Evaluation of Ca-doped BaZrO3 as the crucible refractory for melting TiAl alloys

In this study, a new Ca-doped BaZrO₃ refractory was designed by using thermodynamics approaches and tested for its applicability for vacuum induction melting (VIM) of TiAl alloys. The influence of CaO on the BaZrO₃ phase constitution and microstructure, as well as the key features of the TiAl melt interaction with the Ca-doped BaZrO₃ crucibles were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results revealed that the Ca-doped BaZrO₃ refractory consisted of Ba_1-xCa_xZrO₃ and CaO phases. An obvious interaction occurred during the melting of the TiAl alloy in the Ca-doped BaZrO₃ crucible along with the generation of BaAl₂O₄ as a reaction product, with formation of a reaction layer up to 5?µm thick. Dissolution of Ca-doped BaZrO₃ refractory in the TiAl melt was the main reason for the alloy-crucible reaction. Moreover, the Ca-doped BaZrO₃ crucible was found to substantially reduce the contamination of the TiAl alloy, with lower oxygen concentration as compared with other conventional oxide crucibles. Overall results confirmed that vacuum induction melting using the Ca-doped BaZrO₃ refractory can be considered as an appropriate method for the fabrication of TiAl alloys.     

Influence of thermodynamic activities of different masteralloys in pack powder mixtures to produce low activity aluminide coatings on TiAl alloys

Titanium aluminides are interesting high temperature materials, but show insufficient oxidation resistance as well as embrittlement at higher temperatures (>750 °C). Al-enriched coatings can be manufactured by pack cementation on many high temperature alloys to promote the formation of a protective alumina layer at high temperatures, which not only protects the alloy from oxidation but is also expected to impede embrittlement of TiAl at high temperatures. One drawback of such coatings is that Al-rich phases are very brittle. Therefore the major intermetallic aluminide phase in the coating plays a critical role for the protection behavior. Based on thermodynamic calculations different masteralloys were chosen to control the pack cementation process. Particular attention is given to the gradient between the aluminum activity of the different masteralloy powders and the aluminum activity of the substrate surface (alloy TNM^®-B1) in order to control the deposited phase at the surface. It is revealed that powder pack with Al as masteralloy provides a high Al activity and produces thick multi-layered coatings consisting of brittle TiAl₃ and TiAl₂ phase and aluminum-rich TiAl. By using different chromium aluminides as masteralloys, thinner, low-activity coatings could be produced, consisting of a bi-layer of brittle TiAl₂ phase and aluminum-rich TiAl or just the targeted pure aluminum-rich TiAl, which is known to have much better mechanical properties.     

Estimation of fatigue crack growth behavior for small-sized C-shaped inside edge-notched tension (CIET) specimen using compliance technique

Being restricted by the relative larger size requirement, traditional and standard fracture specimens are not applicable for the estimation of fatigue crack growth behavior of some very finite-sized components and precious materials. This study develops a small-sized C-shaped inside edge-notched tension (CIET) specimen which has an advantage of specimen minimization and a wide range of adaptability. A systemic compliance technique for estimating fatigue crack growth behavior of CIET specimen has been successfully constructed and experimentally verified. Groups of fatigue crack propagation rate tests of both CIET specimen and CT specimen for 5083-H112 aluminum alloy were carried out. The resulted da/dN ∼ ΔK curves are heavy affected by specimen configuration and load ratio, and the difference between these da/dN ∼ ΔK curves has been successfully removed by introducing the correction of plasticity-induced crack closure effect. Consequently, the feasibility of CIET specimen for estimating fatigue crack propagation behavior for small-sized components and precious materials has been evidently confirmed.     

Producing fully-lamellar microstructure for wrought beta-gamma TiAl alloys without single α-phase field

Fine-grained fully-lamellar (FL) microstructure is desired for TiAl components to serve as compressor/turbine blades and turbocharger turbine wheels. This study deals with the process and phase transformation to produce FL microstructure for Mo stabilized beta-gamma TiAl alloys without single α-phase field. Unlike the α + γ two-phased TiAl or beta-gamma TiAl with single α-phase field, the wrought multi-phase TiAl–4/6Nb–2Mo–B/Y alloys exhibit special annealing process to obtain FL microstructure. Short-term annealing at temperatures slightly above β-transus is recommended to produce the desired FL microstructure. The related mechanism is to guarantee the sufficient diffusion homogenization of β stabilizers during single β-phase annealing, and further avoid α decomposition by α → γ + β when cooling through α + β + γ phase field. The colony boundary β phase contributes to fine-grained nearly FL microstructure, by retarding the coarsening of the α phase grains.     

双态组织高Nb-TiAl合金的缺口敏感性

通过对圆棒状缺口试样和无缺口光滑试样进行单向拉伸试验,研究了双态组织高Nb-TiAl合金的缺口敏感性。研究表明,缺口根半径R≥0. 5 mm的U型试样和缺口角度60°、R≥1 mm的V型试样的抗拉强度RmN都大于光滑试样的抗拉强度Rm,缺口敏感度NSR均大于1,合金对缺口不敏感。当缺口类型相同时,缺口敏感性随缺口根半径R的减小而增大; V型缺口敏感性大于U型缺口;对于V型缺口试样,当R=0. 5 mm时,其NSR在0. 98～1. 03之间,RmN在Rm附近波动,易出现缺口敏感。     

锻态Ti-44Al-4Nb-4V-0.3Mo-Y合金等轴及片层组织高温拉伸性能及组织演变

等轴γ晶粒和α2/γ片层是beta-gamma TiAl合金的2种主要变形组织形态。研究了锻态Ti-44Al-4Nb-4V-0.3Mo-Y合金等轴组织及片层组织的高温拉伸性能及组织演变。结果表明:拉伸温度对Ti-44Al-4Nb-4V-0.3Mo-Y合金的力学性能和显微组织有显著的影响。在相同温度下,Ti-44Al-4Nb-4V-0.3Mo-Y合金等轴组织的抗拉强度和屈服强度略高于片层组织,而延伸率相差不大。随拉伸温度的升高,合金的抗拉强度和屈服强度逐渐减小,而延伸率迅速增大。对于等轴组织,提高温度,等轴γ晶粒被拉长,发生完全的动态再结晶,从而细化合金的显微组织。对于片层组织,α2/γ片层的分解和γ板条的再结晶程度随拉伸温度的升高而增大。Ti-44Al-4Nb-4V-0.3Mo-Y合金的韧脆转变温度在750～800℃之间。     

辐照用小尺寸样品力学性能表征技术研究进展

由于辐照空间尺寸限制、降低样品放射性和提高辐照参数精度等原因，小尺寸样品被广泛应用于核反应堆材料的辐照后力学性能表征。本文就国内外小尺寸拉伸、冲击、断裂韧性、疲劳、蠕变和小冲杆等测试表征技术的研究现状进行了综合论述，分析了小尺寸样品测试中的关键影响因素以及数据归一化方法，总结了小尺寸样品存在的问题，并结合我国需求对小尺寸样品技术的发展进行了分析和展望，以期为小尺寸样品技术及测试分析数据进一步规范化和工程应用发展提供参考。     

Shear Plugging and Frictional Behaviour of Composites and Fabrics Under Quasi‐static Loading

Experimental studies are presented on the shear plugging and frictional behaviour of composites and fabrics under quasi‐static loading. The primary focus is on the effect of specimen thickness on quasi‐static shear plugging behaviour. In the present study, quasi‐static shear plugging and through‐the‐thickness frictional tests are carried out on three types of materials. The materials investigated are 2D plain weave E‐glass/epoxy, 2D plain weave T300 carbon/epoxy and 2D plain weave E‐glass fabric. Typical results on shear plugging strength and frictional behaviour are presented. Effect of specimen thickness on quasi‐static shear plugging behaviour is also investigated.