Effects of trace Er addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–Zn–Zr alloy

The effects of trace Er addition on the microstructure in Mg–9Zn–0.6Zr alloy during casting, homogenization, pre-heating, and hot extrusion processes were examined. The mechanical properties of alloys with and without Er were compared. The results showed that Er exhibited a lower solubility in solid magnesium and formed thermally stable Er- and Zn-bearing compounds. The Er-bearing alloy exhibited a considerably improved deformability, as well as a fine and uniform microstructure. Moreover, dynamic precipitation of fine MgZn₂ particles with a modified spherical morphology occurred during hot extrusion, resulting in a tensile yield strength of 313 MPa and a high elongation to failure value of 22%. Further aging of the Er-bearing alloy led to an increment of another 30 MPa in yield strength. In addition, Er markedly increased the thermal stability of the alloy structure.     

A high strength and ductility Mg–Zn–Al–Cu–Mn magnesium alloy

A high strength Mg–8.0Zn–1.0Al–0.5Cu–0.5Mn (wt.%) magnesium alloy with outstanding ductility was developed using a common casting technique and heat treatment. The microstructure of the as-cast alloy is composed of α-Mg, MgZn, MgZnCu and Al–Mn phases. After the solution treatment and subsequent two-step aging treatment, the yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation of the alloy at peak hardness reach 228 MPa, 328 MPa and 16.0% at room temperature, respectively. The comprehensive mechanical properties of the alloy are superior to almost all other high performance casting Mg alloys.     

铸态Mg-4Al-2Si合金的显微组织与力学性能

采用重力铸造法制备Mg-4Al-2Si(AS42)镁合金,研究了铸态合金的显微组织和室温力学性能。结果表明:铸态AS42合金主要由α-Mg基体、β-Mg17Al12相及Mg2Si相组成;β-Mg17Al12相呈网状和棒状分布于晶界上,粗大的汉字状Mg2Si相沿晶界或穿晶分布,多边形块状Mg2Si相随机分布于基体组织中。铸态合金的硬度为64.5 HV,室温抗拉强度为113.5 MPa,屈服强度为86 MPa,伸长率为4.1%;拉伸断裂形式为准解理脆性断裂。     

Microstructures and mechanical properties of directionally solidified Ti–45Al–8Nb–(W,B, Y) alloys

Intermetallic Ti–45Al–8Nb–(W, B, Y) (at.%) alloys were directionally solidified at growth rates of 10–400 μm/s with a Bridgeman type apparatus. Microstructures and room temperature (RT) mechanical properties of the directionally solidified (DS) alloys were investigated. The microstructures with different segregation morphologies were observed at different growth rates. Fully lamellar (FL) microstructure evolves into a massive microstructure when the growth rate is up to 100 μm/s. Both the width of columnar grain and the interlamellar spacing decrease with increasing growth rate. Compressive properties were not proportional to the growth rates but closely related to the segregation morphologies. Only the DS alloy with columnar pattern of Al-segregation had tensile ductility. A better RT tensile plastic elongation level of 2% and yield strength 475 MPa were obtained at growth rate of 10 μm/s. Cracks propagated in transgranular mode predominantly. Larger elongated B2 particles produced in the interdendritic regions were detrimental to the tensile ductility of the DS alloy.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–6Sn and Mg–6Zn alloys prepared by different processing techniques: a comparative study

The microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–6Sn and Mg–6Zn are investigated and compared in cast/heat treated, rolled and extruded conditions. Compared to the heat treated alloys, the grain size of both alloys decreases while the volume fraction of precipitates increases by rolling and extrusion in Mg–6Sn alloy at 350 ºC due to dynamic recrystallization and dynamic precipitation of intermetallic phases. Zinc has a stronger grain refining effect than tin in the heat treated alloys while the opposite effect is found in the rolled and extruded alloys. For the heat treated alloys the Mg–6Sn the strength reached 158.7 MPa with elongation 5.2% while Mg–6Zn exhibited a higher strength of 183.7 MPa and 8.4% elongation. In rolled condition the strength of Mg–6Sn reached 224 MPa with 1.6% elongation while Mg–6Zn exhibited a lower strength of 124 MPa and a lower ductility of 0.5% elongation due to susceptibility to hot shortness. Extrusion of Mg–6Sn alloy resulted in the maximum attained strength of 281 MPa and an elongation of 6.1% while Mg–6Zn cracked during extrusion due to hot shortness. The results obtained are discussed with respect to microstructure evolution in both alloys.     

Artificial ageing of Al-Si-Cu-Mg casting alloys

The T6 heat treatment is commonly used for gravity cast Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys. The influence of the alloying elements Cu and Mg and the artificial ageing temperature on the age hardening response were investigated. Artificial ageing was conducted at 170 °C and 210 °C for various times for three alloys, Al-7Si-0.3Mg, Al-8Si-3Cu and Al-8Si-3Cu-0.5Mg, cast with three different solidification rates (secondary dendrite arm spacing of about 10, 25 and 50 μm). The coarseness of the microstructure has a small influence on the yield strength, as long as the solution treatment is adjusted to obtain complete dissolution and homogenisation. The peak yield strength of the Al-Si-Mg alloy is not as sensitive to the ageing temperature as the Al-Si-Cu and Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys are. The ageing response of the Al-Si-Cu alloy is low and very slow. When 0.5 wt% Mg is added the ageing response increases drastically and a peak yield strength of 380 MPa is obtained after 20 h of ageing at 170 °C for the finest microstructure, but the elongation to fracture is decreased to 3%. The elongation to fracture decreases with ageing time in the underaged condition as the yield strength increases for all three alloys. A recovery in elongation to fracture of the Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy on overageing is obtained for the finest microstructure, while the elongation remains low for the coarser microstructures. The quality index, Q = YS + K?, can be used to compare the quality of different Al-Si-Mg alloys. This is not true for Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys, as K depends on the alloy composition. Overageing of the Al-Si-Mg alloy results in a decrease in quality compared to the underaged condition.     

Zn对铸态Mg-Y-Nd-Zr合金组织和力学性能的影响

采用光学显微镜(OM)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射分析及力学性能测试等研究Zn元素对Mg-Y-Nd-Zr铸态合金显微组织及力学性能的影响。结果表明:随着Zn含量的增加,Mg-Y-Nd-Zr-xZn(x=0.0%,0.5%,1.0%,1.5%,质量分数)合金的晶粒逐渐细化,平均晶粒尺寸由(57±0.8)μm细化至(30±0.3)μm,晶界处共晶相的体积分数也逐渐增加。Mg-Y-Nd-Zr铸态合金中主要存在Mg12Nd相和Mg24Y5相,加入0.5%Zn后,合金中出现Mg12YZn相。随Zn含量的增加,Mg12YZn相的体积分数不断增大,合金的力学性能逐渐提高。当Zn含量为1.0%时,合金具有最优的力学性能,其抗拉强度、屈服强度和伸长率分别为(208±5.9),(159±3.9)MPa和(7.5±0.2)%,较未加Zn的合金分别提高了18,42MPa和1.2%。     

等轴化处理对TCI1钛合金组织性能的影响

本文对魏氏组织的TC11合金进行等轴化处理．研究了等轴化处理前后TC11合金组织和性能的变化。研究结果表明等轴处理后的TC11合金得到均匀分布的等轴组织，晶粒尺寸约为9μm；相比原始的TC11合金，等轴组织TC11合金，抗拉强度可以从830MPa增加到1190MPa，屈服强度从590MPa增加到1130MPa，延伸率从1．6％增加到13．7％，断口形貌由台阶状转变为韧窝状。     

Nanoscale deformation of multiaxially forged ultrafine-grained Mg-2Zn-2Gd alloy with high strength-high ductility combination and comparison with the coarse-grained counterpart

Cold processing of magnesium(Mg) alloys is a challenge because Mg has a hexagonal close-packed(HCP)lattice with limited slip systems, which makes it difficult to plastically deform at low temperature. To address this challenge, a combination of annealing of as-cast alloy and multi-axial forging was adopted to obtain isotropic ultrafine-grained(UFG) structure in a lean Mg-2Zn-2Gd alloy with high strength(yield strength: ~227 MPa)-high ductility(% elongation: ~30%) combination. This combination of strength and ductility is excellent for the lean alloy, enabling an understanding of deformation processes in a formable high strength Mg-rare earth alloy. The nanoscale deformation behavior was studied via nanoindentation and electron microscopy, and the behavior was compared with its low strength(yield strength: ~46 MPa)-low ductility(% elongation: ~7%) coarse-grained(CG) counterpart. In the UFG alloy, extensive dislocation slip was an active deformation mechanism, while in the CG alloy, mechanical twinning occurred.The differences in the deformation mechanisms of UFG and CG alloys were reflected in the discrete burst in the load-displacement plots. The deformation of Mg-2Zn-2Gd alloys was significantly influenced by the grain structure, such that there was change in the deformation mechanism from dislocation slip(non-basal slip) to nanoscale twins in the CG structure. The high plasticity of UFG Mg alloy involved high dislocation activity and change in activation volume.     

挤压铸造与超声处理对铸造铝锂合金组织与性能的影响

目的 研究挤压铸造与超声处理工艺对铸造铝锂合金组织与性能的影响规律,分析工艺改变对组织细化及性能提升的作用机理,解决传统重力铸造下铝锂合金性能较差的问题。方法 将挤压铸造（SC）与超声处理（UT）相结合制备Al-2Li-2Cu-0.5Mg-0.2Zr合金,在熔体超声2 min后,以50 MPa的挤压力制备合金,探究各工艺对铸造铝锂合金显微组织与力学性能的影响。结果 与传统的重力铸造（GC）相比,SC合金的孔隙率和成分偏析显著降低,晶粒尺寸也明显减小,特别是经过UT+SC处理的合金得到了进一步优化。经UT+SC处理后,Al-2Li-2Cu合金的极限抗拉强度（UTS）、屈服强度（YS）和伸长率分别为235 MPa、135 MPa和15%,与GC合金相比,分别提高了113.6%、28.6%、1 150%,与SC合金相比,分别提高了5.4%、3.8%、15.4%。结论 UT+SC工艺能明显提升铸造铝锂合金的性能。UT+SC制备的Al-Li合金的强度和伸长率的提高归因于孔隙率的降低、晶粒细化和第二相的均匀分布。将挤压铸造与超声处理相结合制备铸造铝锂合金解决了重力铸造下合金性能较差的问题,为满足航...     

Microstructure,tensile properties and creep behavior of Al-12Si-3.5Cu-2Ni-0.8Mg alloy produced by different casting technologies

The relationship between the as-cast microstructure and mechanical properties of the Al-12Si-3.5Cu-2Ni-0.8Mg alloys produced by permanent mold casting (PMC) and high pressure die casting (HPDC) is investigated. The alloys in both PMC and HPDC consist of Al, Si, Al₅Cu₂Mg₈Si₆, Al₃CuNi, and Al₇Cu₄Ni phase. However, the microstructure of the HPDC alloy is significantly refined. Compared to the PMC alloy, the ultimate tensile strength of the HPDC alloy is significantly increased from 244 MPa to 310 MPa, while the elongation shows a reverse trend at room temperature. At low stress and temperature range, slight variations of stress exponent and activation energy indicate that the minimum creep rate is controlled by the grain boundary creep. Then the minimum creep rate is higher for the specimen with the smaller grain size, where grain boundary creep is the dominant creep mechanism. At high stress region, the stress exponent for the PMC alloy and HPDC alloy is 5.18 and 3.07, respectively. The different stress exponents and activation energies measured at high stress and high temperature range indicates that the creep mechanism varies with the casting technologies.     

Dependence of the mechanical properties and microstructure of ultralight magnesium-lithium-aluminum alloy on heat treatment conditions

Although magnesium-lithium-based alloys demonstrate superior workability and lower densities than conventional magnesium alloys, their mechanical properties require improvement. In this study, the effect of heat treatment conditions on the mechanical properties and microstructure of magnesium-lithium-aluminum alloys was investigated. Tensile tests were conducted on the alloys, and the results showed that the yield stress, ultimate tensile strength, and total elongation were significantly dependent on the heat treatment conditions. The relationship between the yield stress and grain size was not governed by the Hall-Petch relationship. The activation volume of various heat-treated samples estimated from the strain rate jump test was smaller for higher yield stress. Wide-angle x-ray scattering indicated that the second phase with a Bragg spacing of 1.7 nm was generated after heat treatment. It is found that the state of the second phase periodic structure affects the mechanical properties of the magnesium-lithium-aluminum alloy.     

Controllable fabrication of a carbide-containing FeCoCrNiMn high-entropy alloy: microstructure and mechanical properties

Previous studies have reported that high carbon contents in FeCoCrNiMn high-entropy alloys lead to carbides precipitating from the alloys. Typically, carbides are used to improve the strength of alloys but also lead to decreased ductility. However, the strength and ductility of alloys can be improved when carbides shape, size and distribution are carefully controlled. Therefore, a carbide-containing FeCoCrNiMn alloy with 2?at.-% carbon was prepared by arc melting, and its microstructure and mechanical properties were further tuned by cold rolling with subsequent annealing treatment. The yield strength and uniform elongation of the resultant alloy were excellent, reaching 581?MPa and 25%, respectively, due to the additive combination of various strengthening mechanisms, such as solid-solution hardening, grain-boundary hardening and precipitation hardening.     

The effects of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical property of laser melting deposition γ-TiAl intermetallic alloys

Ti–47Al–2.5V–1Cr and Ti–40Al–2Cr (at.%) intermetallic alloys was fabricated by the laser melting deposition (LMD) manufacturing process. The microstructure was characterized by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The room-temperature (RT) tensile properties and Vickers hardness of the as-deposited and heat-treated specimens were evaluated on longitudinal directions. Results shows that full density columnar grain with fully lamellar (FL) microstructure consisted of γ-TiAl and α₂-Ti₃Al was formed in the as-deposited γ-TiAl samples. The room-temperature tensile strength of the as-deposited Ti–47Al–2.5V–1Cr alloy is up to approximately 650 MPa in the longitudinal direction and 600 MPa for the as-deposited Ti–40Al–2Cr alloy, while the tensile elongation is approximately 0.6% at most. Different microstructure types were obtained in the Ti–47Al–2.5V–1Cr and Ti–40Al–2Cr alloy after heat treatment. The stress–strain curve and the tensile fracture sub-surface indicate that the fracture manner of the as-deposited and heat-treated specimens was inter-granular manner.     

Effect of 1.5 wt% tin addition on the properties of AZ31 magnesium alloy

In this paper, 1.5 wt%Sn was added to the AZ31 magnesium alloy aiming at improving the mechanical properties by using a low cost alloying element. Both alloys were prepared in the cast/heat treated (HT), rolled at 350 °C, rolled/heat treated at 400 °C and extruded at 350 °C. The results indicate that with addition of tin an improvement was obtained in both tensile strength and ductility of the AZ31 alloy in the cast/heat treated and in the extruded conditions. The yield and ultimate tensile strengths reached 98 MPa and 224 MPa respectively with 14 % elongation in the cast/heat treated condition while in the extruded condition these values were 212 MPa and 286 MPa with 20 % elongation. The tensile strength was even higher after rolling reaching 315 MPa for AZ31 with tin addition; however, as the material temperature during the last passes has decreased to relatively low values, the % elongation decreased to 1 %. After heat treatment at 400 °C for 2 hours the % elongation was restored and reached 12 %; this was accompanied by a decrease in tensile strength which reached 276 MPa. The results are discussed in relation to the microstructure evolution including grain size, phase identification, and volume fraction of phases.     

Effect of trace additions of Sn on microstructure and mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Mg alloys

The work is aimed at investigating the influence of trace additions of Tin (Sn) on the microstructure, mechanical properties and age-hardening behavior of Al–6.2%Cu–0.6%Mg alloy system. Al–6.2%Cu–0.6%Mg alloys containing varying weight percentages (from 0 to 0.1 wt.%) of Sn were prepared by casting technique. The mechanical properties and microstructure of these alloys were investigated in the as-cast as well as different heat treated conditions. The composition of the different phases present in the microstructure was determined by energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) analysis. The average grain size of the annealed alloy was found to be maximum with trace content of 0.06 wt.% Sn. The hardness and strength of the alloy increased but the ductility reduced with increase in Sn content up to 0.06 wt.%. Precipitation hardening behavior of the alloys was investigated by analyzing the aging time required to attain the peak hardness value. Addition of trace percentage of Sn was observed to have no significant influence on the peak ageing time of the investigated alloy system.     

热处理对热轧7075铝合金组织和力学性能的影响

目的 探究T6、T73和RRA热处理对不同道次压下量的热轧7075铝合金板材微观组织和力学性能的影响,确定不同道次压下量的热轧7075铝合金板材最优热处理工艺。方法 分别将11%和16%道次压下量的热轧7075铝合金进行T6、T73和RRA热处理,并对热处理后的试样进行微观组织表征和力学性能测试。结果 3种方式热处理后,11%道次压下量的热轧板材微观组织以拉长晶粒为主,伴随有等轴再结晶晶粒的生成,而对于16%道次压下量的热轧板材,等轴晶数量增多,故经3种方式热处理后,16%道次压下量热轧板材的屈服强度和抗拉强度均高于11%道次压下量热轧板材的相应强度。RRA热处理有效提升了16%道次压下量热轧板材的延伸率,而对于11%道次压下量热轧板材,RRA的预时效等过程会造成其晶粒粗化,从而降低延伸率,与T6和RRA热处理相比,T73热处理对力学性能的提升不显著。对于2种不同道次压下量的板材,T6热处理为最优热处理工艺。经过T6处理后,11%道次压下量的热轧板材抗拉强度达到589.8 MPa,屈服强度达到560.7 MPa,延伸率达到16.6%,16%道次压下量的热轧板材抗拉强度达到607.5 MPa、屈服强度达到580.9 MPa、延伸率达到13.6%。T6热处理后,<001>方向的织构占主导,原始板材内部存在较多的小角度晶界,热处理后大角度晶界含量增多且有静态再结晶出现。3种热处理后的拉伸试样断口形貌没有太大区别,存在大量韧窝和撕裂棱特征,说明热处理后板材塑性较好。结论 热处理能调控再结晶行为,优化亚晶等微观结构,与其他7系铝合金热处理后的力学性能相比,本文的7075热轧铝合金在16%道次压下量和T6热处理条件下获得了较为优异的力学性能,说明热处理工艺设计合理。     

超高强韧Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr变形镁合金研究进展

超高强韧镁合金的研发对推广镁合金在高技术领域的应用具有重要意义。镁与稀土均是我国的优势资源,因此在我国发展超高强韧稀土镁合金具有得天独厚的优势,其中Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr系变形镁合金因其接近高强铝合金的超高强度和塑性,近年来受到研究者的广泛关注。综述了超高强韧Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr系变形镁合金的合金成分、常规塑性变形工艺、新型剧烈塑性变形工艺和热处理工艺对该合金显微组织和力学性能的影响规律,以及该超高强韧变形镁合金的显微组织特征和强韧化机理。T5峰时效态超高强韧Mg-8.2Gd-3.8Y-1Zn-0.4Zr(质量分数)挤压合金具有双峰分布的晶粒尺寸“软-硬”复合层片微结构,以及由高密度的基面γ′纳米片状析出相和棱柱面β′纳米析出相形成的近连续网状结构,该挤压合金室温拉伸屈服强度、拉伸强度和断裂延伸率分别为466 MPa、514 MPa和14.5%。介绍了哈尔滨工业大学等单位在超高强韧Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr系变形镁合金的规模化制备和应用方面的研究进展,并展望了Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr系变形镁合金的发展趋势。     

Influence of minor elements additions on microstructure and properties of 93W-4·9Ni-2·1Fe alloys

Effects of elements rhenium and chromium additions on properties and microstructure of 93W-4·9Ni-2·1Fe alloys were investigated. Optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and EDAX energy spectrometer were used to characterize the microstructure and compositions of the alloys, respectively. The tensile strength and elongation of alloys were evaluated using the quasi-static tensile testing machine, and the relative densities of the alloys were evaluated using the Archimedes water immersion method. The experimental results indicated that when elements Re and Cr were in the range of 0–1·0 wt.%, relative density, elongation, tensile strength of 93W-4·9Ni-2·1Fe alloys varied from 99·4%, 26·4%, 997·2 MPa without Re additions to 99·5%, 8·6%, 1161·2 MPa with 1·0 wt.% Re addition, respectively. Rhenium generated solid-solution strengthening, grain refinement, reducing ductile tearing and increasing transcrystalline fracture, which resulted in the ductility reduction and the strength increase of the heavy alloys. With the increase of Cr content from 0–1·0 wt.%, the tensile strength, relative density and elongation of 93W-Ni-Fe alloy reduced from 997·2 MPa, 99·3%, 15% to 844·4 MPa, 95·2%, 5·7%, respectively. Element Cr formed interphases with elements W, Ni, Fe and O and gathered along the interface of the alloys, which induced interfacial cohesion and resulted in lower mechanical properties of 93W-Ni-Fe alloys.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–Gd–Zr alloys with low gadolinium contents

Mg–xGd–0.6Zr (x = 2, 4, and 6% mass fraction) alloys were synthesized by semi-continuous casting process. The effects of gadolinium content and aging time on microstructures and mechanical properties of the Mg–xGd–0.6Zr alloys were investigated. The results show that the microstructures of the as-cast GKx (x = 2, 4, and 6%) alloys are typical grain structures and no Gd dendritic segregation. In as-cast Mg–6Gd–0.6Zr alloy, the second phases Mg_5.05Gd, Mg₂Gd, and Mg₃Gd will form due to non-equilibrium solidification during the casting process, and these second phases will disappear after hot-extrusion. The residual compressive stress exists in alloys after extrusion and increases with increasing Gd content. The existence of residual compressive stress contributes to the tensile strength. The elongation of all extruded alloys is over 30%, and the ultimate and yield tensile strength of the Mg–6Gd–0.6Zr alloy are 237 and 168 MPa, respectively. After isothermal aging for 10 h, the strength of extruded Mg–6Gd–0.6Zr alloys increases slightly, however, the elongation of alloys rarely decreases. The fracture mechanism of all studied alloys is ductile fracture.