Effect of different quenching processes following solid-solution treatment on properties and precipitation behaviors of 7050 alloy

The effects of quenching in different ways following solid-solution treatment on properties and precipitation behaviors of 7050 alloy were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), hardness and electrical conductivity tests. Results show that after quenching in different ways, electrical conductivity of the alloy decreases rapidly in the first 48 h of natural aging. The electrical conductivity of 7050 alloy in natural aging state is determined by the size and density of GP zones, and the size of GP zones is the main factor. After natural aging for 70 d, the size of GP zones is 1.8–2.6 nm in matrix of the immersion quenched sample and it is 1.4–1.8 nm in matrix of both water mist and forced air quenched samples. After natural and artificial peak aging, the hardness of the water mist quenched sample is HV 193.6 and its electrical conductivity is 30.5% (IACS) which are both higher than those of the immersion quenched sample. Therefore, water mist quenching is an ideal quenching method for 7050 alloy sheets after solid-solution treatment.     

Solidification of Be-free Ni-based dental alloy

A novel, Nb- and Si-rich and Be-free Ni-based alloy was cast by two methods of investment casting and continuous casting to study the microstructure evolution during solidification and its mechanical properties. The solidification of the alloy started with the primary crystallization of FCC-γ, followed by a binary eutectic reaction, with the formation of a heterogeneous constituent: FCC-γ+G-phase, which replaced the low-melting eutectic (FCC-γ+NiBe) in the Be-bearing alloys. AlNi₆Si₃ and γ′ formed during the terminal stages of solidification by investment casting, while the formation of AlNi₆Si₃ was suppressed by continuous casting. The Scheil solidification model agreed very well with the experimental results.     

Precipitation location of secondary phase and microstructural evolution during static recrystallization of as-cast Ti-25V-15Cr-0.3Si titanium alloy

The microstructural evolution and precipitation location of the secondary phase of an as-cast Ti-25V-15Cr-0.3Si titanium alloy were investigated via isothermal compression experiments and heat treatment. The average aspect (length-to-width) ratio, average area and size of the grains at different heat treatment temperatures and holding time were analyzed and the effects of deformation and annealing time on the grain area and size were considered. It was found that the grain size was strongly influenced by the height reduction and holding time. Grain growth was significant when annealing time increased from 10 min to 2 h at 950 °C and height reduction of 30%; however, grain growth was minimal at annealing time between 2 and 4 h. Many dispersion particles were observed to form in continuous chains; the precipitation location was confirmed to be along initial grain boundaries, and the dispersion particles were identified to be Ti₅Si₃ phase by TEM.     

Effect of Mo on corrosion behavior of Ni20Cr–xMo alloys in air with NaCl–KCl–CaCl2 vapor at 570°C

The effect of Mo on the corrosion behavior of Ni20Cr–xMo alloys in an oxidizing chlorine-containing atmosphere using air mixed with the salt-vapor mixture of NaCl–KCl–CaCl₂ at 570°C was investigated. The results revealed that the corrosion performance of the Ni20Cr alloys in the oxidizing chlorine atmosphere was improved by Mo addition of up to 3 wt%. The Mo-free alloy formed a potassium chromate during corrosion as a result of the reaction between the Cr₂O₃ scale and KCl vapor. The chromate formation increased the chlorine potential at the scale surface and induced the breakdown of the protective Cr₂O₃ scale, resulting in internal chromium chloride precipitates and a Cr-depleted zone. In contrast, the presence of Mo resulted in the formation of a NiO scale, which did not react with the salt vapors and, therefore, prevented the formation of chromates. The beneficial effect of Mo on the high-temperature chlorination of Ni–Cr alloys in salt-vapor-containing atmospheres was ascribed to the suppression of chlorine generation due to NiO scale formation.     

Corrosion behaviour of AA2024 aluminium alloy in different tempers in NaCl solution and with the CeCl3 corrosion inhibitor

The paper analyses the corrosion behaviour of naturally and artificially aged AA2024 alloy in NaCl solution and in the presence of an environment-friendly corrosion inhibitor, CeCl₃. On the basis of the values of polarisation resistance and corrosion current density, the corrosion resistance of the protective inhibitor film is established as well as the general corrosion resistance of this aluminium alloy. Resistance to pit formation is determined based on the difference in pitting and corrosion potentials while resistance to pit growth is determined based on the amount of charge consumed during pit growth. A scanning electron microscope is used to examine the morphology of the pits formed during the pitting corrosion testing, as well as to determine the cerium content on intermetallic particles and the matrix AA2024 alloy. The corrosion behaviour of AA2024 alloy is investigated after different test periods in NaCl solution and in the same solution with the CeCl₃ inhibitor. The corrosion resistance of both tempers of AA2024 alloy is more than one order of magnitude higher in the presence of CeCl₃. An explanation of the observed differences in the corrosion behaviour of the naturally and artificially aged AA2024 alloy is proposed. Different corrosion behaviour of the alloy after different test periods is also explained.     

Genomic Instability Is an Early Event in Aluminium-Induced Tumorigenesis

Genomic instability is generally considered as a hallmark of tumorigenesis and a prerequisite condition for malignant transformation. Aluminium salts are suspected environmental carcinogens that transform mammary epithelial cells in vitro through unknown mechanisms. We report here that long-term culture in the presence of aluminium chloride (AlCl₃) enables HC11 normal mouse mammary epithelial cells to form tumours and metastases when injected into the syngeneic and immunocompetent BALB/cByJ strain. We demonstrate that AlCl₃ rapidly increases chromosomal structural abnormalities in mammary epithelial cells, while we failed to detect direct modulation of specific mRNA pathways. Our observations provide evidence that clastogenic activity—a well-recognized inducer of genomic instability—might account in part for the transforming abilities of aluminium in mammary epithelial cells.     

钛合金激光清洗及其对激光焊接气孔的影响

采用砂纸打磨、酸洗、激光清洗等方式对Ti6Al4V钛合金进行焊前清洗。通过扫描电镜、白光干涉仪、能谱仪分析了各种清洗方式下的表面形貌、粗糙度和化学成分，研究了不同清洗方式及参数对清洗效果的影响。在均匀熔透和表面质量良好的同一激光焊接条件下，比较了不同清洗条件对气孔率的影响。合适的激光清洗可有效清除焊接试件表面氧化层，并改善表面粗糙度，得到较低的气孔率，其焊缝可达到中国航天工业行业标准I级焊缝要求。     

冷轧退火对FeMnCoCrAl高熵合金组织和力学性能的影响

使用真空电弧炉熔炼出(Fe₅₀Mn₃₀Co₁₀Cr₁₀)₉₄Al₆合金,利用冷轧及在不同温度对合金进行退火,以期望得到由多尺度再结晶晶粒构成的层状结构;并对不同退火温度的样品进行拉伸性能测试。利用扫描电镜和EBSD对合金组织形貌进行表征,采用X射线衍射方法研究其相组成。结果表明:合金在铸态和冷轧后相组成未发生变化,700 ℃退火得到较好的多尺度再结晶晶粒的层状结构,其屈服强度为487 MPa,抗拉强度为708 MPa,断后伸长率为39%,表现出良好的综合力学性能。     

Corrosion behaviour and mechanism of 6082 aluminium alloy in NaCl and Na2SO4 etchants

The corrosion behaviour of 6082 aluminium alloy was studied by measuring the electrochemical impedance spectra and electrode polarization curves. After the electrochemical tests, a microstructural analysis of the samples was conducted by using optical microscopy and electron scanning microscopy techniques to determine the corrosion mechanism. The results show that the Nyquist plot of the electrochemical impedance data in the NaCl solution consists of high- and low-frequency capacitive impedance loops. When ions are added to the NaCl etchant, the Nyquist plots of the electrochemical impedance data are composed of two different curves: a high-frequency capacitive impedance loop and a low-frequency inductive impedance loop. The corrosion current density increases with increasing concentration, and as a result, the corrosion resistance of the aluminium alloy decreases. The microstructures of 6082 aluminium alloy consist of Mg₂Si secondary particles in a large α-Al matrix. Pitting corrosion initially occurs at the boundary between the matrix and secondary particles because the electrode potentials of the matrix and secondary particles are different. Then, corrosion paths develop along the network-like grain boundaries, and finally, massive network-like corrosion occurs throughout the entire alloy.     

Microstructure and corrosion behaviors of FeCrNiBSiMox stainless steel fabricated by laser melting deposition

In this paper, FeCrNiBSiMo_x (x = 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5) stainless steels were successfully prepared using a laser melting deposition technology, with the aim to investigate the effect of Mo content on microstructure and corrosion behaviors. The results showed that the as-deposited specimens were composed mostly of α-Fe and a small amount of (Cr, Mo)₇C₃, and (Cr, Mo)₇C₃ existed in the inter-dendritic (ID) region. As the Mo content increased, grain refinement could be clearly observed, and the area of the ID region increased from 27% to 54%. The low-angle boundaries accounted for 60–70% of the grain boundaries of the as-deposited specimens. Increasing the content of Mo improved the microhardness of the as-deposited specimens from 652 HV to 813 HV. The corrosion current density of the as-deposited specimens with the Mo mass fractions of 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.5% were 1.37 × 10⁻⁶, 1.02 × 10⁻⁷, 6.19 × 10⁻⁷, and 3.06 × 10⁻⁷ A/cm², respectively. The as-deposited specimen with Mo content of 1.5% had lower cumulative erosion loss and erosion loss rate than other as-deposited specimens. The FeCrNiBSiMo_x (x = 1.5) specimen exhibited excellent resistance to electrochemical corrosion and cavitation erosion.