Effects of cryogenic treatment on the thermal physical properties of Cu<Subscript>76.12</Subscript>Al<Subscript>23.88</Subscript> alloy

The thermal diffusion coefficient,heat capacity,thermal conductivity,and thermal expansion coefficient of Cu76.12Al23.88 alloy before and after cryogenic treatment in the heating temperature range of 25°C to 600°C were measured by thermal constant tester and thermal expansion instrument.The effects of cryogenic treatment on the thermal physical properties of Cu76.12Al23.88 alloy were investigated by comparing the variation of the thermal parameters before and after cryogenic treatment.The results show that the variation trend of the thermal diffusion coefficient,heat capacity,thermal conductivity,and thermal expansion coefficient of Cu76.12Al23.88 alloy after cryogenic treatment was the same as before.The cryogenic treatment can increase the thermal diffusion coefficient,thermal conductivity,and thermal expansion coefficient of Cu76.12Al23.88 alloy and decrease its heat capacity.The maximum difference in the thermal diffusion coefficient between the before and after cryogenic treatment appeared at 400°C.Similarly,thermal conductivity was observed at 200°C.     

High-pressure-torsion deformation of melt-spun Nd<Subscript>9</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>85</Subscript>B<Subscript>6</Subscript> alloy

The effect of severe plastic deformation by high-pressure torsion (HPT) at room temperature and subsequent annealing on the magnetic properties and structural transformations of the melt-spun alloy (MSA) Nd₉Fe₈₅B₆ is studied. The melt-spun ribbons in three structural states, such as nanocrystalline, mixed amorphous-nanocrystalline, and quasi-amorphous, have been subjected to deformation. In the nanocrystalline alloy, HPT leads to the decomposition of part of the Nd₂Fe₁₄B phase into the amorphous phase and α-Fe nanocrystals. The deformation of the alloy in the quasi-amorphous state leads also to the precipitation of a great amount of α-Fe nanocrystals; in this case, the amorphous matrix is depleted of iron. During the HPT of the MSA in the mixed amorphous + nanocrystaline state, both structural transformations occur. The annealing of deformed samples at above 500°C restores the two-phase (Nd₂Fe₁₄B + α-Fe) nanocrystalline state. This is accompanied by increasing magnetic hysteretic properties. The HPT has been found to suppress the formation of nonequilibrium magnetically soft phases, such as NdFe₇ and Nd₂Fe₂₃B₃, that precipitate upon annealing of the melt-spun amorphous alloy. This promotes the formation of an optimum nanocrystalline structure of the α-Fe/Nd₂Fe₁₄B composite material and an increase in its magnetic hysteretic properties because of enhancement of the intergranular exchange interaction. Compact micromagnets 6–15 mm in diameter and 0.2 mm thick, which were prepared from the Nd₉Fe₈₅B₆ alloy using HPT and subsequent annealing, exhibit the following characteristics: B _r = 11.4 kG, H _c = 5.4 kOe, and (BH)_max = 17.1 MG Oe.     

Effect of ion irradiation on the nanocrystallization and magnetic properties of soft magnetic Fe7<Subscript>2.5</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>1</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Mo<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>Si<Subscript>14</Subscript>B<Subscript>9</Subscript> alloy

The effect of accelerated Ar⁺ ions on the crystallization process and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Fe_72.5Cu₁Nb₂Mo_1.5Si₁₄B₉ alloy has been studied using X-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, thermomagnetic analysis, and other magnetic methods. Irradiation by Ar⁺ ions with an energy of 30 keV and a fluence of 3.75 × 10¹⁵ cm^–2 at short-term heating to a temperature of 620 K (which is 150 K below the thermal threshold of crystallization) leads to the complete crystallization of amorphous alloy, which is accompanied by the precipitation of the α-Fe(Si) solid solution crystals (close in composition to Fe₈₀Si₂₀), Fe₃Si stable phase, and metastable hexagonal phases. The crystallization caused by irradiation leads to an increase in the grain size and changes the morphology of grain boundaries and volume fraction of crystalline phases, which is accompanied by changes in the magnetic properties.     

Dissolution of Eutectic β-Mg<Subscript>17</Subscript>Al<Subscript>12</Subscript> Phase in Magnesium AZ91 Cast Alloy at Temperatures Close to Eutectic Temperature

Knowledge on the dissolution kinetics of β_-eut phase in cast Mg AZ91 alloy at temperatures close to the eutectic temperature is very useful for various processes of the alloy. In the present study, dissolution of β_-eut phase has been investigated experimentally and considered theoretically. Results have confirmed that the kinetics of β_-eut dissolution is basically diffusion controlled. Optimum times for dissolution heat treatment practice of different sizes of cast microstructure which are cooling rate dependant during casting could be suggested based on the present calculation. For fusion welding of the alloy, the present results indicate the difficulty of having a heating rate lower than the critical value (“critical heating rate”) for a significant reduction of the phase to avoid constitutional liquation.     

<Superscript>63</Superscript>Cu NMR spectra,magnetic susceptibility,and transmission electron microscopy of the rapidly quenched alloy Ti<Subscript>50</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>25</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>25</Subscript>

Methods of transmission and scanning electron microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) at ⁶³Cu nuclei, as well as measurements of the static magnetic susceptibility χ(T) have been used to study a shape-memory alloy (SMA) Ti₅₀Ni₂₅Cu₂₅, which experiences a thermoelastic martensite transformation. The alloy was obtained from an amorphous ribbon in a bimodal nano- and submicrocrystalline state via a crystallization annealing for 1 h at 770 K with a subsequent quenching to room-temperature water. The resultant B2 austenite is characterized by a fine structure of the ⁶³Cu NMR spectra, which is connected with the different distribution of ⁶³Cu atoms on the second coordination shell. The evolution of the shape of the spectra with decreasing temperature reveals a structural transition B2 → B19. In addition, the ⁶³Cu NMR spectra, just as the transmission electron microscopy, indicate the presence of phase separation in the alloy, with the precipitation of a TiCu (B11) phase. The temperature dependence of the static magnetic susceptibility χ(T) also indicates the occurrence of a structural transition and has a hysteretic nature of “stepped” type. The discovered stepped nature of the χ(T) dependence is explained by the bimodal size distribution of grains of the B2 phase due to the size effect of the martensitic transformation.     

Thermoelastic martensitic transformations,mechanical properties,and shape-memory effects in rapidly quenched Ni<Subscript>45</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>32</Subscript>Hf<Subscript>18</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>5</Subscript> alloy in the ultrafine-grained state

Methods of transmission and scanning electron microscopy and chemical microanalysis, electron diffraction, and X-ray diffraction were used to study the structure and the chemical and phase composition of ribbons of the four-component quasi-binary alloy Ni₄₅Ti₃₂Hf₁₈Cu₅. The influence of the synthesis regimes and subsequent heat treatment of the alloy on the formation of the amorphized state and ultrafine-grained structure has been determined. The critical temperatures of the devitrification and of the _B2 ? _B19' thermoelastic martensitic transformation have been established based on the data of the temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity. The lattice parameters of the _B2 and _B19' phases and the (Ti,Hf)₂Ni phase have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The mechanical properties of the alloy were determined in tensile tests, and the shape-memory effects in the ribbons of the alloy were measured using bending tests.     

Crystal Structure Peculiarities of Martensite in the Ni<Subscript>47</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>42</Subscript>In<Subscript>11</Subscript> Alloy that Underwent Forward and Reverse Phase Transformations

The martensite structure of the Ni₄₇Mn₄₂In₁₁ alloy has been studied, and crystallographic peculiarities of the structure realized after ten cyclic forward and reverse phase transformations have been shown. Each cycle includes the heating to a temperature corresponding to the existence of austenite and subsequent cooling to cryogenic temperatures. It was found that (107)-twinned martensite crystals can contact not only on the (10\(\bar 7\)) plane, which, being the symmetry axis for the crystals, is not among the close-packed planes, but also on the (12\(\bar 7\)) plane, which is among close packed planes but is not the symmetry axis.     

Effect of severe plastic deformation on the structure and properties of the Ni<Subscript>2.16</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.84</Subscript>Ga alloy

The effect of severe plastic deformation by torsion (high-pressure torsion or HPT) on the crystalline structure and behavior of electrical resistivity, thermoelectric power, thermal expansion, and magnetic properties of the rapidly quenched Ni_2.16Mn_0.84Ga alloy has been investigated. It has been shown that after HPT treatment of the rapidly quenched submicrocrystalline alloy, a mixture of amorphous and nanocrystalline phases is formed. Electrical properties of the alloy have been explained in terms of the Mott two-band model. Specific features of the magnetic properties of the alloy are related to the coexistence of ferro-and antiferromagnetic interactions in an atomically disordered state of the alloy.     

Aging-induced two-stage reverse martensitic transformation behavior in Co_（46）Ni_（27）Ga_（27） high-temperature shape memory alloy

The effect of austenite aging at 823 K on the microstructures and martensitic transformation behavior of Co 46 Ni 27 Ga 27 alloy has been investigated using optical microscopy (OM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The microstructure observation results show that the unaged Co 46 Ni 27 Ga 27 alloy is composed of the tetragonal nonmodulated martensite phase and face-centered cubic γ phase. It is found that a new nanosized fcc phase precipitates in the process of austenite aging, leading to the formation of metastable age-affected martensite around the precipitates with composition inhomogeneity. Two-stage reverse martensitic transformation occurs in the samples aged for 2 and 24 h due to the composition difference between the age-affected martensite and the original martensite. For the Co 46 Ni 27 Ga 27 alloy aged for 120 h, no reverse transformation can be detected due to the disappearance of the metastable age-affected martensite and the small latent heat of the original martensite. The martensitic transformation temperatures of the Co 46 Ni 27 Ga 27 alloy decrease with an increase in aging time.     

Formation of carbide phases upon the mechanosynthesis of the (Fe<Subscript>0.93</Subscript>Cr<Subscript>0.07</Subscript>)<Subscript>75</Subscript>C<Subscript>25</Subscript> alloy compared with other carbide-forming processes

Methods of X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, and measurements of the dynamic magnetic susceptibility have been used to investigate the sequence of phase transformations upon the mechanical alloying of a mixture of powders of the initial components of the composition (Fe_0.93Cr_.07)₇₅C₂₅. It has been shown that, at later stages of mechanical alloying, the phase composition is determined by the conditions of the dynamic equilibrium between the crystalline and amorphous phases. A change in the conditions of mechanical alloying leads to a shift in this equilibrium and to a change in the phase composition of the alloy. A comparison of carbide formation in the Fe–C system upon the mechanosynthesis, tempering of martensite, the saturation of iron with carbon from the gaseous medium, the quenching of the melt, and the sputtering deposition of films has been performed. Some general regularities have been established, from which it follows that an important role in phase formation upon the mechanosynthesis, just as in other abovementioned processes, is played by the thermally activated phenomena.     

Effect of partial substitution of calcium for yttrium on the structure and properties of the Y<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>Ba<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>6.8</Subscript> superconductor

The crystal structure of the high-temperature Y_1–xCa_xBa₂Cu₃O_6.8 superconductor has been studied in a temperature range of 80–300 K using low-temperature X-ray diffraction analysis; its microstructure has been studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Changes of the bond length in the structure of principal phase and precipitation topology of impurity phases and their compositions have been analyzed. An addition of calcium was shown to increase the environmental tolerance of the principal Y123 phase and its microhardness and ensures the low unchanged coefficient of thermal expansion. All of the facts indicate that the material can be used to manufacture composite superconducting articles.     

Electrical resistivity and thermal electromotive force of Ni<Subscript>75</Subscript>V<Subscript>25</Subscript>, Ni<Subscript>72</Subscript>V<Subscript>28</Subscript>, and Ni<Subscript>67</Subscript>V<Subscript>33</Subscript> alloys at high temperatures

The temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity and thermal electromotive force (thermal e.m.f.) of the Ni–25 at % V, Ni–28 at % V, and Ni–33 at % V alloys in a temperature range of 300–1600 K have been reported; the dependences have been measured during slow heating and cooling of quenched and annealed samples. It has been shown that, near the order–disorder phase-transformation temperature, the temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity of the Ni₇₅V₂₅ and Ni₆₇V₃₃ alloys demonstrate a kink (second-order phase transition) and a jump (first-order phase transition), respectively. The behavior of the experimental dependences is discussed in terms of the band Mott s–d scattering model.     

Structural and phase transformations,mechanical properties,and shape-memory effects in quasibinary Ni<Subscript>50</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>38</Subscript>Hf<Subscript>12</Subscript> alloy obtained by quenching from the melt

Methods of transmission and scanning electron microscopy and chemical microanalysis, electron diffraction, and X-ray diffraction were used to systematically study the structure and the chemical and phase composition of the Ni₅₀Ti₃₈Hf₁₂ alloy synthesized by rapid quenching from the melt and subjected to various heat treatments. The critical temperatures of the devitrification of the initially amorphous rapidly quenched alloy and the B2 ? B19′ thermoelastic martensitic transformations have been determined. The lattice parameters of the B2 austenite and thermoelastic B19′ martensite have been measured. The main features of the formation of an ultrafine-grained structure in the alloy and the subsequent phase transformations (martensitic transformation and the decomposition with the formation of an intermetallic phase of the (Ti,Hf)₂Ni type) have been studied depending on the regimes of heat treatment. Based on the results of measurements of mechanical properties upon tension (σ_M, σ_u, and δ) and the shape-memory effects (degree of shape recovery depending on the deformation by bending; and magnitude of the reversible strain ε_rev), regimes for obtaining high-strength and plastic states of the alloy with a shape-memory effect have been established.     

Effect of Plastic Deformation on the Formation of the YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript> Structure

The structure of the YBa₂Cu₃O _y (123) compound has been investigated after severe plastic deformation by high-pressure torsion performed at room temperature. Distinctive structural features of the samples prepared by standard synthesis and the samples (with increased critical current density) after treatment at t = 200°C in water-saturated atmosphere have been revealed. It has been shown that a lamellar textured structure formed during the annealing of hydrated and deformed samples includes a superconducting orthorhombic phase with a high oxygen index and residual defects that can serve as pinning centers.     

Orientation dependence of superelasticity in ferromagnetic single crystals Co<Subscript>49</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>21</Subscript>Ga<Subscript>30</Subscript>

Dependence of the amount of reversible deformation on the orientation of the crystal axis and testing temperature has been studied using [001] and [$ \bar 1 $ \bar 1 24] single crystals of the Co₄₉Ni₂₁Ga₃₀ (at %) alloy upon compression. It has been shown that in the [001] crystals with T ≤ M _s (M _s is the temperature of the onset of the forward martensitic transformation upon cooling) the reversible deformation is equal to 5.5–6.5% and consists of the deformation connected with the shape-memory effect (SME) equal to 4–4.2%, and of “ferroelastic” deformation equal to 1.5–2.2%, which is reversible upon unloading. The total reversible deformation exceeds the lattice deformation ɛ₀ observed upon the B2-L1₀ martensitic transformation, which is equal to 4.5%. At T > A _f (A _f is the finish temperature of the reverse martensitic transformation upon heating), the reversible deformation in [001] crystals is equal to 6.5%. It has been shown electron-microscopically that the reversible deformation equal to 1.5–2.2% in the temperatures range of T = 77−300 K is connected with the development of mechanical twinning in the L1₀ martensite on (110) _L10 planes, which proves to be reversible in the [001] crystals and can be partly irreversible in the [$ \bar 1 $ \bar 1 24] crystals. Upon heating, the (110) _L10 twins of the stabilized L1₀ martensite pass into the ($ \bar 1 $ \bar 1 12) _B2 twins of the B2 phase.     

Magnetic anisotropy induced by stress annealing,its thermal stability,and structure of the Fe<Subscript>5</Subscript>Co<Subscript>72</Subscript>Si<Subscript>15</Subscript>B<Subscript>8</Subscript> alloy

The efficiency of the magnetic-anisotropy induction in the Fe₅Co₇₂Si₁₅B₈ amorphous alloy during its thermomechanical treatment and the thermal stability of the anisotropy are shown to depend on the structural state of the alloy. Structural inhomogeneities (microinhomogeneities and preprecipitates) formed in the structure of the amorphous alloy upon annealing at 350–430°C increase both the efficiency of the magnetic-anisotropy induction in the course of subsequent heat treatment at 290°C combined with tensile deformation and the thermal stability of the anisotropy.     

Formation of the nanocrystalline structure in the Ti<Subscript>50</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>25</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>25</Subscript> shape-memory alloy under severe thermomechanical treatment

Results of comparative studies of the structure of the cast martensitic Ti₅₀Ni₂₅Cu₂₅ alloy in the initial state, after severe plastic deformation by high-pressure torsion (HPT), and after subsequent annealing are presented. The studies have been performed by X-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and measurements of electrical properties. It has been established that the alloy undergoes almost complete amorphization after torsion using 5 and 10 rev of anvils under a pressure of 7 GPa. This result can be explained by the large value of shear deformation (true strain from 6 to 7 units) and the retention of an extremely large quantity of highly dispersed (less than 3–4 nm in size) nanocrystals with a distorted B2 lattice in the amorphous matrix even at room temperature. Their determining role as nuclei of crystallization ensures the total process of low-temperature nanocrystallization upon subsequent annealing, beginning from 250–300°C. It is shown that the annealing of the alloy amorphized during HPT makes it possible to produce extremely uniform nanocrystalline (NC), submicrocrystalline (SMC), or bimodal (NC + SMC) structures of B2 austenite. For the first time, a complete diagram of thermoelastic martensitic transformations in the field of B2-austenite states, from nanostructured to usual polycrystalline, has been constructed for the Ti₅₀Ni₂₅Cu₂₅ alloy. The size effect of stabilization of the martensite transformation has been found in the nanocrystalline B2 alloy.     

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Dislocation-particle interaction in precipitation strengthened Ll<Subscript>2</Subscript>-ordered Ni<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al

Transmission electron microscope investigation has been performed on the particle-dislocation interactions in Ni₃Al-based intermetallics containing various types of fine precipitates. In an Ll₂-ordered Ni₃Al alloy with 4 mol.% of chromium and 0.2–0.5 mol.% of carbon, fine octahedral precipitates of M₂₃C₆ type carbide, which has a cube-cube orientation relationship with the matrix, appear during aging. Typical Orowan loops are formed in Ni₃Al containing fine dispersions of M₂₃C₆ particles. In the alloys with appropriate titanium content, fine precipitates of coherent disordered γ are formed during aging. The γ precipitates are initially spherical or rounded cubic in shape and grow into platelets as aging proceeds. Loss of coherency is initiated by the introduction of dislocations at the γ/γ′ interface and results in step formation at the dislocations. The γ precipitates become globular after the loss of coherency. In the γ′ phase hardened by the precipitation of the disordered γ phase, dislocations are attracted into the disordered γ phase and cut through the particles during deformation at any stage of aging. In Ni₃Al containing a fine dispersion of disordered γ, superdislocations are strongly attracted to the disordered particles and dissociate on the (111) plane in the γ particles, while they dissociate on the (010) plane in the matrix. It is shown by comparison that the strengthening due to attractive interaction is more effective than that due to repulsive interaction. The roles of the variation of the interaction modes and of the dissociation of superdislocations in the matrix and particles are discussed in connection with the optimum microstructures of Ll₂-ordered intermetallics as high temperature structural materials.     

Experimental and theoretical investigation of stress variation in AlCu<Subscript>4</Subscript>Mg<Subscript>1</Subscript> aluminum alloy

This paper presents the results of experimental and theoretical studies regarding the behavior of AlCu₄Mg₁ aluminum alloy after a heat treatment. The methodology has been proposed to study improvements in AlCu₄Mg₁ aluminum alloy in the process of heat treatment, which included the following steps: (1) adopting the heat treatment technology for the specified alloy, (2) choosing the necessary heat treatment installations to perform the heat treatment of the specified alloy, (3) choosing tools and machines used to study the mechanical characteristics, and (4) planning the experiment and analytical interpretation of the results. On the basis of these experiments and the obtained regression equation, we performed a theoretical study with the aim to determine the heating parameters for quenching and aging in order to obtain a specified stress needed for application of this alloy. We considered two cases for this theoretical study: (1) the stress and quenching temperatures were fixed and we determined the aging temperature; (2) the stress and aging temperatures were fixed and we determined the quenching temperature. Using the determined equations, we assumed the definite characteristics needed for the working part after treatment and calculated the parameters for quenching and artificial aging in the process of the heat treatment. Note that the calculated temperatures should be in the standard limits for the studied alloy. In conclusion, an algorithm was proposed for the process of the optimum heat treatment in order to obtain the necessary properties of the working parts.     

Thermodynamic Assessment of PrCl<Subscript>3</Subscript>-CaCl<Subscript>2</Subscript> and NdCl<Subscript>3</Subscript>-CaCl<Subscript>2</Subscript> Systems

By using the CALPHAD technique, an assessment of the binary PrCl₃-CaCl₂ and NdCl₃-CaCl₂ systems have been carried out. From measured phase equilibrium data and experimental integral properties, the PrCl₃-CaCl₂ and NdCl₃-CaCl₂ phase diagrams were optimized and calculated. A set of thermodynamic functions has been optimized based on an interactive computer-assisted analysis. The calculated results by present method agree well with the experimental data.