An investigation on the precipitated phases and mechanical properties of cerium modified 2024 aluminum alloy

The effects of the addition of rare earth cerium on the cast microstructure and mechanical properties of 2024-T6 aluminum alloy were investigated in this work. The specimens for room-temperature tensile tests were prepared with a T6 heat treatment. Experimental results indicated that the cerium modified alloys showed refined grains, higher hardness, and strength values at room temperature. The hardness and the strength of the cerium modified alloys initially increased and then decreased as the cerium content increased. The maximum tensile strength was obtained at the 0.6 wt.% cerium modified 2024 aluminum alloy. This was improved from 464 MPa to 612 MPa. Simultaneous increases in the tensile strength and hardness were proposed to result from the refined α-aluminum dendrites, the formation of aluminum-rare earth intermetallic compounds at the grain boundaries and the grains, the more homogeneously distributed nano-scale S precipitates, and the smaller T diffusion phase.     

Microstructural Study and Mechanical Properties of Dissimilar Friction Stir Welded AA5083-H111 and AA6082-T6 Reinforced with SiC Nanoparticles

Dissimilar friction stir welds were produced in 3 mm thick plates of AA6082-T6 and AA5083-H111 aluminum alloys using SiC as reinforcing material. The optimum weld presents a good distribution of nanoparticles in the weld nugget and mechanical mixing of the two alloys as well as further grain refinement compared to the one without nanoparticles. Higher hardness in the weld nugget is also evidenced, followed by enhanced ultimate tensile strength and elongation values. All specimens, after the tensile test, were lead to fracture at the heat affected zone of AA6082-T6 and specifically at the region of the lowest hardness.     

Influence of Mn content on mechanical properties and fatigue behavior of extruded Mg alloys

Effect of manganese addition, which has been known to improve formability during extrusion, on mechanical properties and fatigue strength was investigated to confirm the total performance of the Mn addition to the magnesium alloys. The grain size decreased with increasing Mn content and attained a constant grain size at the Mn contents higher than 0.4 wt%, where the Mn–Al–Mg intermetallic particles were precipitated. The tensile strength and hardness increased with increasing Mn content and attained a constant value at the Mn contents higher than 0.4 wt%, which was consistent with the grain size variation. The fatigue life increased with increasing Mn content and attained a constant value similar to the case of tensile strength. However, the fatigue life was significantly reduced at the Mn content of 0.79 wt%. It is speculated to result from a large number of precipitated intermetallic particles, which would degrade the fatigue crack growth resistance. The magnesium alloys with Mn contents between 0.4 and 0.6 wt% have a good balance of mechanical properties and fatigue strength.     

Relationships between secondary dendrite arm spacing and mechanical properties of Zn-40Al-Cu alloys

Three ternary monotectoid-based Zn-40Al-(1, 2, 3%) Cu alloys were produced by permanent mould casting at different pouring and mould temperatures. The average cooling rate for each alloy was determined. Structure of the alloys was examined using optical and electron microscopes and their hardness, tensile strength, percentage elongation and impact energy were measured. As a result of these investigations the relationships between structure and mechanical properties of the alloys were determined.It was observed that the secondary dendrite arm spacing of the alloys decreased with increasing cooling rate and their hardness, tensile strength, percentage elongation and impact energy increased. Correlation of experimental results showed that the hardness, tensile strength, percentage elongation and impact energy of the alloys could be related to their secondary dendrite arm spacing using straight line equations.     

Structure and properties of rapidly solidified Mg-Al alloys

Three binary Mg-Al alloys containing nominally 5, 15, and 30 at % Al were prepared in the ingot and rapidly solidified flake conditions using the twin roll technique. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and electrochemical behavior of the extruded alloys in both the conditions were investigated. The hardness, tensile strength, and corrosion resistance increased with increasing Al content. Further, the hardness, tensile strength, and corrosion resistance of the rapidly solidified alloys were superior to the ingot-metallurgy alloys and this is attributed to the microstructural refinement and increased homogeneity in the rapidly solidified alloys.     

Effect of annealing on precipitation, microstructural stability, and mechanical properties of cryorolled Al 6063 alloy

The effect of annealing on precipitation, microstructural stability, and mechanical properties of cryorolled Al 6063 alloy has been investigated in the present work employing hardness measurements, tensile test, XRD, DSC, EBSD, and TEM. The solution-treated bulk Al 6063 alloy was subjected to cryorolling to produce ultrafine grain structures and subsequently annealing treatment to investigate its thermal stability. The CR Al 6063 alloys with ultrafine-grained microstructure are thermally stable up to 250 °C as observed in the present work. Within the range of 150–225 °C, the size of small precipitate particles is <1 μm. These small precipitate particles pin the grain boundaries due to Zener drag effect, due to which the grain growth is retarded. The hardness and tensile strength of the cryorolled Al 6063 alloys have decreased upon subjecting it to annealing treatment (150–250 °C).     

Correlation between ultimate tensile strength and solidification microstructure for the sand cast A357 aluminium alloy

Many studies have demonstrated a relationship between secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) and the mechanical behaviour of cast aluminium–silicon alloys, both for tensile and fatigue strength. SDAS is related to the solidification time and can be predicted, with a good approximation, by finite-element simulation. However, other microstructural features can affect the tensile behaviour of cast aluminium alloys such as size and morphology of the eutectic Si particles, grain size, composition and morphology of the intermetallic compounds. The present investigation was aimed at finding valuable relationships between ultimate tensile strength and the previously mentioned microstructural parameters for the sand cast A357 aluminium alloy. The microstructural characterization was carried out by optical microscopy and image analysis on more than about 2500 micrographs. Starting from the microstructural parameters and taking into account the material hardness, a relationship able to predict the ultimate tensile strength of the alloy, with an error less than 5%, was found. This relationship can be used to evaluate the local values of the UTS in complex cast components knowing only the hardness and the microstructural parameters, even in positions where the extraction of tensile specimens is not possible.     

Fatigue strength dependence on the ultimate tensile strength and hardness in magnesium alloys

The relationships between fatigue strength and ultimate tensile strength as well as hardness have been studied in high-strength NZK alloys (Mg–yNd–zZn–xZr) and other magnesium alloys. In the absence of casting defects, clear linear relationships have been found between the fatigue strength and the ultimate tensile strength and the hardness values in these magnesium alloys in both T4 (solutionized) and T6 (solutionized and aged) conditions. The fatigue strength models developed in this work alloys can be directly applied to other defect-free magnesium alloys.     

固溶处理温度对GH3625合金热挤压管材微观组织和力学性能的影响

采用SEM、EDS和XRD等手段研究了不同固溶处理温度对GH3625合金热挤压管材组织性能的影响。结果表明,1 120℃是合金组织和力学性能的一个转折点。当固溶处理温度为910~1 120℃时,由于晶界处NbC相的钉扎作用,使得晶粒长大缓慢,合金硬度和强度缓慢下降;当固溶温度超过1 120℃时,NbC相大量回溶,钉扎作用减弱或消失,晶粒急剧长大,合金硬度和强度的下降趋势明显增大。随着固溶温度的升高,合金断口中的韧窝变得大而深邃,塑性逐渐提高;当固溶温度超过1 120℃时,拉伸断口基本以韧窝为主。GH3625合金热挤压管材在固溶处理时间为1h时的最佳固溶处理温度为1 120℃。     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of novel Al-Y-Sc alloys with high thermal stability and electrical conductivity

The microstructure and mechanical properties of novel Al-Y-Sc alloys with high thermal stability and electrical conductivity were investigated.Eutectic Al3 Y-phase particles of size 100-200 nm were detected in the as-cast microstructure of the alloys.Al3 Y-phase particles provided a higher hardness to as cast alloys than homogenized alloys in the temperature range of 370-440℃.L12 precipitates of the Al3(ScxYy) phase were nucleated homogenously within the aluminium matrix and heterogeneously on the dislocations during annealing at 400℃.The average size of the L12 precipitates was 11±2 nm after annealing for 1 h,and 25-30 nm after annealing for 5 h,which led to a decrease in the hardness of the Al-0.2 Y-0.2 Sc alloy to15 HV.The recrystallization temperature exceeded 350℃and 450℃for the Al-0.2 Y-0.05 Sc and Al-0.2 Y-0.2 Sc alloys,respectively.The investigated alloys demonstrated good thermal stability of the hardness and tensile properties after annealing the rolled alloys at 200 and 300℃,due to fixing of the dislocations and grain boundaries by L12 precipitates and eutectic Al3 Y-phase particles.The good combination of strength,plasticity,and electrical conductivity of the investigated Al-0.2 Y-0.2 Sc alloys make it a promising candidate for electrical conductors.The alloys exhibited a yield stress of 177-183 MPa,ultimate tensile stress of 199-202 MPa,elongation of 15.2-15.8%,and electrical conductivity of 60.8%-61.5% IACS.     

Some useful approximations for wrought aluminum alloys based on monotonic tensile properties and hardness

The objective of the present paper is to derive some useful approximations for estimating the strain‐controlled fatigue properties and cyclic deformation of wrought aluminum alloys from hardness and monotonic tensile properties. A variety of relationships and correlations among monotonic tensile properties, Brinell hardness, cyclic deformation and strain‐controlled fatigue properties are developed for wrought aluminum alloys. A simple method is proposed for prediction of the strain‐life curve requiring only ultimate tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. Prediction capability of the proposed method is evaluated for 25 kinds of wrought aluminum alloys with ultimate tensile strength between 120 MPa and 650 MPa. The proposed method provides good approximations of the strain‐life curve.     

Strength and toughness of clean nanostructured bainite

A nanostructured steel has been produced using a clean steel-making technique. The mechanical properties have been comprehensively characterised. The maximum strength of the material recorded was 2.2?GPa at yield, with an ultimate tensile strength of 2.5?GPa, accompanied by a Charpy impact energy of 5?J, achieved by heat treatment to refine the prior austenite grain size from 145 to 20?µm. This increased the strength by 40% and the Charpy V-notch energy more than doubled. In terms of resistance of the hardness to tempering, the behaviour observed was similar to previous alloys. Despite reducing the hardness and strength, tempering was observed to reduce the plane-strain fracture toughness.     

Microstructure characterization and tensile properties of squeeze-cast AlSiMg alloys

A research program was conducted to study the effects of squeeze pressure (70, 100 and 160 MPa) and heat treatment T6 on the structure, hardness and tensile properties of cast Al6Si0.3Mg alloys. The influence of squeeze pressure on macro- and microstructures of Al6Si0.3Mg alloys has been investigated. Some of castings were solution treated at 540 °C for various times and others were subjected to aging at 170 °C after solution treatment. The results indicated that precipitation occurred within about 30 min for both cast and squeeze cast alloys. The hardness began to increase and maximum values were observed after about 10 h for as-cast alloy. Increasing of squeeze pressure (70–160 MPa) accelerated strength of the alloys from 8 to 4 h, respectively. Squeeze pressures decreased the percentage of porosity and increased the density, also it decreased the grain size of α-Al and modified the Si eutectic. Hardness and tensile properties increased with both heat treatment and increasing of squeeze pressure.     

铸态AZ81镁合金ECAP态组织与性能研究

采用自制的90°模具,经Bc路径在温度为300℃下研究对比了铸态及不同道次的等通道挤压(ECAP)态AZ81镁合金微观组织和力学性能.结果表明ECAP随着挤压道次的增加,AZ81镁合金显微组织和力学性能发生显著变化.当挤压到4道次,平均晶粒尺寸由原来铸态的145um细化为9.6um,拉伸断口韧窝明显增多;抗拉强度从180 MPa提高到306 MPa,延伸率和硬度分别达到15.8%和142HL.分析表明,AZ81镁合金在高温挤压过程中Mg17Al12相粒子被破碎,并部分溶入基体,$-Mg基体与%-Mg17Al12相互相阻碍其晶粒长大,获得细小晶粒组织.     

激光选区熔化纳米SiC/AlSi7Mg复合材料微观组织及力学性能EI北大核心CSCD

采用机械混合法制备纳米SiC/AlSi7Mg混合粉末,利用激光选区熔化技术(selective laser melting,SLM)成形纳米SiC颗粒增强AlSi7Mg复合材料,观察和分析试样的相对密度、物相和微观组织,并测试材料的硬度和拉伸性能。结果表明:SLM成形纳米SiC/AlSi7Mg复合材料试样的相对密度随着扫描速度和扫描间距的增大均呈现先增加后减少的趋势,相对密度最高可达99.75%;试样微观组织与SLM成形铝合金相似,Si相呈网状结构均匀嵌入α-Al基体中,且在Al基体中存在与Si分布相似的纳米SiC团聚物及Mg_(2)Si相;与AlSi7Mg相比,复合材料微观组织由柱状晶转化为等轴晶,且晶粒明显细化(平均晶粒尺寸为1.36μm);由于SiC的加入,产生细晶强化和固溶强化,试样的硬度和强度均明显提高,硬度最高达到137.3HV,抗拉强度达到448.3 MPa,屈服强度达到334.7 MPa,但伸长率下降至3.9%,断裂模式主要为脆性断裂。     

Forging of the AA2618/20 vol.% Al2O3p composite: Effects on microstructure and tensile properties

The use of aluminium-based particulate reinforced MMCs for automotive components and aircraft structures have been shown to be highly advantageous over their unreinforced alloys, due to their high specific strength and stiffness and superior wear resistance in a wide temperature range. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effect of the hot forging process on the microstructure and tensile properties (at room and high temperature) of a MMC based on the aluminium alloys AA2618 reinforced with 20 vol.% of alumina particles (Al₂O_3p). Microstructural analyses of the as-cast and heat-treated composite showed large grain size of the aluminium alloy matrix and a quite non-homogeneous distribution of the reinforcing particles. The forging process led to an evident grain refinement, while it did not lead to significant variations in the size and distribution of the reinforcement particles. Regarding the effect of the forging process on the mechanical properties, it induced a slight increase in hardness, tensile strength, elastic modulus and an evident increase in tensile elongation. SEM analyses of the fracture surfaces of the tensile specimens showed substantially similar morphologies for the as-cast and forged composites, both at room and high temperature. The mechanism of damage was mainly decohesion at the matrix–particle interface.     

Untersuchungen zum Schweißen der aushärtbaren Aluminiumlegierungen AlMgSi 1 und AlCuMg 1 mit einem gepulsten Festkörperlaser

Investigations on the Welding of the Age Hardenable Aluminium Alloys AlMgSi 1 and AlCuMg 1 Using a Pulsed Solid State Laser The age hardenable aluminium alloys AlMgSi 1 and AlCuMg 1 were laser welded using a pulsed 1.2 kW Nd: YAG-laser. Butt welds of 1mm thick plates were produced. With a gap width of 50 μm good welds good be produced even without filler. The small beam diameter (approximately 0.2mm in the focal point) leads to small welds and heat affected zones. The grain size within the weld is small and the amount of grain boundary liquation in the mushy zone is low due to the high temperature gradient in the melt pool. In samples which were welded in the age hardened condition the hardness in the weld drops down to the level of the homogenized condition. However, no significant evaporation or oxidation of alloying elements happens and the maximum hardness can be regained by a complete age hardening treatment. The tensile strength is higher than that of conventional welded sheets but the fatigue strength is reduced significantly.     

人工时效对激光选区熔化AlMg4.5Sc0.55Mn0.5Zr0.2合金显微组织和力学性能的影响

采用激光选区熔化制备AlMg_4.5Sc_0.55Mn_0.5Zr_0.2合金,研究人工时效工艺参数对合金维氏硬度的影响规律,分析沉积态和优选时效态合金的室温拉伸性能和显微组织。结果表明：人工时效使该合金的维氏硬度由102HV提升至140HV以上。随着时效温度升高（305~335℃）或时效时间延长（1.5~48 h）,维氏硬度呈现先增加、再降低、最后逐渐趋于稳定的规律。在315℃时效3 h或12 h后,合金的室温拉伸性能基本相当,无明显的各向异性;抗拉强度和屈服强度分别达到470 MPa和410 MPa,断后伸长率保持在15.0%。力学性能的提升得益于人工时效过程中弥散析出且与基体共格的纳米增强颗粒Al₃（Sc,Zr）。     

稀土元素Y对TC4钛合金力学性能的影响

为探讨稀土元素Y对TC4钛合金力学性能的影响,熔炼制备出稀土元素Y含量(质量分数)为0.3%、0.6%、0.9%的TC4-Y钛合金,然后分别检测TC4-Y钛合金的致密度、硬度、室温拉伸性能及高温拉伸性能。结果表明,随着Y元素含量的升高,合金的致密度、硬度、强度及塑性先升高后降低。当Y含量为0.3%时,TC4钛合金的硬度最高;当Y含量为0.6%时,TC4钛合金的致密度最高,强度及塑性最好。在钛合金中加入稀土元素Y后,钛合金的晶粒尺寸迅速降低。综合考虑,当稀土元素Y的含量为0.6%时,TC4钛合金的力学性能最佳。      

Poisoning of Zr microstructures during casting homogenisation and solution treatment

The influence of Al–Ti–B grain refiners on the microstructures of Zr-containing Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy was investigated by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, as well as through tensile and hardness tests. A poisoning effect occurred when the grain refiner was added to the Zr-containing alloy, and the grain size increased significantly. The precipitates in the alloy without the grain refiner were finely distributed, while the phases of the alloy with the Al–Ti–B refiner agglomerated at the grain boundaries, decreasing both the hardness and elongation. The addition of the grain refiner to the alloys markedly increased their hardness and elongation, when coupled with slow cooling, although the peak stress also decreased slightly.