Effect of manganese on the microstructure of Mg–3Al alloy

The effect of manganese on the microstructure of Mg–3Al alloy, especially the nucleation efficiency of Al–Mn particles on primary Mg, has been investigated in this paper. Mg–0.72Mn was used to fabricate Mg–3Al–xMn (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) alloys, and the grain sizes of these alloys fluctuate at 390 μm indicating addition of manganese does not evidently influence the grain size of Mg–3Al alloy. Through XRD, FESEM and TEM detection, it is found that Al_0.89Mn_1.11 compound is the dominant Al–Mn phase in Mg–3Al–0.3Mn, Mg–3Al–0.4Mn and Mg–3Al–0.5Mn, and distributes in primary Mg matrix and interdendritic regions with an angular blocky morphology. The number of Al_0.89Mn_1.11 increases gradually with increasing manganese content while the grain sizes of primary Mg are nearly the same in Mg–3Al, Mg–3Al–0.3Mn, Mg–3Al–0.4Mn and Mg–3Al–0.5Mn, indicating Al_0.89Mn_1.11 has low nucleation efficiency on primary Mg.     

预时效对Al-5.2Mg-0.45Cu-2.0Zn合金室温稳定性的影响

本文详细研究了预时效对Al-5.2Mg-0.45Cu-2.0Zn合金时效析出行为的影响。预时效不仅提高了合金的室温稳定性,避免了合金烤漆软化,同时提高了合金的烤漆时效响应速度。合金经T4处理后,再峰时效处理后的组织包括粗大的T-Mg₃₂(AlZn)₄₉相以及针状的S-Al₂MgCu相。然而合金经T4P处理后,再峰时效处理的组织只含有细小而高密度的T-Mg₃₂(AlZn)₄₉相而不包括S-Al₂MgCu相。自然时效后不稳定的原子团簇在180℃时效后会回溶到基体中, 从而抑制了合金的时效析出强化。而预时效后生成的稳定的原子团簇会成为180℃时效的形核点,显著提高了合金的时效响应速度。     

On the thermodynamics and kinetics of electropulsing induced dissolution of β-Mg17Al12 phase in an aged Mg–9Al–1Zn alloy

Electropulsing induced dissolution of β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ phase was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and hardness tests. It was found that compared with conventional heat treatment, electropulsing treatment (EPT) decreased the apparent solid solution temperature of the β phase and accelerated the dissolution of β phase into α-matrix in a very short time of several seconds due to reduction of the nucleation thermodynamic barrier and enhancement of atomic diffusion, respectively. A model for the temperature field of a strip under EPT was established. Based on the contributions of the coupling of the thermal and athermal effects with the free energy and the direct electron–atom interactions, the thermodynamics and kinetics of the electropulsing induced dissolution of β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ are discussed.     

Partial dislocation configurations in a low-angle boundary in α-Al2O3

The dislocation structures of a low-angle tilt grain boundary in alumina bicrystal were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The grain boundary was found to consist of two regions: an area with pairs of partial dislocations and an area with groups of odd numbered partial dislocations (multiple-partial-structure). Eight kinds of multiple-partial-structures were found in the fabricated grain boundary. The Burgers vectors of each partial dislocation in the grain boundary can be distinguished by dark-field imaging, and thus the arrangement of partial dislocations in the multiple-partial-structures are determined. It is concluded that a slight twist component of the boundary is the origin of the characteristic multiple-partial-structures.     

Crystallographic and morphological relationships between β phase and the Widmanstätten and allotriomorphic α phase at special β grain boundaries in an α/β titanium alloy

In the present study, the relationship between the crystallographic orientations and growth directions of grain boundary-allotriomorphic-α (GB α) and secondary Widmanstätten α laths growing from the GB α at grain boundaries separating β grains with specific misorientations has been examined. These relationships have been determined using a variety of characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, orientation imaging microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and a dual-beam focused ion beam instrument to provide site-selected TEM foils. Two very interesting cases, one in which the two adjacent β grains are rotated mutually by approximately 10.5° about a common 1 1 0 direction and the other in which the two β grains are in a twin relationship, i.e. a 60° rotation about a common 1 1 1 direction, have been studied. It was discovered that the α laths growing into two adjacent β grains from the common grain boundary may have the same orientation in both grains, while they may have either large (88.8°) or small (28.8°) angular differences in growth directions in the two adjacent β grains, depending on the relative misorientation of the β grains. The growth directions of the α laths growing from such boundaries are explained on the basis of the Burgers orientation relationship between the Widmanstätten α and the β phases and the interfacial structure proposed previously by various workers.     

In situ composite formation in the Ni–(Cu)–Ti–Zr–Si system

In situ composites were synthesized by arc melting Ni–(Cu)–Ti–Zr–Si alloys. The X-ray diffraction patterns of rapidly cooled cast strips show a primary Ni(Ti, Zr) B2 structure superimposed on the diffuse scattering maxima from the amorphous phase. Compression test results show that the composite starts to yield at 1200 MPa and fractures at 1900 MPa.     

Twin boundary structure of the modulated variants in a Ni–Mn–Ga alloy

The microstructure of a Ni–Mn–Ga ferromagnetic shape memory alloy has been characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Electron diffraction reveals that the microstructure of the alloy predominately consists of seven-layer modulated martensite. There exists reflection-twinned relation between the martensitic variants. It is found that there are parallel and equidistant fringes at the boundary. The nature of these fringes is discussed and the results show that the boundary fringes are caused by the elastic strains associated with the coherent interface.     

Effect of the extrusion conditions on the texture and mechanical properties of indirect-extruded Mg–3Al–1Zn alloy

The effects of the processing conditions on the texture and mechanical properties of indirect-extruded Mg–3Al–1Zn alloy are investigated. During the extrusion process, the alloy was subjected to various initial billet temperatures and ram speeds, exhibiting different extrudate exit temperatures depending on the extrusion conditions. The Zener-Hollomon parameter acquired from the exit temperature of the extrudate and the ram speed was found to have a significant effect on the grain size, texture, and yield asymmetry of the extruded alloy. Among the processing conditions investigated, a higher Zener-Hollomon parameter resulted in a finer grain size and weaker fiber texture, thereby decreasing the yield asymmetry of the extruded Mg alloy.     

The phase equilibria of the Al–Ce–Ni system at 500 °C

The phase equilibria at 500 °C in the Al–Ce–Ni system in the composition region of 0–33.3 at.% Ce are investigated using XRD and SEM/EDX techniques applied to equilibrated alloys. The previously reported ternary phases and the variation of the lattice parameters versus the composition for different solid solution phases are investigated. It is confirmed that τ₂(Al₂CeNi) exists at 500 °C, while τ₃(Al₅Ce₂Ni₅) does not exist at 500 °C. A new compound τ₉ with composition of about Al₃₅Ce_16.5Ni_48.5 is found. The solubility of Ni in Al₁₁Ce₃ and αAl₃Ce is generally about 1 at.%, while the solubility of Ni in Al₂Ce is measured to be 2.7 at.%. The solubility of Ce in Al₃Ni, Al₃Ni₂, AlNi and AlNi₃ is all less than 1 at.%. The solubility of Al in CeNi₅, Ce₂Ni₇ and CeNi₃ is measured to be 30.4, 4.8 and 9.2 at.%, respectively, while there is no detectable solubility for Al in CeNi₂. A revised isothermal section at 500 °C in the Al–Ce–Ni system has been presented.     

A complex structure in the (β+γ0) region of the Cu–Al alloys

The identification, characterization and stability range of the phases present in a series of Cu–Al alloys, with Al content from 11.0 to 15.0 wt.%, were studied by Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), Optical Microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED), Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). In some alloys and in a temperature range from 790°C to 850°C the presence of black spots exhibiting regular shapes and an homogeneous distribution was noticed through metallographic microscopy. Data from TEM and AES indicate that these spots are made of two monocrystalline phases having different Al contents and a crystallographic orientation relationship.     

Single-crystal growth of the complex metallic alloy phase β-Al–Mg

The development of a single-crystal growth route for the complex metallic alloy phase β-Al₃Mg₂ is presented. After initial probing of the phase diagram in the vicinity of the existence range of the β-phase, we performed single-crystal growth experiments employing various techniques. The Czochralski and self-flux growth turned out to be the most suitable for this phase, and with both we reproducibly achieved single crystals of several cubic centimeters in volume. While the Czochralski technique allows for the production of deliberately oriented single crystals, the self-flux technique is capable of producing very large but unoriented single grains.     

Evolution of hot rolling textures in a two-phase (α2+β) Ti3Al base alloy

Texture development during thermomechanical processing of two-phase (α₂+β) Ti–24Al–11Nb alloy was studied as a function of variables like initial microstructure, rolling temperature, cooling conditions, etc. The evolution of texture in different conditions has been critically analysed. It has been found that unrestricted rolling of primary α₂ at lower temperature leads to a good basal {0001}uvtw texture, while at higher temperatures, the α₂→β→α₂ phase transformation leads to weakening of the basal texture. Texture of secondary α₂ derived from rolled β is generally non-basal. However, the texture of secondary α₂ derived from recrystallized β has a basal character.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of a directionally solidified and aged intermetallic Ni–Al–Cr–Ti alloy with β-γ′-γ-α structure

Microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated in a directionally solidified (DS) Ni–21.7Al–7.5Cr–6.5Ti (at.%) alloy. The dendrites of the as-grown alloy were composed of β(B2)-matrix (NiAl), coarse γ′(L1₂)-particles (Ni₃Al), fine γ′-needles and spherical α(A2)-precipitates (Cr-based solid solution). The majority of fine γ′-precipitates was found to be twinned. The interdendritic region contained γ(A1)-matrix (Ni-based solid solution) separating ordered domains of γ′-phase and fine lath-shaped α-precipitates. Ageing in the temperature range 973–1373 K decreased the volume fraction of dendrites from about 50 vol.% measured in the as-grown material to about 38 vol.% in the material aged at 1373 K for 300 h. During ageing in the temperature range 973–1273 K the γ-phase transformed to the γ′-phase in the interdendritic region. This transformation was connected with precipitation of lath-shaped α-precipitates. Ageing at higher temperatures of 1373 and 1473 K resulted in stabilisation of the γ-phase and precipitation of spherical γ′-particles in the interdendritic region. Ageing at 973 K significantly increased the microhardness, hardness and decreased room-temperature tensile ductility. Neither ageing nor finer dendritic microstructure were found to be effective in increasing the ductility of the alloy. The measured tensile ductility up to 1.1% can be attributed to the effect of extrinsic toughening mechanisms operating in the β-phase such as blunting and bridging of cracks by the α- and γ′-precipitates.     

Identification of σ and Ω phases in AA2009/SiC composites

The microstructure evolution during ageing treatment at 170 and 190 °C of AA2009/SiC composites, reinforced with 15 vol.% particulates and whiskers, was studied by transmission electron microscopy. Besides θ′ and S′ phases, the typical hardening precipitates on Al–Cu–Mg alloys, it was found the presence of Ω and σ (Al₅Cu₆Mg₂) phases in the matrix. σ phase was only found in the matrix of particulate composite, while Ω phase appeared in both. This phase has not been previously observed in Al matrix composites based on conventional Al–Cu–Mg alloys.     

DO22–(Cu,Ni)3Sn intermetallic compound nanolayer formed in Cu/Sn-nanolayer/Ni structures

The present work conducts crystal characterization by High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) on Cu/Sn-nanolayer/Ni sandwich structures associated with the use of Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The results show that DO₂₂–(Cu,Ni)₃Sn intermetallic compound (IMC) ordered structure is formed in the sandwich structures at the as-electrodeposited state. The formed DO₂₂-(Cu,Ni)₃Sn IMC is a homogeneous layer with a thickness about 10 nm. The DO₂₂–(Cu,Ni)₃Sn IMC nanolayer is stable during annealing at 250 °C for 810 min. The formation and stabilization of the metastable DO₂₂–(Cu,Ni)₃Sn IMC nanolayer are attributed to the less strain energy induced by lattice mismatch between the DO₂₂ IMC and fcc Cu crystals in comparison with that between the equilibrium DO₃ IMC and fcc Cu crystals.