Prediction of hardness of stir cast LM13 aluminum alloy - copper coated short steel fiber reinforced composites using response surface methodology

Copper coated steel fibers reinforced LM13 aluminum alloy composites have been prepared using stir casting process. Experiments have been designed using response surface methodology (RSM) by varying wt % of reinforcement (0–10), stirrer speed (350 min⁻¹–800 min⁻¹) and pouring temperature (700 °C–800 °C). Microstructure and hardness of composites have been investigated. Analysis of variance, significance test and confirmation tests have been performed and regressions model has been developed to predict the hardness of composites. Response surface plots reveal that hardness of composites increases with increasing wt % of reinforcement and stirrer speed. The optimum stir cast process parameters for obtaining higher hardness are found to be the wt % of reinforcement of 8.2, pouring temperature of 748 °C and stirrer speed of 708 min⁻¹.     

Effect of multi pulse current treatment on microstructure and microhardness of resistance spot welded dual phase steel DP590

In this paper, microhardness and microstructural characteristics of dual phase DP590 steel resistance spot weld joint under two different welding conditions (i. e. single pulse and multi pulse) were studied. It was observed that applying multi pulse currents resulted in quasi-equiaxed grains of tempered martensite in fusion zone (FZ) of the weldment. The refinement of microstructure in fusion zone using multi pulse current treatment resulted in reduced hardness of the weld joint.     

Resistance spot weldability of Fe-15.4Mn-2.1Al-1.2C twinning induced plasticity steel

Welding of twinning induced plasticity steels contains problems due to high manganese constituent. Low manganese and high carbon included twinning induced plasticity steels have not studied throughly in the literature. In this study, resistance spot weldability of Fe-15.4Mn-2.1Al-1.2C twinning induced plasticity steel was investigated. According to the results, interfacial, partial interfacial and pull-out type failure modes were obtained in tensile-shear tests. The maximum tensile-shear load was measured as 17.7 kN with 125 J ⋅ Ω⁻¹ heat input rate separated with pull-out failure. Although the heat affected zone was narrow, it formed the weakest region of the joint. Cleavage facets which is a sign of brittle fracture were detected on the fracture surface that formed in heat affected zone. A sudden increase in hardness supports the brittleness of the heat affected zone. Also, grain coarsening reduced strength of the heat affected zone. A narrow partially melted zone was identified between heat affected zone and weld nugget. According to electron back scatter diffraction phase distribution analysis, formation of manganese carbides was detected in the heat affected zone.     

Microstructure,mechanical and erosion wear analysis of post heat treated iron alloy based coating with varying chromium

The present work focuses on the effect of annealing heat treatment on the microstructure, mechanical and erosion properties of iron alloy based coatings with varying chromium content. High velocity oxygen fuel coating method was used to deposit the coating over the substrate material 316 L stainless steel. The study was done in terms of microstructural analysis using x-ray diffractometer, surface and cross-sectional morphology using field emission scanning electron microscope, mechanical and erosion wear analysis. It was found that x-ray diffractometer indicated presence of less amount of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and silicon dioxide (SiO₂) after heat treatment. However, the peaks of hardened phase of diironylidenetitanium (Fe₂Ti) and iron-chromium (Fe−Cr) was increased. Addition of chromium up to 10 wt. % improved the hardness and adhesion pull of strength by 16 % and 62 % respectively. On the other side heat treatment of iron alloy based coating having 10 wt. % chromium increased the hardness and adhesion pull off strength by 17.3 % and 35 % respectively. The erosion wear rate was also decreased with the annealing process. The study shows that the annealing process increases hardness and adhesion pull off strength but decreases porosity and erosion wear rate.     

Effect of process parameters and niobium carbide addition on microstructure and wear resistance of laser cladding nickel-based alloy coatings

Based on the background of the engineering application of automobile mold repair and surface strengthening, the effects of process parameters on the formation and microstructure of laser cladding nickel(Ni)-based alloy coating were studied. The optimal parameters were: laser power 2000 W, powder feeding rate 15 g/min, scanning speed 4 mm/s. Under this process, the cladding layer and the substrate can exhibit good metallurgical bonding, and the cladding layer has fine crystal grains and a low dilution ratio. On this basis, different mass fractions of niobium carbide (NbC) powder were added to the nickel-based powder and laser cladding was carried out on the surface of die steel. The phase composition, microstructure, hardness and wear resistance of the coating were studied. The results show that with the increasing of niobium carbide addition, the hardness of the cladding layer decreases, and the wear loss of the cladding layer decreases first and then increases. When the niobium carbide addition reaches 6 wt.%, the wear loss of the cladding layer is the least, and the wear resistance is the best.     

Effect of friction stir welding on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AA 6063-T6 aluminum alloy

In this study, AA 6063-T6 alloy plates were joined via friction stir welding using three different pin geometries (i. e., helical threaded, pentagonal and triangular) under various process parameters of tool rotational speed and welding speed. The microstructures and mechanical properties of the various welded joints were investigated. Macro-structural observations revealed that kissing bonds occurred in the welded joints due to fractured oxide layers. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the stir zones of the welded joints exhibited phases of Al₈Fe₂Si, Al₅FeSi, and Mg₂Si. In the welded joints, processed using a helical threaded pin, no tunnel-type defect was detected to occur; specimens were fractured outside of the joint region during tensile tests, indicating that the kissing bonds formed in the stir zones did not cause any deterioration in tensile strength or ductility. The welded joints processed using a helical threaded, pentagonal and triangular pin at 500 min⁻¹ tool rotational speed and 80 mm min⁻¹ welding speed exhibited a ductile deformation behavior along with a tensile strength in the range of 153 MPa to 155 MPa.     

Effects of various tool plunge depths on microstructure evolution,mechanical properties and dome structure features of friction stir spot welded AA5052-H32 similar joints

The solid-state nature of friction stir spot welding process provides outstanding advantages for the sound joining of aluminum alloys. Within this study, 3 mm-thick AA5052-H32 sheets are successfully joined by friction stir spot welding using 2344 hot-worked steel pin to investigate the effects of various tool plunge depths on the microstructure, mechanical and metallurgical properties of similar welds. Therefore, the experiments are performed at different plunge depths in the range of 3 mm–4 mm. Accordingly, the relationships between the process parameter (tool plunge depth) and the responses (microstructure, dome structure, microhardness and lap shear tensile load) are established. Microstructure analyses demonstrate that the increase in the plunge depth leads to more grain refinement within the stir zone, which significantly affects the mechanical performance of the similar joints. This study also indicates that the tool plunge depth in friction stir spot welding process has a noteworthy influence on the characteristic features of the 5052 aluminum alloy joints, such as the dome structure. Moreover, an explicit increase in the microhardness towards the weld stir zone is observed in all specimens. It is found that the average maximum tensile-shear force enhances with the increment in the tool plunge depth from 3 mm to 4 mm.     

热输入对E36钢SAW焊缝组织及韧性的影响

为提高建造海洋采油平台的效率、减少生产周期,进而为实际生产提供数据支持,采用3种不同热输入对海洋采油平台用E36钢进行埋弧焊焊接,通过光学显微镜(OM)、透射电镜(TEM)、扫描电镜(SEM)和电子背散射衍射技术(EBSD)对焊缝微观组织及夹杂物形貌进行了观察,研究了不同热输入对焊缝组织及韧性的影响,并分析了不同热输入对焊缝夹杂物尺寸分布和成分的影响.结果表明:热输入为50 k J/cm时,焊缝金属韧性较好;随着焊接热输入的增加,焊缝的冲击韧性降低,但仍能满足性能指标,焊缝金属中夹杂物成分相差较大,有效夹杂物数量减少,焊缝金属中大角度晶界比例减少;对于E36钢,热输入为160 k J/cm时不仅能使韧性符合要求还能提高生产效率.     

Performance improvements of aluminum foam with different solder compositions via liquid diffusion welding

Aluminum foam joints were fabricated via liquid diffusion welding with zinc-aluminum alloy solder aided with ultrasonic vibration at 520 °C. Zinc-aluminum alloys with different compositions (10 % aluminum, 20 % aluminum, 30 % aluminum) were used as solder material. The control group was fabricated under the same conditions but without ultrasonic assistance. The microstructure of aluminum foam joints was analyzed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Among the different soldering alloys, those with the zinc-20aluminum solder had the widest diffusion area and the most continuous interface. The tensile strength of metallurgic alloy joined aluminum foams was tested. Zn20Al samples had the best performance among all samples, including the low-density substrate aluminum foam (0.3 g/cm³ and 0.4 g/cm³), but it still showed a lower performance than the high-density substrate aluminum foam (0.6 g/cm³). Therefore, ultrasonic vibration remarkably improved the tensile strength and impact toughness of joints. Samples with ultrasonic assistance had better tensile strength and impact toughness than high-density substrate aluminum.     

Effect of tempering temperature on microstructure and properties of aluminium-bearing high boron high speed steel

Heat treatment is of great significance to the performance improvement of high speed steel. Via heat treatment, the microstructure of high speed steel can be improved, thus greatly improving the material performance. The effect of tempering temperature on the microstructure of aluminium-bearing high boron high speed steel (AB-HSS) was investigated by optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The hardness and wear resistance of the alloy at different tempering temperatures were tested by Rockwell hardness tester, micro-hardness tester and wear tester. The experimental results indicate that the tempering microstructure of aluminium-bearing high boron high speed steel consists of α-Fe, M₂B and a few of M₂₃(C, B)₆. Tempering temperature could greatly affect the wear resistance of materials. With the increase of tempering temperature, the wear resistance of aluminium-bearing high boron high speed steel firstly increase and then decrease. The alloy tempered at 450 °C has the best wear resistance and minimum wear weight loss. This study provides a reference for the formulation of heat treatment process of aluminium-bearing high boron high speed steel.     

Effect of thermal ageing on microstructure,mechanical properties,and fracture behaviour of 50 % cold rolled duplex stainless steel (alloy 2507)

The paper deals with cold rolling and ageing on microstructure and mechanical properties of 2507 duplex stainless steel. Microstructure depicts acicular/Widmanstätten austenite and δ-ferrite with dissimilar volume fraction (∼0.55 for ferrite and ∼0.45 for austenite). Cold rolling and ageing at 950 °C, 1000 °C and 1050 °C result in equiaxed austenite for samples solution treated at 1040 °C and elongated at 1300 °C. By lowering ageing temperature from 1050 °C to 950 °C, structure becomes finer from ∼20 μm to <10 μm grain size. The sigma (σ) phase appears after ageing at 950 °C. Micro-hardness reveals maximum hardness for the hot rolled, solutionized (1040 °C) water quenched, and cold rolled (50 %) sample (380 HV_δF 100 and 430 HV_γ 100), whereas the tensile results reveal the hot rolled, solution treated (1300 °C, 1040 °C), cold rolled and aged at 950 °C samples show higher strength (yield strength=625 MPa, 567 MPa and ultimate tensile strength=892 MPa, 826 MPa) and lower ductility (23 %, 32 %) due to the σ-phase. The solution treated (1040 °C), cold rolled, aged at 1050 °C sample exhibits attractive strength and ductility combination (∼30 GPa %). Fractography supports the tensile results.     

Laser beam welding of deoxidized copper: microstructure investigation and thermodynamic consideration

During the deep-penetration welding of phosphorus deoxidized copper, a multitude of reactions occur which influence the formation of phases inside the welding region. Thereby, the microstructure evolution during laser beam welding depends on the chemical composition of the alloy as well as of the gaseous environment. As a result of reactions in a phosphorus rich copper melt, copper phosphides are formed which are located inside the grains as well as at the grain boundaries. Meanwhile, the formation of phosphorus pentoxide and an uncomplete decomposition of copper-I-oxide to elemental copper and phosphorus pentoxide were identified at the keyhole. Thereby, the decomposition of copper-I-oxide depends on the oxygen concentration. Thus, a complete decomposition of copper-I-oxide to elemental copper and phosphorus pentoxide was observed at the bottom side of the welding region due to a higher oxygen concentration.     

Effects of process parameters on the microstructure of iron coating fabricated on pure aluminum by immersion plating

In this paper, an iron coating was designed to fabricate on the surface layer of pure aluminum. The effects of process parameters such as immersion plating method, durations and temperatures on the microstructure of iron coating were studied systematically. The experimental results showed that the quality of the iron coating fabricated on the sample by one-step immersion plating is better than that obtained by two-step immersion plating. The iron coating obtained by one-step immersion plating for 1 min is continuous and without obvious gaps and cavities. With the immersion time increased to 3 min and 5 min, the coating is uneven and easy to fall off from the surface of sample. Additionally, due to that the higher temperature increases the efficiency of displacement reaction, the quality of the coating obtained at 40 °C is better than that obtained at 55 °C and 65 °C. Consequently, the optimal immersion plating parameters were one-step immersion plating, 1 min, and 40 °C. This paper provides a novel method to prepare an iron coating as a pretreatment for electroplating of aluminum.     

Enhanced surface properties and contact fatigue performance of Cr4Mo4V bearing steel subjected to ultrasonic surface rolling processing

The paper presents the experimental studies on the enhanced comprehensive properties of Cr4Mo4V bearing steel using ultrasonic surface rolling process. Considerable improvements in mechanical properties and rolling contact fatigue performance are achieved in the present study, accompanied by the characterization of surface microstructures. The ultrasonic surface rolling process promotes the formation of fine nanocrystalline structures and nano-sized elongated grains with severe deformation, leading to the increasing residual stress, micro-hardness and high temperatures hardness. The crack propagation and delamination pit in the surface after ultrasonic surface rolling process is inhibited, further enhancing the rolling contact fatigue life of Cr4Mo4V bearing steel.     

Study on the effect of vibration on solidification structures in the vibration cast-rolling process

In the vibration cast-rolling process, the metal material is in the state of sub-rapid solidification. Based on the principle of solidification and random theory, the relation between the vibrating process with sub-rapid solidification and the number of new crystal nuclei was deduced. The theoretical analysis, numerical simulations and experiments of sub-rapid solidification under vibration were performed. The results show that the modified Cellular Automaton-Finite Element model can predict the solidified microstructure and size of crystal grains. The results also show that vibration with chilling can effectively promote the production of free crystal nuclei. With a higher frequency of vibration, the area of the equiaxed zone can increase, and the grains can be smaller.     

Microstructural characterization and mechanical integrity of stainless steel 316L clad layers deposited via wire arc additive manufacturing for nuclear applications

The potential applications of stainless steel 316L components using wire arc additive manufacturing offers many benefits such as improved part complexity, higher deposition rate and less material waste. Microstructural examination indicates the strong interlayer bonding between cladded layers and was mainly austenitic with columnar and equiaxed dendrites while equiaxed grains with annealing twins were observed in the stainless steel 316L substrate. In the current study, we report that stainless steel 316L additively cladded via wire arc additive manufacturing exhibits a 11 % and 14 % increase in the yield strength and tensile strength, correspondingly in contrast to the stainless steel 316L substrate. The enhanced mechanical properties are attributed to the columnar structure and interlayer remelted peritectic growth. Hardness values were higher at the cladded layers compared to the interface and substrate. Interface sample failed in the substrate side and all samples exhibited ductile mode of fracture with fine dimples and micro voids. Wire arc additive manufacturing process can be employed for producing or repairing components with better mechanical properties and corrosion performance for elevated temperature environments including nuclear reactor applications.     

Effect of microstructure and low cycle fatigue deformation on tensile properties of P91 steel

Isothermal furnace heat treatments were carried out to simulate the microstructures of inter-critical, fine grain and coarse grain heat-affected zones of P91 steel weld joint at different soaking temperatures ranging from just above AC₁ (837 °C) to well above AC₃ (903 °C). Interrupted low cycle fatigue tests were performed on the specimens of P91 steel up to 5 %, 10 %, 30 %, and 50 % of the total fatigue life at the strain amplitude of ±0.6 %, strain rate of 0.003 s⁻¹ and temperatures of 550 °C and 600 °C. Subsequently, tensile tests were conducted on the interrupt tested specimens at the same strain rate and temperatures. Soaking at the inter-critical temperature region reduces / deteriorates the tensile and yield strengths of base metal compared to fine grain and coarse grain regions. The inter-critical heat-affected zone accounted higher damage contribution towards the overall tensile behavior of the actual P91 steel weld joint. Substructural coarsening during strain cycling at elevated temperatures attributes to the rapid reduction in the initial yield strength up to 10 % of fatigue life of P91 steel. A higher amount of plastic strain accumulation during low cycle fatigue deformation resulted in a decrease in fatigue life of the inter-critical heat-affected zone of P91 steel.     

Effects of creep age forming time on microstructure and high cyclic fatigue of 7075 aluminum alloy

In this paper, the hardness, ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, elongation E₁₀₀, S−N curves, and fatigue performance of 7075 aluminum alloy were obtained after aged at 170 °C for different times (10 h, 15 h, and 20 h). Additionally, the microstructure and fatigue fracture of the alloy were observed. The investigation results show that as the forming time increased, the hardness, ultimate tensile strength, and yield strength decreased, the elongation first decreased, then increased, and the fatigue limit increased. As the forming time increased, the metastable phase gradually transformed into a steady phase and coarsened, the width of precipitate free zone increased, and the width of the fatigue strip decreased. After creep age forming for 20 h, the precipitate free zone was the widest, approximately 100 nm.     

Effect of heat input on microstructure and mechanical properties of dissimilar joints between super duplex stainless steel and high strength low alloy steel

In the present study, microstructure and mechanical properties of UNS S32750 super duplex stainless steel (SDSS)/API X-65 high strength low alloy steel (HSLA) dissimilar joint were investigated. For this purpose, gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) was used in two different heat inputs: 0.506 and 0.86 kJ/mm. The microstructures investigation with optical microscope, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction showed that an increase in heat input led to a decrease in ferrite percentage, and that detrimental phases were not present. It also indicated that in heat affected zone of HSLA base metal in low heat input, bainite and ferrite phases were created; but in high heat input, perlite and ferrite phases were created. The results of impact tests revealed that the specimen with low heat input exhibited brittle fracture and that with high heat input had a higher strength than the base metals.     

Effect of friction stir welding process parameters on the tensile strength of dissimilar aluminum alloy AA2024-T3 and AA7075-T6 joints

This work investigates the influence of friction stir welding parameters on the mechanical properties of the dissimilar joint between AA2024-T3 and AA7075-T6. Experiments are conducted consistent with the three-level face-centered composite design. Response surface methodology is used to develop the regression model for predicting the tensile strength of the joints. The analysis of variance technique is used to access the adequacy of the developed model. The model is used to study the effect of key operating process parameters namely, tool rotation speed, welding speed and shoulder diameter on the tensile strength of the joints. The results indicate that friction stir welding of aluminum alloys at a tool rotation speed of 1050 min⁻¹, welding speed of 40 mm/min and a shoulder diameter of 17.5 mm would produce defect less joint with high tensile strength.