电磁搅拌参数对半固态AZ91D镁合金组织的影响

利用自制的电磁搅拌装置和淬火技术,主要研究了电磁搅拌频率为50Hz下的搅拌参数对连续冷却条件下AZ91D镁合金组织的影响规律.在该试验条件下,当电磁搅拌频率小于50Hz时,随着电磁搅拌频率的升高,半固态AZ91D镁合金浆料或坯料组织中的球状初生α-Mg越来越多,其形态更加圆整,分布更趋均匀;当电磁搅拌频率达到或高于50Hz时,半固态AZ91D镁合金浆料或坯料的组织比较理想.当电磁搅拌功率增大时,半固态AZ91D镁合金熔体中的蔷薇状初生α-Mg会受到更加强烈的附加温度起伏,促使蔷薇状初生α-Mg枝晶臂根部的熔断,形成越来越多的球状初生α-Mg,而且初生α-Mg越来越圆整.在电磁搅拌制备半固态AZ91D镁合金浆料或坯料时,较低的冷却速率有利于获得较理想的半固态组织.     

电磁搅拌参数对半固态AZ91D镁合金组织的影响

利用自制的电磁搅拌装置和淬火技术,主要研究了电磁搅拌频率为50Hz下的搅拌参数对连续冷却条件下AZ91D镁合金组织的影响规律.在本试验条件下,当电磁搅拌频率小于50 Hz时,随着电磁搅拌频率的升高,半固态AZ91D镁合金浆料或坯料组织中的球状初生α-Mg越来越多,其形态更加圆整、分布更趋均匀;当电磁搅拌频率达到或高于50 Hz时,半固态AZ91D镁合金浆料或坯料的组织比较理想.当电磁搅拌功率增大时,半固态AZ91D镁合金熔体中的蔷薇状初生α-Mg会受到更加强烈的附加温度起伏,促使蔷薇状初生α-Mg枝晶臂根部的熔断,形成越来越多的球状初生α-Mg,而且初生α-Mg越来越圆整.在电磁搅拌制备半固态AZ91D镁合金浆料或坯料时,较低的冷却速率有利获得较理想的半固态组织.     

电磁搅拌对半固态AlSi7Mg合金初生α—Al的影响规律

研究了ＡｌＳｉ７Ｍｇ合金半固态等温电磁搅拌过程和连续降温电磁搅拌合金熔体的温度分布。结果表明；在电磁搅拌条件腑氏温度梯度下，可增加初生α－Ａｌ一次臂的长大失去方向优先性，并使一次臂生长速度减慢，二次的长大速度与一次臂的长大速度相迫使ｌＳｉ７Ｍｇ合金出现薇状初生α－Ａｌ。     

电磁搅拌下半固态AZ91D镁合金的组织形成

利用电磁搅拌装置、合金熔体淬火方法和EBSD位相显微分析技术,在不同的搅拌功率下,研究了电磁搅拌对半固态AZ91D镁合金微观组织的作用.结果表明,在电磁搅拌条件下凝固,AZ91D镁合金组织中的初生α-Mg得到明显细化,初生α-Mg转变为细小的蔷薇状或球状,EBSD检测表明这些球状初生α-Mg晶粒在空间上大多属于不同的晶粒;电磁搅拌功率是重要的制备参数,搅拌功率越大,半固态AZ91D镁合金组织中的蔷薇状初生α-Mg越少,而球状初生α-Mg越多,晶粒也越细小;在电磁搅拌条件下,AZ91D镁合金熔体的激烈流动导致了较为均匀的温度场和溶质场,也导致了更加剧烈的温度起伏,这些现象导致了半固态AZ91D镁合金组织的形成.     

半固态A356铝合金浆料的行波搅拌制备工艺

采用行波电磁搅拌和低过热度浇注复合制备工艺,成功制备出初生α-Al为球状的较大尺寸A356铝合金半固态浆料.研究了浇注温度、搅拌频率和搅拌功率对A356铝合金半固态浆料组织的影响.结果表明,随着浇注温度的降低,半固态A356铝合金组织中的初生α-Al更圆整.当搅拌频率达到或高于10Hz时,半固态A356铝合金浆料中的组织比较理想.当电磁搅拌功率增大时,半固态A356铝合金熔体中的蔷薇状初生α-Al受到更剧烈的附加温度起伏而使枝晶根部熔断,形成更多更圆整的球状初生相.因此,在630℃浇注、搅拌频率为10Hz和搅拌功率为1.72kW下,能制备出更圆整、细小的初生α-Al.     

ZL101A铝合金半固态连铸坯料的组织和力学性能

用电磁搅拌水平连铸设备制备ＺＬ１０１Ａ铝合金半固态连铸坯料，获得了两种非种非树枝晶组织，一种是初晶α－Ａｌ呈短棒状的组织；另一种是初晶α－Ａｌ呈短棒状和等轴状的混合组织。对短棒状组织连铸坯料进行Ｔ６热处理及力学性能测试，结果表明热处理使用σｂ和δ提高。     

非枝晶半固态ZL101合金的电磁搅拌及触变成形研究

对非枝晶半固态ＺＬ１０１合金的电磁搅拌、感应重熔和半固态触变成形研究表明：凝固过程中经电磁搅拌的ＺＬ１０１合金,初生α枝晶细化并转变为非枝晶状或蔷薇状,但不能转变成理想的球状,初生α相随凝固冷却速度的提高而更加细小;将搅拌凝固的坯料重新感应加热到半固态后,初生α相进一步圆整化且分布均匀;在一定的温度和压力下,重新加热到半固态的坯料可触变成形为铸件毛坯。     

感应加热对半固态AlSi7Mg合金连铸坯温度场和组织的影响

研究了电磁感应重熔加热对半固态ＡｌＳｉ７Ｍｇ合金铸坯料温度场和组织的影响。结果表明：通过调整加热功率,可使半固态ＡｌＳｉ７Ｍｇ合金连铸坯料的温度场均匀一致,保证坯料的径向温差差小于１℃;电磁感应重熔加热的兰固态ＡｌＳｉ７Ｍｇ合金连铸坯料中的初生α（Ａｌ）组小、圆整、分布均匀,但重熔过程不能改变坯料表层组织中初生αＡ（ｌ）枝晶的基本形态。     

半固态ZL201A铝合金浆料的制备

利用低过热度浇注和弱电磁搅拌方法制备了半固态ZL201A铝合金浆料,浇注温度分别为678、663、648℃,利用光学显微镜观察了不同条件下的浆料组织。试验结果表明,随着浇注温度的降低,半固态ZL201A铝合金浆料内部组织中的初生α-Al由蔷薇状向球状转变,晶粒尺寸逐渐变小,分布更均匀。同时,浆料边缘和底部组织中的初生α-Al的形貌由粗大的枝晶向蔷薇状转变。对于半固态ZL201A铝合金浆料的制备,较佳的浇注温度为663℃。电磁搅拌均匀了ZL201A铝合金液的温度场,加大了同时凝固的区域,细化了初生α-Al晶粒;同时结晶潜热的集中释放有助于蔷薇状初生α-Al的根部熔断,加速了球状初生α-Al的形成。     

蛇形通道浇注制备半固态浆料组织的演化

采用蛇形通道浇注制备7075铝合金半固态浆料,研究了不同浇注温度下浆料组织中初生α-Al的形貌演变,通过残留在蛇形通道内部的凝固壳分析了蛇形通道内部合金熔体的形核动力学条件,自由晶的形成、长大与球化机理。结果表明:自由晶的数目决定了初生α-Al的形态,随着浇注温度降低,过冷度的增大,浆料组织中的初生α-Al的形貌由蔷薇状向近球状转变,晶粒尺寸逐渐变小,晶粒数目增多;蛇形通道内过冷的合金熔体经过弯道的作用,熔体内部的对流、剪切和"搅拌"使初生激冷α-Al晶核经过游离、增殖、长大和熟化,最后演变成近球状和蔷薇状的α-Al晶粒;球状初生α-Al晶粒的演变机制主要为枝晶抑制生长机制,也包括枝晶臂根部熔断机制。     

RHEOLOGY FEATURE OF SIMPLE METAL MELT

The rheology feature of Sb, Bi melt and alloys was studied using coaxial cylinder high-temperature viscometer. The results showed that the curve of torsion-rotational speed for Sb melt presents a linear relation in all measured temperature ranges, whereas for the Bi melt, the curve presents obvious non-Newtonian feature within the low temperature range and at relative high shear stress. The rheology feature of Sb80Bi20 and Sb20Bi80 alloy melts was well correlated with that of Sb and Bi, respectively. It is considered that the rheology behavior of Sb melt plays a crucial role in Sb80Bi20 alloy and that of Bi melt plays a crucial role in Sb20Bi80 alloy.     

Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of a Newly Developed Austenitic Heat Resistant Steel

The effect of heat treatment on the microstructures and mechanical properties of a newly developed austenitic heat resistant steel(named as T8 alloy) for ultra-supercritical applications have been studied. Results show that the main phases in the alloy after solution treatment are γ and primary MX. Subsequent aging treatment causes the precipitation of M_(23)C_6 carbides along the grain boundaries and a small number of nanoscale MX inside the grains. In addition, with increasing the aging temperature and time, the morphology of M_(23)C_6 carbides changes from semi-continuous chain to continuous network.Compared with a commercial HR3C alloy, T8 alloy has comparable tensile strength, but higher stress rupture strength. The dominant cracking mechanism of the alloy during tensile test at room temperature is transgranular, while at high temperature, intergranular cracking becomes the main cracking mode, which may be caused by the precipitation of continuous M_(23)C_6 carbides along the grain boundaries. Typical intergranular cracking is the dominant cracking mode of the alloy at all stress rupture tests.     

The 15th Global Foundry Sourcing Conference 2014held in Qingdao China

Organized by Suppliers China Co., Ltd and co-organized by the National Technical Committee 54 on Foundry of Standardization Administration of China, the 15th Global Foundry Sourcing Conference 2014 （hereinafter referred to as FSC 2014） was successfully held on Sep. 23rd in Grand Regency Hotel, Qingdao. More than 500 delegates from home and abroad attended this conference, including over 130 purchasers from 20 countries and 380 domestic and foreign suppliers.     

LASER CLADDED TiCN COATINGS ON THE SURFACE OF TITANIUM

Laser cladded coatings of TiCN were produced on the surface of titanium. To obtain the optimal techniques, several conditions were tested by varying the laser scanning rate. The choice of shielding gas was also studied. The cladded coatings were then evaluated from the surface mechanics point of view based on their microhardness. The microstructure of some interesting samples was investigated by optical micrographs (OM). The results showed that under the condition of fixed pulse frequency and pulse width, the laser scanning rate and the shielding gas are the main factors influencing the components of coatings. TiCN coatings were decompounded and oxidized during the cladding process in the condition of no shielding gas of N2. X-ray diffraction results indicated that the composite coatings composed of TiCN, TiC, Ti2N, and TiO2 were produced using appropriate techniques. The results indicated that the best condition in terms of the surface microhardness is obtained when the scanning rate is 1.5mm / s, the pulse frequency is 15Hz, the pulse width is 3.0ms, and N2 is chosen as the shielding gas. The microhardness of the composite coatings is about 1331kg · mm - 2, which is about 4 times that of the substrate. The optical micrographs indicated that the cladding zone is made up of TiCN, TiO2, and some interdendritic Ti, but the diffusion zone mainly consists of the dendrites phase, and the cladded depth is about 80m, which is more than 2 times that of the laser nitrided sample. There were no microcracks or air bubbles in the cladded sample, which was cladded using the above optimal techniques.     

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of X80 Pipeline Steel Joints by Friction Stir Welding Under Various Cooling Conditions

X80 pipeline steel plates were friction stir welded(FSW) under air, water, liquid CO_2 + water, and liquid CO_2 cooling conditions, producing defect-free welds. The microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of these FSW joints were studied. Coarse granular bainite was observed in the nugget zone(NZ) under air cooling, and lath bainite and lath martensite increased signifi cantly as the cooling medium temperature reduced. In particular, under the liquid CO_2 cooling condition, a dual phase structure of lath martensite and fi ne ferrite appeared in the NZ. Compared to the case under air cooling, a strong shear texture was identifi ed in the NZs under other rapid cooling conditions, because the partial deformation at elevated temperature was retained through higher cooling rates. Under liquid CO_2 cooling, the highest transverse tensile strength and elongation of the joint reached 92% and 82% of those of the basal metal(BM), respectively, due to the weak tempering softening. A maximum impact energy of up to 93% of that of the BM was obtained in the NZ under liquid CO_2 cooling, which was attributed to the operation of the dual phase of lath martensite and fi ne ferrite.     

INDUSTRY NEWS

China Securities News reported on March 21, 2014： Guangdong Hongtu Wuhan Die Casting Co., Ltd. （Wuhan Hongtu）, a wholly owned subsidiary of Guangdong Hongtu Technology （Holdings） Co., Ltd., held a groundbreaking ceremony recently. With the registered capital of 50 million Yuan, Wuhan Hongtu has a total land area of 100,000 square meters and a plant construction area of 72,000 square meters. It is expected to have a production capacity of about 30,000 tonnes of aluminum castings annually after it is put into production.     

STUDY ON PROPERTIES OF PULSE ELECTRODEPOSITED RE-Ni-W-P-SiC COMPOSITE COATINGS

The effects of pulse frequency f and duty cycle r on the deposition rate, composition, morphology, and hardness of pulse electrodeposited RE （rare earth）-Ni-W-P-SiC composite coatings have been studied. The results indicate that pulse current can improve the deposition rate of RE-Ni-W-P-SiC composite coatings; W, P, and SiC contents in the coating decrease with the increase of pulse frequency and reach the lowest value at f = 33Hz, whereas the RE content in the composite coatings increases with the increase of pulse frequency. SiC content decreases with the increase of duty cycle, W content reaches the lowest value, and P content reaches the highest value at r = 0.4; pulse current and RE can lead to smaller size of the crystalline grains; however, the effects of different pulse frequency and duty cycle on the morphologies of RE-Ni-W-P-SiC composite coatings are not obvious. The hardness of RE-Ni-W-P-SiC composite coatings is the highest when the duty cycle is at 0.6 and 0.8 and pulse frequency is at 50Hz. At the same pulse frequency, the hardness of RE-Ni-W-P-SiC composite coatings at r= 0.8 is higher than that at r= 0.6.     

GROWTH MORPHOLOGIES OF A BINARY ALLOY WITH LOW ANISOTROPY IN DIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION

Two new classes of growth morphologies, called doublons and seaweed, were simulated using a phase-field method. The evolution of doublon and seaweed morphologies was obtained in directional solidification. The influence of orientation and velocity on the growth morphology was investigated. It was indicated that doublons preferred growing with its crystallographic axis aligned with the heat flow direction. Seaweed, on the other hand, could be obtained by tilting the crystalline axis to 45°. Stable doublons could only exist in a range of velocity regime. Beyond this regime the patterns formed would be unstable. The simulation results agreed with the reported experimental results qualitatively.     

THERMODYNAMICS STUDY ON THE DECOMPOSITION OF CHROMITE WITH KOH

Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, has proposed a method for oxidative leaching of chromite with potassium hydroxide. Understanding the mechanism of chromite decomposition, especially in the potassium hydroxide fusion, is important for the optimization of the operating parameters of the oxidative leaching process. A traditional thermodynamic method is proposed and the thermal decomposition and the reaction decomposition during the oxidative leaching of chromite with KOH and oxygen is discussed, which suggests that chromite is mainly destroyed by reactions with KOH and oxygen. Meanwhile, equilibrium of the main reactions of the above process was calculated at different temperatures and oxygen partial pressures. The stable zones of productions, namely, K2CrO4 and Fe2O3, increase with the decrease of temperature, which indicates that higher temperature is not beneficial to thermodynamic reactions. In addition, a comparison of the general alkali methods is carried out, and it is concluded that the KOH leaching process is thermodynamically superior to the conventional chromate production process.