Effect of swaging on microstructure and tensile properties of W–Ni–Fe alloys

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of swaging on the microstructure and tensile properties of high density two phase alloys 90W–7Ni–3Fe and 93W–4.9Ni–2.1Fe. Samples were liquid phase sintered under hydrogen and argon at 1480 °C for 30 min and then 15% cold rotary swaged. Measurement of microstructural parameters in the sintered and swaged samples showed that swaging slightly increased tungsten grain size in the longitudinal direction and slightly decreased tungsten grain size in the transverse direction. Swaging increased the contiguity values in both longitudinal and transverse directions. Swaging led to more severe deformations at the edges than at the center of the specimens. Solidus and liquidus temperatures of the nickel-based binder phase in the sintered and swaged samples were determined by differential scanning calorimetry measurements. An increase in tensile strength with a reduction in ductility was observed due to strain hardening by swaging.     

Fabrication of 93W–Ni–Fe alloy large-diameter rods by powder extrusion molding

A powder extrusion molding (PEM) process has been used for the manufacturing of tungsten heavy alloy rods with large length to diameter ratio. An improved wax-based multi-component binder was developed for PEM of 93W–Ni–Fe alloy. The miscibility of its components and the characteristics of the binder were evaluated and good thermal–physical properties were obtained. Also, the feedstock rheological properties, extrusion molding and debinding process were studied. The feedstock exhibited a pseudo-plastic flow behavior. The large length to diameter ratio rods, with diameters up to 36 mm were extruded at 65 °C by optimizing the extrusion process. A two-step debinding process was employed to remove the binder in the extruded rods. Solvent debinding was carried out in n-heptane at 45 °C to extract the soluble components. A process of repeated short time immersion and drying of the extruded rods (called short-period solvent debinding) was developed and using this novel technique the binder removed was raised from 45% to 60%. SEM analyses indicated that a large volume of pores was formed in debound rods, but had not created interpenetrating pore channels yet. The rest of the binder could be thermally extracted at a high heating rate without defects.     

Instrumented indentation properties of electrodeposited Ni–W alloys with different microstructures

The microstructures and mechanical properties electrodeposited Ni–W alloys synthesized at two plating bath temperatures of 353 and 348 K were investigated. Whereas the 353 K sample is amorphous, the 348 K sample has a mixed amorphous-nanocrystalline structure. As a result, the strength of the 348 K sample exhibits strong strain rate dependence during nanoindentation.     

Evolution of physical properties of amorphous Fe–Ni–Nb–B alloys with different Ni/Fe ratio upon thermal treatment

Amorphous ribbons (Fe–Ni)₈₁Nb₇B₁₂ with Ni/Fe = 0, 1/6, 1/3 and 1 were prepared by planar flow casting. Thermal treatment of samples was performed in vacuum at temperatures chosen to map the evolution of selected properties in the course of transformation from amorphous state. The coefficient of thermal dilatation exhibits changes at temperatures close to the glass transition, Curie and crystallization temperatures; these effects are enhanced or suppressed by cyclic thermal treatments up to the vicinity of these temperatures. The values of saturation magnetostriction λ_S allow to infer about processes taking place in the investigated materials, especially with respect to formation of new magnetic phases or magnetic anisotropy.Complex processes of structural transformations induced by thermal treatment are strongly affected by Ni percentage. A transitional, magnetically harder phase, which is formed at lower temperatures preferentially near surfaces of the Ni-richest alloy, produces characteristic hysteresis loop shape. This shape disappears after annealing at higher temperatures and enables the material to show the lowest coercivity of the whole alloy series. The saturation magnetic polarization reflects mainly the resulting Curie temperature, which falls with increasing Ni percentage. Magnetic hysteresis loops were also used in the study of dynamics of magnetic domains by MOKE. Domain shape evolution is shown in dependence on composition and thermal treatment as well as a function of applied magnetic field, ranging from remanent sample state to magnetic saturation.     

High-strain-rate superplasticity of the Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys with Fe and Ni additions

During high-strain-rate superplastic deformation, superplasticity indices, and the microstructure of two Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr alloys with additions of nickel and iron, which contain equal volume fractions of eutectic particles of Al₃Ni or Al₉FeNi, have been compared. It has been shown that the alloys exhibit superplasticity with 300–800% elongations at the strain rates of 1 × 10^–2–1 × 10^–1 s^–1. The differences in the kinetics of alloy recrystallization in the course of heating and deformation at different temperatures and rates of the superplastic deformation, which are related to the various parameters of the particles of the eutectic phases, have been found. At strain rates higher than 4 × 10^–2, in the alloy with Fe and Ni, a partially nonrecrystallized structure is retained up to material failure and, in the alloy with Ni, a completely recrystallized structure is formed at rates of up to 1 × 10^–1 s^–1.     

Densification of W–Ni–Fe powders using laser sintering

In this paper, Laser Sintering (LS) of 90%W–7%Ni–3%Fe (wt.%) powders have been investigated, with the goal to understand the influence of final density by laser power, scanning speed, laser trace width, and the number of scanning passes. The results suggest that the laser power and scanning speed are the most important factors influencing density; the influence of trace width and number of scanning passes are not significant. With the increase of laser power and decrease of scanning speed, higher density can be achieved. The microstructure analysis indicated that the porosity changed from open porosity to closed porosity with higher laser energy input. Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) analysis shows that during the sintering process, W was not melted but dissolved into the Ni–Fe matrix. Contact flattening and grain accommodation of W grains have been observed. It suggests that both rearrangement and solution-reprecipitation mechanisms are responsible for the densification. The sintered density with respect to laser power and scanning speed was modeled by continuum modeling theory and compared with experimental results.     

Structure analysis of the constitutional phases in liquid phase sintered W–Mo–Ni–Fe heavy alloys

The crystal structures of constitutional phases in two different tungsten heavy alloys processed via different conditions were examined. The compositions of these two alloys were W–11.9Mo–17.0Ni–7.7Fe and W–29.6Mo–17.0Ni–7.7Fe (at.%), which were liquid phase sintered at 1500 °C for 5 or 240 min, and followed by either furnace-cooling or water-quenching. Increase in isothermal hold caused increased concentration of Mo but decreased concentration of W in the matrix phase, which did not affect the lattice parameter of the matrix phase to a significant extent. Quenching the specimen in water caused increase in the concentrations of both W and Mo in the matrix phase, and, consequently, increases in the lattice parameter of the matrix phase. A tungsten heavy alloy with a high alloying concentration of Mo was prone to induce the precipitation of an intermetallic phase during cooling, which was enhanced by increasing the isothermal hold at the liquid phase sintering temperature and decreasing the cooling rate. The structure of this intermetallic phase is analogous to that of MoNi, and can be designated as (W_xMo_1−x)(Fe_yNi_1−y). The composition of this intermetallic phase varied with the composition of the alloy and its cooling rate subsequent to sintering. For a furnace-cooling condition, the atomic ratio of W to Mo (x/1−x) in this intermetallic phase was about 0.47 times the atomic ratio of W to Mo of the original alloy composition. Such a proportional constant decreased to about 0.30 when the specimen was water-quenched.     

Prediction of chromium depleted-zone evolution during aging of Ni–Cr–Fe alloys

The phenomenological and analytical study of depleted chromium zone in Ni–Cr–Fe alloys has been carried out in order to predict the evolution of chromium profiles resulting from carbide precipitation during aging. A diffusional model has been developed to take into account the two stages of chromium concentration evolution: dechromization and rechromization. The model has been verified using the available experimental data found in the literature for a nickel alloy type: Inconel 690. The changes of the chromium concentration at the carbide–matrix interface xⁱ_Cr(t) and near the grain boundary x_Cr(x,t), as a function of annealing conditions, can be assessed with a reasonable accuracy by the proposed model and compared to the previous thermodynamic and kinetic models.     

Two-phase growth in peritectic Fe–Ni alloys

Bridgman crystal growth experiments were carried out to investigate the solidification behavior of Fe–Ni alloys containing nominally between 4 and 4.5 at.% Ni. Due to macrosegregation, a radial concentration gradient was established across the cylindrical specimens. Due to this gradient, a series of solid/liquid interface morphologies was observed. Oriented two-phase microstructures, which formed either lamellar or fibrous δ-ferrite in an austenite (γ) matrix, were found in the central region of specimens with a composition of some 4.2 at.% Ni and a G/V ratio close to the critical ratio for solid/liquid interface breakdown. At slightly smaller concentrations, oscillatory two-phase structures formed which were similar to the 2-λ instabilities of off-eutectic alloys. The observations confirm that at low solidification rates the stable growth morphology in peritectic alloys cannot be selected by the highest growth temperature criterion. A recently developed nucleation and constitutional undercooling criterion (NCU) was applied to establish a solidification microstructure selection map. Reasonable agreement was obtained between calculated and experimental results. Based on eutectic growth theory the possibility of simultaneous two-phase growth in peritectic alloys is discussed.     

Succession law of Nd–Fe–B alloys with different coercivities

In order to establish a succession law of every phase in sintered Nd–Fe–B magnets marked as 38/38H/38SH/38 UH, four alloys of Nd33-xDyxAl0.7Nb0.6Cu0.1B1.05 Fe bal.(at%) were investigated after smelting processing, sintering processing, high-temperature tempering processing, and highand low-temperature tempering processing. It is found that the four phases: the Nd2Fe14B matrix phase, Nd-rich phase,B-rich phase, and defect phase can be inherited by means of the subsequent processing. These phases might have the special constitution and appearance in the different states.Magnetic properties also have succession law. In every processing except smelting one, the values of remanence and maximum energy product hardly alter, but the value of coercive force increases gradually.     

Solidification structures of Ti–Al–Cr alloys

Phase transformations in the ternary Ti–Al–Cr alloy system have been studied by combining preliminary phase equilibria calculations and microstructural studies of a number of model alloys. The results have contributed to a better understanding of phase equilibria in the Ti–Al–Cr alloy system above 1273 K. A liquid surface projection has been tentatively proposed. Micro-twins have been observed in the monolithic γ phase within a B2 matrix. This supports a previously proposed mechanism for the formation of such a structure in a B2 matrix. The results also suggest that there is no representative orientation relationship between γ and the Ti(Cr,Al)₂ Laves phase. The L1₂ τ phase can be in direct equilibrium with the liquid phase. The ω phase stability has also been studied. The stability of the ω phase is attributed to the electron density of the prior B2 phase. This leads to changes in the effective heat of formation of the ω structure, as concluded from total energy LMTO calculations.     

Glass formability of W-based alloys through thermodynamic modeling: W–Fe–Hf–Pd–Ta and W–Fe–Si–C

Computational thermodynamics, based on the CALculation of PHAse Diagram (CALPHAD) method, can be an efficient way to predict phase stabilities in multi-component engineering materials. By calculating the stability of the liquid phase at low temperatures, this method could be a useful and cost-effective tool for the design of bulk metallic glasses. Based on the thermodynamic modeling of the constituent binary and ternary systems of W with Fe, Hf, Pd, Ta, Si, or C, thermodynamic databases are built to search for W-based metallic glasses in these alloying systems. Modeling of intermetallic phases combines input from first-principles total energy calculations and predictions of finite temperature properties from the Debye–Grüneisen model. Several plausible W-rich glass-forming alloys are identified in the W–Fe–Si–C quaternary system.     

Structure of strengthening particles of niobium carbide in Fe–Cr–Ni cast refractory alloys

Methods of optical and electron microscopies were used to study the structure of particles of niobium carbide in a cast refractory Fe–Cr–Ni–C alloy modified by Nb and Ti. Particles of niobium carbide in the structure of the cast alloy are predominantly multiphase polycrystalline clusters that are inhomogeneous in the chemical composition and crystal structure. The misorientation angle between individual crystals that compose the carbide particles is 30°–60°. The polycrystalline character of carbides is probably associated with significant thermal stresses that arise at the interphase boundaries in the structure of the alloy upon the primary cooling of the ingot. To explain the polymorphism of the cluster of niobium carbide, a further analysis of the structural and geometrical crystallography is required.     

Electrodeposition and properties of Zn,Zn–Ni,Zn–Fe and Zn–Fe–Ni alloys from acidic chloride–sulphate electrolytes

Abstract

Zn, Zn–Ni, Zn–Fe and Zn–Fe–Ni films have been deposited by electrochemical deposition technique onto steel plate substrates. The objective of this study was to characterise the corrosion properties of these alloys in saline solution for the application as new environmentally friendly sacrificial coatings in the protection of steel structures. The morphological and structural properties of the alloys were systematically studied using XRD and SEM techniques. Cyclic voltammetry of the individual metals was performed to help understand the electroplating process of the films. Grain sizes of the films were calculated using Scherrer's formula. Partial substitution of Zn to Fe and Ni leads to an improvement in the corrosion resistance. Compared with other zinc alloys, the Zn–Ni alloy deposit was the noblest.     

Sluggish diffusion in Co–Cr–Fe–Mn–Ni high-entropy alloys

Sluggish diffusion kinetics is an important contributor to the outstanding properties of high-entropy alloys. However, the diffusion kinetics in high-entropy alloys has never been probed directly. Here, the diffusion couple method was used to measure the diffusion parameters of Co, Cr, Fe, Mn and Ni in ideal-solution-like Co–Cr–Fe–Mn–Ni alloys. These parameters were compared with those in various conventional face-centered cubic metals. The results show that the diffusion coefficients in the Co–Cr–Fe–Mn–Ni alloys are indeed lower than those in the reference metals. Correspondingly, the activation energies in the high-entropy alloys are higher than those in the reference metals. Moreover, the trend of the normalized activation energy is positively related to the number of composing elements in the matrix. A quasi-chemical model is proposed to analyze the fluctuation of lattice potential energy in different matrices and to explain the observed trend in activation energies. Greater fluctuation of lattice potential energy produces more significant atomic traps and blocks, leading to higher activation energies, and thus accounts for the sluggish diffusion in high-entropy alloys.     

Structure and properties of cast and splat-quenched high-entropy Al–Cu–Fe–Ni–Si alloys

The effect of the composition and cooling rate of the melt on the microhardness, phase composition, and fine-structure parameters of as-cast and splat-quenched (SQ) high-entropy (HE) Al–Cu–Fe–Ni–Si alloys was studied. The quenching was performed by conventional splat-cooling technique. The cooling rate was estimated to be ~10⁶ K/s. Components of the studied HE alloys were selected taking into account both criteria for designing and estimating their phase composition, which are available in the literature and based on the calculations of the entropy and enthalpy of mixing, and the difference between atomic radii of components as well. According to X-ray diffraction data, the majority of studied Al–Cu–Fe–Ni–Si compositions are two-phase HE alloys, the structure of which consists of disordered solid solutions with bcc and fcc structures. At the same time, the Al_0.5CuFeNi alloy is single-phase in terms of X-ray diffraction and has an fcc structure. The studied alloys in the as-cast state have a dendritic structure, whereas, after splat quenching, the uniform small-grained structure is formed. It was found that, as the volume fraction of bcc solid solution in the studied HE alloys increases, the microhardness increases; the as-cast HE Al–Cu–Fe–Ni–Si alloys are characterized by higher microhardness compared to that of splat-quenched alloys. This is likely due to the more equilibrium multiphase state of as-cast alloys.     

Preparation of bulk amorphous Fe–Ni–P–B–Ga alloys from industrial raw materials

Bulk amorphous Fe–Ni–P–B–Ga alloys have been prepared in the form of 3-mm-diam rods or 1-mm-thick plates by utilizing industrial raw materials. The glass synthesis consists of flux-melting and copper casting. The as-prepared alloys are investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy. The microhardness and soft magnetic properties are also measured. It has been demonstrated that Ga addition can be greatly helpful to increase the glass-forming ability of Fe₄₀Ni₄₀P₁₄B.     

Nanoindentation study on solid solution softening of Fe-rich Fe2Nb Laves phase by Ni in Fe–Nb–Ni ternary alloys

In an attempt to understand the solid solution softening by Ni of an Fe-rich Fe₂Nb Laves phase that is in equilibrium with γ-Fe, we have examined the defect structure in the Laves phase in Fe–Nb–Ni alloys by transmission electron microscopy, and its hardness as a function of orientation and solute (Ni) content by nanoindentation. The binary Fe-rich Laves phase and the ternary Laves phases with lower Ni content (18%) exhibit a featureless morphology with low dislocation density, whereas the ternary Laves phase with higher Ni content (33%) includes basal planar faults extending to several micrometers, producing a local change in the stacking sequence of the three 3⁶-nets (triple layer) of the C14 structure. The hardness of the binary and the ternary Laves phases with 18% Ni in solution is almost constant and independent of orientation, whereas the ternary Laves phase with 33% Ni in solution exhibits a substantial dependence of hardness on orientation and this dependence appears associated with the ease of basal slips evidenced by slip traces around nanoindents. The relative ease in activating basal slip in the presence of a large amount of Ni in solution is thought to be the dominant contributor to the observed solid solution softening.