Cellular/dendritic transition,dendritic growth and microhardness in directionally solidified monophasic Sn-2%Sb alloy

Horizontal directional solidification experiments were carried out with a monophasic Sn-2%Sb (mass fraction) alloy to analyze the influence of solidification thermal parameters on the morphology and length scale of the microstructure. Continuous temperature measurements were made during solidification at different positions along the length of the casting and these temperature data were used to determine solidification thermal parameters, including the growth rate (V_L) and the cooling rate (T_R). High cooling rate cells and dendrites are shown to characterize the microstructure in different regions of the casting, with a reverse dendrite-to-cell transition occurring for T_R>5.0 K/s. Cellular (l_c) and primary dendrite arm spacings (l₁) are determined along the length of the directionally-solidified casting. Experimental growth laws relating l_c and l₁ to V_L and T_R are proposed, and a comparative analysis with results from a vertical upward directional solidification experiment is carried out. The influence of morphology and length scale of the microstructure on microhardness is also analyzed.     

Effects of friction-stir processing with water cooling on the properties of an Al–Zn–Mg–Cu Alloy

An Al–Zn–Mg–Cu (Al-7B04) aluminium alloy in two conditions, i.e. with an artificial aging (7B04-AA) temper and with an annealing (7B04-O) temper, was friction-stir processed using water cooling, and the microstructure and the mechanical properties of the stir zone (SZ) were investigated. Compared with the samples subjected to air cooling, the SZs of water-cooled samples were strengthened, and the degree of strengthening depended on the initial base metal temper. For friction-stir-processed material after an 7B04-O temper, the efficiency of strengthening was relatively high due not only to the refinement of grains and strengthening precipitates but also due to the high solution level in the SZ. In contrast, the slight strengthening of friction-stir-processed 7B04-AA resulted solely from grain refinement.     

Effects of Zn and Y on hot-tearing susceptibility of Mg–xZn–2xY alloys

The effect of Zn and Y on hot-tearing susceptibility (HTS) of Mg–xZn–2xY (x?=?1, 1.67, 2.67) alloys is investigated. It is found that the microstructure of the alloys is mainly composed of α-Mg, long-period stacking-ordered (LPSO) phase and W-phase. Both theoretical and experimental results illustrated that HTS of the investigated alloys is in the following order: Mg–1Zn–2Y > Mg–1.67Zn–3.34Y > Mg–2.67Zn–5.34Y. For Mg–2.67Zn–5.34Y alloy, LPSO phase content reaches at the maximum and its grain size reaches at minimum of 16.4 µm, and the pinning effect of the LPSO phase on grain boundaries is considered to be an important reason for reducing HTS of the alloy.     

两步法制备新型钛镍合金TiNi45V8In0.2的组织与性能研究

采用两步法成功制备了新型钛镍合金Ti Ni45V8In0.2,并进行XRD、SEM以及力学性能、抗应力松弛性能和耐腐蚀性能的测试与分析。结果表明:该新型合金由网状Ti Ni母相和弥散分布的V3Ni相组成,具有较佳的力学性能、抗应力松弛性能和耐腐蚀性能。与常规Ti Ni合金相比,新型合金的-40、25℃和150℃抗拉强度分别增加47.1%、39.4%、123.9%;-40、25℃和150℃屈服强度分别增加110.3%、92.5%、263.8%;腐蚀电位正移267 m V;50 h后的应力松弛从16%减小至0.5%。     

Molybdenum disilicide-silicon nitride bushing nozzles tailor-made for basalt fibers production

A carefully comparative study of several ceramics compounds allowed the identification of MoSi₂ blended with Si₃N₄ as a suitable material for the realization of bushing nozzles, specifically designed for basalt fibers production. Degradation static tests were developed and performed to demonstrate the high resistance to oxidation at operating temperature of MoSi₂-Si₃N₄ composites with respect to alumina, zirconia stabilized with magnesia or yttria, pure MoSi₂, pure Si₃N₄, and MoSi₂ englobing SiC. Moreover, the MoSi₂-Si₃N₄ composites resulted resistant to corrosion and chemical inert with respect to oxidizing components present in basalt melts.Bushings in MoSi₂-Si₃N₄ were obtained by using hot isostatic pressing and were processed through mechanical drilling. The basalt fibers produced with the MoSi₂-Si₃N₄ bushing showed a constant diameter and a regular surface morphology. The bushing was recovered intact without defects or fractures demonstrating the efficiency of the selected material. Replacing platinum-rhodium bushings with ceramic ones could greatly reduce costs of basaltic fibers production and could encourage the use of these eco-friendly, natural fibers as reinforcement in lightweight polymer composites.     

A high-Nb TiAl alloy with highly refined microstructure and excellent mechanical properties fabricated by electromagnetic continuous casting

In the present research, microstructure refinement of a high-Nb TiAl alloy(Ti-48Al-8Nb-0.15B) was realized by means of the electromagnetic continuous casting(EMCC) technique. The microstructure of an ingot obtained by EMCC was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy(SEM). As compared with the raw as-cast al oy, the obtained EMCC alloy presented a much finer microstructure with lamellar colonies with a mean size of about 50-70 μm because the electromagnetic stirring broke initial dendrites and enhanced the heterogeneous nucleation. As the grains were refined, the properties of the TiAl alloy were improved significantly. This implies that the EMCC technique could offer the possibility of application for high-Nb TiAl alloys with a refined microstructure and excel ent properties to be used as a structural material.     

Corrosion of aluminium,stainless steels and AISI 680 nickel alloy in nitrogen‐based fuels

Nitrogen‐based compounds can potentially be used as alternative non‐carbon or low‐carbon fuels. Nevertheless, the corrosion of construction materials at high temperatures and pressures in the presence of such fuel has not been reported yet. This work is focused on the corrosion of AISI Al 6061, 1005 carbon steel (CS), 304, 316L, 310 austenitic stainless steels (SS) and 680 nickel alloy in highly concentrated water solution of ammonium nitrate and urea (ANU). The corrosion at 50 °C and ambient pressure and at 350 °C and 20 bar was investigated to simulate storage and working conditions. Sodium chloride was added to the fuel (0–5 wt%) to simulate industrial fertilizers and accelerated corrosion environment. Heavy corrosion of CS was observed in ANU solution at 50 °C, while Al 6061, 304 and 316L SS showed high resistance both to uniform and pitting corrosion in ANU containing 1% of sodium chloride. Addition of 5% sodium chloride caused pitting of Al 6061 but had no influence on the corrosion of SS. Tests in ANU at 350 °C and 20 bar showed pitting on SS 304 and 316L and 680 nickel alloy. The highest corrosion resistance was found for SS 310 due to formation of stable oxide film on its surface.     

Phase field modeling of dendritic coarsening during isothermal solidification

Dendritic coarsening in Al-2mol%Si alloy during isothermal solidification at 880K was investigated by phase field modeling. Three coarsening mechanisms operate in the alloy: (a) melting of small dendrite arms; (b) coalescence of dendrites near the tips leading to the entrapment of liquid droplets; (c) smoothing of dendrites. Dendrite melting is found to be dominant in the stage of dendritic growth, whereas coalescence of dendrites and smoothing of dendrites are dominant during isothermal holding. The simulated results provide a better understanding of dendrite coarsening during isothermal solidification.