The influence of order on the recovery and recrystallization of a Fe3Al alloy

The influence of annealing treatments over a range of temperatures encompassing the critical ordering temperature for the B2-DO₃ change and inducing recovery and recrystallization have been examined for a deformed alloy based on the Fe₃Al composition. The initial ordered state before heavy deformation plays no role on subsequent recovery and recrystallization, essentially because the heavy deformation destroys the prior order. Recovery occurs faster relative to the rate of recrystallization at higher temperatures. The extended period at lower temperatures where poorly recovered structures remain allows grain nucleation mechanisms to remain activated, in contrast to higher temperature situations where grain nucleation slows as grain growth dominates recrystallization. This evolution is slightly enhanced at lower temperatures as DO₃ order appears, and leads to finer final grains after such lower temperature anneals. There is no evidence to indicate that dislocations influence the rate of ordering of this material.     

Effects of aluminum concentration and compact thickness on reaction synthesis of Ni3Al---NiAl alloys

The effects of aluminum concentration and green compact thickness on the reaction synthesis of powder compacts containing 25 to 40 at. %Al were studied under a uniaxial compressive stress of 10 MPa. The results indicate that both reaction product and material density are sensitive to these two parameters. For all powder compacts with a thickness of 5 mm, no temperature increase was detected during reaction synthesis, indicating no formation of transient liquid phases and thus no self-sustaining combustion reaction. For 6- and 7-mm-thick compacts containing 40% Al, a full synthesis reaction took place, resulting in production of the NiAl alloy with a high material density (>98%) and a fine grain size (14 μm). Other compacts containing 25 and 30% Al showed a coexistence of partially and fully reacted zones, with the reaction zone size strongly dependent on aluminum concentration and compact thickness. All the results are discussed in terms of local heat accumulation and heat transfer as well as thermodynamic analyses of exothermic reactions during each reaction step.     

The stress anomaly in FeAl–Fe3Al alloys

The anomalous stress peak observed near 500–600 °C in Fe–Al alloys has now been convincingly explained using a model of hardening by immobile thermal vacancies on the lower temperature side of the peak and the loss of hardening as these vacancies become mobile at higher temperatures. The large numbers of vacancies required for such hardening are associated with compositions close to stoichiometry, i.e. 40–50%Al, raising the question of whether such a vacancy hardening model can be adopted for Fe₃Al alloys, which show a similar stress peak anomaly. Examination of data on vacancy formation over the entire range of composition, Fe–Fe₃Al–FeAl, shows that, indeed, a vacancy hardening model appears capable of explaining the stress anomaly for both FeAl and Fe₃Al.     

Processing of high carbon Fe3Al based intermetallic alloy

A melting procedure for air induction melting (AIM) of an Fe₃Al based intermetallic alloy Fe-15.38 wt%Al-1.1 wt%C is described. Use of an appropriate slag cover during AIM results in elimination of hydrogen gas porosity in cast AIM ingots. Criteria for slag selection and slag to metal ratio are discussed. Refining by slag-metal reactions results in significant reduction in impurity levels (S, O, N) during AIM. Consequently, low cost raw materials such as mild steel scrap and commercial aluminium were used for melting the alloy. The AIM ingot exhibited excellent tensile properties. The ductility and hot workability of the ingot may be further improved by subsequent processing through electroslag remelting. It is also argued that the presence of carbon may be necessary to get AIM castings with desirable mechanical properties.     

HREM observation of grown-in antiphase boundaries in an Fe3Al based alloy

Atomic arrangements of grown-in antiphase boundaries (APBs) in Fe₃Al based alloy were observed by means of high resolution electron microscopy. According to the continuity of Fe and Al sublattices across the APBs in different crystallographic planes, all observed APBs were identified as next-nearest neighbour types. When observed edge-on, the grown-in APBs are very thin. The comparison of the contrast of the atomic columns in the close vicinity of the APBs and the interior of the domains indicates sharp, un-relaxed grown-in domain walls.     

Optimisation of precipitation for controlling recrystallisation of wrought Fe3Al based alloys

A Fe–26Al–5Cr (at.%) single-phase (:A2/B2/D0₃) alloy and two-phase (+TiC) alloys with different amounts of TiC particles have been hot rolled at 800 °C and the kinetics of static recrystallisation have been studied. In the alloys with a high amount of TiC, needle-like TiC of more than 1 μm in length formed during cooling after homogenisation in the single-phase region and coarsened during hot rolling. The large particles cause particle stimulated nucleation (PSN) and hence accelerate recrystallisation. In order to accomplish both strengthening by precipitates and inhibition of recrystallisation that deteriorates room-temperature ductility, a thermo-mechanical treatment consisting of hot deformation with a low amount of precipitates and a subsequent heat treatment for further precipitation is proposed. This process is difficult to carry out in the (Fe–26Al–5Cr)–TiC system due to the high precipitation temperature of TiC. The precipitation temperature is significantly decreased by replacing TiC by VC or MoC.     

Effective formation energies of atomic defects in D03Fe3Al: an ab-initio study

The effective formation energies of atomic defects in D0₃---Fe₃Al are determined within the framework of a grand-canonical statistical method. The grand-canonical defect formation energies entering this method are calculated by the ab-initio mixed-basis pseudopotential method. Thermal vacancies appear on the sublattice of the Fe atoms with an effective formation energy of 1.25 eV and on the Al sublattice (about 1.4 eV). The structural defects are Al antisite atoms on the γ sublattice of the Fe atoms or Fe antisite atoms on the Al sublattice.     

Deformation behavior of Ni3Al single crystals during nanoindentation

The deformation behavior of (1 1 1), (1 1 0) and (0 0 1) oriented Ni₃Al single crystals was investigated by means of nanoindentation. Upon loading with the blunt and sharp indenter tips, the crystal deforms elastically in the initial stage followed by plastic deformation of which the onset is characterized by an obvious displacement burst (or pop-in) in the loading curve. This pop-in corresponds to homogeneous nucleation of dislocation loops under the indenter. When a sharp indenter tip was used, a major pop-in can be identified at a large load (7 mN for (1 1 1) crystal) in the plastic regime on loading. The major pop-in may be correlated with the special dislocation structure of the K–W locks in the Ni₃Al crystals that are formed during loading. The pop-in behavior during plastic deformation of Ni₃Al crystals is found to be closely related to the crystal orientation, pre-existing dislocation density in the sample surface, loading rate, and holding (at a constant sub-critical load) time as well. Pop-ins were also observed at critical loads in unloading processes.     

Hydrogen-caused phase transformations, relaxation and hysteretic phenomena in fcc alloys Fe55Cr25Ni20 and Fe50Ni50

Hydrogen-induced phases, relaxation and hysteretic phenomena in Fe₅₅Cr₂₅Ni₂₀ and Fe₅₀Ni₅₀ alloys were studied using neutron scattering and internal friction. Substitution of chromium by nickel prevents the hydrogen-induced γ→ transformation, which was used for interpretation of the IF peaks. A new relaxation peak is observed in the hydrogen-charged Fe₅₀Ni₅₀ alloy.     

Effect of Al concentration on pseudoelasticity in Fe3Al single crystals

Pseudoelasticity in Fe₃Al single crystals with different Al contents was investigated focusing on the dislocation configuration and the ordered domain structure. Giant pseudoelasticity only appeared in the D0₃-ordered Fe₃Al single crystals, while the B2-ordered crystals and those with the disordered phase exhibited small strain recovery. The amount of shape recovery in the D0₃-ordered crystals showed a maximum near 23.0at.%Al and decreased with increasing deviation from this Al concentration. In the D0₃ phase at 22.0–25.0at.%Al, 1/4[1 1 1] superpartial dislocations moved individually dragging the nearest-neighbour antiphase boundaries (NNAPB), while couplets of the superpartials were observed to bow out, dragging the next-nearest-neighbour antiphase boundaries (NNNAPB) in Fe–28.0at.%Al. In Fe–22.0–25.0at.%Al single crystals, the NNAPB pulled back the superpartials to decrease its energy during unloading, resulting in the giant pseudoelasticity. In contrast, the surface tension of the NNNAPB was lower than that of the NNAPB, leading to the small strain recovery in Fe–28.0at.%Al.     

Fatigue crack growth of Fe3Al,Cr alloys

The ternary alloy undergoes an increase in crack propagation rate and a loss of fracture toughness in hydrogen gas and moisture bearing environments. A similar effect was seen on the ductility of the ternary alloy in tensile test. The embrittling effect in air is attributed to the oxidation of aluminum by water vapor to release hydrogen gas. The Fe---Al---Cr---Zr alloy is also embrittled by moisture in air in the same manner. However, laboratory air had a much less drastic effect on the crack growth rate and fracture toughness of the Fe---Al---Cr---Zr alloy. The addition of Zr appears to improve the crack growth characteristics of Fe₃Al-type alloys.     

Direct synthesis of MgCNi3 by mechanical alloying

MgCNi₃, an intermetallic compound with superconductivity, was synthesized from the Mg (or Mg₂Ni), Ni and graphite powders by mechanical alloying (MA). It is shown that the preliminary condition for the formation of MgCNi₃ is that Mg₂Ni must form in advance of MgCNi₃ in the MA process or be the starting component.     

The oxidation of nanocrystalline Ni3Al fabricated by mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering

Nanocrystalline Ni₃Al was fabricated through mechanical alloying of elemental powders and spark plasma sintering. The nanocrystalline Ni₃Al has a nearly full density after being sintered at 1223 K for 10 min under a pressure of 65 MPa. Isothermal and cyclic oxidations of nanocrystalline Ni₃Al were tested at 1173–1373 K with intervals of 100 K. The results indicate that nanocrystalline Ni₃Al exhibits excellent isothermal and cyclical oxidation resistance. The oxide scales consist primarily of dense and continuous -Al₂O₃. The grain refinement is beneficial for improving the oxidation resistance of Ni₃Al by providing more nucleation centers for the Al₂O₃ formation, promoting the selective formation of Al₂O₃ and improving the adhesion of oxide scales to the matrix.     

Recrystallization and grain growth in Ni3Al with and without boron

The recrystallization and grain growth of boron-free and boron-doped (500 ppm by weight) Ni₃Al polycrystals were investigated in the temperature range 700–1000°C. The levels of deformation were 17% reduction in length in compression for both alloys and 40% rolling reduction applied only to the boron-doped alloy. For alloys with or without boron, the Kolmogorov-Johnson-Mehl-Avrami relationship holds, with the Avrami exponent near unity, and the recrystallization rate is very slow. The activation energies for recrystallization are respectively 480 and 492 kJ/mol for boron-free and boron-doped to 40%. The grain growth kinetics obey a power law with the time exponent ranging from 0·2 to 0·4. The boron effect at 500 ppm was found to be small on both recrystallization and grain growth in Ni₃Al.     

Growth and dielectric properties of Ca3NbGa3Si2O14 crystals

A new langasite type single crystal Ca₃NbGa₃Si₂O₁₄ (CNGS) was grown by Czochralski (CZ) method. The structure of CNGS crystal was determined by X-ray powder diffraction, the lattice parameters were a=0.8087 ± 0.0001 nm, c=0.4974 ± 0.0002 nm, V=0.2817 ± 0.0002 nm³; The congruency of CNGS was examined by measuring the chemical composition of the grown crystal by quantitative X-ray fluorescent (XRF) analysis. The melting point of CNGS crystal was measured by using the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Dielectric properties of (1 1 0) wafer plate were studied in the temperature range from 298.15 to 873.15 K; the frequency dependence of dielectric loss in the frequency range 10 Hz–13 MHz was measured.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of a new layered compound Li2VGeO5

The new compound Li₂VGeO₅ with a layered structure has been synthesized at 580 °C via the hydrothermal method. The compound crystallizes in the space group P4/n of the tetragonal system with two formula units in a cell of dimensions a=6.5187(9) Å, c=4.5092(9) Å (T=298 K), V=191.61(5) Å³. The structure is composed of layers made of repeating [(VO₅)(GeO₄)]¹⁻ units. Li⁺ ions reside between the layers. The magnetic susceptibility data show an antiferromagnetic coupling below 5 K with C=0.47 emu K mol⁻¹, and θ=−13 K with μ_eff=1.89μ_B for each Li₂VGeO₅ unit.     

Directional solidification and microstructures of near-eutectic Cr–Cr3Si alloys

Near-eutectic Cr–Cr₃Si alloys were directionally solidified in a high-temperature optical floating zone furnace. At the eutectic composition, uniform and well-aligned lamellar structures were obtained over a fairly wide range of solidification conditions, but not at very low or very high growth rates where degenerate and cellular structures, respectively, were obtained. The lamellar spacing was found to increase with decreasing solidification rate, in agreement with the Jackson–Hunt theory. In addition, for a fixed growth rate, the lamellar spacing was found to increase with increasing rotation rate. The growth directions in the lamellar eutectic are found to be 1 0 0 for the Cr₃Si phase and 1 1 1 for the Cr solid-solution phase. Eutectic microstructures (rod or lamellar) could also be produced at off-eutectic compositions, but only for a limited range of growth conditions.     

Ba3YB3O9: phase transition and crystal structure

A new modification of the compound Ba₃YB₃O₉, β phase, has been attained through solid phase transition from phase at 1125–1134 °C. β-Ba₃YB₃O₉ crystallizes in the hexagonal space group with cell parameters a=13.0529(8) Å, c=9.5359(9) Å. The crystal structure of -Ba₃YB₃O₉ has been determined from powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) data. The refinement was carried out using the Rietveld methods and the final refinement converged with R_p=8.8%, and R_wp=11.8% with R_exp=5.65%. In its structure, the isolated [BO₃]³⁻ anionic groups are parallel to each other and distributed layer upon layer along the c-axis. The Y atoms are six-coordinated by the O atoms to form octahedra. The result of IR spectrum confirmed the existence of [BO₃]³⁻ triangular groups.     

Ordering in the sublattices of Fe3Al during the phase transformation B2↔D03

The temperature dependence of the iron concentrations in the individual sublattices of hyperstoichiometric binary Fe₇₂Al₂₈ and ternary Fe₆₈Al₂₈Cr₄ alloys were obtained from X-ray diffraction data measured in a high temperature vacuum chamber during linear heating around the phase transformation B2↔D0₃. A method for the processing of the diffraction pattern based on the splitting of the diffraction lines of the structure D0₃ into three groups is presented. Applying this method it was found that the structure B2 was not well developed in both samples. The maximum value of c_C≈0.8 gives S_B2 equal to 0.4 and 0.3 for binary and ternary alloy, respectively. The D0₃-order was not well developed too, because structure D0₃ arises from the structure B2. D0₃-ordering, i.e. redistribution of atoms within the sublattices A and B, is given only by the total number of iron atoms in these sublattices before the phase transformation B2↔D0₃.     

反应合成制备纳米Al2O3-弥散强化铜合金特性研究

采用反应合成工艺制备了纳米Al2O3-弥散强化铜合金,研究结果表明：铜基体内部均匀、弥散分布着直径大小约为10 nm的纳米γ-Al2O3颗粒,纳米颗粒与基体间界面清洁,且存在如下的晶体学位向关系：(002)Cu // γ-Al2O3,[110]Cu// [011]γ-Al2O3。该工艺制备的合金性能优异,室温抗拉强度和屈服强度可达570 MPa和475 MPa,抗软化温度高于900 ℃,同时合金的导电率和洛氏硬度值分别为85% IACS和86 HRB。