造成形,研究了铸态和 T6热处理后复合材料的微观组织及力学性能。结果表明：随着挤压力的增大,铸件的增强颗粒?孔洞团簇缺陷减少,并改善了增强颗粒与基体间的结合强度,拉伸强度、硬度和热膨胀系数增加。与铸态复合材料相比,T6热处理后复合材料的抗拉强度和硬度增大而热膨胀系数减小;在重力条件下凝固的复合材料断口处存在增强颗粒?孔洞团簇缺陷,而在挤压力下凝固的复合材料断口未观察到该缺陷,断口特征表明两者存在不同的断裂机制。     

Effects of Zr additions on structure and tensile properties of an Al-4.5Cu-0.3Mg-0.05Ti (wt.%) alloy

The effects of different Zr additions(0.05wt.%-0.5wt.%)on the structure and tensile properties of an Al-4.5Cu-0.3Mg-0.05Ti(wt.%)alloy solidified under a high cooling rate(18℃·s^-1),in as-cast and T6 heat-treated conditions were studied.The as-cast structure of the alloy consists of equiaxed grains ofα-Al with an average size of 64μm which is unaffected by the Zr additions,indicating the ineffectiveness of Zr in the grain refinement of the alloy.Scanning electron microscopy,along with X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the presence of elongatedθ-Al2Cu at the grain boundaries;in addition,coarse Al3Zr particles exist in the intergranular regions of the 0.5wt.%Zr-containing alloy.After the T6 heat treatment,the elongatedθparticles were fragmented;however,the coarse Al3Zr particles remained unchanged in the microstructure.Also,the formation of fineβ’-Al3Zr andθ’’-Al3Cu/θ’-Al2Cu phases during T6 heat treatment was revealed by transmission electron microscopy.The results of the tensile tests showed that the Zr additions increase the strength of the alloy in both as-cast and T6 heat-treated conditions,but reduce its elongation,especially with 0.5wt.%Zr addition.The 0.3wt.%Zr-added alloy in the T6 heat-treated condition has the highest quality index value(249 MPa).Fractography of the fracture surfaces of the alloys revealed ductile fracture mode including dimples and cracked intermetallic phases in both conditions.     

A356铝合金Al-5Ti-1B和Al-10Sr熔体处理遗传效应

通过重熔试验研究Al-5Ti-1B和Al-10Sr中间合金在A356熔体中的遗传效应。结果表明:A356合金经熔体处理后流动性较母材提高17.36%,T6处理后α-Al枝晶细化,二次枝晶间距仅为16.8μm,共晶硅圆整,抗拉强度达269 MPa、屈服强度203MPa、伸长率12.5%、硬度92 HBW。伴随重熔,细化变质效果逐渐衰退,熔体质量下降,以致力学性能和流动性下降。试验发现固溶后快淬可减小变质衰退带来的影响。     

Structure and properties of high-temperature alloys with the effect of shape memory in the system Cu−Al−Nb

Conclusion Martensite transformation in alloys of the system Cu−Al−Nb occurs at temperatures much above 200°C. The hysteresis of the reversible martensite transformation is 108–128°C, which is less than for alloys of the system Cu−Al−Ag [3]. Alloys of the system Cu−Al−Nb possess a high effect of shape memory and an elevated ductility and strength. The degree of recovery of shape for an alloy with 2.56% Nb exceeds 90% at σ_Г MPa and δ₂₀=12.7% Translated from Metallovedenie i Termicheskaya Obrabotka Metallov, No. 8, pp. 32–34, August, 1999.     

Effects of Mg content on microstructure and mechanical properties of low Zn-containing Al−xMg−3Zn−1Cu cast alloys

Effects of Mg content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of low Zn-containing Al?xMg? 3Zn?1Cu cast alloys (x=3?5, wt.%) were investigated. As Mg content increased in the as-cast alloys, the grains were refined due to enhanced growth restriction, and the formation of η-Mg(AlZnCu)₂ and S-Al₂CuMg phases was inhibited while the formation of T-Mg₃₂(AlZnCu)₄₉ phase was promoted when Mg content exceeded 4 wt.%. The increase of Mg content encumbered the solution kinetics by increasing the size of eutectic phase but accelerated and enhanced the age-hardening through expediting precipitation kinetics and elevating the number density of the precipitates. As Mg content increased, the yield strength and tensile strength of the as-cast, solution-treated and peak-aged alloys were severally improved, while the elongation of the alloys decreased. The tensile strength and elongation of the peak-aged Al?5Mg?3Zn?1Cu alloy exceed 500 MPa and 5%, respectively. Precipitation strengthening implemented by T′ precipitates is the predominant strengthening mechanism in the peak-aged alloys and is enhanced by increasing Mg content.     

Effect of Gd addition on mechanical and microstructural properties of Mg-xGd-2.6Nd-0.5Zn-0.5Zr cast alloys

The Mg-xGd-2.6Nd-0.5Zn-0.5Zr(x=0,3.0,4.5 and 6.0,wt.%) alloys were prepared by gravity casting and then T6 treatment.Microstructures of the alloy were observed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.Results show that the as-cast alloys contained network Mg_3Gd phases,blocky and needle-like Mg_(12)(Nd,Gd) phases.The a(Zr) particle inclusions in the a(Mg) matrix are also observed.Content of the secondary phases decreases as Gd content increases.Tensile test results show that the tensile and yield strengths of all the alloys increase as Gd content increases under the as-cast and T6 conditions,but the elongation exhibits the opposite trend.The blocky Mg_(12)(Nd,Gd) phases appear and act as crack initiator and deteriorates the experimental alloys' ductility with the increase of Gd content,especially as Gd content increases to 6.0 wt.%,so the Mg-6.0Gd-2.6Nd-0.5Zn-0.5Zr alloy has the lowest elongation value compared to the other alloys studied.After T6 treatment,the Mg-4.5Gd-2.6Nd-0.5Zn-0.5Zr alloy exhibits the optimal mechanical properties both at room temperature and 250℃.     

Effects of Cu content on microstructure and mechanical properties of rheo-diecasting Al-6Zn-2Mg-xCu alloys

A systematic study on how Cu content affects the microstructure and mechanical properties of rheo-diecasting Al-6Zn-2Mg-xCu alloys during solution treatment and ageing heat treatment was conducted. The swirled enthalpy equilibrium device (SEED) was adopted to prepare the semi-solid slurry of Al-6Zn-2Mg-xCu alloys. The microstructure development and mechanical properties were studied using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), as well as hardness and tensile testing. The grain boundary and shape factor were calculated using image processing software (Image-Pro Plus 6.0). Results show that the alloys are composed of typical globular primary α-Al grains, eutectic phases, and smaller secondary α-Al grains. After solution and ageing heat treatment, the eutectic phases are dissolved into Al matrix when the Cu content is lower than 1.5wt.%, while some eutectic phases transform into Al₂CuMg (S) phases and remain at grain boundaries when Cu content reaches 2wt.%. T6 heat treatment significantly enhances the mechanical properties of rheo-diecasting Al-6Zn-2Mg-xCu alloys. When Cu concentration is 0.5wt.%–1.5wt.%, the ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and elongation of T6 treated alloys rise to around 500 MPa, 420 MPa, and 18%, respectively.

     

Effect of Mo addition on microstructure,ordering, and room-temperature mechanical properties of Fe-50Al

The effects of Mo addition on microstructures, phase relationships, order–disorder phase-transition temperatures and room-temperature mechanical properties of Fe₅₀Al_50-nMo_n alloys (n=1, 3, 5, 7, and 9, mole fraction, %) were investigated after solidification and heat treatment. Structural characterization of the samples was performed via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry. Room-temperature mechanical properties were investigated by conducting compression and microhardness tests. Mo₃Al particles precipitated in all alloys because of the limited solid solubility of Mo in the Fe-Al-based phases. The as-cast Fe₅₀Al_50-nMo_n alloys exhibited brittle behavior with high yield strength and limited fracture strain at room temperature. Compared with the as-cast alloys, all the heat-treated alloys except for the Fe₅₀Al₄₁Mo₉ alloy exhibited enhanced mechanical properties at room temperature. The heat-treated Fe₅₀Al₄₃Mo₇ alloy exhibited the highest fracture strain and compressive strength of 25.4% and 2.3 GPa, respectively.     

Effect of quenching regimes on the structure and properties of an alloy from the Al−Mg system

All industrial alloys of the Al−Mg system correspond to the region of the α-solid solution of the phase diagram. Domestic alloys AL8 and AL27-1 and foreign alloys 520 (USA) and LM-10 (Great Britain) with a high magnesium content (9–11%) have high mechanical properties after quenching. However, they possess a high sensitivity to natural aging under conditions of long-term operation or storing, which causes their embrittlement. The aim of the present work consists in developing an Al−Mg-base composition quenched and aged artificially that will possesses a high strength (σ _t =380-400 N/mm²) and will not change in operation at a temperature of at most 100°C. Translated from Metallovedenie i Termicheskaya Obrabotka Metallov, No. 6, pp. 13–16, June, 1997.     

Effects of Minor Sr on As-Cast Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of ZA84 Magnesium Alloy

The effects of minor Sr additions on the as-cast microstructure and mechanical properties of the ZA84 magnesium alloy were investigated. The results indicate that adding 0.05-0.15 wt.% Sr to the ZA84 alloy does not cause an obvious change in the morphology and distribution of the Mg₃₂(Al,Zn)₄₉ phase. However, the grains of the Sr-containing ZA84 alloys are effectively refined. Among the Sr-containing ZA84 alloys, the grains of the alloy added 0.10 wt.% Sr are relatively finer than other alloys. Furthermore, adding 0.05-0.15 wt.% Sr to the ZA84 alloy improves the tensile properties at room temperature and 150 °C but decreases the creep properties. Among the Sr-containing ZA84 alloys, the alloy added 0.10 wt.% Sr obtains the optimum tensile properties at room temperature and 150 °C.     

The effect of Si addition on crystallization behavior of amorphous Al-Y-Ni alloy

This article reports the effect of silicon (Si) addition upon the crystallization behavior and mechanical properties of an amorphous AlYNi alloy. An amount of 1 at.% Si was added to a base alloy of Al₈₅Y₅Ni₁₀ either by substitution for yttrium (Y) to form Al₈₅Y₄Ni₁₀Si₁, or by substitution for nickel (Ni) to form Al₈₅Y₅Ni₉Si₁. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of all three alloys showed three exothermic peaks. Comparing the peak temperature for the first exothermic peak, a significant shift occurs toward the lower temperature. This indicates that 1 at.% substitutions of Y or Ni by Si decreases the stability of the amorphous phase. DSC study of these amorphous alloys during isothermal annealing at temperatures about 5–15 K lower than their first crystallization peaks showed that the formation of α-Al nanocrystals via primary crystallization occurred without an incubation period. The Avrami time exponent (n) of the primary crystallization from the amorphous structure was determined to be 1.00–1.16 using the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami (JMA) analysis. This suggested a diffusion-controlled growth without nucleation. However, a DSC study of these amorphous alloys during isothermal annealing at higher temperatures between 585 and 605 K showed a clear incubation period during the formation of the Al₃Ni and Al₃Y intermetallic phases. An n value of 3.00–3.45 was determined using JMA analysis. This suggested that the transformation reaction involved a decreasing nucleation rate and interface-controlled growth behavior. The tensile strength σ_f and Vickers hardness for these amorphous alloys are in the range 1050–1250 MPa and 380–398 diamond pyramid hardness number (1 diamond pyramid hardness number=1 kg/mm²=9.8 MPa), respectively.     

Effects of minor Y,Zr and Er addition on microstructure and properties of Al-5Cu-0.4Mn alloy

The effect of different contents of Y, Zr and Er on microstructure and properties of Al-5 Cu-0.4 Mn alloy was investigated. T6 heat treatment, OM, SEM and EDS methods were applied to the alloy. The results showed that fluidity and elongation of alloy adding Y, Zr and Er were improved, while with the increase of addition amounts, θ phase increased and grains were trended to grow up gradually. The Al-5 Cu-0.4 Mn alloy presented the maxed style of ductile and brittle fracture. After T6 heat treatment, the precipitation amounts of θ phase decreased dramatically and tensile strength and hardness significantly increased. Especially when addition contents were among 0.1-0.3 wt.%, tensile strength and hardness of heat-treated alloy increased greatly, almost doubled as that of the as-cast state. The tensile strength reached its maximum of 378.43 MPa when the addition amount was 0.3 wt.%. With the further increase of addition amounts, the elongation deteriorated and the proportion of ductile fracture reduced due to the limited dispersion strengthening effect of θ phase and Al_8Cu_4 Er. It demonstrated that addition of 0.1-0.3 wt.% Y, Zr and Er would generate positive effects and influences on Al-5 Cu-0.4 Mn alloy, which is significant for optimizing components and improving properties of Al-5 Cu-0.4 Mn alloy.