Laser cutting of triangular blanks from thick aluminum foam plate: Thermal stress analysis and morphology

Laser cutting of triangle blank from aluminum foam is carried out. Thermal stress field in the cutting section is predicted using ABAQUS finite element code in line with the experimental conditions. Laser cutting experiments are carried out prior to the model study to determine the optimum cutting parameters for the quality cuts. Temperature predictions are compared with thermocouple data obtained from the experiment. Morphological and metallurgical changes in the cut section are examined using optical and scanning microscopes, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. It is found that von Mises attains high values along the circumference of the cut edges at the onset of cooling cycle initiation. Laser cut edges are free from defects and asperities; however, locally distributed few dross attachments take place at the kerf exit.     

Effect of the primary heat treatment on the bond formation in cold welding of aluminum and steel by cold forging

Cold forging enables the manufacturing of high strength monolithic components. When used as joining technology it can also be extended to an enabler of multi-material product design. The contact conditions at the interface between the components during the cold forging process play a crucial role. The joining of two billets of steel and aluminum is investigated by a finite element analysis with regard to the material distribution and the effect of a primary heat treatment of both materials. These parameters affect the surface enlargement and the contact normal stress which are decisive parameters for the formation of a sound bond between aluminum and the hardly cold weldable steel. The experimental results present the effect of a primary heat treatment on the bond formation. Microscopic analyses of the bond formation allow a deeper insight into the bonding mechanism. Thus, the results lead to process design guidelines for cold welding by cold forging.     

On the kinetics of AlH3 decomposition and the subsequent Al oxidation

Metal hydrides are used for hydrogen storage. AlH₃ shows a capacity to store about 10 wt% hydrogen. Its hydrogen is split-off in the temperature interval of 400–500 K. On dehydrogenation a nano-structured Al material emerges with specific surfaces up to 15–20 m²/g. The surface areas depend on the heating rate because of a temperature dependent crystallite growth. The resulting Al oxidizes up to 20–25% weight on air access forming an alumina passivation layer of 3–4 nm thickness on all exposed surfaces. The heat released from this Al oxidation induces a high risk to this type of hydrogen storage if the containment might be destroyed, accidentally. The kinetics of the dehydrogenation and the subsequent oxidation is investigated by methods of thermal analysis. A reaction scheme is confirmed which consists of a starting Avrami-Erofeev mechanism followed by formal 1st order oxidation on unlimited air access. The kinetic parameters, activation energies and pre-exponentials are evaluated and can be used to calculate the reaction progress. Together with the heat of the Al oxidation the overall heat release and the related rate can be estimated.     

Differential elastic scattering cross sections of protons from Al in 2.4–4.8 MeV energy range

Measurement of differential elastic cross section of protons from aluminum was taken at 165° degree in the2.4–4.8 Me V energy range. The results and measured energy resonances were compared with reported measurements.These data will improve the reliability of backscattering analysis of Al with protons in this energy region.     

High-temperature strength and damage evolution in short fiber reinforced aluminum alloys studied by miniature creep testing and synchrotron microtomography

The creep behavior of a squeeze-cast, short fiber reinforced Al metal matrix composite (MMC), consisting of an Al-11 wt.% Zn-0.2 wt.% Mg alloy reinforced with 15 vol.% Al₂O₃ Saffil® short fibers is investigated using miniature creep specimens. The small dimensions of the miniature creep specimens permit them to be machined from regions of an MMC block with different microstructures, thus allowing the effect of grain size and fiber texture on creep to be investigated on a more local level than is possible using conventional specimen geometries. The miniature creep specimens are subjected to uniaxial tensile stresses ranging from 3 to 40 MPa at temperatures between 573 and 623 K. It is shown that tests performed using the miniature creep specimen geometry are in good agreement with results previously obtained with standard creep specimens. Through interrupted creep experiments, it is observed that the creep back flow that occurs after unloading increases with increasing accumulated plastic strain. In the as-cast MMC, synchrotron microtomography reveals a fine distribution of pores whose spatial density increases with the spatial density of the fibers. The presence of fractured fibers in the crept MMC is also revealed. Some of the regions between fractured fiber fragments appear to be filled with matrix material, while others are voided.     

Polynomial regression and interpolation of thermodynamic data in Al–Si–Mg–Fe system

A numerical technique for constructing thermodynamic databases has been proposed. This technique offers accurate calculations of solidification temperature, phase fractions, and solute concentrations of specific alloys in quaternary systems. The thermodynamic data is extracted by calling the TQ-interface (Thermodynamic Calculation Interface) from Thermo-Calc software, and modeled through efficient computational approaches such as polynomial regression and interpolation. This method is described in three parts. First, the applicability of regression functions is demonstrated on the Al–Si binary phase diagram. Second, the way of combining polynomial regression and interpolation is applied to model the Al–Si–Mg ternary system. Finally, the A356 alloy, which belongs to the Al–Si–Mg–Fe system, is modeled by a series of sub-ternary systems using regression and interpolation. The valid accuracy of the method is demonstrated by comparing the present results with those calculated using Thermo-Calc software. The application of the TQ-interface to solidification processes in Scheil and lever-rule models is also included. The results indicate that this method can offer accurate thermodynamic parameters for the A356 alloy in Al–Si–Mg–Fe system and reduce CPU time significantly when applied to solidification simulation. Several problems and the corresponding strategies for high order functions, unsmooth variations of thermodynamic information and partition coefficients are discussed to improve this method. This technique can also be applied to other specific alloys with small variations of thermodynamic variables in quaternary systems.     

Nitriding aluminum alloys by N-multicharged ions implantation: Correlation between surface strengthening and microstructure modifications

This paper deals with the surface strengthening of aluminum alloys by means of a new process allowing multi-charged nitrogen ion implantation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy were used to study microstructural changes involved by implantation. This microstructural study revealed the formation of AlN and AlONγ due to the low nitrogen concentration gradient obtained with multi-charged implantation. Nanoindentation and wear tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical properties of implanted surfaces. A significant improvement of wear resistance was observed as a consequence of the nitride protective layer formation. The observed surface hardening is attributed to both AlONγ and AlN formations and to the precipitation-induced stress.     

铝合金在自行车上的应用

本文介绍铝合金在交通运输方面尤其在自行车、电动车等方面的应用和发展,并指出自行车这一传统工具在国内某些城市的新用途,成为城市低碳出行的最佳选择之一,间接地为城市交通的发展提供一种节能、环保和惠民的新思路。     

双动铝挤压机液压定针控制技术

介绍了双动卧式铝挤压机液压定针系统的结构、工艺流程及其自动控制系统。该控制系统响应快,定针精度高,具有很高的可靠性。目前该液压定针控制系统已应用于实际生产,定针控制精度≤1mm,完全满足工艺要求,对后续同类产品的设计起到了借鉴作用。