Mechanical and Tribological Characterization of Al-Mg2Si Composites After Yttrium Addition and Heat Treatment

In this study, the effect of heat treatment and yttrium additions on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological behavior of Al-15% Mg₂Si cast composites was investigated. The microstructural study revealed the presence of both primary and secondary Mg₂Si phases in all composite specimens and also Y-containing intermetallics (Al₂Y phases) at higher concentrations. It was also found that Y addition does not change the size and morphology of primary Mg₂Si particles considerably, but the pseudo-eutectic Mg₂Si changed from a flake-like morphology to fine fibrous or rod-like one. The results show that proper content of Y additions can reduce the amount of Mg₂Si phase through dissolving it into the matrix, lead to the precipitation of Al₂Y phase and improve the mechanical properties. Modified composites with 0.5% Y exhibited an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 290 MPa with an elongation of 4.3%. After exposing the composite to solution treatment at 520 °C for 4 h, the tensile strength of the composite continuously increased with the increase of Y content, and reached the maximum at 1% Y. The maximum UTS and elongation at room temperature for the heat-treated composites are 294 MPa and 7.4%, respectively. In the cast specimen, fracture surfaces are covered by packets with coarse steps, suggesting a brittle mode of failure. Modified composites with 0.5 wt.% Y contain several cracked particles together with a few decohered primary Mg₂Si particles. In solution heat-treated state, dimples present at the fracture surface are rather coarse but homogenous, showing a semi-ductile mode of fracture. Wear test results showed that the wear resistance of all specimens increases with the addition of Y up to 0.3 wt.%. Scanning electron microscopic observations of the worn surfaces revealed that the dominant wear mechanism was abrasive wear accompanied by some delamination wear mode.     

Using ARB process as a solution for dilemma of Si and SiCp distribution in cast Al-Si/SiCp composites

A major challenge in achieving the best potential of SiC_p-reinforced aluminum composites is to homogeneously disperse SiC particles within the aluminum alloys. The presence of coarse Si fibers with non-uniform distribution in cast Al-Si alloys, which may lead to poor mechanical properties, is another important problem that limits the application of these alloys. In order to eliminate these problems, accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process was used in this study as a very effective method for improving the microstructure and mechanical properties of the Al356/SiC_p composite. It was found that when the number of ARB cycles was increased, the uniformity of the Si and SiC_p in the aluminum matrix improved, the Si particles became finer and more spheroidal, the free zones of Si and SiC particles disappeared, the porosity of composite decreased, the bonding quality between SiC_p and matrix improved, and therefore mechanical properties of the composites were improved. The microstructure of the manufactured Al356/SiC_p composite after six ARB cycles indicated a completely modified structure so that its tensile strength and elongation values reached 318 MPa and 5.9%, which were 3.1 and 3.7 times greater than those of the as-cast composite, respectively.     

YbB6 对Ti-6Al-4V钛合金组织和性能的影响

采用放电等离子烧结（SPS）制备了含YbB₆的Ti-6Al-4V钛合金,并研究了YbB₆对Ti-6Al-4V钛合金显微组织和力学性能的影响。结果表明,随着YbB₆含量的增加,复合材料的显微组织发生转变,晶粒明显细化,原位反应生成的TiB晶须和Yb₂O₃颗粒有利于复合材料力学性能的提高。此外,当添加0.6%（质量分数）YbB₆后,烧结样品的相对密度、显微硬度、屈服强度、极限拉伸强度和延伸率分别为99.43%、4030 MPa、903 MPa、1148 MPa和3.3%。与Ti-6Al-4V试样相比,其数值分别提高了0.37%、13.8%、38.07%和17.14%。强化机制主要是组织转变、晶粒细化和弥散强化。随着YbB₆含量的增加,断裂方式主要为韧性断裂和脆性断裂。     

Effects of nano-SiCp content on microstructure and mechanical properties of SiCp/A356 composites assisted with ultrasonic treatment

nano-SiC_p/A356 composites with different nano-SiC_p contents were prepared by squeeze casting after ultrasonic treatment (UT). The effects of SiC_p content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. The results show that with the addition of nano-SiC_p, the microstructure of nanocomposites is obviously refined, the morphology of the α(Al) grains transforms from coarse dendrites to rosette crystals, and long acicular eutectic Si phases are shortened and rounded. The mechanical properties of 0.5%, 1% and 2% (mass fraction) SiC_p/A356 nanocomposites are improved continuously with the increase of nano-SiC_p content. Especially, when the SiC_p content is 2%, the tensile strength, yield strength and elongation are 259 MPa, 144 MPa and 5.3%, which are increased by 19%, 69% and 15%, respectively, compared with those of the matrix alloy. The improvement of strength is attributed to mechanisms of Hall-Petch strengthening and Orowan strengthening.     

Bi对铸造Al-Mg2Si金属基复合材料组织与干摩擦磨损性能的影响（英文）

研究不同Bi含量的添加对Al-15Mg2Si原位金属基复合材料组织与干磨擦磨损性能的影响。结果表明,Bi的适量添加对复合材料中的初生和共晶Mg2Si相具有明显的变质效果。含Bi复合材料的磨损率和摩擦系数都小于无Bi复合材料的。Bi改变了复合材料的磨损机理,1%Bi的添加使其从磨粒磨损、粘着磨损和疲劳磨损转变为微弱磨粒磨损和粘着磨损,4%Bi的添加有效地抑制了摩擦表面初生Mg2Si颗粒裂纹的产生,避免了粘着磨损和疲劳磨损,使复合材料的磨损成为单一的微弱磨粒磨损。含Bi复合材料耐磨性能的改善是Bi对Mg2Si相的变质作用和Bi颗粒自润滑作用的综合结果。     

Effect of Ti on microstructure and properties of electromagnetic stirred Al-18wt.%Mg2Si alloy

By adding different amounts of Ti into the electromagnetic stirred Al-18wt.%Mg₂Si alloy, the effect of Ti element on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloy was studied. The experimental results show that the microstructure is refined after modification with Ti, which is related to the heterogeneous nucleation of TiAl₃ particles on the α-Al matrix. With the increase of Ti content and holding time after stirring, the primary Mg₂Si phase is refine...     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-TiB2/TiC in situ composites improved via hot rolling

A kind of Al-TiB₂/TiC in situ composite with a homogenous microstructure was successfully prepared through in situ reaction of pure Ti and Al-B-C alloy with molten aluminum. In order to improve the distribution of the particles and mechanical properties of the composites, subsequent hot rolling with increasing reduction was carried out. The microstructure evolution of the composites was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and the mechanical properties were studied through tensile tests and microhardness measurement. It is found that both the microstructure uniformity and mechanical properties of the composites are significantly improved with increasing rolling reduction. The ultimate tensile strength and microhardness of the composites with 90% rolling reduction reach 185.9 MPa and HV 59.8, respectively, 140% and 35% higher than those of as-cast ones. Furthermore, the strengthening mechanism of the composite was analyzed based on the fracture morphologies.     

固溶处理对原位合成Mg_2Si/AZ91D复合材料组织及性能的影响

研究固溶处理对Mg-SiO2体系原位合成制备的Mg2Si/AZ91D复合材料的组织和性能的影响。结果表明：AZ91D镁合金在加入SiO2（其中Si占合金质量的1.5%）后,出现了粗大的汉字状Mg2Si相,固溶处理改变了Mg2Si相的形貌与分布,并使β-Mg17Al12相溶入到基体中;随着固溶时间的增加,汉字状的Mg2Si相熔断、球化,在420℃保温16h时Mg2Si相最为细小、弥散;固溶处理后复合材料的抗拉强度增加了14.9%,伸长率增加了38.9%。固溶处理时在Mg2Si/Mg界面间的界面张力作用下,Mg2Si相不断熔断、聚集、扩散,最终获得球化的Mg2Si相。     

Microstructures and mechanical properties of in-situ TiB2/Al−xSi−0.3Mg composites

In-situ 2 vol.% TiB₂ particle reinforced Al?xSi?0.3Mg (x=7, 9, 12, 15 wt.%) composites were prepared by the salt–metal reaction, and the microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated. The results show that the TiB₂ particles with a diameter of 20–80 nm and the eutectic Si with a length of 1–10 μm are the main strengthening phases in the TiB₂/Al?xSi?0.3Mg composites. The TiB₂ particles promote grain refinement and modify the eutectic Si from needle-like to short-rod shape. However, the strengthening effect of TiB₂ particles is weakened as the Si content exceeds the eutectic composition, which can be attributed to the formation of large and irregular primary Si. The axial tensile test results and fractography observations indicate that these composites show more brittle fracture characteristics than the corresponding alloy matrixes.     

Effects of temperature on fracture behavior of Al-based in-situ composites reinforced with Mg2Si and Si particles fabricated by centrifugal casting

An aluminum-based in-situ composites reinforced with Mg₂Si and Si particles were produced by centrifugal casting Al–20Si–5Mg alloy. The microstructure of the composites was examined, and the effects of temperature on fracture behavior of the composite were investigated. The results show that the average fraction of primary Si and Mg₂Si particles in the composites is as high as 38%, and ultimate tensile strengths (UTS) of the composites first increase then decrease with the increase of test temperature. Microstructures of broken specimens show that both the particle fracture and the interface debonding affect the fracture behavior of the composites, and the interface debonding becomes the dominant fracture mechanism with increasing test temperature. Comparative results indicate that rich particles in the composites and excellent interface strength play great roles in enhancing tensile property by preventing the movement of dislocations.     

电热法生产过共晶Al-Si合金的组织与性能研究

对电热法生产铝硅合金配制的Al-20Si合金进行了P-RE复合变质处理,对变质后的微观组织和力学性能进行了分析.结果表明,合金经复合变质后,合金的初晶硅尺寸得到明显细化,共晶硅由长针状变为短杆状或者细小的颗粒状;其抗拉强度由182MPa提高到205MPa,提高12.6%了,其伸长率由0.22%提高到0.26%,提高了18.2%.然而与纯铝配制的过共晶铝硅合金相比,其抗拉强度和伸长率都相对较低,原因在于电热法生产铝硅合金配制的过共晶铝硅合金中Fe含量较高.     

Synthesis, microstructure and mechanical properties of reaction-infiltrated TiB2-SiC-Si composites

TiB₂-C preforms formed with different compositions and processing parameters were reactively infiltrated by Si melts at 1450 °C to fabricate TiB₂-SiC-Si composites. Phase constituent and microstructure of these composites were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The resulting composites are generally composed of TiB₂ and reaction-formed β-SiC major phases, together with a quantity of residual Si. Unreacted carbon is detected in the samples with a starting composition of 2TiB₂ + 1C formed at higher pressure and in all of the ones at the composition of 1TiB₂ + 1C. The distribution of these phases is fairly homogeneous in microstructure. TiB₂-SiC-Si composites show good mechanical properties, with representative values of 19.9 GPa in hardness, 395 GPa in elastic modulus, 3.5 MPa m^1/2 in fracture toughness and 604 MPa in bending strength. The primary toughening and strengthening mechanism is attributed to the crack deflection of TiB₂ particles.     

Influence of Sb modification on microstructures and mechanical properties of Mg2Si/AM60 composites

The refining effect and mechanism of Sb on Mg2Si and the microstructure of the matrix were investigated. The results indicate that there are Mg3Sb2 particles in the composites with the addition of Sb, and Mg3Sb2 can promote the formation of fine polygonal type Mg2Si by providing nucleation site. Meanwhile, the grain size of Sb modified alloy is finer than that of the matrix. The improved microstructure results in the improvement of mechanical properties. The ultimate tensile strength is increased by 12.2% with the addition of 0.8% Sb.     

Effect of mixed rare earth oxides and CaCO<Subscript>3</Subscript> modification on the microstructure of an <Emphasis Type="Italic">in-situ</Emphasis> Mg<Subscript>2</Subscript>Si/Al-Si composite

The effects of mixed rare earth oxides and CaCO₃ on the microstructure of an in-situ Mg₂Si/Al-Si hypereutectic alloy composite were investigated by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, and energy dispersive spectrum analysis. The results showed that the morphology of the primary Mg₂Si phase particles changed from irregular or crosses to polygonal shape, their sizes decreased from 75 μm to about 25 μm, and the compound of both the oxide and CaCO₃ was better than either the single mixed rare earth oxides or CaCO₃.     

Effects of silicocalcium on microstructure and properties of Mg-6Al-0.5Mn alloy

1 Introduction Magnesium alloys are attractive for applications in the automobile, aerospace and electronic industries due to their light mass, high stiffness, high specific strength, good dimensional stability and damping capacity. It is the lightest sp…     

Effects of rolling deformation on microstructure and mechanical properties of network structured TiBw/Ti composites

TiB whiskers reinforced pure Ti (TiB_w/Ti) composites with a novel network microstructure were successfully fabricated by reaction hot pressing (RHP). TiB whiskers are in situ synthesized around the large pure Ti matrix particles, and subsequently formed into TiB_w network structure. The novel TiB_w/Ti composites with a network microstructure exhibit a superior combination of mechanical properties. In order to further improve the mechanical properties and guide the subsequent plastic forming, the rolling deformation behavior of the novel composites was investigated. The results show that the strength of the novel TiB_w/Ti composites can be effectively enhanced by rolling deformation due to the matrix deformation strengthening effect, and increased with increasing the rolling reduction. The strength of 8.5%TiB_w/Ti (volume fraction) composite is significantly increased from 842 MPa to 1030 MPa by rolling deformation. It is certain that the TiB whiskers are gradually broken with increasing the rolling reduction, which is harmful to the mechanical properties of the composites.     

Effect of Y addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–Zn–Mn alloy

The effects of Y on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–6Zn–1Mn alloy were investigated. The results show that the addition of Y has significant effect on the phase composition, microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–6Zn–1Mn alloy. Varied phases compositions, including Mg₇Zn₃, I-phase (Mg₃YZn₆), W-phase (Mg₃Y₂Zn₃) and X-phase (Mg₁₂YZn), are obtained by adjusting the Zn to Y mass ratio. Mn element exists as the fine Mn particles, which are well distributed in the alloy. Thermal analysis and microstructure observation reveal that the phase stability follows the trend of X>W>I>Mg₇Zn₃. In addition, Y can improve the mechanical properties of Mg–Zn–Mn alloy significantly, and the alloy with Y content of 6.09% has the best mechanical properties. The high strength is mainly due to the strengthening by the grain size refinement, dispersion strengthening by fine Mn particles, and introduction of the Mg–Zn–Y ternary phases.     

Microstructure-properties relationship in two Al-Mg-Si alloys through a combination of extrusion and aging

Aluminum alloys containing magnesium and silicon as the major solutes are strengthened by precipitation of the metastable precursors (β″) of the equilibrium β (Mg₂Si) phase. In this study, dynamic aging of two Al-Mg-Si alloys—the 6061 (Al-1.34% Mg₂Si) and 6069 (Al-2.25% Mg₂Si) alloys—was conducted through equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE). Equal channel angular extrusion-assisted dynamic aging provides the potential for improving mechanical properties. The aging time scale is reduced from ∼1,000 min. for conventional static peak aging to ∼10 min. by using ECAE-assisted dynamic aging. Compared to the significant strengthening effect in static aging treatment, a notable further increase in ultimate tensile strength is achieved by dynamic aging: over 40 MPa for the 6061 alloy and 100 MPa for the 6069 alloy. Microstructures of both aged alloys were characterized using transmission electron microscopy; dislocation-assisted precipitation was observed to be the primary precipitate nucleation and growth mechanism during the dynamic aging process. It is concluded that ECAE-assisted dynamic aging is controllable and efficient in executing aging treatment that could result in superior mechanical properties of Al-Mg-Si alloys.