Loading Rate-Dependent Mechanical Properties of Bulk Two-Phase Nanocrystalline Al-Pb Alloys Studied by Nanoindentation

Bulk samples (dia. = 20 mm) of various nanocrystalline (nc) Al-Pb alloys with Pb content varying from 1 to 4 at. pct are fabricated using spark plasma sintering of ball-milled powders. Al matrix in Al-2 at. pct Pb alloy had a grain size of 53 nm, and Pb particle size was 6 ± 2 nm. High angle annular dark-field image obtained in STEM mode of TEM indicates the presence of Pb along the nc Al grain boundaries as well as dispersion of smaller Pb particles in the intra-granular regions. Hardness studies are carried out using microindentation and nanoindentation with load varying over three orders of magnitude (100 ? 0.1 g). Microindentation yielded slightly smaller hardness values in comparison to nanoindentation possibly because of indentation size effect. Nevertheless both microindentation and nanoindentation resulted in the same trend of hardness for various nc Al-Pb alloys. Hardness of Al-Pb alloys increased with increase in Pb content up to the additions of 2 at. pct Pb, beyond that the hardness is decreased for higher Pb additions of 3 and 4 pct. The initial hardening behavior is explained based on the Orowan particle strengthening. Strain rate sensitivity (SRS) has increased with increase in Pb content reaching a value of 0.1 for Al-4 at. pct Pb alloy. Activation volumes measured are between 2.84 and 6.15 b ³. Higher SRS and lower activation volume suggest that grain boundary-mediated processes are controlling the deformation characteristics.     

Influence of Temperature and Holding Time on the Interaction of V,Al, and N in Microalloyed Forging Steels

A medium-carbon vanadium microalloyed steel (38MnSiVS5) with three different aluminum levels (0.006, 0.020, and 0.03 wt pct) was used to examine the interaction of vanadium, aluminum, and nitrogen during the heating and cooling cycle for forging. The thermal cycle was simulated using a Gleeble^® 1500. Hold times varied from 5 to 45 minutes and temperature varied from 1323 K to 1523 K (1050 °C to 1250 °C). Thermal simulation specimens and as-received material were characterized by quantitative metallography, hardness, and chemical analysis of electrolytically extracted precipitates. The hardness was observed to be relatively constant for all aluminum levels after all thermal simulations at and above 1423 K (1150 °C). Hardness, pearlite fraction, and austenite grain size decreased with increasing aluminum content at the two lowest temperatures examined, which were 1323 K and 1373 K (1050 °C and 1100 °C). The amount of vanadium precipitated in the lowest aluminum steel was very consistent, approximately 70 pct, for the thermal simulations. The amount of precipitated vanadium decreased with increasing amount of aluminum nitride for the 0.03 wt pct Al level.     

Structural Evolution of Nanocrystalline Nickel-Tungsten Alloys Upon Mechanical Alloying with Subsequent Annealing

In the current study, the two alloys, Ni-20 at. pct W and Ni-35 at. pct W, were mechanically alloyed and subsequently heat treated to evaluate their structural variations using X-ray diffraction, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy, and differential thermal analysis. In addition, the effect of Fe contamination on the progress of mechanical alloying was investigated. The results showed that the Ni-20 at. pct W contained only Ni(W) solid solution even after prolonged milling times, while the Ni-35 at. pct W was amorphized after 40 hours of milling. The composition of the amorphized alloy was estimated to be Ni-31 at. pct W. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the nanocrystalline NiW intermetallic compound was stable at temperatures greater than 1303 K (1030 °C) and did not completely vanish upon peritectoid reaction. Consequently, an exceptional grain coarsening resistance was observed at high temperatures near the melting points. The mechanisms involved in this outstanding thermal stability were also probed.     

Effect of volume fraction of SiC p reinforcement on the processing maps for 2124 Al matrix composites

The hot working characteristics of 2124 Al alloy matrix composites reinforced with 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 vol pct of SiC particulate, produced by the powder metallurgy route, were studied using processing maps. The maps based on the dynamic materials model were generated from the flow stress data obtained from hot compression tests, carried out at strain rates ranging from 0.001 to 10 s⁻¹ and temperatures ranging from 300°C to 525°C. All the compositions studied exhibited domains of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and superplasticity. Flow instabilities were found at higher strain rates and lower temperatures. The composite with 10 vol pct SiC showed a tendency for abnormal grain growth at lower strains, which manifested itself as a shift in the DRX domain to lower strain rates and the disappearance of the superplasticity domain.     

Strengthening of Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al Aluminides by One or Two Solute Elements

The compressive yield stress of Fe-26Al with additives Ti (0.5 to 4 at. pct), Cr (0.5 to 8 at. pct), Mo (0.5 to 4 at. pct), and V (0.5 to 8 at. pct) at 1073 K (800 °C) has been determined. The effect of the concentration of diverse solutes on the yield stress at 1073 K (800 °C) was compared, and the additivity of the effects of solutes was tested. The effects in iron aluminides with two solutes (V and Ti, Ti and Cr, V and Cr) are compared with those of a single solute V, Ti, and Cr. It is found that the additivity of yield stress increments is valid only for lower solute concentrations. When the amount of the solute atoms increases, the yield stress increment is substantially higher than the sum of the yield stress increments of single solutes. This behavior is related to the high-temperature order in iron aluminides.     

Influence of Temperature and Grain Size on Austenite Stability in Medium Manganese Steels

With an aim to elucidate the influence of temperature and grain size on austenite stability, a commercial cold-rolled 7Mn steel was annealed at 893 K (620 °C) for times varying between 3 minutes and 96 hours to develop different grain sizes. The austenite fraction after 3 minutes was 34.7 vol pct, and at longer times was around 40 pct. An elongated microstructure was retained after shorter annealing times while other conditions exhibited equiaxed ferrite and austenite grains. All conditions exhibit similar temperature dependence of mechanical properties. With increasing test temperature, the yield and tensile strength decrease gradually, while the uniform and total elongation increase, followed by an abrupt drop in strength and ductility at 393 K (120 °C). The Olson–Cohen model was applied to fit the transformed austenite fractions for strained tensile samples, measured by means of XRD. The fit results indicate that the parameters α and β decrease with increasing test temperature, consistent with increased austenite stability. The 7Mn steels exhibit a distinct temperature dependence of the work hardening rate. Optimized austenite stability provides continuous work hardening in the temperature range of 298 K to 353 K (25 °C to 80 °C). The yield and tensile strengths have a strong dependence on grain size, although grain size variations have less effect on uniform and total elongation.     

Effect of silicon carbide nanoparticles on hot deformation of ultrafine-grained aluminium nanocomposites prepared by hot powder extrusion process

The flow behaviour of Al–SiC nanocomposites prepared by mechanical milling and hot powder extrusion methods was studied at different temperatures (350–500°C) and strain rates (0.005–0.5 s^?1). The flow of the Powder metallurgy nanocomposites exhibited a peak stress followed by a dynamic flow softening behaviour. It was shown that mechanical milling increased high-temperature strain rate sensitivity of ultrafine-grained (UFG) aluminium while decreasing its flow dependence to temperature. Constitutive analysis of the hot deformation process by Zener–Hollomon parameter (Z) also indicated a remarkable increase in the deformation activation energy (about 40%). Likewise, SiC nanoparticles (up to 2vol.-%) were shown to contribute in the high-temperature strengthening of UFG aluminium with a significant effect on its thermal stability. The findings were explained based on the pinning effect of hard nanoparticles on grain boundaries and mobile dislocations as well as microstructure stabilisation at elevated temperatures.     

Effect of Annealing Temperature on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Bulk 316L Stainless Steel with Nano- and Micro-crystalline Dual Phases

Microstructures and mechanical properties of 316L stainless steels with dual phases austenite prepared by an aluminothermic reaction casting were explored. It is found that the steels consist of nano- and micro-crystalline austenite phases, a little δ ferrite and contaminations. Before and after annealing at 1073 K and 1273 K (800 °C and 1000 °C), average grain sizes of the nanocrystalline austenite phase are about 32, 31, 38 nm, respectively. Tensile strength increases first from 371 to 640 MPa and then decreases to 454 MPa. However, elongation ratio increases gradually from 16 to 23 and then 31 pct after annealing. The results illustrate that the steel after annealing at 1073 K (800 °C) has better properties, also indicating that combination of dual nano- and micro-crystalline austenite phase is conductive to improving tensile properties of materials.     

Preparation and properties of some ODS Fe-Cr-Al alloys

Several alloys based on Fe-25Cr-6Al and Fe-25Cr-11Al (wt pct) with additions of yttrium, Al₂O₃, and Y₂O₃ have been prepared by mechanical alloying of elemental, master alloy and oxide powders. The powders were consolidated by extrusion at 1000°C with a reduction ratio of 36:1. The resulting oxide contents were all approximately either 3 vol pct or 8 vol pct of mixed Al₂O₃-Y₂O₃ oxides or of Al₂O₃. The alloys exhibited substantial ductility at 600°C: an alloy containing 3 vol pct oxide could be readily warm worked to sheet without intermediate annealing; an 8 vol pct alloy required intermediate annealing at 1100°C. The 3 vol pct alloys could be recrystallized to produce large elongated grains by isothermal annealing of as-extruded material at 1450°C, but the high temperature strength properties were not improved. However, these alloys, together with some of the 8 vol pct materials, could be more readily recrystallized after rod (or sheet) rolling; sub-stantially improved tensile and stress rupture properties were obtained following 9 pct rod rolling at 620°C and isothermal annealing for 2 h at 1350°C. In this condition, the rup-ture strengths of selected alloys at 1000 and 1100°C were superior to those of competitive nickel-and cobalt-base superalloys. The oxidation resistance of all the alloys was ex-cellent. F. G. WILSON and C. D. DESFORGES, formerly with Fulmer Re-search Institute     

Thermal Stability of Nanocrystalline Copper Alloyed with Antimony

Nanocrystalline copper (Cu) was generated by cryogenic, high-energy ball milling. Antimony (Sb) was added to investigate its utility in stabilizing the grain structure during annealing up to a maximum temperature of 1073 K (800 °C). When alloyed with Sb in quantities up to 1 at. pct, thermal stability was maintained up to 673 K (400 °C). Cu and Sb have very different molar volumes which can drive segregation of the solute due to the elastic strain energy and hence stabilize the grain size by reducing grain boundary energy. The elastic mismatch of Sb in Cu is calculated to be quite large (113 kJ/mol) when molar volume is used, but when an equivalent equation using atomic radius is applied, the driving force is nearly an order of magnitude lower (~12 kJ/mol). The low elastic mismatch is corroborated by the large equilibrium solubility of Sb in Cu. The results for the Cu-Sb system are compared to the nanocrystalline Ni-W system and the large amount of equilibrium solubility of the solute in both cases is thought to hinder thermal stabilization since segregation is not strongly favored.     

An Investigation on the Fatigue Fracture of P/M Al-SiC Nanocomposites

A tensile-compression fatigue response of Al matrix composites containing different amount of SiC nanoparticles (50 nm diameter) up to 6 vol. pct was studied. The nanocomposite powders were prepared by a powder metallurgy (P/M) route consisting of mechanical alloying, hot extrusion, and hot closed-die forging. The microstructure of the materials was evaluated by optical microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopies, and electron backscattered diffraction. A fine distribution of the nanoparticles in submicron and ultrafine grains was obtained. The low cycle fatigue behavior was examined in stress control mode under fully reversed tension-compression cycle at 1 Hz up to 1000 cycles. High cycle fatigue was conducted using a push-pull test up to 10⁷ cycles with the minimum to maximum stress ratio of 0.1 at a frequency of 40 Hz. Cyclic hardening was observed at a low cycle fatigue regime with an enhanced hardening rate in the presence of SiC nanocomposite. The fatigue endurance limit at 10⁷ cycles was also improved by nanoparticles. Fractographic studies revealed a mixture of ductile-brittle fracture modes with an increase in the ductile fracture mode at higher SiC fractions. The fatigue fracture mechanism was found to be local ductile deformation, microscopic void formation, and coalescence.     

Powder-Route Synthesis and Mechanical Testing of Ultrafine Grain Tungsten Alloys

We report a W-rich alloy (W-7Cr-9Fe, at. pct) produced by high-energy ball milling, with alloying additions that both lower the densification temperature and retard grain growth. The alloy’s consolidation behavior and the resultant compacts’ microstructure and mechanical properties are explored. Under one condition, a 98 pct dense compact with a mean grain size of 130 nm was achieved, and exhibited a hardness of 13.5 GPa, a dynamic uniaxial yield strength of 4.14 GPa in Kolsky bar experiments, and signs of structural shear localization during deformation.     

Consolidation of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composites by High-Pressure Torsion

Al-3 vol pct carbon nanotube (CNT) composites are fabricated by consolidation through high-pressure torsion (HPT) at room temperature. The densification behavior, microstructural evolution, and mechanical properties of Al/CNT composites are studied. The results show that density and microstructural homogeneity increase with increasing number of revolutions under a high pressure of 6 GPa. Substantial grain refinement is achieved after 10 turns of HPT with an average grain thickness of ~38 nm perpendicular to the compression axis of HPT. The Al/CNT composite shows a considerable increase in hardness and strength compared to the Al matrix. The strengthening mechanisms of the Al/CNT composite are found to be (i) grain refinement of Al matrix and (ii) Orowan looping. Raman spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy reveal that the structure of most of CNTs is changed during processing through mechanical milling and HPT.     

Microstructure and Ductility-Dip Cracking Susceptibility of Circumferential Multipass Dissimilar Weld Between 20MND5 and Z2CND18-12NS with Ni-Base Filler Metal 52

The large circumferential multipass dissimilar weld between 20MND5 steel and Z2CND18-12NS stainless steel welded with FM52 filler material was investigated in terms of the diluted composition, the grain boundary precipitation, and the ductility-dip cracking (DDC) susceptibility of the weld. The diluted composition of the weld is composed of 37 to 47 pct Ni, 21 to 24 pct Cr, and 28 to 40 pct Fe, which are inhomogeneous along the depth and over the width of the deep weld. The carbon content has a distribution in the region of the surface weld from a high level (~0.20 pct) in the zone near 20MND5 steel to a normal level (~0.03 pct) in the zone near Z2CND18-12NS stainless steel. The carbon distribution is corresponding to the grain boundary carbides. The minimum threshold strains for DDC occur in the temperature range of 1223 K to 1323 K (950 °C to 1050 °C), which are 0.5, 0.35, and 0.4 pct for the root weld, middle region, and the surface weld, respectively. The dissimilar weld has the largest susceptibility to the DDC compared to the filler metal 52 and the Inconel 690.     

Preparation and mechanical properties of highly densified nanocrystalline Al

The preparation of highly densified nanocrystalline (NC) Al was conducted in three steps. First, the NC Al powder was synthesized by an active H₂ plasma evaporation method. Then, the NC Al powder was compacted at room temperature into disk-shaped samples with a 25-mm diameter and 2-mm thickness and was sintered at 620 °C or 635°C (sintered NC Al). The sintering does not result in grain growth. Finally, the sintered NC Al was rolled at room temperature into sheet samples with a 1-mm thickness and 99 pct relative density (cold-deformed NC Al). The microhardnesses and tensile properties of the sintered NC Al and cold-deformed NC Al were tested at room temperature. The results show that their strengths are basically the same, and the yield strengths (σ _0.2) and tensile strengths (σ _b ) are 12 to 16 and 5 to 6 times those of annealed coarse-grained Al, respectively, but the elongation to failure of the cold-deformed NC Al is up to 8 pct, which is 2 times that of the sintered NC Al and higher than that of cold-deformed, coarse-grained Al by 30 pct. The failure features of the sintered NC Al and cold-deformed NC Al belong to typical plastic fracture with ductile dimples, and the mechanism of failure is transgranular shear fracture.     

Severe Plastic Deformation Induced Sensitization of Cryo-milled Nanocrystalline Al-7.5 Mg

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to investigate the sensitization behavior in nanocrystalline Al-7.5 pct Mg synthesized by cryomilling and hot isostatic pressing. High-resolution TEM reveals the formation of β phase in as-extruded condition as well as in aged condition. Grain boundaries are enriched with Mg during milling as a result of flux of defects, such as vacancy and dislocations that are strongly coupled to Mg atoms, to grain boundaries. It is suggested that sensitization is enhanced due to severe plastic deformation during high energy ball milling.     

Development of Ni-Al2O3In-Situ Nanocomposite by Reactive Milling and Spark Plasma Sintering

In the present study, Ni-30 vol pct Al₂O₃ in-situ nanocomposite was developed by reactive milling of NiO-Al-Ni powder mixture followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS). During milling, fcc to hcp transformation was observed in Ni(Al) phase and it transformed back to fcc phase around 773 K (500 °C). The hardness and yield strength of Ni-30 vol pct Al₂O₃ nanocomposite are approximately two times higher than that of pure Ni of similar grain size. The improved mechanical properties of nanocomposite are attributed to the presence of alumina particles of nanometer size.     

Effect of Lead Addition and Milling on Densification and Mechanical Properties of 6061 Aluminium Alloys

In the present work, one batch of prealloyed 6061Al powder was mixed with different lead compositions (5, 10, 15 vol.%) and another set with same composition was ball-milled for 5 h at 300 rpm. Microstructural features such as lattice constant, crystallite size, particle size and morphology were studied using XRD, particle size analyzer and SEM. Both the as-mixed as well as ball-milled powders were compacted at 300 MPa and sintered under N₂ atmosphere for 1 h in tube furnace at 590 °C. The ball milling of 6061Al alloy powder improved sinter density and densification while lead addition showed negligible influence on these parameters. The microstructure of as-mixed 6061Al–Pb alloys exhibited equiaxial morphology whereas ball-milling resulted in elongated grains with uniform lead distribution. Quasi-static compressive mechanical behavior was investigated for 6061Al–Pb alloys at 1 × 10^?3 s^?1 strain rate. Results indicated that ultimate compressive and yield strength were sensitive to milling and lead volume fraction.     

Influence of Warm Tempforming on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties in an Ultrahigh-Strength Medium-Carbon Low-Alloy Steel

A 0.4 pct C-2 pct Si-1 pct Cr-1 pct Mo steel was quenched and tempered at 773 K (500 °C) and deformed by multi-pass caliber rolling (i.e., warm tempforming). The microstructures and the mechanical properties of the warm tempformed steels were investigated as a function of the rolling reduction. At rolling reductions of more than 28 pct, not only extension of the martensite blocks and/or the packets in the rolling direction (RD) but also a grain subdivision became more significant, and an ultrafine elongated grain (UFEG) structure with a strong ??110??//RD fiber deformation texture was formed after 78 pct rolling. The tensile deformation behavior became significantly anisotropic in response to the evolution of UFEG structure. The longitudinal yield strength (??_y) of the quenched and tempered sample increased from 1480 to 1860 MPa through the 78 pct rolling, while the transverse ??_y leveled off at around 1600 MPa up to 28 pct rolling. The transverse true fracture stress was also markedly degraded in contrast to the longitudinal one. Charpy impact properties were enhanced at a rolling reduction of 52 pct or more. The 52 pct-rolled sample underwent a ductile-to-brittle transition in the temperature range from 333 K to 213 K (60 °C to ?60 °C), while the 78 pct-rolled sample showed an inverse temperature dependence of the impact toughness because of brittle delamination. The tensile and Charpy impact properties are discussed in association with the microstructural evolution.     

Control of the Mechanical Asymmetry in an Extruded MN11 Alloy by Static Annealing

An extruded Mg-1 wt pct Mn-1 wt pct Nd (MN11) alloy with a recrystallized microstructure and a weak texture was subjected to different thermal treatments at temperatures ranging from 548 K to 673 K (275 °C to 400 °C) for time intervals between 1 and 45 hours. Room-temperature mechanical tests were carried out in tension and compression at 10^?3 s^?1 in order to investigate the effect of annealing on the mechanical behavior. Microstructural examinations revealed that both the annealing temperature and time have little effect on the grain size and on the texture, which are mainly controlled by the presence of thermally stable Mn-containing particles and by the segregation of Nd to the grain boundaries. However, the composition and distribution of the Nd-containing particles vary significantly for the different annealing conditions. The annealed bars exhibit a subtle change in the tensile and compressive yield stress relative to the as-extruded bar and a somewhat larger mechanical asymmetry. The present results suggest that the Nd-containing phases, as well as Nd solute atoms, play a significant role in the mechanical behavior of the MN11 alloy by changing the relative critical resolved shear stress of the different deformation modes.