Phase transformation of stainless steel during fatigue

Transformation of austenite during cyclic loading was studied in AISI 301 and 304 alloys whose stability was adjusted by heat treatment and temperature changes. Fatigue life was determined under controlled strain amplitude tension-compression conditions. The amount of transformation to α’ (bcc) martensite was continuously indicated magnetically during testing, and the α’ and ∈ (hcp) phases were observed metallographically at failure. It was found in room temperature testing that at strain amplitudes in excess of 0.4 pct the formation of α’ (bcc) martensite was detrimental to the fatigue life. At 200°F (366 K) the fatigue life of an unstable alloy was increased, while in a completely stable austenitic alloy (20Cr, 6Ni, 9Mn), the life at 200°F (366 K) was less than that at room temperature for the same cyclic strain amplitude. The differing effect of temperature on life of these two types of alloy is attributed to the alteration of the austenite stacking fault energy and the relative free energies of the α’ (bcc), ∈ (hcp) and γ (fcc) phases in the unstable alloys. It has been observed that within the standard composition ranges of the two 300 series stainless steel grades there can be marked differences in the degree of transformation resulting from cyclic loading. This has the implication that for fatigue applications modifications in the specifications for the different grades of stainless would be advantageous. Formerly a Research Assistant     

Phase transformation of stainless steel during fatigue

Transformation of austenite during cyclic loading was studied in AISI 301 and 304 alloys whose stability was adjusted by heat treatment and temperature changes. Fatigue life was determined under controlled strain amplitude tension-compression conditions. The amount of transformation to α’ (bcc) martensite was continuously indicated magnetically during testing, and the α’ and ∈ (hcp) phases were observed metallographically at failure. It was found in room temperature testing that at strain amplitudes in excess of 0.4 pct the formation of α’ (bcc) martensite was detrimental to the fatigue life. At 200°F (366 K) the fatigue life of an unstable alloy was increased, while in a completely stable austenitic alloy (20Cr, 6Ni, 9Mn), the life at 200°F (366 K) was less than that at room temperature for the same cyclic strain amplitude. The differing effect of temperature on life of these two types of alloy is attributed to the alteration of the austenite stacking fault energy and the relative free energies of the α’ (bcc), ∈ (hcp) and γ (fcc) phases in the unstable alloys. It has been observed that within the standard composition ranges of the two 300 series stainless steel grades there can be marked differences in the degree of transformation resulting from cyclic loading. This has the implication that for fatigue applications modifications in the specifications for the different grades of stainless would be advantageous.     

Phase transformation of TRIP-aided multiphase steel during continuous cooling

The phase transformation characteristics of a high-strength TRIP-aided multiphase cold-rolled steel during continuous heating at different cooling rates were studied by means of dilatometry,and the critical temperatures were also determined.The samples were fully austenitized at 1 050 ℃ and then cooled at different cooling rates ranging from0.5 ℃/s to 100 ℃/s.The continuous cooling transformation(CCT)curves were obtained for the experimental steel.The experimental results showed that a high cooling rate depressed the formation of ferrite and pearlite and promoted the formation of bainite and martensite,leading to a higher hardness.A large amount of martensite in high-strength TRIP-aided multiphase cold-rolled steel can be obtained at cooling rates in excess of 50 ℃/s.The experimental results provide guidelines for cooling control and heat treatment in real steel production.     

Phase transformation and stabilization of a high strength austenite

An investigation of the phase transformation and the austenite stabilization in a high strength austenite has been made. An Fe-29Ni-4.3Ti austenite age-hardened byγ′(Ni₃Ti) precipitates showed a further increase of strength after martensitic and reverse martensitic phase transformations. The stability of ausaged austenite as well as ausaged and transformation-strengthened austenite was improved significantly through an isothermal treatment at 500°C. TheM _s temperature of the strengthened austenite was restored to nearly that of annealed austenite while the austenite was hardened toR _c 41 through precipitation and phase transformations. The observed austenite stabilization is attributed to the formation of G.P. zones or short-range order of less than ∼10? size. Formerly with University of California, Berkeley     

Phase transformation and stabilization of a high strength austenite

An investigation of the phase transformation and the austenite stabilization in a high strength austenite has been made. An Fe?29Ni?4.3Ti austenite age-hardened by γ′(Ni₃Ti) precipitates showed a further increase of strength after martensitic and reverse martensitic phase transformations. The stability of ausaged austenite as well as ausaged and transformation-strengthened austenite was improved significantly through an isothermal treatment at 500°C. TheM _s temperature of the strengthened austenite was restored to nearly that of annealed austenite while the austenite was hardened toR _C 41 through precipitation and phase transformations. The observed austenite stabilization is attributed to the formation of G.P. zones or short-range order of less than ～10Å size.     

Phase transformation in an Fe-10.1Al-28.6Mn-0.46C alloy

The microstructure of an (α + γ) duplex Fe-10.1Al-28.6Mn-0.46C alloy has been investigated by means of optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In the as-quenched condition, extremely fine D0₃ particles could be observed within the ferrite phase. During the early stage of isothermal aging at 550 °C, the D0₃ particles grew rapidly, especially the D0₃ particles in the vicinity of the α/γ grain boundary. After prolonged aging at 550 °C, coarse K’-phase (Fe, Mn)₃AlC precipitates began to appear at the regions contiguous to the D0₃ particles, and —Mn precipitates occurred on the α/γ and α/α grain boundaries. Subsequently, the grain boundary β-Mn precipitates grew into the adjacent austenite grains accompanied by a γ→ α + β-Mn transition. When the alloy was aged at 650 °C for short times, coarse. K-phase precipitates were formed on the α/γ grain boundary. With increasing the aging time, the α/γ grain boundary migrated into the adjacent austenite grain, owing to the heterogeneous precipitation of the Mn-enrichedK phase on the grain boundary. However, the α/γ grain boundary migrated into the adjacent ferrite grain, even though coarse K-phase precipitates were also formed on the α/γ grain boundary in the specimen aged at 750 °C.     

Phase transformation in an Fe-9.0AI-29.5Mn-1.2Si alloy

The microstructure of an (α + γ) duplex Fe-9.0Al-29.5Mn-l.2Si alloy has been investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy. In the as-quenched condition, extremely fine D0₃ particles were formed within the ferrite matrix by a continuous ordering transition during quenching. After being aged at 550 °C, the extremely fine D0₃ particles existing in the as-quenched specimen grew preferentially along (100) directions. With increasing the aging time at 550 °C, a (Si, Mn)-rich phase (designated as “L phase”) began to appear at the regions contiguous to the D0₃ particles. The L phase has never been observed in various Fe-Al-Mn, Fe-Al-Si, Fe-Mn-Si, and Mn-Al-Si alloy systems before. When the as-quenched specimen was aged at temperatures ranging from 550 °C to 950 °C, the phase transformation sequence occurring within the (α + D0₃) region as the aging temperature increases was found to be (α + D0₃ + L phase) → (α + D0₃ + A13 β-Mn)→ (B2 + D0₃ + A13 β-Mn)→ (B2 + A13β-Mn)→ (α + A13 β-Mn)→ (α +γ)→α.     

Phase transformation and mechanical properties of si-free CMnAl transformation-induced plasticity-aided steel

Conventional CMnSi transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP)-aided steels are a promising solution for producing lighter, crash-resistant car bodies, due to their high-strength and large uniform elongation. The CMnSi TRIP-aided steels, with more than 1 mass pct Si, have the drawback of poor galvanizability due to the presence of complex Si-Mn oxides on the surface. The full substitution of the Si by Al in cold-rolled and intercritically annealed TRIP-aided steels, therefore, was evaluated in detail. The phase-transformation kinetics during the intercritical annealing and the isothermal bainitic transformation were investigated by means of dilatometry. The allotropic phase-boundary was determined both by thermodynamic calculations and the experimental determination of the C content in the retained austenite. The results imply that short isothermal bainitic transformation times are sufficient to obtain the TRIP microstructure and that the processing of CMnAl TRIP-aided steels in a continuous annealing line not equipped for overaging is possible. The mechanical properties were evaluated for CMnAl TRIP-aided steels obtained using an industrial thermal cycle: the properties matched those of the conventional CMnSi TRIP-aided steels, where it was found that the high-Al CMnAl TRIP-aided steel had a high strain-hardening coefficient of 0.25, which was stable up to a true strain of 0.25. on leave from the Yawata R&D Laboratory, Nippon Steel Corporation, Tobihata-cho, Japan. S. CLAESSENS, Product Research Manager, is with OCAS NV, Research Centre of the Sidmar Group, ARBED Group Flat Rolled Products Division, B-9060 Zelzate, Belgium.     

喷雾干燥W-Cu前驱体粉末煅烧和还原中的物相变化特征

采用溶胶-喷雾干燥-氢气还原技术制备W-Cu复合粉末;采用X射线衍射分析技术(XRD)对喷雾干燥前驱体粉末在煅烧和还原过程中的物相特征进行了分析。研究表明:喷雾干燥W-Cu前驱体粉末煅烧后相组成转变为WO3和CuWO4;煅烧后氧化物粉末在还原过程中的相演变为低温下CuO相被还原、中温下WO3相还原成一系列钨的氧化物(WO2.90和WO2)以及高温下WO2相还原成W。     

Mg_(91.4)Zn_(7.2)Y_(1.4)合金中的相变及相平衡

采用热分析以及合金平衡组织结构分析,对Mg-Zn-Y系Mg_(91.4)Zn_(7.2)Y_(1.4)合金中的相变及其相关相平衡进行了研究.结果表明,Mg_(91.4)Zn_(7.2)Y_(1.4)合金在440℃时处于α-Mg固溶体和准晶I的两相平衡;450℃时处于α-Mg固溶体、液相Liq和三元化合物W的三相平衡.Mg_(91.4)Zn_(7.2)Y_(1.4)合金在446.8℃时发生了I+α-Mg→Liq+W四相包共晶转变.温度超过477.3℃,Mg_(91.4)Zn_(7.2)Y_(1.4)合金中W相不再稳态存在,500℃时合金处于α-Mg和液相两相平衡.     

Phase transformation behavior of gamma titanium aluminide alloys during supertransus heat treatment

Microstructure evolution in a wrought near-gamma titanium alloy, Ti-45Al-2Cr-2Nb, was investigated by a series of heat treatments comprised of initial heating high in the alpha-plus-gamma phase field followed by short-time heating in the single-phase alpha field. The initial heating step led to a dispersion of gamma particles which pinned the alpha grain boundaries. The kinetics of the gamma grain dissolution during subsequent heating in the single-phase field were interpreted in terms of models for both interface reaction-controlled and diffusion-controlled processes. The model for diffusion-controlled dissolution yielded predictions comparable to the observed times, whereas the model for interface reaction-controlled behavior predicted dissolution kinetics over an order of magnitude slower than observed. The growth of the alpha grains, both before and after the dissolution of the gamma phase, was also modeled. Section size limitations to the ability to use supertransus heating to obtain uniform and moderately fine alpha grain sizes were examined using the transformation models and a simple heat transfer analysis approach. The results were validated through the heat treatment of subscale and full-scale forgings. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium “Fundamentals of Gamma Titanium Aluminides,” presented at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 10–12, 1997, Orlando, Florida, under the auspices of the ASM/MSD Flow & Fracture and Phase Transformations Committees.     

Phase transformation of Zn-4Al-3Cu alloy during heat treatment

The phase transformation in Zn-4 Al-3 Cu alloy employing various solution-treatment temperatures (230 °C to 325 °C) was studied by means of microhardness, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The starting microstructure of the as-cast Zn-4Al-3Cu alloy consists of an α phase (aluminum-rich, fcc structure) in the η matrix (zinc-rich, h.c.p. structure) prior to solution-treatment. A platelike ε phase with 3-μm length and 0.5-μm thickness was found in the η phase matrix after solution-treating the as-cast material at 240 °C for 1 hour. The ε phase was then dissolved gradually back into the η matrix above that temperature. A four-phase transformation, α + ε → T′ + η, was observed from the temperature 250 °C to 310 °C, wherein the T′ phase formed at the interface of ε platelet and η phase matrix. This T′ phase was further identified as a rhombohedral structure. As the solution-treatment temperature was increased to above 310 °C, the ε phase was completely dissolved back into the η matrix and numerous β phase particles were distributed uniformly in the η matrix. The β phase subsequently decomposed at room temperature to a fine α phase embedded in the η matrix. For the materials solution-treated above 250 °C, the microhardness of the η matrix increased in 40 minutes during natural aging, which was associated with the formation of fine ε phase of 0.15-μm diameter. The orientation relationship between this fine ε phase and η phase was determined as .     

Al-Zn(Cu)合金的相变和Al-Zn-Cu系相图

Al-Zn-Cusystemistheimportantbasisfor practicalAlalloysandZnalloys[1].Amiscibility gapofthefccphaseexistsabove277℃inthe Al Znsystem[2].Thealloywhosecompositionis atthetopofthemiscibilitygapiscalledsym metricalalloyAlZn.Thisalloyhasmanytypical properties.Theimportantoneisthatthespi nodaldecompositioneasilytakesplaceinit.In ordertoavoidthedecomposition,Cuhasbeen added,whichiseffective.Additionof2%Cu molefractioncoulddelaythespinodaldecompo sitionfortwogrades[3,4].AlZn 2Cuisanalloy which…     

Phase transformation of austenitic stainless steels as a result of cathodic hydrogen charging

The effects of cathodic hydrogen charging and aging on surface phase transformations were studied in solution treated and cold worked specimens of two austenitic stainless steels. Quantitative phase evaluation using an X-ray technique has shown that cathodic hydrogen charging and aging can result in a considerable amount of surface transformation toε andα ′ martensites. The extent of this surface transformation differs significantly from deformation-induced transformation at the same temperature, and abnormally high volume fractions ofε martensite are produced by the charging process. A minimum charging current density is necessary to induce transformation. In cold-worked samples, further surface transformation due to hydrogen charging and aging is inhibited by high volume fractions of pre-existing martensite. A. P. BENTLEY, formerly with the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Science, University of Cambridge     

Phase transformation during annealing of rapidly solidified Al- rich Al- Fe- Si alloys

Thermal decomposition of rapidly solidified microstructure of three Al-Fe-Si alloys (Al-10,12, 14Fe-2Si wt pct) has been studied by DTA and TEM. The initial microstructure consists mostly of aluminum and a smaller volume fraction of an amorphous phase. During heating the amorphous phase first transforms to the metastable α(AlFeSi) cubic phase (Im ,a = 1.25 nm) at ∼ 380°C. At higher temperature ∼ 430 °C the α(AlFeSi) phase transforms by ordering to a trigonal phase (two modifications, α′ and α ″,were found). The crystallography of the α′(AlFeSi) and α″(AlFeSi) phases is analyzed using selected area and convergent beam electron diffraction technique.