Compressive behaviour of open cell Al–Al2O3 composite foams fabricated by sintering and dissolution process

Abstract

The sintering and dissolution process (SDP) was used to produce the fine open cell Al–Al₂O₃ composite and pure Al foams with the relative density of 0·25–0·40 and the pore size of 112–400 μm. The composite foam exhibited much higher yield strength and Young's modulus than the pure Al foam, and thus had an elevated plateau stress. Moreover, the composite foam showed a unique dependence of the compression stress on the pore size, i.e. it increased with increasing pore size, which was quite different from that for the common metal foams.     

Manufacturing of Al/SiCp composite foams using calcium carbonate as foaming agent

Abstract

The aluminium composite foams reinforced by different volume fractions of SiC particles were manufactured with the direct foaming route of melt using different contents of CaCO₃ foaming agent. The density of produced foams changed from 0·43 to 0·76 g cm^?3. The microstructural features and compressive properties of the Al/SiC_p composite foams were investigated. Compressive stress–strain curve of Al/SiC_p composite foams is not smooth and exhibits some serrations. At the same relative density of composite foams, the plateau stress of the composite foams increases with increasing volume fraction of SiCp and decreasing weight percentage of CaCO₃. The relation between plateau stress, relative density, weight percentage of CaCO₃ and SiCp volume fraction of Al/SiCp composite foams with a given particle size was investigated.     

Compressive properties of closed cell Al alloy–fly ash particle composite foams

Abstract

The closed cell aluminium alloy–fly ash particle composite (Al/FA) foams containing 1·5 wt-% fly ash were manufactured by molten body transitional foaming process. The quasi-static compressive properties of Al/FA have been investigated. Results show the compressive stress–strain curves of Al/FA foams exhibit three regions, i.e. the elastic region, the plastic plateau region and the densification region. A linear relationship between the densification strain and the relative density was obtained. The relation between the plastic collapse stress and the relative density can be described with Gibson and Ashby’s model. The energy absorption capacities of the Al/FA foams gradually increase with increasing strain and relative density.     

含宏观孔开孔泡沫铝的阻尼机制研究

采用空气加压渗流技术制备了含宏观孔的开孔泡沫铝材料,通过多功能内耗仪采用内耗技术测试了泡沫铝在不同温度、不同频率和不同振幅下的内耗谱特征,研究表明与致密工业纯铝的阻尼能力相比,泡沫铝的阻尼能力得到很大的提高,泡沫铝的内耗随着测量频率的增加而增大,同时,内耗也随着应变振幅的增加而增大。经透射电子显微镜观察发现在晶界附近存在大量的位错亚结构。根据内耗测量和微观观察提出了泡沫铝中可能的阻尼机制:孔周围的应力集中和模式转换,孔洞/金属基体界面处由于动力学模量相差很大而使机械能转化为热能,孔洞发生不均匀的膨胀或畸变使外加应变能耗散为热能。     

Damping properties of porous AZ91 magnesium alloy reinforced with copper particles

Abstract

The well distributed open porous AZ91 magnesium alloy reinforced with copper particles was successfully prepared through powder metallurgy route based on space holder method. Its damping properties were characterised by internal friction and the internal friction measurement in a temperature range from room temperature to 100°C was performed by a multifunction internal friction apparatus. Experimental results revealed that the damping capacity of the porous AZ91 magnesium alloy was increased as a result of the addition of copper particle and the increase was further enhanced with increasing volume fraction of copper particle. Attempt is performed to correlate the increase in damping with the microstructural change arising due to the addition of copper particles. It was suggested that the increase should be related to the appearance of plastic zone and thus an increase in dislocation density at the matrix particles interfaces.     

Internal friction characterization of graphite

The effects of temperature on the damping behavior of bulk graphite were investigated and some novel phenomena were observed. The internal friction (IF) background of the bulk graphite has small temperature dependent and the IF value is much smaller than that of reported data. Moreover, two IF peaks were found in the IF-temperature spectrums. The first is proved to originate from the sweeping motion of in-plane dislocations and is a relaxation-type IF peak. The average activation energy of the peak is around 1.10 ± 0.06 eV and the pre-exponential factor τ ₀ is 10⁻¹⁴ s. The second is a transformation peak, resulting from the transformation of asphalt that was used as binder in preparation of bulk graphite.     

Effect of beryllium and calcium on aging behaviour of Al–0·75Mg–0·5Si alloy

Abstract

The effect of microadditions of Be and Ca on the aging behaviour of Al–0·75Mg–0·5Si alloy is investigated. It is shown that the addition of 0·1%Be significantly increases the hardening rate and the maximum hardness level attainable when the alloy is aged at various temperatures from room temperature to 300°C, while the addition of 0·2%Ca decreases both the hardening rate and the maximum hardness level attainable. Optical and scanning electron microscopical observations show a significantly higher precipitate density for the Be containing alloy and a slightly lower precipitate density for the Ca containing alloy when compared with the base Al–Mg–Si alloy. The results are consistent with an earlier kinetic study that indicated a Be enhanced nucleation rate for precipitation in the same alloy.

MST/936     

热处理对喷射共沉积SiCP/6061Al复合材料内耗峰的影响

采用喷射共沉积方法制备了SiC_P/6061Al复合材料,研究了五种热处理工艺对其阻尼性能和内耗峰的影响。结果表明:各种热处理状态试样,在150~200℃范围内均出现温度内耗峰,且随频率增加该峰峰位向高温移动,峰高增加。通过Arrhenius方程测得内耗峰的激活能均高于1eV;另外,不同的淬火处理对该内耗峰有明显影响,当淬火冷却速度高于水淬时,随冷却速度的加大,内耗峰峰位向高温移动。     

Effect of grain size and indium addition on tensile characteristics of Al–1Si alloy

Abstract

The effect of grain size and indium addition on the workhardening characteristics of Al–1Si (wt-%) alloy has been investigated at room temperature (RT). The samples were preaged at different temperatures in the range 523–623 K. The yield stress, the fracture stress, the fracture time and the linear workhardening coefficient generally decreased with increasing temperature and/or grain size, while the fracture strain and dislocation slip distance increased. The yield and fracture stresses for different grain sizes at different temperatures were found to be linearly related to grain diameters. Indium addition caused general increase for all the measured strength parameters. As concluded from transmission electron microscope (TEM) investigations, In addition to Al–Si alloy may retard the coarsening of Si particles. The energies activating the operating fracture mechanisms were found to be 79·6±0·4 and 32·4±0·4 kJ mol^?1 for alloys Al–1Si and Al–1Si–0·2In respectively. This suggests a value of 47·2 kJ mol^?1 as a binding energy between Si and In atoms in Al matrix.     

碳纳米管增强铝基复合泡沫的阻尼性能

通过填加造孔剂方法制备了碳纳米管（CNTs）增强铝基复合泡沫,采用热机械分析仪研究了测试温度、频率、外加振幅、泡沫的孔隙率和CNTs含量对其阻尼性能的影响,并分析了相关阻尼机制。结果表明:复合泡沫铝的阻尼性能随孔隙率和振幅的增大而提高,随着频率的增加而下降。在环境测试温度25~200℃范围内,复合泡沫的损耗因子变化较小;当温度高于200℃后,损耗因子随温度升高有明显的提高。CNTs的加入可以显著提高泡沫铝的阻尼性能,常温下3.0% CNTs增强的铝基复合泡沫的损耗因子达0.27,为泡沫铝的3.71倍。复合泡沫的阻尼机制主要为位错阻尼、晶界阻尼、孔隙阻尼、CNTs的本征阻尼和CNTs-Al间界面阻尼,其中本征和界面阻尼发挥了重要的增强作用。      

Internal friction of foamed aluminium in the range of acoustic frequencies

The internal friction of aluminium foams with various porosities was measured in the range of acoustic frequencies over a wide strain-amplitude range by the bending-vibration method. The measured internal friction shows that aluminium foams have a damping capacity which is enhanced in comparison with bulk aluminium, increases with increasing porosity, decreases with increasing frequency and increases with increasing strain amplitude. In order to explain the behaviour of the internal friction, a mechanism of internal dissipation energy was presented, and an approximate expression for internal friction is derived which is based on the equations of plane waves in elastic material with voids. This expression can account for the dependence of the internal friction on porosity, pore size and frequency. To gain further insight into the dependence of the internal friction on amplitude, the non-linear characteristics of oscillations were observed, and it was found that the resonance curves are asymmetric and the resonant frequencies are proportional to the square of amplitude with a negative slope. On the basis of the equations of the motion and the experimental results, the non-linearity of oscillations was ascribed to a non-linear damping term and an approximate expression for the damping coefficient with respect to amplitude was obtained. © 1998 Chapman & Hall     

高阻尼铝合金层压板的内耗峰及其阻尼机制

研制了一种新型铝合金层压复合板 ,它具有高阻尼、耐腐蚀和可焊接特性。这种材料是由两层纯Al、两层ZnAl合金和一层AlMg合金经热轧制成的复合材料。该材料在 5 0℃附近有一内耗峰 ,当材料在常温下停放 1年后 ,该峰消失 ,材料的常温阻尼能力随之降低。计算了该峰的激活能 ,并通过SEM、TEM、X ray和DSC等手段 ,对该峰的起因和阻尼机制进行了分析。认为 ,该峰是由层压板中ZnAl合金层引起的 ,是在热激活条件下由位错拖曳点缺陷运动所致。层压板在常温长时停放过程中 ,由于晶体回复 ,位错密度降低 ,导致该峰逐渐减弱直至消失。此峰符合位错诱生阻尼机制。     

Study on the damping behavior of Al/SiC<Subscript>p</Subscript> composite in thermal cycling

A SiC particulate reinforced 1040 commercially pure aluminum was thermally cycled in air between 20 and 300 °C up to 500 cycles. And the damping capacities of the specimens after 50 and 500 cycles were measured against temperature and strain amplitude. Thermal cycling causes the increase in damping, and dislocation damping is the main mechanism. A damping peak was observed in the range of 150–200 °C, which is related to dislocation motion. Thermal cycling leads to the increase in the peak temperature. The activation energy of the internal friction peak was calculated by Arrhenius equation, yielding 1.02 and 1.09 eV for 50 and 500 cycles, respectively. Increase in dislocation during thermal cycling is responsible for the increase in peak temperature and activation energy.     

Effects of strain rate and temperature on dynamic mechanical behaviour and microstructural evolution in aluminium–scandium (Al–Sc) alloy

Abstract

The present study applies a compressive split Hopkinson bar to investigate the mechanical response, microstructural evolution and fracture characteristics of an aluminium–scandium (Al–Sc) alloy at temperatures ranging from ? 100 to 300°C and strain rates of 1·2 × 10³, 3·2×10³ and 5·8 × 10³ s^?1. The relationship between the dynamic mechanical behaviour of the Al–Sc alloy and its microstructural characteristics is explored. The fracture features and microstructural evolution are observed using scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The stress–strain relationships indicate that the flow stress, work hardening rate and strain rate sensitivity increase with increasing strain rate, but decrease with increasing temperature. Conversely, the activation volume and activation energy increase as the temperature increases or the strain rate decreases. Additionally, the fracture strain reduces with increasing strain rate and decreasing temperature. The Zerilli–Armstrong fcc constitutive model is used to describe the plastic deformation behaviour of the Al–Sc alloy, and the error between the predicted flow stress and the measured stress is found to be less than 5%. The fracture analysis results reveal that cracks initiate and propagate in the shear bands of the Al–Sc alloy specimens and are responsible for their ultimate failure. However, at room temperature, under a low strain rate of 1·2 × 10³ s^?1 and at a high experimental temperature of 300°C under all three tested strain rates, the specimens do not fracture, even under large strain deformations. Scanning electron microscopy observations show that the surfaces of the fractured specimens are characterised by transgranular dimpled features, which are indicative of ductile fracture. The depth and density of these dimples are significantly influenced by the strain rate and temperature. The transmission electron microscopy structural observations show the precipitation of Al₃Sc particles in the matrix and at the grain boundaries. These particles suppress dislocation motion and result in a strengthening effect. The transmission electron microscopy analysis also reveals that the dislocation density increases, but the dislocation cell size decreases, with increasing strain rate for a constant level of strain. However, a higher temperature causes the dislocation density to decrease, thereby increasing the dislocation cell size.     

The effects of trace Sc and Zr on microstructure and internal friction of Zn–Al eutectoid alloy

The damping properties of Zn–22 wt.% Al alloys without and with Sc (0.55 wt.%) and Zr (0.26 wt.%) were investigated. The internal friction of the determined by the microstructure has been measured in terms of logarithmic decrement (δ) using a low frequency inverted torsion pendulum over the temperature region of 10–230 °C. An internal friction peak was separately observed at about 218 °C in the Zn–Al alloy and at about 195 °C in Zn–Al–Sc–Zr alloy. The shift of the δ peak was found to be directly attributed to the precipitation of Al₃(Sc, Zr) phases from the alloy matrix. We consider that the both internal friction peak in the alloy originates from grain boundary (GB) relaxation, but the grain boundary relaxation can also be affected by Al–Sc–Zr intermetallics at the grain boundaries, which will impede grain boundary sliding. In addition, Al–Sc–Zr intermetallics at the grain boundaries can pin grain boundaries, and inhibit the growth of grains in aging, which increases the damping stability of Zn–22 wt.% Al alloy.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of directionally solidified Al–Si eutectic alloys with and without antimony

Abstract

Hardness H, interjlake spacing λ, and tensile properties are reported for Al–12·7Si and Al–12·7Si–0·2Sb (all wt-%) eutectic alloys directionally solidified at growth velocities of up to 250 μm s^?1 and under temperature gradients in the liquid of up to 12·9 K mm^?1. The hardness is related to interflake spacing by the equation H=H^o+Kλ^?0·2, where H^o is the initial hardness of the alloy. This behaviour contradicts previous results, which suggest that a Hall–Petch relationship is followed. The tensile properties are shown to follow similar behaviour, confirming that hardness shows the same dependence as proof stress on interflake spacing. However, the nature of the relationship depends on the Si morphology and caution should be exercised in using hardness or interflake spacing to indicate proof stress.

MST/1585     

Effect of heterogeneous deformation on precipitate distribution in Al–3·7Cu and Al–3·8Cu–1·8Mg alloys

Abstract

Cold rolling and hot rolling of solution treated Al–3·7Cu and Al–3·8Cu–1·8Mg alloys were performed to test the effect of inhomogeneous precipitation in shear bands during following aging of the material. The most effective inhomogeneous distribution of particles was observed for samples hot deformed and aged within the temperature range 473–573 K. It was noted that magnesium addition intensifies coarse shear bands development and following coarsening of particles within sheared area.     

Effect of Al and C on structure and mechanical properties of Fe–Al–C alloys

Abstract

Effect of aluminium and carbon content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Fe–Al–C alloys has been investigated. Alloys were prepared by combination of air induction melting with flux cover (AIMFC) and electroslag remelting (ESR). The ESR ingots were hot forged and hot rolled at 1373 K. As rolled alloys were examined using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to understand the microstructure of these alloys. The ternary Fe–Al–C alloys containing 10·5 and 13 wt-%Al showed the presence of three phases: FeAl with disordered bcc structure, Fe₃Al with ordered DO₃ structure and Fe₃AlC_0·5 precipitates with L′1₂ structure. Addition of high concentration of carbon to these alloys resulted in excellent hot workability and superior tensile at room temperature as well as tensile and creep properties at 873 K. An increase in Al content from 9 to 13 wt-% in Fe–Al–C alloys containing the same levels of carbon has no significant influence on strength and creep properties at 873 K, however resulted in significant improvement in room temperature strength accompanied by a reduction in room temperature ductility.     

Internal friction of hydrogen-doped metallic glasses of high glass forming ability

Seven multi-component metallic glasses of high glass forming ability (four Zr-based, a Mg-based, a Pd-based and a La-based glasses) have been hydrogenized electrolytically and internal friction has been measured at temperatures between 80 and 400 K. Hydrogen damping has been observed in every alloy; the internal friction peak is quite broad, where the peak value increases and then decreases and the peak temperature decreases with increasing hydrogen content. Compared with the results of the hydrogen damping in binary metallic glasses so far reported, the peak height versus peak temperature relation is generally shifted to higher temperature side in multi-component glasses, the origin of which has been discussed.     

Fatigue crack propagation in Ti3 Al based alloys

Abstract

Effects of microstructure, stress ratio, and environment on the fatigue crack growth resistance of Ti–23Al–9Nb–2Mo–1Zr–1·2Si and Ti–23Al–11Nb–0·9Si (at.-%) Ti₃ Al based alloys have been studied at room and elevated temperatures. Only modest effects of microstructure on fatigue crack growth resistance have been obtained at room temperature, and these tend to reduce further at the elevated temperatures of 600 and 700°C both in air and in vacuum. At room temperature the fatigue crack growth resistance of Ti₃ Al based alloys is controlled primarily by the thickness of the retained βphase rather than by its volume fraction and the microstructure with a larger average thickness of retained β laths shows improved fatigue crack growth resistance. However, in some microstructures, the spatial distribution of the β phase can also be deduced to be important. A marked difference on crack growth resistance is obtained for stress ratios of 0·1 and 0·5 both at room temperature and at a temperature of 600°C. The mechanisms of fatigue crack growth in air and vacuum are discussed.