Effects of microstructures on mechanical properties of Ti-63 titanium alloy

The microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-63 pancakes were investigated under different heat-treatment modes. Pancake No. 1, with an as-forged bimodal structure, was β annealed at 930°C for 1 h. Its structure was changed to a Widmanstatten structure with continuous grain boundary α phase and long lamellar α phase. The pancake showed a good combination of strength, ductility and fracture toughness. Pancake No. 2, with an as-forged bimodal structure, was aged at 540°C for 8 h after annealing at 930°C for 1 h. Other than the fine secondary α precipitates, it showed a similar microstructure to that of pancake No. 1. The fine precipitates can enhance the pancake’s strength while reducing the ductility and fracture toughness. Pancake No. 3, with an as-forged basket-weave structure, was annealed at 750°C for 1 h. Its structure was nearly unchanged and it achieved a better ductility but a slightly lower fracture toughness than pancake No. 1.     

Influence of heat treatment on mechanical properties of 51CrV4 high strength spring steel

Abstract

The durability of the springs is limited by plastic deformation, fatigue and fracturing. From this point of view, the use of spring steel with following properties is recommended: high ductility and toughness at operation temperatures from ?40°C to +50°C, good hardenability that provides required mechanical properties even at maximum dimensions. For the manufacturers of springs, the information relating to the heat treatment of specific spring steel is important. This paper describes the influence of heat treatment parameters on tensile strength R_m, yield strength R_p0·2, fracture toughness K_Ic, impact toughness, Charpy-V as a function of tempering temperature in the range from 350 to 700°C for a specific austenitising temperature. Also the difference between the properties given by the mathematical modelling of heat treatment using the computer software Hardenability and the properties obtained by testing the heat treated samples are presented.     

Influence of Heat Treatments on Microstructure and Toughness of 9%Ni Steel

The 9%Ni low-carbon steel is applied to utilities and processes at temperatures as low as ??196 °C. However, the microstructural features play an important role on the mechanical properties. Notably, the cryogenic toughness and mechanical strength are strongly dependent on the final heat treatment. In this paper, the microstructure of a 9%Ni low-carbon steel was modified by different heat treatments. The hardness and cryogenic toughness were measured and correlated to microstructural features. The material shows a temper embrittlement with intergranular cracking and minimum cryogenic toughness after tempering around 400 °C. Austempering at 480 °C also produced very low toughness results. On the other hand, excellent cryogenic toughness was obtained with single tempering at 600 °C after quenching or normalizing. Even higher toughness was obtained with the double tempering at 670 °C/2 h plus 600 °C/2 h. The amount of reversed austenite and its morphology in the specimen quenched and tempered at 600 °C were shown in the paper.     

Enhanced Strength in Cu-Ag-Zr Alloy by Combination of Cold Working and Aging

In this investigation, the effect of different degree of cold rolling and post-aging treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a Cu-3wt.%Ag-0.5wt.%Zr alloy was studied by means of hardness measurement, tensile tests, optical and electron microscopy. The alloy was subjected to cold rolling up to 80% followed by aging in the temperature range of 400-500 °C. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and hardness were found to increase as degree of cold rolling increased, but at the expense of ductility. Aging of cold rolled samples in the studied temperature range has resulted in different combinations of strength and ductility. However, aging of cold rolled samples at 400 °C for 1 h has resulted in a combination of high strength and moderate ductility. A yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of 511 and 560 MPa, respectively with a ductility of 12% were achieved for 80% cold rolled and aged (400 °C for 1 h) sample. The high strength achieved after 80% cold rolling and aging is mainly attributed to precipitation of fine silver precipitates.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of new metastable β type titanium alloy

A new metastable β type titanium alloy called TB-13 with the combination of excellent strength and ductility was developed successfully.In order to develop a perspective on this new alloy,the influence of several commonly used heat treatments on the microstructure and properties was studied.In solution-treated and quenched samples,a low-temperature aging at 480°C results in the precipitation of finerαphase.The precipitation of coarserαphase plate at higher aging temperature(560°C)leads to the increase of tensile ductility but reduction of strength.During low-temperature aging at 300°C,quite homogeneous distribution of fine isothermalωphase particles was found.The isothermalωphase provides nucleation sites forαphase during two-step aging process and makesαphase extremely fine and disperse uniformly in β matrix.Thus,TB-13 alloy is strengthened and its mechanical properties are improved.     

Twin-Induced Plasticity of an ECAP-Processed TWIP Steel

The TWIP steels show high strain hardening rates with high ductility which results in high ultimate tensile strength. This makes their processing by equal channel angular pressing very difficult. Up to now, this has only been achieved at warm temperatures (above 200 °C). In this paper, a FeMnCAl TWIP steel has been processed at room temperature and the resulted microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. For comparison, the material has also been processed at 300 °C. The TWIP steel processed at room temperature shows a large increase in yield strength (from 590 in the annealed condition to 1295 MPa) and the ultimate tensile strength (1440 MPa) as a consequence of a sharp decrease in grain size and the presence within the grains of a high density of mechanical twins and subgrains. This dense microstructure results also in a loss of strain hardening and a reduction in ductility. The material processed at 300 °C is more able to accommodate deformation and has lower reduction in grain size although there is a significant presence of mechanical twins and subgrains produced by dislocation activity. This material reaches an ultimate tensile strength of 1400 MPa with better ductility than the room temperature material.     

Effects of heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of Cr–V–Mo steel processed by recrystallization and partial melting method

The phase segregation of semisolid processed products resulted in an inhomogeneous microstructure and poor mechanical properties of such products. Optimal subsequent heat treatments including quenching and tempering with various processing parameters were conducted to improve the quality of RAP (recrystallization and partial melting) processed Cr–V–Mo steel. The microstructure characteristics and mechanical properties, such as hardness, tensile strength, elongation, impact toughness, and resistance to high-temperature wear, of specimens subjected to various heat treatments were investigated. When the RAP-processed specimen was quenched from 1050 °C after isothermal holding for 480 s and then tempered twice at 560 °C for 2 h, microstructural evolution took placed in both former solid-phase and liquid-phase regions. The weakening of phase segregation, the redistribution of carbides, and the release of residual stress occurred during this heat treatment strategy caused a good combination of mechanical properties.     

Grain boundary segregation and fracture behavior of boron containing Fe-Mn-Ni-(Mo,w) age hardening alloys

The effects of boron addition on the grain boundary segregation and fracture behavior of tempered Fe-Mn-Ni-Mo and Fe-Ni-Mn-W steels were investigated. High segregation of Mn to prior austenitie grain boundaries resulted in severe grain boundary embrittlement in W-bearing alloys. Boron addition did not significantly affect the grain boundary segregation of other alloying elements. Nevertheless, improvement of tensile properties is observed in 16 ppm boron doped W-bearing steel. Segregation of boron itself to grain boundaries is believed to affect the grain boundary strength of this alloy. Lower Mn segregation in Mo containing steels resulted in the ductile fracture when tempered at 480°C.     

轧前深冷处理对AZ31镁合金显微组织和力学性能的影响

本文通过对铸态AZ31镁合金经不同条件的深冷处理继而热轧,分析其强度、韧性、延展性效应及其规律。深冷实验条件分别为-60℃/12h、-120℃/12h、-180℃/12h、-60℃/2h和-180℃/2h。结果表明：AZ31经适宜的深冷处理,晶粒得到细化,强度、韧性及延展性得到有效提高;与未经深冷处理试样相比,深冷处理时间为2h的两种试样中都出现大量孪晶;经-60℃/12h深冷处理后再进行轧制试样的显微组织最为细小均匀,屈服强度提高了25.8%,而延伸率则更是提高了4倍,由3.06%提高到了12.31%;深冷处理后的AZ31镁合金断口呈现出脆性断裂和塑性断裂集合的复合性断裂特征。     

Effect of Grain Size on the Superplastic Behavior of a 7475 Aluminum Alloy

Specimens of a super plastic 7475 aluminum alloy with grain sizes ranging between 9 and 35 |xm were tensile tested at a strain rate of 1 × 10 ^{- 4}/s at 457 and 517 °C. At 517 °C, the ductility was found to decrease with an increase in grain size. At 457 °C, on the other hand, the ductility was found to increase initially and then decrease for grain sizes larger than 14 μm. The latter decrease in ductility is attributed to the lowered ability for grain- boundary sliding with decreasing grain- boundary area. In the as- received material (grain size of 9 μm), the observed low ductility is attributed to an inhomogeneous microstructure.     

Effects of magnesium and copper additions on tensile properties of Al-Si-Cr die casting alloy under as-cast and T5 conditions

Aluminum high pressure die casting(HPDC) technology has evolved in the past decades, enabling stronger and larger one-piece casting with significant part consolidation. It also offers a higher design freedom for more mass-efficient thin-walled body structures. For body structures that require excellent ductility and fracture toughness to be joined with steel sheet via self-piercing riveting(for instance, shock towers and hinge pillars, etc.),a costly T7 heat treatment comprising a solution heat ...     

Variation of the mechanical properties of tungsten heavy alloys tested at different temperatures

The high-temperature mechanical properties of 95W-3.5Ni-1.5Fe and 95W-4.5Ni-0.5Co alloys were investigated in the temperature range of room temperature to1100℃.The yield strength and tensile strengths declined gradually,and the ductility of both alloys increased as the testing temperature was increased to 300℃.All the three properties reached a plateau at temperatures between 300 and 500℃ in the case of 95W-3.5Ni-1.5Fe and at temperatures between 350 and 700℃ in the case of 95W-4.5Ni-0.5Co.Thereafter,the ductility as well as yield and tensile strengths decreased considerably.     

Friction Stir Welding of Low-Carbon AISI 1006 Steel: Room and High-Temperature Mechanical Properties

Friction stir welding (FSW) is an ecologically benign solid-state joining process. In this work, FSW of low-carbon AISI 1006 steel was carried out to study the microstructure and mechanical properties of the resulting joints at both room temperature (RT) and 200 °C. In the parameter space investigated here, a rotational tool speed and translation feed combination of 1200 rpm and 60 mm/min produced a defect-free weld with balanced mechanical properties and a superior Vickers microhardness profile compared to all other conditions and to base metal (BM). At faster translation feeds (100 and 150 mm/min), wormhole defects were observed in the weld microstructure and were attributed to higher strain rate experienced by the weld zone. Under tensile loading, welded material exhibited yield strength that was up to 86 and 91% of the BM at RT and 200 °C, respectively. On the other hand, tensile strength of welded material was nearly similar to that of the base metal at both RT and 200 °C. However, at both temperatures the tensile ductility of the welded joints was observed to be significantly lower than the BM. Annealing of the 1200 rpm and 60 mm/min FSW specimen resulted in tensile strength of 102% compared to base material and 47% increase in the strain at failure compared to the as-welded specimen. The Charpy impact values revealed up to 62 and 53% increase in the specific impact energy for the 1200 rpm and 60 mm/min welded joints as compared with the BM.     

Effect of bonding temperature and heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical property of Mg−6Gd−3Y alloy vacuum diffusion bonded joints

Diffusion bonding of as-cast Mg?6Gd?3Y magnesium alloy was carried out at temperatures of 400?480 °C with bonding pressure of 6 MPa for 90 min. Diffusion bonded joints were solution treated at 495 °C for 14 h and then aged at 200 °C for 30 h. Microstructures and mechanical properties of joints were analyzed. The results showed that rare earth elements and their compounds gathering at bonding interface hindered the grain boundary migration crossing bonding interface. Tensile strength of as-bonded and as-solution treated joints increased firstly and then decreased with the bonding temperature increasing due to the combined effects of grain coarsening and solid-solution strengthening. As-bonded and solution-treated joints fractured at matrix except the joint bonded at 400 °C, while aged joints fractured at bonding interface. The highest ultimate tensile strength of 279 MPa with elongation of 2.8% was found in joint bonded at 440 °C with solution treatment followed by aging treatment.     

Mechanical properties of Al–Si–Cu alloys produced by the continuous casting process with heating process

The mechanical properties of aluminium alloys produced by the continuous cast process and heating process (heat-cast-sample) were investigated, where the aluminium alloys are heated continuously to high temperatures for 1 h immediately following heated mould continuous casting (HMC) and sand gravity casting (SGC). The material strength and ductility of the aluminium alloys were irregularly altered depending on the heating temperature. The mechanical properties decreased when the heating temperature increased to 400 °C and were then recovered when the temperature increased to 520 °C. However, these properties decreased again when heated to more than 540 °C. The mechanical properties of the HMC-heat-cast-sample showed overall higher than those for the SGC-sample. In addition to high tensile strength, high ductility was obtained for the HMC-520 °C samples compared with those for the as-cast-sample. Such changes were found to be directly attributable to the different severity of precipitate; moreover the crystal orientation was unchanged even after the heating process.     

Effect of Tempering Temperature on the Microstructure and Properties of Fe-2Cr-Mo-0.12C Pressure Vessel Steel

To obtain the high-temperature strength and toughness of the medium–high-temperature–pressure steel, the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of Fe-2Cr-Mo-0.12C steel subjected to three different tempering temperatures after being normalized were investigated. The results show that the microstructure of the sample, tempered in the range 675-725 °C for 50 min, did not change dramatically, yet the martensite/austenite constituents decomposed, and the bainite lath merged together and transformed into polygonal ferrite. At the same time, the precipitate size increased with an increase in tempering temperature. With the increase in the tempering temperature from 675 to 725 °C, the impact absorbed energy of the Fe-2Cr-Mo-0.12C steel at ?40 °C increased from 257 to 325 J, and the high-temperature yield strength decreased; however, the high-temperature ultimate tensile strength tempered at 700 °C was outstanding (422-571 MPa) at different tested temperatures. The variations of the properties were attributed to the decomposition of M/A constituents and the coarsening of the precipitates. Fe-2Cr-Mo-0.12C steel normalized at 930 °C and tempered at 700 °C was found to have the best combination of ductility and strength.     

Effects of Neodymium and Calcium on the Thermal Stability of AZ71 Magnesium Alloys

The effects of an addition of 0–2 wt% Nd on thermal stability of 0–3 wt% Ca-containing modified AZ71 magnesium alloys was investigated. The ignition temperature was found to increase from that of AZ71, 574, to 825 °C with the addition of 0.5 wt% Ca and 1 wt% Nd. The ignition temperature was further increased to 1114 °C when 3 wt% Ca was added. The Ca- and Nd-added AZ71 was isothermally maintained at a temperature of 500 °C in air for 12 h. The MgO–CaO–Nd₂O₃ formed on the surface to improve the thermal stability of the AZ71–xCa–yNd alloys. While both the tensile strength and ductility decreased with the Ca concentration in the alloy, an addition of 1 wt% Nd was found able to alleviate the degradation effects of Ca on the tensile strength and ductility at 170 °C. Both solid solution formation and precipitation strengthening contributed to the increase in toughness. AZ71 containing 0.5–2 wt% Ca and 1 wt% Nd provides the optimum combination of ignition resistance and mechanical properties.     

Effect of mold temperature and casting dimension on microstructure and tensile properties of counter-gravity casting Ti-6Al-4V alloys

The cast Ti-6Al-4V alloy bars with different section sizes were fabricated by investment casting at counter-gravity condition with the mold temperatures of 300 °C and 650 °C, respectively. The microstructure of the alloy was observed by means of OM and SEM, and the effect of mold temperature and casting dimension on tensile properties was studied. Results show that equiaxed grains are obtained regardless of the casting dimension. β grain size tends to increase with an increase in mold temperature. Hot isostatic pressing of the alloy was carried out for tensile properties' comparison. Room temperature tensile test results show that Ti-6Al-4V alloy produced via counter-gravity casting has good balance of strength and ductility after hot isostatic pressing(HIP). The alloy shows higher ductility due to the elimination of porosity. In both cast and HIP status, the tensile strength is inclined to decrease with an increase in mold temperature, while the ductility is prone to slightly increase. Both the strength and ductility tend to decrease with an increase in the casting dimension.     

Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of forged β-solidified γ-TiAl alloy by different heat treatments

The microstructural evolution and tensile properties of a forged Ti?42Al?5Mn alloy subjected to different heat treatments were studied. The results showed that, when the forged alloy was aged at 800 °C for 24 h, the interlamellar spacing (λ) and γ grain size at colony boundaries are generally coarsened. Whereas, when the alloy was first annealed at 1300 °C and then aged at 800 °C for 24 h, this coarsening of related microstructures appears less pronounced. The suggested annealing temperatures for the forged Ti?42Al?5Mn alloy are in the range of 1250?1300 °C. It was found that, on the condition of the same annealing system, both the strength and ductility were improved as the aging temperature changed from 1000 to 800 °C. The secondary precipitated β_o (β_o,sec) at colony boundaries could be responsible for improving the strength, and the γ phase at colony boundaries with the grain size about 6 μm might be one of the main reasons for the better ductility.     

Effect of Spark-Plasma-Sintering Conditions on Tensile Properties of Aluminum Matrix Composites Reinforced with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs)

In this study, aluminum (Al) matrix composites containing 2 wt.% multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were fabricated by powder metallurgy using high-energy ball milling (HEBM), spark plasma sintering (SPS), and subsequent hot extrusion. The effect of SPS conditions on the tensile properties of CNT/Al composites was investigated. The results showed that composites with well-dispersed CNTs and nearly full-density CNT/Al can be obtained. During HEBM, CNTs were shortened, inserted into welded Al powder particles, bonded to Al, and still stable without CNT-Al reaction. After consolidation, Al₄C₃ phases formed in composites under different sintering conditions. With the increase of sintering temperature and holding time, the strength decreased. Conversely, the ductility and toughness noticeably increased. As a result, a good balance between strength (367 MPa in ultimate tensile strength) and ductility (13% in elongation) was achieved in the as-extruded CNT/Al composite sintered at 630°C with a holding time of 300 min.