Mechanical properties and thermal stability of ZnAl<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>-coated aluminum borate whiskers reinforced 2024Al composite

ZnAl₂O₄-coated aluminum borate whiskers reinforced 2024Al composite was fabricated by squeeze casting. Interfacial microstructures and tensile properties of the composite were investigated. The results show that ZnAl₂O₄ coating of the whiskers can improve the wettability of the whiskers by molten aluminum during squeeze casting, resulting in the increase of tensile properties of the composite. During thermal exposure, ZnAl₂O₄ at the interface can effectively hinder harmful interfacial reactions, resulting in the improvement of thermal stability of the composite at high temperatures. Fracture mechanisms of the composite in as-cast and after thermal exposure were also investigated.     

碳纳米管增强2024铝基复合材料的力学性能及断裂特性

为了研究碳纳米管对铝基复合材料性能的影响,采用冷等静压、热挤压方法制备了质量分数1.0%的多壁碳纳米管增强2024Al基复合材料.采用扫描电镜、透射电镜和拉伸试验对复合材料的显微组织进行了观察和分析,并对其力学性能进行了测试.结果表明,碳纳米管均匀地分布在复合材料中,碳纳米管和铝基体的界面结合良好,没有发现界面产物Al4C3的形成;复合材料的断口上存在大量的撕裂棱,韧窝,并涉及碳纳米管的拔出或拔断与桥接,与2024Al基体材料相比,复合材料的硬度、弹性模量和抗拉强度显著提高,同时复合材料的延伸率却并不下降.碳纳米管的加入可以显著提高铝基复合材料的力学性能.     

Effect of thermal cycling on the damping behavior in alumina borate whisker with and without Bi2O3 coating reinforced pure aluminum composites

Alumina borate whiskers with and without Bi₂O₃ coatings reinforced pure aluminum composites were fabricated by squeeze casting. The damping behavior of the composites was described. Samples had undergone thermal cycling during the damping measurement. For the Al₁₈B₄O₃₃w/Al composite, two damping peaks are present either in the heating or in the cooling process. For the Al₁₈B₄O₃₃w/Al composite with whisker coatings, there are also two damping peaks in the heating process, but there are three damping peaks in the cooling process. The research results indicate that a distinct difference presents in the damping-temperature curves for the Al₁₈B₄O₃₃w/Al composite with and without whisker coatings. The damping behavior and damping mechanism in the composites during thermal cycling are explained through dislocation motion, interfacial and grain boundary slip.     

Experimental and theoretical investigation on the compressive behavior of aluminum borate whisker reinforced 2024Al composites

The compressive behavior of Al₁₈B₄O₃₃w/2024Al composites fabricated by squeeze casting was investigated under low and elevated temperature. Microstructure shows that the compression exerts a significant effect on whisker fracture and rotation. The theory of synergistic effects caused by different strengthening mechanisms is used to predict the yield strength. Experiments show that compressive yield strength of composites improves by 47% compared with those of 2024Al at 623 K and agrees relatively well theoretical value. The compressive deformation depends on matrix mainly at lower temperature and the main failure mode is shear fracture. Additionally, fracture mechanisms are investigated further through fracture surface analysis. During hot compression, the predominated softening mechanisms also include dynamic recrystallization and strain softening except for dynamic recovery, which corresponds well with the shape of flow curves, microstructural observation and change of activation energy. Lastly, the optimum process parameters are determined to be about 0.1 s^− 1 and 723 K based on Dynamic Material Model and validated by microstructure evolution. Experiments show that the strain rate has a mixed effect on whisker fracture.     

Structure,optical properties and thermal stability of Al2O3-WC nanocomposite ceramic spectrally selective solar absorbers

Traditional metal-dielectric composite coating has found important application in spectrally selective solar absorbers. However, fine metal particles can easily diffuse, congregate, or be oxidized at high temperature, which causes deterioration in the optical properties. In this work, we report a new spectrally selective solar absorber coating, composed of low Al₂O₃ ceramic volume fraction (Al₂O₃(L)-WC) layer, high Al₂O₃ ceramic volume fraction (Al₂O₃(H)-WC layer) and Al₂O₃ antireflection layer. The features of our work are: 1) compared with the metal-dielectric composites concept, Al₂O₃-WC nanocomposite ceramic successfully achieves the all-ceramic concept, which exhibits a high solar absorptance of 0.94 and a low thermal emittance of 0.08, 2) Al₂O₃ and WC act as filler material and host material, respectively, which are different from traditional concept, 3) Al₂O₃-WC nanocomposite ceramic solar absorber coating exhibits good thermal stability at 600 °C. In addition, the solar absorber coating is successfully modelled by a commercial optical simulation programme, the result of which agrees with the experimental results.     

Ni/Al涂层反应烧结界面组织与特性

将Ni-Al混合粉在不引起反应的条件下喷涂到Q235钢基材表面,H2作为保护气氛,加热到993K,并随炉冷却制备试样.实验结果表明,界面处的硬度明显高于基材和涂层的硬度约32HV,界面结合强度比烧结前增加了2～3倍.SEM和EDX分析表明:界面有约为101μm的Ni-Fe扩散区,扩散区内EDX曲线存在4～5tμm宽的台阶,证实Fe/Ni界面区有新相生成,初步认为是Ni3 Fe有序固溶体.     

Tensile properties and microstructures of Al composite reinforced with BN particles

Al–4.5 wt% Mg alloys reinforced with and without BN were fabricated by pressureless infiltration method and then their tensile properties and microstructures were analyzed. Since the spontaneous infiltration of molten metal occurred at a temperature of 800 °C for 1 h under nitrogen atmosphere, it was possible to fabricate the Al composites reinforced with BN and control alloy without BN. A large increase in strength in the case of the control alloy is related to the in situ formation of AlN particles as well as grain size refinement. In the composite reinforced with BN, additional AlN was formed by the interfacial reaction of the BN and Al melt as well as AlN by the in situ reaction. In addition, the grain size in the composite reinforced with 7.5 vol% BN further decreased to about 4.0 μm and exhibited approximately 3.5 times reduction in the grain size of the commercial alloy. Consequently, a further strengthening in the composite resulted from both the BN artificially added and AlN formation (by the in situ reaction and interfacial reaction) and grain refinement.     

Mechanical properties and thermal stability of nitrogen incorporated diamond-like carbon films

The nitrogen incorporated diamond-like carbon films were deposited on Si (100) substrates by arc ion plating (AIP) under different N₂ content in the gas mixture of Ar and N₂. The influence of N₂ content on the film microstructure and mechanical properties was studied by atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and nanoindentation. It was found that the hardness (H), elastic modulus (E), elastic recovery (R) and plastic resistance parameter (H/E) decrease with increasing the nitrogen content. The decrease of mechanical properties of DLC films resulted from nitrogen incorporation was associated with total sp³ carbon bond content and N-sp³C bond content. The structural modification as well as mechanical properties of the annealed nitrogen incorporated diamond-like carbon films was investigated as a function of annealing temperature. Raman spectra indicate that the I_D/I_G ratio starts to increase and G peak position shifts upward at the annealing temperature over 500 °C. The hardness and elastic modulus of thermally annealed nitrogen incorporated DLC films decreased slightly at lower annealing temperature and then significantly decreased at higher annealing temperature. The strong covalent bonding between C and N atoms is expected to be effective on their thermal stability enhancement.     

Tensile, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of hollow polymer particle-filled epoxy syntactic foam

Four types of hollow polymer particles have been employed as fillers in UV-heat-cured epoxy resin. The effects of filler volume fraction and types on tensile properties of syntactic foams are investigated. All hollow particle types have exhibited approximately the same size, but with different groups on particle surface. Volume fraction of hollow particles for the syntactic foams varies up to 0.25. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and tensile tests have been performed. According to TGA and DMA test results, the addition of polymer particle leads to stronger interfacial particles-matrix interaction and high loss factor. Tensile tests have also shown that tensile strength and specific properties of all foams decrease with the increasing of particle content. In terms of tensile properties, the particles-matrix compatibility is more significant than that of the surface functional groups of particles.     

SiC_p/2024Al复合材料尺寸稳定化处理工艺研究

采用挤压铸造技术制备了体积分数为40%的SiCp/2024Al复合材料,采用TEM对不同尺寸稳定化处理条件下复合材料的微观组织进行了观察,并探讨了尺寸稳定化热处理工艺对复合材料拉伸性能的影响.TEM观察表明:由于SiC颗粒与2024Al基体的热膨胀系数不同,热错配的作用使冷热循环处理后基体中的位错密度增加,为S′相的形成提供了有利的形核部位,促进了S′相的析出,这两种因素都有利于提高复合材料的强度.室温拉伸测试结果表明:零次冷热循环热处理后的SiCp/2024Al复合材料拉伸强度比较好,两次冷热循环处理后复合材料的强度有所下降,但随着循环次数的增加,复合材料的强度逐渐增加;不同的冷热循环次数对于拉伸断裂方式和断口形貌无显著影响.     

Tensile properties of thermally exposed aluminium borate whisker reinforced 6061 aluminium alloy composite

Abstract

The effect of thermal exposure on the tensile properties of aluminium borate whisker reinforced 6061 aluminium alloy composite was studied. The interfacial reaction was investigated by TEM and the mechanical properties were studied using tensile tests. The results indicated that the interfacial reaction had an influence on the mechanical properties of the composite, so that the maxima of Young’s modulus and ultimate tensile strength of the composite after exposure at 500°C for 10 h were obtained for the optimum degree of interfacial reaction. The yield strength, however, was not only affected by the interfacial state but also by many other factors.     

Fabrication and mechanical properties of Cu-coatedwoven carbon fibers reinforced aluminum alloy composite

Cu-coatedwoven carbon fibers/aluminum alloy composite (C_f/Al) was prepared by spark plasma sintering. Microstructure and mechanical properties of the composite were investigated. Microstructure observation indicates that the interface reaction is evidently inhibited by Cu coating. Woven carbon fibers are adhered to the matrix alloy by anchor locking effect of matrix alloy immersing into the interstices between carbon fibers. Under the quasi-static and dynamic compressive conditions, the composite exhibits excellent ductility even when the strain reaches 0.8. Adding carbon fibers into ZL205A alloy has no obvious influence on compressive flow stress of the composite. The compressive true stress–true strain curves show that the composite is a strain rate insensitive material. During the tensile tests, the elongation of the composite shows a sharp increase from 4.5% to 13.5% due to the adding of woven carbon fibers. Meanwhile, the tensile strength of the composite is increased slightly from 168 MPa to 202 MPa compared to that of ZL205A alloy. The good ductility of the composite is ascribed to the cracks deflection, fibers pulling out, debonding and breakage mechanisms.     

偶联剂对硼酸铝晶须/双马来酰亚胺性能的影响

应用自行合成的一类新型硼酸酯偶联剂及硅烷偶联剂等对硼酸铝晶须进行表面处理,考察了硼酸铝晶须对双马来酰亚胺树脂体系性能的影响.结果表明,硼酸酯处理后的晶须对材料的改性作用较硅烷更加显著;硼酸铝晶须添加到双马来酰亚胺树脂中后,材料的弯曲强度在晶须含量为5%时达到最大值,而后随晶须含量的增大稍有下降;随晶须添加量的增大材料的弯曲模量和耐热性逐渐提高;经硼酸酯处理的晶须与树脂基体具有更好的界面粘接.     

Micro-yield property of sub-micron Al2O3 particle reinforced 2024 aluminum matrix composite

The microstructure and micro-yield strength of sub-micron Al₂O₃ particle reinforced 2024Al composites and the effect of the thermal-cold cycling treatment on the microstructure and properties were studied. The results show that the dislocations are rare in the microstructure of the sub-micron Al₂O_3p/2024Al composite in the squeeze casting condition. Aging and thermal-cold cycling treatment does not change this phenomenon. The Al₂O₃ particles are fine, so the thermal misfit between particles and the matrix is very small during the temperature change, resulting in decreased dislocations. The tiny and uniformly dispersed S′ precipitates and sub-micron particles can effectively pin dislocations, therefore, the micro-yield strength of the composite increases. Depending on the condition of the thermal-cold cycling treatment after aging, both the size and distribution of the S′ precipitates in the composite change, and they have great effect on the micro-yield strength of the composite.     

Improvement of the tensile strength of Al18B4O33w/Al composite at elevated temperatures by change of interfacial state

In general, it is very difficult to obtain obviously reinforced effect in discontinuously reinforced aluminum matrix composites at the temperature above 400 °C. In the present study, we report an effective method to improve the high-temperature tensile strength of Al₁₈B₄O₃₃w/Al composite by change of interfacial state. The pure aluminum matrix composites reinforced by Al₁₈B₄O₃₃w with different ZnAl₂O₄ coating contents were fabricated by squeeze casting. The results indicate that ZnAl₂O₄ coating of the whiskers can effectively improve the high-temperature tensile strength of Al₁₈B₄O₃₃w/Al composite, although the tensile strength of the composite decreases with increasing the tensile temperature. On the basis of fractograph analysis, the fracture mechanism of the composites at elevated temperatures was investigated.     

Microstructure Evolution and Tensile Properties of Ti3Al/Ni-based Superalloy Welded Joint

In the present work,the dissimilar joining of a Ti_3AI-based alloy to a Ni-based superalloy was attempted by gas tungsten arc(GTA) welding technology.Sound joints were successfully achieved by using a Cu—Ni alloy as filler material.According to X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis results three transitional layers at the weld/Ti_3AI interface were verified as follows:Ti_2AINb phase dissolved with Cu and Ni;AI(Cu,Ni)_2Ti,(Cu,Ni)_2Ti and(Nb,Ti) solid solution;Cu-rich phase and a complex multi-element phase.The In718/weld interface is characterized by solid solutions of Ni,Cu,Cr,Fe and Nb.The average tensile strength of the as-welded joints at room temperature is 1 63 MPa,and after a post—weld heat treatment it is increased slightly to 177 MPa.The fracture occurred at the surfacial layer of the joined Ti_3AI base alloy,indicating that the Ti_2AINb layer dissolved with Cu and Ni is the weak link of the Ti_3AI/ln71 8 joint.     

Fabrication,interface characterization and modeling of oriented graphite flakes/Si/Al composites for thermal management applications

Highly thermally conductive graphite flakes (G_f)/Si/Al composites have been fabricated using G_f, Si powder and an AlSi₇Mg_0.3 alloy by an optimized pressure infiltration process for thermal management applications. In the composites, the layers of G_f were spaced apart by Si particles and oriented perpendicular to the pressing direction, which offered the opportunity to tailor the thermal conductivity (TC) and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the composites. Microstructural characterization revealed that the formation of a clean and tightly-adhered interface at the nanoscale between the side surface of the G_f and Al matrix, devoid of a detrimental Al₄C₃ phase and a reacted amorphous Al–Si–O–C layer, contributed to excellent thermal performance along the alignment direction. With increasing volume fraction of G_f from 13.7 to 71.1 vol.%, the longitudinal (i.e. parallel to the graphite layers) TC of the composites increased from 179 to 526 W/m K, while the longitudinal CTE decreased from 12.1 to 7.3 ppm/K (matching the values of electronic components). Furthermore, the modified layers-in-parallel model better fitted the longitudinal TC data than the layers-in-parallel model and confirmed that the clean and tightly-adhered interface is favorable for the enhanced longitudinal TC.     

热处理和热暴露后Ti-46Al-8Ta合金的显微组织和拉伸性能

铸造Ti-46Al-8Ta合金经过专门设计的组合热处理,实现了晶粒细化.对晶粒细化的Ti-46Al-8Ta合金开展了在700℃大气环境中的热暴露5000h的热稳定性评定.采用光学显微镜、扫描电镜、透射电镜、X射线衍射等技术研究晶粒细化工艺以及热暴露对合金组织的影响,并进行了室温拉伸性能测试.研究发现,铸造Ti-46Al-8Ta合金经热等静压和α单相区固溶+空冷,以及随后的双相区退火能获取晶粒细小的"旋绕态"全片层组织.在700℃长期大气热暴露后,该细化组织发生明显的晶团融合、粗化,并生成出相当数量的B2(ω)和γ新相,导致屈服强度和塑性下降.     

Microstructure,tensile properties and thermal stability of AlMgSiScZr alloy printed by laser powder bed fusion

The new generation of Sc and Zr modified Al alloys has been attracted wide concerns in aerospace industry,owing to the excellent mechanical performances and superior thermal stability than other normal Al alloys. By microalloying with Sc and Zr, the Al3(Sc, Zr) particle forms as the grain refiner during the solidification, which is extremely beneficial for the laser powder bed fusion(LPBF) processed Al alloys. In this study, a new type Al-14.1 Mg-0.47 Si-0.31 Sc-0.17 Zr alloy was additively manufactured by LPBF, and the microstructure, tensile properties and thermal stability were studied in detail. By using a single melt-67°scanning strategy, the LPBF-processed specimen with a relative density of 99.4 % and tensile strength of 487.7 MPa was obtained at 160 W-200 mm/s. And this AlMgSiScZr alloy can still exhibit an excellent tensile strength of 393.9 MPa at a moderate temperature of 473 K. After the aging treatment, the tensile properties further increased due to the precipitate hardening of Mg2 Si and Al3(Sc, Zr), and the maximum value(580 MPa) was reached at an aging time of 10 h. The average crystal size was almost unchanged after aging treated at 325°C and 24 h, indicating this AlMgSiScZr alloy has an improved thermal stability.The AlMgSiScZr alloy is recommended to substitute some particular titanium alloys in aerospace field afterwards.     

Effect of ZnO coating of whiskers on thermal expansion properties of aluminium borate whisker reinforced aluminium composites

Abstract

The pure aluminium composites reinforced by ZnO coated aluminium borate whiskers were fabricated by squeeze casting. The microstructure of the composite was observed using an optical microscope and the thermal expansion behaviours of the composites were investigated in the range from 50 to 400°C. In addition, the effects of heat treatment and thermal cycling on the thermal expansion behaviours of the composite were also investigated. The results show that the coefficient of thermal expansion of as cast composites decreases with the ZnO coating content increasing. However, heat treatment time and thermal cycling lead to an increase in the CTE of the composite.