时效5年的触变成形ZA27合金微观形貌观察

通过OM、SEM和XRD，对触变成形并经5年自然时效的ZA27合金的微观组织进行了观察。结果表明：ZA27合金是由富Al枝晶和枝晶间的共晶组织组成。经触变成形和自然时效后的ZA27合金由球状初生粒子α′相、晶间的二次凝固组织及半固态成形时没有凝固完全的小液池组成。共晶方式主要为离异共晶及其中“蜂窝”状棒状共晶，部分区域出现不规则层片共晶组织。ZA27合金通过随后的冷却和自然时效过程，经过了一系列的相变，β相发生胞状分解，形成规则的共析（α＋η）层片组织或是不规则的复杂形状组织，从一些层片区域逐渐向低铝的α′相区域中心生长为粗大的层片组织，当其生长被α′相中心的连续分解所阻挡时，致使其芯部形成细小的（α＋η）颗粒组织。     

触变成形ZA27合金的微观组织

通过OM、SEM和XRD对触变成形并经5年自然时效的ZA27合金的微观组织进行了观察。结果表明:经触变成形后的ZA27合金由球状初生粒子α′相、晶间的二次凝固组织及半固态成形时没有凝固完全的小液池组成。共晶方式主要为离异共晶及其中"蜂窝"状棒状共晶,部分区域出现不规则层片共晶。ZA27合金在后期的冷却和自然时效过程中,经过了一系列的相变,β相发生胞状分解,形成规则的共析α+η层片组织或不规则的复杂形状组织,从一些层片区域逐渐向低铝的α′相区域中心生长为粗大的层片组织,当其生长被α′中心的连续分解所阻挡时,在其芯部形成细小的α+η颗粒组织。     

冷却速率对Zn-30Al-1Cu合金组织的影响

采用金相显微镜、扫描电镜、透射电镜和X射线衍射仪研究了冷却速率对Zn-30Al-1Cu合金微观组织的影响.结果表明,Zn-30Al-1Cu合金初始凝固组织主要由初生相α’相、包围在初生相周围的包晶β相和共析组织(α+η)组成,共析组织由包晶β相分解而来.凝固后期共析胞向枝晶中心生长,使α相分解为层片α+η组织.随冷却速率增大,初生相由枝晶状变成等轴晶粒,尺寸也越来越小,沉积态晶粒尺寸最细小,铸态晶粒尺寸最大.冷却速率提高Cu元素在基体相中的固溶度,沉积态合金中没有发现富铜相ε,Cu元素全部固溶到基体中;普通铸造和快速凝固合金中均发现富铜相ε,它们存在于枝晶间和η相中.     

Zn-Al合金中Al和Cu对α′相和β相分解速率的影响

利用XRD研究了Al和Cu对Zn-Al合金中α′和β相分解速率的影响.结果表明,Cu元素的加入提高了α′相或β相的稳定性,减缓了时效过程中的分解速率,这是由于ε相的析出在某种程度上制约了α′相或β相的分解.ZA27合金的β相和Zn-40Al二元合金的α′相所需时间基本相同（4320min）,但在时效的初期（0～500min）,β相的分解速度远远高于α′相的;而ZA40合金的α′相即使时效时间延长到10 080 min时仍未完成分解.ZA27合金和ZA40合金α′相或β相的分解伴随着四相反应α＋ε→T＇＋η.     

Zn—Al合金先共晶相的形核与生长特性

采用定向凝固－液淬技术和金相定量分析,研究了铝的质量分数为3．0％－28．4％和Zn-Al二元合金先共晶固溶体的析出规律。结果表明,共晶富锌相和先共晶富铝相都具有瞬时形核特点,但生长规律不同。先共晶富锌η相在形核后生长速度较快,随后逐渐减慢;共共晶富铝β相或α相在形核后生长较慢,达到一定过冷度后迅速长大。β相除了通过包晶反应L＋α→β依附于α相析出外,还从剩余液相中直接形核。     

ZA27合金250℃时效时间对阻尼性能的影响

研究了淬火态ZA2 7合金在 2 50℃下时效不同时间后的阻尼性能。结果表明 ,ZA2 7合金时效0 5h后 ,组织由细小层片状α相和 η相组成。随时效时间延长 ,相组成和相成分不变 ,但层片厚度和层片间距加大 ,层片长度先增加后缩短 ,组织不断粗化。时效 4h后 ,组织趋于稳定。与淬火态相比 ,时效使合金的阻尼性能提高 ,时效 4h后合金阻尼达到稳定值。其中室温下 32 0Hz时的阻尼为 1 2× 1 0 -3 ,0 1Hz时的阻尼为 6 2 1× 1 0 -3 。与铸态合金相比 ,时效使合金阻尼降低。研究发现 ,ZA2 7合金的阻尼随温度的升高单调增大 ,并与频率相关。当温度较高时 ,随着频率增大 ,阻尼值减小     

Pb-Bi包晶合金定向凝固微观组织演化

对Pb-(26,28,30,34)Bi(质量分数,%,下同)包晶合金进行平界面生长的低速定向凝固到枝晶状生长的高速定向凝固实验,研究了Pb-Bi包晶合金的微观组织形成及其演化。实验结果表明,在温度梯度G=30K/mm条件下,当凝固速度V=0.25μm/s时,初生α相和包晶β相均以平界面生长,凝固组织的演化过程为:单相初生α相→两相竞争组织→β单相。V=0.5μm/s时,定向凝固组织的演化过程为:单相初生α相→胞状α相+胞间包晶β相→α+β两相竞争组织→β单相。在G=20K/mm条件下,当凝固速度V=1μm/s时,初生α相以胞状领先生长,包晶β相则在胞状α间形核生长,并包裹住α胞。当凝固速度增加至V≥2μm/s时,初生α相由胞状转变为枝晶状,包晶β相则在枝晶间包围α枝晶。     

Zn-Al合金在压蠕变过程中微观组织变化

通过X射线衍射和SEM研究了铸态ZA27合金在160℃，30MPa时的压蠕变过程中的微观组织变化。结果表明，合金在压蠕变过程中产生了负蠕变，压蠕变促使亚稳相η′相的分解和四相转变的产生，即：α ε→T^v η，四相转变导致合金体积膨胀从而引起负蠕变。随着压蠕变量的增大，合金的微观组织由片层状组织向球形组织变化，压蠕变诱发了合金在热处理时效过程中的相变。     

热型连铸锌铝合金定向凝固线材的组织分析

对热型连铸锌铝合金定向凝固线材的铸态及热处理组织进行了观察、分析和讨论。结果表明：热型连铸锌铝合金线材的显微组织为定向生长的平行柱状枝晶组织;共晶合金ZA5的枝状芥是的每个枝晶都由多层片状共晶β和η两相构成,过共晶合金的组织为初生树枝晶和枝晶间共晶组织,其中ZA8,ZA12初生相为β相,ZA22和ZA27的初生相是α相。     

铸态U-5.5Nb合金中的胞状分解

研究了铸态U-5.5Nb合金连续冷却过程中的组织及相转变行为。利用OM、SEM和XRD对组织特征及相组成进行了分析。结果表明,U-5.5Nb合金在连续冷却过程中发生了不完全的胞状分解,形成了类似于珠光体的片层组织,片层间距为86~186 nm。XRD分析表明片层组织由贫Nb的α相和富Nb的γ1-2中间相组成。胞状分解优先在晶界和夹杂物周围形核并长大。通过对晶界处胞状分解组织特征以及热力学计算分析可以得到U-5.5Nb合金胞状分解满足Fournelle-Clark热激活分解机制。在夹杂物界面上观察到了一层连续的但厚度不均匀的γ1-2相薄膜(30~60 nm),并且夹杂物和胞状分解聚集体分离。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN J-INTEGRAL AND FRACTURE SURFACE AVERAGE PROFILE

To investigate the causes that led to the formation of cracks in materials, a novel method that only considered the fracture surfaces for determining the fracture toughness parameters of J-integral for plain strain was proposed The principle of the fracture-surface topography analysis （FRASTA） was used. In FRASTA, the fracture surfaces were scanned by laser microscope and the elevation data was recorded for analysis. The relationship between J-integral and fracture surface average profile for plain strain was deduced. It was also verified that the J-integral determined by the novel method and by the compliance method matches each other well.