Influence of high pressure and manganese addition on Fe-rich phases and mechanical properties of hypereutectic Al−Si alloy with rheo-squeeze casting

The influence of high pressure and manganese addition on Fe-rich phases (FRPs) and mechanical properties of Al?14Si?2Fe alloy with rheo-squeeze casting (RSC) was investigated. The semi-solid alloy melt was treated by ultrasonic vibration (UV) firstly, and then formed by squeeze casting (SC). Results show that the FRPs in as-cast SC alloys are composed of coarse β-Al₅(Fe, Mn)Si, δ-Al₄(Fe, Mn)Si₂ and bone-shaped α-Al₁₅(Fe, Mn)₃Si₂ phases when the pressure is 0 MPa. With RSC process, the FRPs are first refined by UV, and then the solidification under pressure further causes the grains to become smaller. The peritectic transformation occurs during the formation of α phase. For the alloy with the same composition, the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of RSC sample is higher than that of the SC sample. With the same forming process, the UTS of Al?14Si?2Fe?0.8Mn alloy is higher than that of Al?14Si?2Fe?0.4Mn alloy.     

Effect of specific pressure on microstructure and mechanical properties of squeeze casting ZA27 alloy

The effect of specific pressure on the microstructure and mechanical properties of ZA27 squeezed castings with high height-to-thickness ratio was studied. The results of DTA and SEM show that at high specific pressure the eutectic reaction of squeeze casting ZA27 alloy is restrained, and the final solidified structure is (η+ε) phases instead of eutectic phase (β+η+ε). At the same time, the primary reaction is promoted in squeeze casting ZA27 alloy solidified at high pressure, and the fine microstructure is obtained with the increase of pressure. Al and Cu elements are homogeneously distributed in matrix of squeeze casting ZA27 alloy. The homogenously distributed high-density fine ε phase can effectively hinder dislocation motion, and then the strength and plasticity of squeeze casting ZA27 alloy are increased.     

Modeling of eutectic macrosegregation in centrifugal casting of thin walled ZA8 zinc alloy

The maximum segregation zone and microstructure formation during the solidification of thin walled ZA8 zinc–aluminum alloy produced by centrifugal casting are investigated. From the results obtained, it is seen that the maximum segregation zone of the eutectic through the part section corresponds to the zone of final solidification point. The concentration of eutectic through the section changes depending on the initial mold temperature, pouring temperature, and cooling rate. A high cooling rate reduces the rate of change in eutectic concentration across the section. The distance separating the maximum segregation zone from the inner and outer faces of the casting can be controlled by controlling the ratio between the speeds of the solidification fronts advancing from opposite sides. The microstructure obtained becomes finer as the cooling rate increases. The structure of eutectic changes according to the cooling rate, and may be granular or lamellar.     

STRUCTURE EVOLUTION OF DIRECTIONALLY SOLIDIFIED Ti--43Al--3Si ALLOY II. Microstructure Evolution in the Steady--State Growth Region

分析了定向凝固Ti--43Al--3Si(原子分数, %) 合金在3---90 μm/s 的生长速度下的稳态生长区组织. 在定向凝固过程中经历下列反应: L→Ti₅Si₃, L→α+Ti₅Si₃, α→α₂(Ti₃Al)+γ(TiAl), α₂→γ+Ti₅Si₃, 其中, α 与Ti₅Si₃ 共晶是合金最显著的凝固行为. 当生长速度大于20 μm/s 时, 还出现L→γ+Ti₅Si₃. 随着生长速度增大, 稳态组织逐渐由粗胞晶向细胞晶、胞状枝晶及枝晶转变, 起稳定α相作用的Ti₅Si₃ 相由低速时分布于α相中逐渐向高速时分布于凝固γ 相中转变, 不利于该合金的引晶. 选择10 μm/s 的初始生长速度, 既能减少到达稳态生长的距离, 又能保证引晶效果.     

In situ study of nucleation and growth of the irregular α-Al/β-Al5FeSi eutectic by 3-D synchrotron X-ray microtomography

In order to better understand the formation of β-Al₅FeSi intermetallic plates during solidification of Al–Si casting alloys, an Al–8% Si–4% Cu–0.8% Fe alloy has been studied by in situ microtomography using high-energy X-rays in the synchrotron. After formation of the aluminium dendrites, the β phase forms as an irregular eutectic together with eutectic α-Al. Only four plates were nucleated in the sample, and all nucleated in the very early stage of the eutectic reaction and subsequently developed into complex connected three-dimensional plates. The plates display very rapid lateral growth and slow thickening, which, together with the observation of imprints of dendrites and ridges in the plates, suggest a very weakly coupled eutectic.     

The novel eutectic microstructures of Si–Mn–P ternary alloy

The microstructures of Si–Mn–P alloy manufactured by the technique of combining phosphorus transportation and alloy melting were investigated using electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA). The phase compositions were determined by energy spectrum and the varieties of eutectic morphologies were discussed. It is found that there is no ternary compound but Si, MnP and MnSi_1.75?x could appear when the Si–Mn–P alloy's composition is proper. Microstructure is greatly refined by rapid solidification technique and the amount of eutectic phases change with faster cooling rates. Moreover, primary Si or MnP are surrounded firstly by the binary eutectic (Si + MnP) and then the ternary eutectic (Si + MnSi_1.75?x + MnP) which also exhibit binary structures due to divorced eutectic determined by the particularity of some Si–Mn–P alloys.     

Effects of solution treatment on microstructure and tensile properties of as-cast alloy 625

Effects of solution treatment between 1050 and 1250 °C on microstructure and tensile properties of as-cast alloy 625 were investigated. The microstructure and solidification characteristics of the alloy were studied by SEM, EDS, EPMA and DTA. The results showed that the solidification sequence of the alloy should be written as L→L+γ→ L+γ+MC→L+γ+MC+γ/Laves→γ+MC+γ/Laves. After solution treatment at 1225 and 1250 °C, incipient melting of Laves phase was observed. The ultimate tensile strength decreased monotonically with the increase of solution treatment temperature, and the yield strength had no significant variation. The elongation increased slightly at first and then reached a minimum value at 1250 °C. The fracture mechanism changed from transgranular mode to intergranular mode after solution at 1250 °C for the reason that numerous Laves phases melted at grain boundaries and microcracks nucleated in the molten pool. The suitable solution treatment temperature of this alloy was 1200 °C.     

铜模内径对亚快速凝固K424合金析出相的影响

采用阶梯铜模喷铸制备了不同内径的亚快速凝固K424合金,采用时效处理研究了原始非平衡组织状态对快冷合金γ′析出相析出的影响。结果表明:铜模内径的降低可以减弱合金凝固过程中的溶质偏析程度,缩短相变时间,抑制共晶相及析出相形成,有利于获得高固溶组织。经700℃时效30 min处理后,Ф2合金由于形核驱动力高,临界形核半径小,相比Ф6合金优先析出γ′相。当时效温度提高到800℃,低内径铜模基体中可形成均匀分布的析出相,同时形核密度得到显著提高。随时效时间延长,γ′相先快速长大随后缓慢生长,其中Ф2合金由于γ′相过早析出导致其尺寸比相应的Ф6合金更大。析出相析出可以有效增加合金的显微硬度,经800℃时效180 min后Ф2合金硬度高达494 HV0.2,相比原始快冷合金提高13.8%。     

Influence of Mg3AlNi2 content on the cycling stability of Mg2Ni–Mg3AlNi2 hydrogen storage alloy electrodes

A novel method to improve the cycling capacity degradation of Mg₂Ni-based hydrogen storage alloy by means of composite materials has been proposed. The new composites Mg₂Ni-x mol% Mg₃AlNi₂ (x = 0, 15, 30, 60, 100) were prepared by means of combining electric resistance melting with isothermal evaporation casting process (IECP). Phase analysis and microstructure were investigated by SEM and TEM observations. Results showed that the cycling stability of the alloy with Mg₃AlNi₂ was superior to that of Mg₂Ni. XPS analysis revealed that the formation of an Al oxide film during cycling could enhance the anti-corrosion of the surface of the composites. Among the obtained capacity retaining rates, Mg₂Ni-15 mol% Mg₃AlNi₂ composite had the best anti-corrosion performance. This composite has kept 76% of its maximum discharge capacity (50 mA hg^?1) at 25th cycle compared to 20% for Mg₂Ni. The enhancement of the cycling stability of the electrode alloy with 15 mol% Mg₃AlNi₂ can be ascribed to the decrease in the rate of pulverization of the alloy during cycling, which is considered as the factor in the improvement of the electrochemical properties of the Mg₃AlNi₂-containing alloys.     

干砂消失模铸造铝硅合金凝固方式的研究

在对干砂消失模铸造共晶铝硅合金凝固动态曲线测试的基础上,结合共晶糊状凝固程度MDE(Mushy Solidification Degree of Eutectic Alloy)的概念,总结出干砂消失模铸造铝硅合金凝固方式及其铸件断面模数、浇注温度变化对凝固方式的影响和相关铸造工艺设计原则,并通过试验予以验证。     

Directional solidification of TiAl–Re–Si alloys with aligned γ/α2 lamellar microstructures

The effect of Re additions on the solidification behavior of Ti–Al–Re and Ti–Al–Re–Si alloys was investigated to determine if such additions would be compatible with a seeding technique developed previously to align the γ/α₂ lamellar microstructure. Rhenium additions to TiAl were found to enlarge the primary β composition range. Rhenium also tends to segregate to the β-dendrite cores leading to the formation of the B2 phase. After the L+β→α peritectic reaction, Re tends to segregate to the interdendritic liquid. For the Ti–Al–Re alloys, the maximum Re content found in the lamellar microstructure was near 0.5 at% and the lamellar orientation in master alloys containing this amount of Re could successfully be grown from the seed material. However, such levels of Re had little effect on the measured yield stress either at room temperature or at 1000°C and tensile failure usually occurred by the coalescence of microcracks that nucleated from large silicide particles. Finally, it was found that the γ/α₂ lamellar microstructure of Ti–43.5Al–3Si–0.5Re can successfully be aligned by using an appropriately oriented seed even though β is the primary solidification phase indicating that the α-phase from both the L+β→α peritectic and the L→α+Ti₅Si₃ eutectic reactions must be continuous with that of the seed material.     

MICROSTRUCTURE ANALYSIS AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF Zn—Al ALLOY ROD PRODUCED BY HEATED MOLD CONTINUOUS CASTING

The new technology of continuous casting by heated mold was used to produce directional solidification ZA alloy lines to eliminate the inter defects of these lines and increase their mechanical properties. The results are as follows: (1) The microstruc-ture of the ZA alloy lines is the parallel directional dendritic columnar crystal. Every dendritic crystal of eutectic alloy ZA5 was composed of many layer eutectic β and η phases. The micro structure of hypereutectic ZA alloys is primary dendritic crystal and interdendritic eutectic structure. The primary phase of ZA8 and ZA12 is β, among them, but the primary phase of ZA22 and ZA27 is a. (2) Through the test to the as-cast ZA alloy lines made in continuous casting by heated mold, it is found that the tensile strength and hardness increase greatly, but the elongation decreases. With the increase of aluminum amount from ZA 5 to ZA 12, ZA22 and ZA27, the tensile strength increases gradually. ZA27 has the best comprehensive mechanical properties in these     

挤压铸造ZA27合金的凝固特性及组织分析

研究了ZA27合金挤压铸造的凝固特性和组织.差热分析表明挤压铸造可以使锌铝合金的凝固过程发生变化,压力在750MPa以上可抑制共晶反应的发生.压力下凝固,可大大减少ZA27合金的缩孔、缩松、气孔等缺陷,提高合金致密度,细化和改善组织,减轻枝晶偏析,使铸件整体的成分均匀.     

Crystallization of amorphous Zr60Al15Ni25 alloy

The phase formation and crystallization kinetics during the thermal treatment of amorphous Zr₆₀Al₁₅Ni₂₅ alloy were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). By lowering the isothermal annealing temperatures, it is revealed that the crystallization of the amorphous Zr₆₀Al₁₅Ni₂₅ alloy consists of a primary transformation followed by a polymorphic transformation, corresponding to the precipitations of hexagonal Zr₆Al₂Ni and the Zr₅AlNi₄ with a U₃Si₂-typed superstructure. The primary phase being Zr₆Al₂Ni rather than Zr₅AlNi₄ in the crystallization is because the latter has a complex structure and its formation requires the diffusion of Al and Zr atoms on a large scale.     

Rapidly solidified non-equilibrium microstructure and phase transformation of plasma cladding Fe-based alloy coating

The rapidly solidified microstructural and compositional features, the precipitation and transformation of carbides during aging of Fe-based alloy coating prepared by plasma cladding have been investigated. The clad coating materials, whose powder mixture of Fe, Cr, Ni, B, Si and C with a weight ratio of 54.5:35:5:1:2:2.5, is processed using a non-transferred plasma arc. The clad coating adheres with low carbon steel in a good metallurgical bonding and the rate of dilution is 15-20%. Microstructural studies demonstrate that the coating possesses the metastable microstructure comprising the primary dendritic γ-austenite which is a non-equilibrium phase with an extended solid solution of alloying elements and interdendritic eutectic consisting of γ-austenite and (Cr,Fe)₇C₃ carbides. During the high temperature aging at 1253 K for 2 h, the fine spherical (Cr,Fe)₂₃C₆ carbide nucleates within (Cr,Fe)₇C₃ carbide and austenite matrix, and some martensite (α) also forms during cooling. The solidification and evolution sequence of the phase can be represented as follows: L → γ + L → γ + (γ + (Cr,Fe)₇C₃) → (γ + (Cr,Fe)₂₃C₆ + α). Due to the precipitation of (Cr,Fe)₂₃C₆ carbide and uniform distribution of carbide in the as-aged coating, the average hardness becomes higher than that of the as-clad coating.     

Microstructural evolution during unsteady-state horizontal solidification of Al-Si-Mg (356) alloy

The increasing demand for reducing vehicle weight in the automotive and aerospace industries has raised the need to develop improved structural aluminum-based alloys. Thus, horizontal solidification experiment with the Al-7%Si-0.3%Mg (mass fraction) alloy was carried out. A water-cooled horizontal directional solidification device was developed and used. Microstructural characterization was carried out using traditional techniques of metallography, optical microscopy and SEM microscopy. The Thermo-Calc software was used to generate the solidification path of the investigated alloy with addition of 0.17% Fe (mass fraction). The effects of the thermal parameters such as the growth rate (V_L), cooling rate (T_C) and solidification local time (t_SL) on the formation of the macrostructure and on the dendritic microstructure evolution were evaluated. A columnar to equiaxed transition (CET) was found for V_L and T_C values from 0.82 to 0.98 mm/s and from 1.71 to 2.55 °C/s, respectively. The microstructure was characterized by the measurement of the primary and secondary dendrite arm spacings (λ₁ and λ₂, respectively). Experimental laws of λ₁ =f(V_L, T_C) and λ₂ =f(t_SL) were proposed. It is observed that the interdendritic region is composed of the following eutectic mixture: α(Al)+Si+π-Al₈Mg₃FeSi₆+θ-Mg₂Si.     

锌铝合金热型连铸的工艺方法

就热型连铸工艺条件下对具有共晶、包晶和共析转变的5种典型锌铝合金的连续定向凝固进行了研究,找出了各种合金的最佳工艺参数配合范围.研究表明引锭操作是热型连铸工艺的关键环节,型口温度、拉铸速度、冷却条件、合金成分和液位压头对铸锭表面质量有直接影响,型口位置的固液区存在着热和力的平衡.只有通过调节工艺参数,维持固液界面的良好位置,才能拉铸出表面光滑的线材.     

Solidification behavior of Pt-containing 718Plus superalloy

Solidification behaviors of Pt-containing 718Plus superalloyswere studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrum (EDS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and simulation calculations. It is found that Pt increases solidification range and decreases solidus temperature of the alloy and precipitation temperature of Laves + γ eutectic phase since Pt enlarges the region of γ phase by increasing Nb solubility. In addition, Pt segregates to the interdendritic region and increases the segregation of Nb and Tiin the interdendriticregion due to the strong attractive interactions between Pt and Nb/Ti. As a result, Pt promotes the precipitation of the Laves + γ eutectic phase and η phase around eutectic phase. The increase of solidification range and segregation degrees of Nb and Al caused by Pt also promotes the precipitation and growth of γ’ + γ” phase around eutectic phase. These results provide experimental bases for understanding the mechanism of Pt in solidification behavior of superalloys.     

Solidification of Bcc/T1/T2 three-phase microstructure in Mo–Nb–Si–B alloys

The three-phase, (Mo,Nb)_ss/(Mo,Nb)₅Si₃/(Mo,Nb)₅SiB₂, Bcc/T₁/T₂ microstructures that develop in Mo–Nb–Si–B alloys have been examined in arc cast and directionally solidified samples to identify the phase sequencing during solidification. A Mo-32.6Nb-19.5Si-4.7B (at.%) alloy was directionally solidified using an optical floating zone (OFZ) furnace in a flowing Ar gas atmosphere at a constant growth rate of 10 mm/h. The microstructure of the directionally solidified alloy is characterized by an elongated T₂ phase surrounded by bcc and T₁ phases with an interwoven morphology From the evaluation of the microstructures in arc cast ingots of several alloys at a constant 32.6 at%Nb composition, the path of the liquidus valleys with decreasing temperature has been determined to intersect at a common point that establishes the solidification reaction as a eutectic. The incorporation of the experimental results into a computational thermodynamic analysis provides insight on the partitioning of components within each phase during solidification.     

Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of Mg-12Zn-2Y alloy containing quasicrystal phase fabricated by different casting processes

Although icosahedral quasicrystal phase (denoted as I-phase) has been verified as an outstanding reinforcing phase, the mechanical properties of quasicrystal-reinforced Mg-Zn-Y alloys fabricated by traditional casting processes are still unsatisfactory due to the serious segregation of intermetallic compounds. In this study, the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-12Zn-2Y alloy fabricated by different casting processes, including permanent mold casting, squeeze casting and rheo-squeeze casting with ultrasonic vibration, were systematically investigated and compared. The results show that massive, large-sized I-phase and Mg₇Zn₃ phase gather together in the permanent mold cast sample, while the squeeze casting process leads to the transformation of I-phase into fine lamellar morphology and the amount of Mg₇Zn₃ decreases. As to the rheo-squeeze casting process, when the ultrasonic vibration is exerted with power from 800 W to 1,600 W, the α-Mg grains are refined and spheroidized to a large extent, and the lamellar spacing of the eutectic structure is significantly reduced, accompanied by some tiny granular I-phase scattering in the α-Mg matrix. However, when the ultrasonic power continuously increases to 2,400 W, the eutectic structure becomes coarse. The best mechanical properties of the rheo-squeeze cast alloy are obtained when the ultrasonic power is 1,600 W. The microhardness, yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation are 79.9 HV, 140 MPa, 236 MPa, and 3.25%, which are 44.1%, 26.1%, 25.5%, 132.1% respectively higher than the corresponding values of the squeeze casting sample, and are 47.6%, 44.3%, 69.8%, and 253.3% respectively higher than the corresponding values of the permanent mold casting sample.