The electrochemical polishing behavior of duplex stainless steel(SAF 2205) in phosphoric-sulfuric mixed acids

In this paper the electrochemical polishing behavior of duplex stainless steel (DSS) in phosphoric-sulfuric mixed acids with volume ratios of 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 was studied. The electrochemical polishing was conducted at 70°C by using arotating disc electrode. Before the polishing, the steel specimens were heated at 1080°C for 10 min and cooled with different rates to obtain dissimilar microstructures. Experimental results show that a brightening surface of each DSS specimen can be obtained by polishing in the mixed acids at 70°C. However, the dissolution rate between α and γ phases in a DSS specimen is different during potentiostatic polishing inthe mixed acids and the rate of α phase is obviously higher than that of γ phase. However, the difference in the dissolution rate can be reduced as the DSS specimen was polished in a highH₃PO₄-content mixed acid. Some small round σ-phases were found to precipitate along the α/γ interface in a DSS specimen, which can be obtained by heating at 1080°C and then cooling in the furnace. The presentation of σ phase increased the hardness and microstructure fraction of the γ phase in the DSS specimen. Moreover, the σ phase can be leveled together with α and γ phases as polishing in the 3:1 v/v mixed acid.     

Investigations of the nitrided subsurface layers of an Fe–Cr-model alloy

An Fe–5 wt%Cr alloy was nitrided in gaseous atmosphere at 590 °C for 12 h. In the resulting diffusion layer, nitrides precipitate on a nanometre scale. The microstructure in the diffusion layer was characterised by optical microscopy and hardness measurements. The morphology, volume fraction and chemical composition of the nitrides were determined by means of atom probe tomography. The orientation of the nitrides with respect to the matrix was investigated using three-dimensional field ion tomography. The evolution of the nitrides was studied at different depths from the surface and their nanoscopic features were correlated with the obtained hardness profile. At a depth of 270 μm from the surface, the first stages of nitride formation could be analysed.     

STUDY ON MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF TiB2 MATRIX TOOL MATERIALS

The influence of heating mode on microstructure and mechanical properties of TiB₂–based ceramic tool materials were studied. The chemical composition was detected by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), and the microstructure of the samples was observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The brittle phases of Ni₄B₃ and W2B were found in composite materials, which were harmful to the improvement of the mechanical properties of the composite. The results showed that the mode of direct heating-up not only can refine grains, but can also make the microstructure uniform, thereby improving the mechanical properties of materials.     

Evolution of rapidly solidified NiAlCu(B) alloy microstructure

This study concerned phase transformations observed after rapid solidification and annealing at 500, 700 and 800 °C in 56.3 Ni‐39.9 Al‐3.8 Cu‐0.06 B (E1) and 59.8 Ni‐36.0 Al‐4.3 Cu‐0.06 B (E2) alloys (composition in at.%). Injection casting led to a homogeneous structure of very small, one‐phase grains (2–4 µm in size). In both alloys, the phase observed at room temperature was martensite of L1₀ structure. The process of the formation of the Ni₅Al₃ phase by atomic reordering proceeded at 285–394 °C in the case of E1 alloy and 450–550 °C in the case of E2 alloy. Further decomposition into NiAl (β) and Ni₃Al (γ′) phases, the microstructure and crystallography of the phases depended on the path of transformations, proceeding in the investigated case through the transformation of martensite crystallographic variants. This preserved precise crystallographic orientation between the subsequent phases, very stable plate‐like morphology and very small β + γ′ grains after annealing at 800 °C.     

The morphology of secondary-hardening carbides in a martensitic steel at the peak hardness by 3DFIM

The morphology and composition of secondary-hardening M₂C carbides in a complex steel under non-isothermal tempering condition has been investigated with three-dimensional field ion microscopy and atom-probe tomography. The technical set-up and the condition of investigations have been developed. We will reveal for the first time, a virtually non-biased image of the so-called secondary-hardening microstructure, consisting in a very fine dispersion of nanometer-sized needles, idiomorphs and blocky carbides. Needles precipitate with a large number density at the maximum hardness peak. We have found out that this mixture of shape could be explained by the onset of coarsening, but the role of local factors have been evidenced: variation of composition among the carbides and even local strain effects due to the precipitation of a second phase can play a role in changing the growth conditions.     

Mg-12Gd-3Y-0.5Zr镁合金的显微组织、力学性能及时效析出相

通过光学显微镜、扫描电子显微镜、透射电镜、X射线衍射仪、高温拉伸试验机等对不同状态下Mg-12Gd-3Y-0.5Zr镁合金的显微组织、高温力学性能及时效析出相进行了分析。结果表明:该合金铸态组织由α-Mg固溶体、Mg5Gd析出相及α-Mg+Mg24Y5共晶体组成;挤压变形后合金的晶粒尺寸明显减小;合金挤压轧制板材在常温及150℃时有较高的抗拉强度,当温度进一步升高时强度下降较快;合金轧制板材时效析出相在高温(高于250℃)拉伸过程中没有发生相变,但在拉伸过程中会改变分布及形貌,使得变形抗力减小。     

Microstructure Evolution and Enhanced Tribological Properties of Cu-Doped WS2 Films

To improve the tribological properties of WS₂ film both in vacuum and in humid air conditions, its microstructure was optimized by doping different concentrations of Cu via radio frequency co-sputtering method. The film microstructure and composition were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. It was verified that Cu was presented in amorphous phase in the WS₂ matrix and could also induce amorphization and densification of the composite films gradually. The film microstructure changed from coarse columnar platelet structure at low Cu content (0–5.8 at.%) to transition structure with two separate layers at increased Cu content (11.5–16.2 at.%) and to a featureless structure at high Cu content (above 24.4 at.%). The mechanical and tribological properties of films were evaluated using the scratch tester and ball-on-disk tribometer, respectively. It was found that the incorporation of a suitable content of Cu dopant could significantly improve the film toughness, but excess amount of Cu dopant lead to high brittleness. All the composite films exhibited much lower wear rate and longer wear life than those of pure WS₂ film both in vacuum and in humid air conditions. The wear mechanisms were proposed after correlating the mechanical performance with film microstructure.     

The characteristics of intermetallic compounds and hardness of Ni-Cr/AC8A composites under different infiltration temperatures

With the rapid development of aerospace and automobile industries, there is an increasing need for structural materials with excellent mechanical properties such as can be used at high temperatures. Aluminum matrix composite have attracted much attention because of its excellent performance, particularly the existence of the high temperature resistance inter-metallic compounds. Aluminum-based composites with inter-metallic compounds have been studied recently. In this study, Ni-Cr porous preform is reinforcement when Al-alloy (AC8A) is base metal and Ni-Cr/AC8A composites were manufactured under low pressure infiltration limited to the maximum of 0.5 Mpa at 700°C, 750°C, 800°C and 850°C, respectively. The microstructure and phase composition of the composites were evaluated by optical microscope, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electro-probe micro analyzer (EPMA), intermetallic compounds Al₃Ni and CrSi were found as newly formed phases in the composites. In addition, Vickers hardness of Ni-Cr composites was also tested.     

Influence of structural parameters on magnetoresistive properties of CuFeNi melt spun ribbons

The microstructure of Cu₈₀Fe₁₀Ni₁₀ (at%) granular ribbon was investigated by means of atom probe tomography (APT). A granular system is composed of magnetic precipitates embedded in a non-magnetic matrix. In this ribbon, the magnetic precipitates have a diameter smaller than 5 nm in the as-spun state, and their crystallographic structure is very similar to the one of the matrix, which makes it difficult to characterize them using conventional techniques. Those data are of great importance to understand the magnetic and the transport behaviour of these ribbons. Using atom probe tomography, a 3D reconstruction of the microstructure of the as-spun and annealed ribbons was achieved and a precise characterization of the compositions of the two phases and of the composition profile at interfaces was carried out. In the as-spun state the composition of the matrix is Cu₈₉Fe₃Ni₈, the one of the precipitates is Cu₃₀Fe₄₀Ni₃₀. Upon annealing, the precipitates get enriched in iron. After annealing at 600 °C for 24 h, the measured compositions are close to the one predicted by Thermocalc, with Cu₉₄Fe₁Ni₅ for the matrix and Cu₅Fe₆₄Ni₃₁ for the precipitates.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of dislocation nucleation and motion at γ/γ′ interface in Ni-based superalloy

Molecular dynamics simulations are conducted on the dislocation behavior at the apices and edges of cuboidal Ni₃Al precipitate in a pure Ni matrix, or the idealized γ/γ′ microstructure in a Ni-based superalloy. A tensile simulation of the [001] direction is implemented with a periodic cell that has eight cubic precipitates in order to investigate the nucleation site of dislocation in the idealized microstructure with no defects other than the γ/γ′ interfaces. The effect of residual internal stresses on the stability of the interfaces is also discussed. Other simulations are conducted on the behavior of edge dislocations nucleated from a free surface and proceeding in the γ matrix toward γ′ precipitates under shear force. Dislocation pinning at γ′ precipitates, bowing-out in the γ channel, pile-up and nucleation of superdislocation in the γ′ precipitate are simulated and inspected in detail. Discussions on the size of the γ/γ′ microstructure and the sharpness of the edge of the γ′ precipitate are also presented.     

Tribological Properties of Double-Glow Plasma Surface Niobizing on Low-Carbon Steel

The niobized layer was formed on Q235 low-carbon steel by double-glow plasma surface niobizing to improve its wear resistance. The microstructure, phase composition, and microhardness were determined. The friction and wear properties of the niobized samples and the untreated alloys were tested on a ball-on-disk tribometer by rubbing against GCr15 and silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) balls at room temperature and 400°C, respectively. The results indicated that the alloyed layer that contained a sediment layer and diffusion layer is about 35 μm in thickness, metallurgically adhered to the base metal. Niobium content was gradually decreased along the depth direction from the surface, which was similar to the change in the microhardness. The alloying layer mainly consisted of Nb, Fe₂Nb, and FeNb phases. Under unlubricated sliding conditions, the friction coefficients and the specific wear rates were lower than those of the untreated carbon steel at room and high temperatures. The wear mechanism of the niobized specimen at room temperature is dominated by slightly abrasive wear, whereas the predominant wear mechanism is abrasive wear and fatigue delamination at high temperature.     

Comparison of the machinability and wear properties of magnesium alloys

AZ and AS series magnesium alloys were used in this study and had different contents (i.e., 0 to 9 wt.% Al). The effect of zinc (Zn) and silicon (Si) on wear resistance and machinability was analyzed in AZ and AS series magnesium alloys. Zn amount in AZ series (1 %) and Si amount in AS series (1 %) were kept at a fixed rate. The effect of the changes in Al amount on hardness, wear resistance, and machinability in AZ and AS series magnesium alloys was comparatively analyzed. A higher increase was observed in the wear resistance of alloys in AS series magnesium alloys due to the rise in Al amount compared with AZ series. Intermetallic phases found in the microstructure of alloys (β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ and Mg₂Si) were established to have an impact on the wear resistance and machinability of alloys.     

Microstructure and Tribological Properties of a HfB<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Containing Ni-Based Composite Coating Produced on a Pure Ti Substrate by Laser Cladding

A HfB₂-containing Ni-based composite coating was fabricated on Ti substrates by laser cladding, and its microstructure and tribological properties were evaluated during sliding against an AISI-52100 steel ball at different normal loads and sliding speeds. The morphologies of the worn surfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and three-dimensional non-contact surface mapping. The results show that wear resistance of the pure Ti substrate and NiCrBSi coating greatly increased after laser cladding of the HfB₂-containing composite coating due to the formation of hard phases in the composite coating. The pure Ti substrate sliding against the AISI-52100 counterpart ball at room temperature displayed predominantly adhesive wear, abrasive wear, and severe plastic deformation, while the HfB₂-containing composite coating showed only mild abrasive wear and adhesive wear under the same conditions.     

高温烟道Incoloy800H波纹管失效分析

采用不同的分析技术,对失效Incoloy80 0H波纹管材料的化学成分、微观组织、力学性能及失效波纹管裂纹与断口、波纹管上腐蚀产物进行了分析试验。结果表明:高温用Incoloy80 0H波纹管失效原因是碳化物大量在基体晶界析出、晶界两侧的贫铬区发生高温氧化以及晶界吸硫。     

Identification of phases in gas-atomised droplets by combination of neutron and X-ray diffraction techniques with atom probe tomography

Powders of Al_68.5Ni_31.5 alloy have been produced by gas atomisation and sieved in different grain size families. The resulting families have been analysed by combined neutron and X-ray diffraction in order to investigate the structure and identify the existing phases at the surface and in the bulk of the grains. The weight fraction of the identified phases (Al₃Ni₂, Al₃Ni and Al) has been estimated from a profile refinement with the FULLPROF computer codes. An additional phase was observed but could not be identified in the diffraction patterns. Starting from grains less than 5 μm in diameter, samples have been shaped by annular focused ion beam into needles that were suitable for atom probe investigations. The structure and morphologies observed by different techniques are compared and discussed. It has also been possible to estimate the crystallite sizes and the strains corresponding to the different phases present in the powders from the refinement of the ND patterns. In addition to Al₃Ni₂ and Al₃Ni, a phase of composition close to the nominal one of the alloy was observed in the atom probe measurements. This phase could be one of the decagonal ones referred to in the literature. Small particles of composition close to Al₈₂Ni₁₈ are attributed to the metastable Al₉Ni₂ phase. The achieved conclusions demonstrate the complementarity of X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques and atom probe tomography to analyse complex structures.     

Structure and microstructure evolution of Al–Mg–Si alloy processed by equal-channel angular pressing

An ultrafine grained Al–Mg–Si alloy was prepared by severe plastic deformation using the equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) method. Samples were ECAPed through a die with an inner angle of Φ = 90° and outer arc of curvature of ψ = 37° from 1 to 12 ECAP passes at room temperature following route B_c. To analyze the evolution of the microstructure at increasing ECAP passes, X-ray diffraction and electron backscatter diffraction analyses were carried out. The results revealed two distinct processing regimes, namely (i) from 1 to 5 passes, the microstructure evolved from elongated grains and sub-grains to a rather equiaxed array of ultrafine grains and (ii) from 5 to 12 passes where no change in the morphology and average grain size was noticed. In the overall behavior, the boundary misorientation angle and the fraction of high-angle boundaries increase rapidly up to 5 passes and at a lower rate from 5 to 12 passes. The crystallite size decreased down to about 45 nm with the increase in deformation. The influence of deformation on precipitate evolution in the Al–Mg–Si alloy was also studied by differential scanning calorimetry. A significant decrease in the peak temperature associated to the 50% of recrystallization was observed at increasing ECAP passes.     

High-temperature dislocation plasticity in the single-crystal superalloy LEK94

The evolution of the dislocation structure that forms during uniaxial creep deformation in the single‐crystal superalloy LEK94 of low density and with Re additions was analysed using transmission electron microscopy. The material has a γ/γ′‐microstructure consisting of γ′‐cubes (L12 phase, 80 vol.%) separated by thin γ‐channels (face‐centred cubic). <100> tensile creep tests were performed at 980 and 1020 °C at stresses of 200 and 240 MPa. The microstructure was investigated at three characteristic stages of creep (directly after loading, at 5% strain and after rupture) to show the evolution of the dislocation structure during high‐temperature creep. It was found that in the early stages of creep, a₀/2<011> dislocations form within the γ‐channels. Later on, dislocation networks form and γ′ cutting processes with a₀/<001> superdislocations are observed. The results are in line with observations made for other superalloy single crystals in the high‐temperature low‐stress creep regime.     

Microstructural and microtextural characterization of oxide scale on steel using electron backscatter diffraction

High‐temperature oxidation of steel has been extensively studied. The microstructure of iron oxides is, however, not well understood because of the difficulty in imaging it using conventional methods, such as optical or electron microscopy. A knowledge of the oxide microstructure and texture is critical in understanding how the oxide film behaves during high‐temperature deformation of steels and more importantly how it can be removed following processing. Recently, electron back‐scatter diffraction (EBSD) has proved to be a powerful technique for distinguishing the different phases in scales. This technique gives valuable information both on the microstructure and on the orientation relationships between the steel and the scale layers. In the current study EBSD has been used to investigate the microstructure and microtexture of iron oxide layers grown on interstitial free steel at different times and temperatures. Heat treatments have been carried out under normal oxidation conditions in order to relate the results to real steel manufacturing in industry. The composition, morphologies, microstructure and microtexture of selected conditions have been studied using EBSD.     

The Microstructure and Abrasive Wear Resistance of Fe–Cr–C Hardfacing Alloys with the Composition of Hypoeutectic,Eutectic, and Hypereutectic at $$ \frac{Cr}{C} = 6 $$

In this investigation, three Fe–Cr–C hardfacing alloys with different carbon and chromium contents and in constant ratio of ( \fracCrC = 6 ) \left( {\frac{Cr}{C} = 6} \right) were fabricated by GTAW on AISI 1010 mild steel substrates. The OES, OM, SEM, and XRD techniques and Vickers hardness method were used for determining chemical composition, hardness, and studying the microstructure of the hardface alloys. The OES, OM, and XRD examination results indicated that different carbon and chromium contents of hardface alloys produced hypoeutectic/eutectic/hypereutectic structures. By increasing the carbon and chromium contents in the chemical composition of hardface alloys, the volume fraction of the total (Cr, Fe)₇C₃ is increased resulting to decreasing in total the austenite volume fraction and increasing the hardness of the surface. Studying the microstructure after wear test (ASTM G65) shows that at the edge of the worn surface, the transformation of austenite to martensite had occurred in all the samples. The wear test results indicate that the highest wear resistance is gained in the hypoeutectic structure with maximum hardness after the wear test. In addition, abrasive wear micromechanisms in hypoeutectic/eutectic/hypereutectic were recognized as: ploughing + cutting/ploughing + cutting + cracking/cracking + cutting, respectively.     

Friction and wear behavior of laser composite surfaced aluminium with silicon carbide

The present study concerns the wear behavior of laser composite surfaced Al with SiC and Al + SiC particulates. A thin layer of SiC and Al + SiC (at a ratio of 1:1 and dispersed in alcohol) were pre-deposited (thickness of 100 μm) on an Al substrate and laser irradiated using a high power continuous wave (CW) CO₂ laser. Irradiation leads to melting of the Al substrate with a part of the pre-deposited SiC layer, intermixing and followed by rapid solidification to form the composite layer on the surface. Following laser irradiation, a detailed characterization of the composite layer was undertaken in terms of microstructure, composition and phases. Mechanical properties like microhardness and wear resistance were evaluated in detail. The microstructure of the composite layer consists of a dispersion of partially melted SiC particles in grain refined Al matrix. Part of the SiC particles are dissociated into silicon and carbon leading to formation of the Al₄C₃ phase and free Si redistributed in the Al matrix. The volume fraction of SiC is maximum at the surface and decreases with depth. The microhardness of the surface improves by two to three times as compared to that of the as-received Al. A significant improvement in wear resistance in the composite surfaced Al is observed as compared to the as-received Al. The mechanism of wear for as-received vis-à-vis laser composite surfaced Al has been proposed.