Mechanical Properties and Interlaminar Fracture Toughness of Glass‐Fiber‐Reinforced Epoxy Composites Embedded with Shape Memory Alloy Wires

The effects of the content and position of shape memory alloy (SMA) wires on the mechanical properties and interlaminar fracture toughness of glass‐fiber‐reinforced epoxy (GF/epoxy) composite laminates are investigated. For this purpose, varying numbers of SMA wires are embedded in GF/epoxy composite laminates in different stacking sequences. The specimens are prepared by vacuum‐assisted resin infusion (VARI) processing and are subjected to static tensile and three‐point‐bending tests. The results show that specimens with two SMA wires in the stacking sequence of [GF₂/SMA/GF₁/SMA/GF₂] and four SMA wires in the stacking sequence of [GF₄/SMA/GF₂/SMA/GF₄] exhibit optimal performance. The flexural strength of the optimal four‐SMA‐wire composite is lower than that of the pure GF/epoxy composite by 5.76% on average, and the flexural modulus is improved by 5.19%. Mode‐I and II interlaminar fracture toughness tests using the SMA/GF/epoxy composite laminates in the stacking sequence of [GF₄/SMA/GF₂/SMA/GF₄] are conducted to evaluate the mechanism responsible for decreasing the mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations reveal that the main damage modes are matrix delamination, interfacial debonding, and fiber pullout.

     

Tensile Strength Evolution and Damage Mechanisms of Al–Si Piston Alloy at Different Temperatures

The Al–Si piston alloys always bear different temperatures because of its peculiar component structure and service condition. Therefore, the tensile strength, elongation to fracture, and corresponding damage mechanisms of Al12SiCuNiMg piston alloys (ASPA) have been investigated with in situ technique at different temperatures. The tensile properties show two‐stage tendencies: the former stage (25–280 °C) is determined by easily broken phases with inherent brittleness (such as primary Si), and the fracture behavior presents rapid brittle fracture after reaching the critical stress (about 430 MPa, based on in situ technique and the elastic stress field model). The later one (280–425 °C) is dominated by particles debonding and θphase coarsening. The plastic deformation behavior, dynamic recovery, and flow process become more significant on account of thermal activation. The Considère criterion h = K indicates that the transition of damage behaviors from insufficient local strength to insufficient matrix strength and the corresponding failure model shifts from brittle to ductile fracture. Based on the damage mechanisms, the elastic field model and thermal activation relation model have been established to characterize the strength of the ASPA at different temperature ranges.

     

Effects of Cu on Microstructures,Mechanical, and Magnetic Properties of Fe–Ni–P Alloys Fabricated by Liquid Phase Sintering

The Fe–Ni–P–Cu alloys with different copper content (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 wt%) are fabricated by liquid phase sintering (LPS) at 950 °C. The nano‐Cu powder is mechanically mixed for 90 min with Fe–Ni–P composite powder using the ethanol as the medium. The microstructure, microhardness and compressive properties of Fe–Ni–P–Cu alloys are investigated. The results indicate that the copper is beneficial to improve the mechanical properties of sintered specimens. The sample contains a small amount of γ‐(Fe, Ni) phase when the copper content is 1 wt%, which results in its the highest compressive yield strength (948.1 MPa). The highest microhardness of 371 HV is accessible in Fe–Ni–P–Cu alloy with 2 wt% Cu. The fracture surface analysis indicates that sintered specimens with Cu addition exhibit a typical intergranular mode.     

Modulated Triple‐Material Nano‐Heterostructures: Where Gold Influenced the Chemical Activity of Silver in Nanocrystals

For efficient charge separations, multimaterial hetero‐nanostructures are being extensively studied as photocatalysts. While materials with one heterojunction are widely established, the chemistry of formation of multijunction heterostructures is not explored. This needs a more sophisticated approach and modulations. To achieve these, a generic multistep seed mediated growth following controlled ion diffusion and ion exchange is reported which successfully leads to triple‐material hetero‐nanostructures with bimetallic‐binary alloy‐binary/ternary semiconductors arrangements. Ag₂S nanocrystals are used as primary seeds for obtaining AuAg‐AuAgS bimetallic‐binary alloyed metal–semiconductor heterostructures via partial reduction of Ag(I) using Au(III) ions. These are again explored as secondary seeds for obtaining a series of triple‐materials heterostructures, AuAg‐AuAgS‐CdS (or ZnS or AgInS₂), with introduction of different divalent and trivalent ions. Chemistry of each step of the gold ion–induced changes in the rate of diffusion and/or ion exchanges are investigated and the formation mechanism for these nearly monodisperse triple material heterostructures are proposed. Reactions without gold are also performed, and the change in the reaction chemistry and growth mechanism in presence of Au is also discussed.     

Effects of microstructure on fatigue crack propagation behavior in a bi-modal TC11 titanium alloy fabricated via laser additive manufacturing

In this study, the crack propagation behaviors in the equiaxed and equiaxed-columnar grain regions of a heat-treated laser additive manufacturing (LAM) TC11 alloy with a special bi-modal microstructure are investigated. The results indicate that the alloy presents a special bi-modal microstructure that comprises a fork-like primary α (α_p) phase surrounded by a secondary α colony (α_s) in the β phase matrix after the heat treatment is completed. The samples demonstrate a fast crack growth rate with larger da/dN values through the equiaxed grain sample versus across the equiaxed-columnar grain sample at low ΔK values (<13.8). The differences that are observed between the crack propagation behaviors (in the crack initiation stage) of the samples can be mostly attributed to the different size and morphology of the α_p lamellae and α_s colony within the grains in the equiaxed and columnar grain regions rather than the grain boundaries. The cracks prefer to grow along the α/β boundary with a smooth propagation route and a fast propagation rate in the equiaxed grain region, where the α_p and α clusters have a large size. However, in the columnar grain region, small and randomly distributed α_p lamellae generate a zigzag-shaped propagation path with a reduction in the da/dN value. Additionally, the change in the size of the α_p lamellae in the equiaxed grains (heat affected bands, HAB) is also observed to influence the propagation behavior of the crack during the crack initiation stage.     

Electrochemical corrosion behavior of 2A02 Al alloy under an accelerated simulation marine atmospheric environment

The corrosion behavior of 2A02 Al alloy under simulated marine atmospheric environment has been studied using mass-gain, scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), laser scanning confocal microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and localized electrochemical methods. The results demonstrate that the relationship between the corrosion induced mass-gain and the corrosion time is in accordance with the power rule. The mass-gain increases gradually during the corrosion time, while the corrosion rate decreases. With ongoing of the corrosion, corrosion products film changed from a porous to a compact structure. The various spectroscopic data show that the corrosion products films composed mainly of Al(OH)₃, Al₂O₃ and AlCl₃. The electrochemical corrosion behavior of the 2A02 Al alloy was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).     

Joint formation mechanism of high depth-to-width ratio friction stir welding

High depth-to-width ratio friction stir welding is an attractive method for the joining demands of aluminum profiles, which is sparked with its extremely low heat input and high mechanical performance. In this study, the joint formation mechanism was studied by a numerical model of plastic flow combined with experimental approaches. A fluid-solid-interaction algorithm was proposed to establish the coupling model, and the material to be welded was treated as non-Newtonian fluid. The thread structure and the milling facets on tool pin promoted drastic turbulence of material. The thread structure converged the plasticized material by its inclined plane, and then drove the attached material to refill the welds. The milling facets brought about the periodic dynamic material flow. The thread structure and the milling facets increased the strain rate greatly under the extremely low heat input, which avoided the welding defects. The condition of the peak temperature of 648 K and the strain rate of 151 s⁻¹ attributed to the lowest coarsening degree of precipitate. The tensile strength of the joint reached 265 MPa, equivalent to 86% of base material. The amelioration via the material flow model inhibits the welding defects and optimizes the parameter intervals, providing references to extracting process-structure-property linkages for friction stir welding.     

Optimization of mechanical property,antibacterial property and corrosion resistance of Ti-Cu alloy for dental implant

Ti-Cu alloys with different Cu contents (3, 5 and 7 wt%) were fabricated and studied as novel antibacterial biomaterials for dental application. The Ti-Cu alloys were annealing treated at different temperatures (740 °C, 830 °C and 910 °C) in order to obtain three typical microstructures, α-Ti + Ti₂Cu, α-Ti + transformed β-Ti, and transformed β-Ti. Mechanical, antibacterial and biocorrosion properties of Ti-Cu alloys with different microstructures were well analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), tensile test, electrochemical test and antibacterial test. The results indicated that the Ti-Cu alloys with microstructure of α-Ti + Ti₂Cu showed the best ductility compared with other Ti-Cu alloys with microstructures of α-Ti + transformed β-Ti and complete transformed β-Ti, and meanwhile, increase of the Cu content significantly contributed to the decreased ductility due to the increasing amount of Ti₂Cu, which brought both solid solution strengthening and precipitation strengthening. Finally, the Ti-5Cu alloy with microstructure of α-Ti + Ti₂Cu exhibited excellent ductility, antibacterial property and corrosion resistance, providing a great potential in clinical application for dental implants.     

Influence of laser surface remelting on microstructure and degradation mechanism in simulated body fluid of Zn-0.5Zr alloy

In this study, the Zn-0.5 wt%Zr (Zn-Zr) alloy was treated by laser surface remelting (LSR), and then the microstructure and degradation mechanism of the remelting layer were investigated and compared with the original as-cast alloy. The results reveal that after LSR, the bulky Zn₂₂Zr phase in the original Zn-Zr alloy is dissolved and the coarse equiaxed grains transform into fine dendrites with a secondary dendrite arm space of about 100 nm. During the degradation process in simulated body fluid (SBF), the corrosion products usually concentrate at some certain areas in the original alloy, while the corrosion products distribute uniformly and loosely in the LSR-treated surface. After removing the corrosion products, it was found that the former suffers obvious pitting corrosion and then localized corrosion. The proposed mechanism is that corrosion initiates at grain boundaries and develops into the depth at some locations, and then leads to localized corrosion. For the LSR-treated sample, corrosion initiates at some active sites and propagates in all directions, corrosion takes place in the whole surface with distinctly uniform thickness reduction, while the localized corrosion and peeling of bulky Zn₂₂Zr particles were eliminated. The electrochemical results also suggest the uniform corrosion of LSR-treated sample and localized corrosion of original sample. Based on the results, a new approach to regulate the corrosion mode of the biodegradable Zn alloy is proposed.     

钛合金双态组织高温拉伸行为的晶体塑性有限元研究

创建一个包含多变体结构特征的双态组织几何模型,提出一种变形协调性的评估方法,采用以率相关滑移为主的晶体塑性有限元本构关系,研究了具有不同组织特征的Ti-6Al-4V合金双态组织的高温拉伸行为。结果表明：在多晶变形过程中,α_p相承载了更多的应变;在变形后的样品中,出现了大致对称分布于拉伸方向两侧的高应变交叉条带;存在于α_p与β_T之间的包围结构特征,可加剧局域应变分配的差异;随着α_p相体积分数的升高应变量降低,整体应变协调性先较快降低而后平稳;随着α_s片层厚度的增加高应变条带特征弱化,整体应变协调系数升高;含双变体α_s片层团簇结构的β_T组织,其应变协调性低于含单变体和三变体的组织。