Retrogression and re-aging heat treatment of Al-6. 1Zn-2. 6Mg-1.6Cu aluminum alloy

The effects of the retrogression temperature and time of retrogression and re -aging heat treatment （RRA） on the hardness and electrical conductivity of Al-6. 1Zn-2.6Mg - 1.6Cu aluminum alloy were studied. Samples were pre-aged at 120℃ for 24 h as the first-stage treatment. Then, retrogression was performed at a temperature range of 170 ～250℃ for times of between 1 min and 180 min, followed by re - aging at 120 ℃ for 24 h. Hardness （H） and electri- cal conductivity （EC） measurements were used to characterize the samples after RRA treatment. Analysis of the results shows： （ 1 ） The re - aging treatment at 120 ℃ for 24 h increases both H and EC of the retrogressed alloy in the RRA process ; （2） RRA with retrogression at higher than 200℃ result in EC higher than that of peak - aged, but H lower; The change of H and EC with respect to retrogression temperature （T） and time （t） can be seen as functions of H （t） = H0 ＋A1e^（-t/s） , EC （t） =A （1 -e^{-k·（t-xc））） ; （3） RRA treatments with retro- gression at 190 ℃ for 4 ～ 30 min result in H and EC which are both higher than those of the peak-aged temper, and retrogression at 190℃ for 30 min is the industrial application that yields H of 190 HV and EC of 33.5% IACS.     

Influence of RE on Ageing Precipitate Characteristics and Softening Resistance of Copper Alloys Contact Wire

The effect of RE （such as Ce, Y and mixed Ce ＋ Y, etc） on ageing precipitate, characteristics and softening resistance of Cu-Cr-Zr alloys contact wire used in electrical railway were investigated in this paper. The results show that the tested Cu-Cr-Zr alloy with trace RE addition could attain higher microhardness and lower electrical conductivity to some extent after being soluted at 950 ℃ for 1 h and aged at 480 ℃. The precipitation process of secondary phase could be accelerated by cold working before ageing treatment which resulted in ageing hardening. Aged at 480 ℃ after 60% cold working, the values of electrical conductivity and microhardness improved significantly compared with that without deformation. The mixed RE （Ce ＋ Y） improved the softening resistance substantially in these trace RE additions, which could increase the soften temperature by 45 ℃.     

Electrical Properties and Microwave Synthesis of Mixed Rare Earth Oxide Ln0.7Sr0.3-xCaxCo0.9Fe0.1O3-δ

In order to lower the raw materials cost and develop a novel cathode materials for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell(ITSOFC), using mixed rare earth replacing the expensive pure La2O3 as the raw materials, the powders of Ln0.7Sr0.3-xCaxCo0.9Fe0.1O3-δ (Ln=the mixed rare earth, x=0.05, 0.10, 0.15) for the applications as the cathode materials were prepared by microwave sintering process. The crystal structure and the particles morphology of the obtained powders were characterized by XRD and SEM, the electrical conductivity of all samples sintered at 1200 ℃ for 3 h was also measured as the function of the temperature from 100 to 800 ℃ by DC four-probe method in air. The experimental results show that due to the influence of mixed rare earth the powders of Ln0.7Sr0.3-xCaxCo0.9Fe0.1O3-δ synthesized at 1200 ℃ for 0.5 h with the mean particle size of 1～20 μm was of perovskite and cubic fluorite phase as well a little SrO phase, the electrical conductivity of the samples decreases with the adding Ca2+ content, and are all higher than 100 S·cm-1 from 500 to 700 ℃ when x≤0.10. Ln0.7Sr0.3-xCaxCo0.9Fe0.1O3-δ. Can meet the demand of the electrical properties for the cathode materials in ITSOFC.     

Effect of Additive Cu10Sn Alloy on Sintering Behavior of Elemental Powders in Composition of 465 Stainless Steel

 The addition of Cu 10Sn alloy for developing the high strength 465 maraging stainless steel from elemental powders was studied. The sintering parameters investigated include the sintering temperature, the sintering time, and the mass percent of Cu 10Sn. For vacuum sintering, effective sintering occurs at temperature between 1 250 ℃ and 1 300 ℃. The maximum sintered density was achieved at 1 300 ℃ for 60 min with 3% (in mass percent) Cu 10Sn alloy. More than 3% (in mass percent) Cu 10Sn content and temperature above 1 300 ℃ caused slumping of the samples. A maximum density of 74 g/cm3 was achieved with 3% (in mass percent) Cu 10Sn content at a sintering temperature of 1 300 ℃ for 60 min. A maximum ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 517 MPa was achieved with 3% (in mass percent) Cu 10Sn content. With content higher than 2% (in mass percent) Cu 10Sn, a maximum increase in the density was observed. The fracture morphologies of the sintered samples are also reported.     

Preparation of Nanocrystalline Rare Earth Mixed Oxides DyFexCo1-xO3-δ and Its Conductivity

Nanocrystalline rare earth mixed oxides DyFexCo1-xO3-δ were prepared by sol-gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG-DTA) and scanning electron microscope(SEM). The results show that DyFexCo1-xO3-δ has the structure of perovskite type at 800℃ for 2 h calcination.The conductivity of the materials at different temperature was measured by four-probe instrumentation and two-pole method. The results show that the conductivity of mixed oxides DyFexCo1-xO3-δ is higher than those of un-mixed oxides DyFeO3 and DyCoO3 and the conductivity is the best at x = 0.8 in the matter of DyFexCo1-xO3-δ. The conduetivity of these materials always increases with the temperature rising and there is an apparent change between 600 and 800℃. However, the spinodals are different with different ration of Fe^3 and Co^3 . This kind of oxide is a conductive pottery material.     

Synthesis and Electrical Properties of La0.6M0.4FeO3-δ(M=Ca, Sr, Ba) as Cathodes for SOFCs

A series samples of La0.6M0.4FeO3-δ (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) perovskite-type oxides were prepared by glycine nitrate process (GNP). FTIR, TG-DSC, XRD and TEM techniques were used to characterize the chemical constitution, thermal stability and phase structure. The electrical conductivity of the samples was investigated by four-probe technique. With the increase of substituted-ionic radius, the temperature of phase formation increases, and the solid solubility decreases gradually, respectively. The La0.6Ca0.4FeO3-δ(LCF)powder is pure cubic perovskite-type crystalline after fired at 850 ℃ for 2 h. The XRD patterns of La0.6Sr0.4FeO3-δ(LSF) powder shows a small quantity of SrO peaks sintered at 1050 ℃ for 2 h. The electrical conductivity of LCF and LSF at 500～800 ℃ is over 100 S·cm-1, and the value of LCF is 1170 S·cm-1 at 800 ℃, which indicate that LCF and LSF may be used as a profitable cathode for IT-SOFCs. The characteristic of La0.6Ba0.4FeO3-δ(LBF) is poor, and the electrical conductivity at intermediate temperatures is 1/20 less than that of LSF.     

Electrical conductivity of REF_3-LiF(RE=La and Nd) molten salts

The electrical conductivity of REF3-LiF(RE=La and Nd) molten salts(xREF_3=5 mol%-40 mol%) was systematically measured over the temperature range from 1223 to 1423 K by using continuously varying cell constant(CVCC) method.Electrical conductivity values of LaF3-LiF and NdF_3-LiF molten salts within the studied ranges are 4.11-9.39 and 3.62-9.51 S/cm,respectively.The composition and temperature dependences of electrical conductivity and the factor of RE_2 O_3 on electrical conductivity were investigated.The electrical conductivity nonlinearly decreases with the increasing mole percent of REF_3 for the changing of structural ion in molten salts.A good linear relationship between the natural logarithm of electrical conductivity(lnκ) and the reciprocal of the absolute temperature(T~(-1)) can be interpreted by the trend that electrical conductivity linearly increases with increasing temperature.Although it is an important factor of RE_2 O_3 on electrical conductivity,the influence of RE_2 O_3 on conductivity is small for the very limited solubility of RE_2 O_3 in REF_3-LiF molten salts.The results of this work supplement the present electrical conductivity data of rare earth fluoride electrolyte.     

Fabrication and Characterization of SOFC Anode, Ni-SDC Cermet

NiO and Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 were synthesized by the combination of sol gel and citric acid-nitrate low temperature self-propagating combustion method. Anode precursors which include home-made NiO and Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 were prepared by different NiO content and fabrication condition. The anode precursors with pure hydrogen at 820 ℃ for 2.5 h were reduced, The electrical conductivity was tested, and the effect of microstructure on electrical conductivity of Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 composite anodes was investigated. The results show that the anode electrical conductivity depends strongly on the anode microstructure that is dramatically affected by Ni content and fabrication condition.     

Synthesis and characterization of calcium and manganese-doped rare earth oxide La_(1-x)Ca_xFe_(0.9)Mn_(0.1)O_(3-δ) for cathode material in IT-SOFC

In order to develop novel cathode materials with high performance for intermediate temperature SOFC(IT-SOFC),Ca and Mn doped rare earth oxides La1-xCaxFe0.9Mn0.1O3-δ(x=0.1,0.3 and 0.5,denoted as LCFM9191,LCFM7391 and LCFM5591) were synthesized by solid state reaction(SSR) method.The formation process,phase structure and microstructure of the synthesized samples were characterized using thermogravimetry/differential scanning calorimetry(TG/DSC),X-ray diffraction(XRD) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM).The thermal expansion coefficients(TEC) of the samples were analyzed at 100-900 oC by thermal dilatometry.The electrical conductivities of the samples were measured with direct current(DC) four-terminal method from 300 to 850 oC.The results indicated that the samples(x=0.1 and 0.3) exhibited a single phase with orthorhombic and cubic perovskite structure,respectively after being sintered at 1200 oC for 3 h.The electrical conductivity of the samples increased with temperature up to a maximum value,and then decreased.The small polaron hopping was regarded as the conducting mechanism for synthesized samples at T≤600 oC.The negative temperature dependence occurring at higher temperature was due to the creation of oxygen vacancies for charge balance.LCFM7391 had higher mixed conductivity(>100 S/cm) at intermediate temperature and could meet the demand of cathode material for IT-SOFC.In addition,the average TECs of LCFM9191 and LCFM7391 were 11.9×10-6 and 13.1×10-6 K-1,respectively,which had good thermal match to the common electrolytes.     

Effects of Dendritic Orientation on Stress Rupture Properties of DD6 Single Crystal Superalloy

 DD6 single crystal superalloy slabs were prepared with seed method in the directionally solidified furnace with high temperature gradient. The transverse stress rupture properties and fracture behaviour of the alloy at 760 ℃/758 MPa, 850 ℃/550 MPa and 980 ℃/250 MPa were investigated and compared with those of longitudinal specimens. The transverse stress rupture lives are corresponding with the longitudinal stress rupture lives at 760 ℃/758 MPa and 850 ℃/550 MPa. The transverse stress rupture lives are slightly less than the longitudinal stress rupture lives at 980 ℃/250 MPa. The fracture mechanism of the transverse stress rupture of the alloy at 760 ℃/758 MPa shows quasi-cleavage mode and the fracture mechanism at 980 ℃/250 MPa shows dimple mode, while the fracture mechanism at 850 ℃/550 MPa shows quasi-cleavage and dimple mixture mode. At higher temperature and lower stress, the microcracks are easier to initiate and interconnect in the transverse specimen than those in longitudinal specimen because there are interdendritic regions perpendicular to the axis of stress.     

Optimization of Retrogression Parameters of AA7010 Alloy

The present work has been carried out on an AA7010 aluminium alloy so as to optimize the retrogression and re-aging (RRA) schedule that leads to the optimal combination of mechanical properties and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance. The alloy is heat treated at different retrogression temperatures for varying retrogression time and subsequently the window for optimization of retrogression parameters of RRA schedule is established after re-aging. It is found that retrogression at 473 K for 35 min results into the best combination of the above properties. The enhancement in mechanical properties and SCC resistance is due to the formation of discontinuous and coarse precipitates along the grain boundaries and also the copper enrichment of the precipitates that occur during optimum RRA schedule. It is established that proper control of the process parameters is essential to control the final microstructure and thereby enhance the mechanical properties and SCC resistance of the alloys.     

时效制度对6013铝合金挤压型材屈强比的影响

以挤压态的6013铝合金为研究对象,通过显微硬度测试、单向拉伸实验和组织分析,研究了自然时效、人工时效和回归再时效处理时合金的力学性能变化规律。结果表明:自然时效峰值状态（16 d）的抗拉强度为286 MPa,屈服强度为158 MPa,屈强比为0.54,适合塑性成形;将自然时效峰值状态下的试样进行回归再时效处理（210 °C回归0.5 h+170 °C峰值时效2 h）,抗拉强度为362 MPa,屈服强度为336 MPa,屈强比达到0.92,抗塑性变形能力显著增强。这是因为回归再时效后析出相的尺寸减小,数密度显著增大,析出强化效果显著增强。而析出强化对屈服强度和抗拉强度的影响程度不同,因此可通过时效热处理来调控屈强比,即通过自然峰值时效提高合金的塑性变形性能以成形零件,而在零件成形后采用回归再时效提高其抗变形能力。      

基于厚向组织性能考量的7B50铝合金中厚板回归再时效热处理

为解决T6态高强铝合金强度高而耐蚀性难以满足使用需求，采用三级时效工艺来改善析出强化相特别是晶界析出相的形貌、尺寸、分布等，并通过研究不同回归处理制度对组织、性能的影响而获得适宜7B50铝合金中厚板的三级时效工艺.研究发现提高回归温度或延长回归时间均会使中厚板心部及表层组织的晶内和晶界析出相发生粗化并析出稳定η-MgZn₂相，导致强度下降、电导率上升，其中回归温度对强度和电导率的影响显著.三级时效处理虽使晶内析出相尺寸有所增加，但却使T6态连续分布的晶界析出相呈断续分布，结合心部和表层强度及电导率测量结果认为合适的回归处理制度为165℃/6 h.然而，热轧引起中厚板表层较心部更为严重的变形使表层含有更多的亚晶或亚结构且其分布更均匀，从而使表层更快到达峰时效，进一步的回归再时效处理则使表层析出更多稳定η相，而η相的形成与晶内析出相的粗化长大是造成表层和心部强度差异的关键.虽然淬火/三级时效态表层和心部的晶粒结构存在差异，且局部出现亚晶合并长大，但其对强度的提升效果远低于表层析出稳定η相所引起的强度下降.可见，三级时效工艺并不能缓解7B50铝合金中厚板心部和表层的性能差异，但可使表层和心部的强度、电导率满足某实际工况要求.      

时效制度对7B04高强铝合金力学及腐蚀性能的影响

采用常规力学性能、标准紧凑拉伸、电导率、慢应变速率拉伸(SSRT)及剥落腐蚀测试等手段,研究了不同热处理状态下7B04铝合金预拉伸板的力学及腐蚀性能。结果表明,合金的强度、韧性和腐蚀性能与时效制度密切相关。单级峰时效(T6)状态下合金的强度最高,但是其抗应力腐蚀(SCC)性能及断裂韧性最低;双级过时效(T74和T73)状态下材料的断裂韧性和抗SCC性能明显提高,但是其强度牺牲较多;与T6相比,RRA时效处理可明显提高合金的抗SCC性能,且强度牺牲较少,仅下降2%左右,同时断裂韧性也有一定提高。     

Characterization of retrogression and reaging behavior of 8090 Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Zr alloy

An 8090 Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Zr alloy in the peak-aged (T8) temper was subjected to retrogression treatment at temperatures above and below the δ′ (Al₃Li) solvus line and immediately reaged to various tempers. Retrogression and reaging (RRA) behavior is characterized by hardness testing, tensile testing, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and electrochemical polarization studies. Retrogression of the T8 temper alloy causes dissolution primarily of δ′ (Al₃Li) precipitates into solid solution that results in a decrease of hardness and tensile strength and an increase of ductility of the alloy. Reaging of the retrogressed state causes reprecipitation of the δ′ precipitates in the matrix resulting in the restoration of strength and ductility properties. Retrogression and reaging to the peak-aged temper, designated at T77 temper, has been found to retain the strength of the conventional T8 temper, but with the gross aging time in the RRA temper almost twice that of the conventional T8 temper, the microstructure of the RRA temper approaches that of the overaged (T7) temper. Thus, RRA treatment contributes to an improvement of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance over the conventional T8 temper while retaining the mechanical properties of T8 temper.     

回归再时效7150铝合金力学性能、剥蚀行为及微观组织研究

采用拉伸试验、剥蚀试验、硬度测试及透射电镜（TEM）观察研究了195℃回归时7150铝合金硬度变化及微观组织形祝,以及回归不同时间的RRA工艺对7150铝合金力学性能和剥蚀行为的影响,并与T6及T73进行了比较研究。结果表明,7150-T6铝合金强度高而剥蚀敏感性大;7150-T73铝合金强度降低而耐腐蚀性大幅度提高。195℃回归时,回归时间小于0．5h,7150-RRA铝合金强度高于7150-T6强度,而剥蚀敏感性未有效降低;当回归时间延长至1h,7150-RRA铝合金可保持7150-T6的高强度,而其剥蚀敏感性则大幅度降低。     

Studies of retrogression and reaging behavior in a 1441 Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Zr alloy

A 1441 Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Zr alloy in the peak-aged T8 temper was subjected to retrogression treatment and immediately reaged to various tempers. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), hardness measurements, tensile testing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) fractography, and electrochemical polarization studies have been made to characterize the retrogression and the retrogression and reaging (RRA) behavior of the alloy. Retrogression of the T8 temper causes dissolution of δ′ (Al₃Li) precipitates into solid solution, resulting in a decrease of hardness and tensile strength and an increase of ductility. Reaging the retrogressed state causes restoration of strength and ductility properties because of the reprecipitation of the δ′ phase in the matrix, confirmed by TEM, XRD, and DSC studies and image analysis. The SEM fractographs revealed predominantly intergranular fracture in all the tempers due to strain localization at the grain boundaries. The gross aging time of the RRA tempers approaches that of the over-aged T7 temper, which would contribute to an improvement of the stress-corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance while maintaining the T8 temper mechanical properties.     

7475铝合金大型锻件时效工艺研究

测定了7475铝合金双级时效及回归再时效（RRA）工艺状态下的常规拉伸性能和电导率，并通过标准三点弯和圆周切口圆柱试验测定各时效工艺的断裂韧性。从而研究双级时效和RRA工艺对常规力学性能，断裂韧性，电导率和微观组织的影响，结果发现回归再时效工艺并不适用于7475铝合金大型锻件的生产实践。     

预应变与预时效对6101导电铝合金组织与性能的影响

在人工时效基础上引入预应变与预时效以提高6101铝合金的力学与导电性能。通过性能检测与组织观察,研究了合金在人工时效热处理（固溶+时效）及引入预应变与预时效后的热处理（固溶+预应变+时效,固溶+预时效+预应变+再时效）过程中显微组织、力学性能及导电性能的变化规律。结果表明:当合金经过60%冷轧变形再在180℃时效6 h后,其抗拉强度与电导率分别达到262 MPa及55.7% IACS,高于一般人工时效后的合金。当合金在180℃预时效2 h后经过60%冷轧变形,再在180℃时效6 h后,其抗拉强度与电导率进一步提升至289 MPa与58.0% IACS。引入预应变与预时效后所产生的应变强化与析出强化的交互作用,是合金的力学性能和导电性能得到提升的根本原因。