Effect of tempering temperature on Z-phase formation and creep strength in 9Cr–1Mo–V–Nb–N steel

The effect of the tempering temperature on Z-phase formation and creep strength in 9Cr–1Mo–V–Nb–N steel was examined with particular attention to the precipitation sequence of MX, M₂X, and Z-phase during creep exposure. Tempering at a lower temperature provided a high dislocation density and a fine lath structure. Tempering at 953, 1003, and 1038 K provided [M₂₃C₆, M₂X, NbX], [M₂₃C₆, M₂X, NbX, VX], and [M₂₃C₆, NbX, VX] phases, respectively. The creep strength of steel tempered at 953 K was the highest among the steels studied, even in the long term. No large decrease in creep strength was observed in steel tempered at 953 K. The Z-phase was observed after long-term creep in steel tempered at 1003 or 1038 K. In steel tempered at 953 K, a VX rather than a Z-phase formed during creep, and this was accompanied by consumption of M₂X. Retardation of the Z-phase formation can retard the creep strength degradation in steel tempered at 953 K.     

Phase evolution in P92 and E911 weld metals during ageing

Phase evolution in the weld metals of P92 and E911 steels weld joints were studied during ageing at 625 °C for up to 9000 h. The phases: ferrite + M₂₃C₆ + MX + Laves found by means of analytical TEM in the annealed states agree with the results of the thermodynamic calculation of equilibrium phases. The cross-weld hardness values, HV10, after 1000, 3000, and 9000 h ageing overlap each other and are approximately 15 units below that of the post-weld heat-treated (PWHT) state. Charpy impact energy with the notch at the centerline of the weld metal was measured. Its values decrease after ageing from approximately 60–80 to 12 J compared to the PWHT state. In 9–12%Cr steel with W this phenomenon can be explained by a priori heterogeneity in the weld metal, its large former austenite grain size, the precipitation and growth of M₂₃C₆ and Laves phase particles on grain and packet boundaries.     

Electron microscopy and hardness study of a semi-solid processed 27 wt%Cr cast iron

A semi-solid processed 27 wt%Cr cast iron was studied by electron microscopy and its microstructure was related to the hardness. In the as-cast condition, the primary proeutectic austenite was round in shape while the eutectic M₇C₃ carbide was found as radiating clusters mixed with directional clusters. Growth in the [0 0 1]M₇C₃ with planar faces of {0 2 0}M₇C₃ and was usually observed with an encapsulated core of austenite. Destabilisation heat treatment followed by air cooling led to a precipitation of secondary M₂₃C₆ carbide and a transformation of the primary austenite to martensite in the semi-solid processed iron. Precipitation behaviour is comparable to that observed in the destabilisation of conventional cast iron. However, the nucleation of secondary M₂₃C₆ carbide on the eutectic M₇C₃ carbide was observed for the first time. Tempering after destabilisation led to further precipitation of carbide within the tempered martensite in the eutectic structure. The maximum hardness was obtained after destabilisation and tempering heat treatment due to the precipitation of secondary carbides within the martensite matrix and a possible reduction in the retained austenite.     

Microstructural characterization of high-carbon ferrochromium

Light optical and scanning electron microscopy techniques were used for high-carbon ferrochromium microstructural analysis. Different microstructures were observed for industrially and laboratory-produced ferroalloys. Primary carbides of M₇C₃ with chromium ferrite were found in the industrially produced, slowly solidified, and cooled ferroalloy, while primary M₇C₃ carbides accompanied a eutectic mixture of M₇C₃ carbides and chromium ferrite in the laboratory-melted and in the water-solidified and water-cooled materials. Different microstructural arrangements are directly related to the friability properties of this material, which characterizes its resistance to abrasion on handling and impact. In ferrochromium upgraded by carbon content reduction, the eutectic M₇C₃ hexagonal carbides are partly replaced by M₂₃C₆ dendritic carbides. The presence of dendritic carbides in the ferrochromium eutectic microstructure can be interpreted as a proof of a lower carbon content, raising the commercial value of the ferroalloy. The hexagonal M₇C₃ carbides exhibited a central hollow along the longitudinal axis, and on metallographic samples they looked like screw nuts. A model of the solidification mechanism for such crystals is proposed.     

热作模具钢DM的高温稳定性和热疲劳性能

研究了热作模具钢DM的高温稳定性和热疲劳性能。结果表明,DM钢在620℃热稳保温过程中马氏体板条内的薄片状M₃C型碳化物逐渐向条块状M₇C₃型碳化物转变,在板条的边界生成M₇C₃、M₂₃C₆型碳化物。DM钢的短循环周次热疲劳性能受控于位错重排和湮灭,长循环周次热疲劳性能受控于碳化物的粗化程度。DM钢中M₃C、M₇C₃、M₆C型碳化物的生成自由能分别为27765.5 J/mol、3841.5 J/mol、-7138.1 J/mol,表明在热稳保温与热疲劳试验过程中碳化物的演变机理一致,发生了M3C→M7C3→M6C类型演变。     

Microstructural transformations of heat affected zones in duplex steel welded joints

The influence of the welding thermal conditions exemplified by heat input and heat treatment after welding on the structure of the heat affected zone (HAZ) UNS S31803 has been analysed. The post weld treatment was used to create the precisely defined thermal conditions for the decomposition of primary phases in the HAZ, by a multi-layer welding thermal cycle stimulation. Detailed analyses of the microstructure and chemical composition of the phases in the different post welded conditions were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Three types of secondary precipitates have been observed: secondary austenite (γ₂), carbides: M₂₃C₆ and M₇C₃. The dependence of the secondary austenite volume fraction and morphology in the HAZ on thermal cycle have been interpreted. The eutectoid decomposition of the primary phases in the analysed thermal conditions was confirmed.     

The relationships between wear behavior and thermal conductivity of CuSn/M7C3–M23C6 composites at ambient and elevated temperatures

The effect of FeCr (M₇C₃–M₂₃C₆) particles on the wear resistance of a CuSn alloy was investigated under 125 N load, and 300–475 K temperature interval. Sliding tests were performed to investigate the wear behavior of FeCr_p-reinforced CuSn metal–matrix composites (MMCs) against DIN 5401 in a block-on-ring apparatus. The CuSn/FeCr_p MMCs, which were prepared by addition of 5, 10, 15 and 20 vol.% of FeCr_p, were produced by powder metallurgy and the size of the particles was taken as 16 μm. The powders were uniaxially cold compacted by increasing pressure up to 250 Mpa. The dry sliding wear tests were carried out in an incremental manner, i.e. 300 m per increment and 3500 m total sliding length. The wear-test results were used for investigation of the relationship between weight loss, microstructure, surface hardness, friction coefficient, particle content and thermal conductivity. Finally, it was observed that FeCr_p reinforcement is beneficial in increasing the wear resistance of CuSn MMCs. FeCr particles in MMCs also tend to reduce the extent of plastic deformation in the subsurface region of the matrix, thereby delaying the nucleation and propagation of subsurface microcracks     

Characterizations of WC–10Co nanocomposite powders and subsequently sinterhip sintered cemented carbide

Ultrafine WC–Co cemented carbides, combining high hardness and high toughness, are expected to find broad applications. In this study, WC–10Co–0.4VC–0.4Cr₃C₂ (wt.%) nanocomposite powders, whose average grain size was about 30 nm, were fabricated by spray pyrolysis-continuous reduction and carbonization technology. The as-prepared nanocomposite powders were characterized and analyzed by chemical methods, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), BET analysis and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Furthermore, “sinterhip” was used in the sintering process, by which ultrafine WC–10Co cemented carbides with an average grain size of 240 nm were prepared. The material exhibited high Rockwell A hardness of HRA 92.8, Vickers hardness HV₁ 1918, and transverse rapture strength (TRS) of 3780 MPa. The homogeneously dispersed grain growth inhibitors such as VC, Cr₃C₂ in nanocomposite powder and the special nonmetal–metal nanocomposite structure of WC–10Co nanocomposite powder played very important roles in obtaining ultrafine WC–10Co cemented carbide with the desired properties and microstructure. There was an abundance of triple junctions in the ultrafine WC–10Co cemented carbide; these triple junctions endowed the sintered specimen with high mechanical properties.     

TEM study on precipitation and transformation of secondary carbides in 16Cr–1Mo–1Cu white iron subjected to subcritical treatment

High chromium white irons solidify with a substantially austenitic matrix supersaturated with chromium and carbon. The subcritical heat treatment can destabilize the austenite by precipitating chromium-rich secondary carbides and other special carbides. In the as-cast condition the eutectic carbides are (Fe,Cr)₇C₃ and (Fe_4.3Cr_2.5Mo_0.1)C₃. The initial secondary carbide precipitated is (Fe,Cr)₂₃C₆ after heat-treating at 853 K for 10 h. There are MoC, Fe₂MoC and -carbide precipitating, and (Fe,Cr)₂₃C₆ transforms to M₃C after 16 h at 853 K. The -carbide and (Fe,Cr)₂₃C₆ accomplish transformation to M₃C and the matrix changes from martensitic to pearlitic after 22 h at 853 K. Thereby, in the subcritical heat treatment process, the initial secondary carbide precipitated is (Fe,Cr)₂₃C₆, followed by -carbide, MoC and Fe₂MoC. In addition, there are two in situ transformations from (Fe,Cr)₂₃C₆ and -carbide to M₃C carbides.     

TiCp/Cr15高铬铸铁复合材料的制备与性能

以TiC_p粉末和水雾化Cr15高铬铸铁粉末为原料,采用粉末冶金液相烧结技术制备TiC_p增强高铬铸铁复合材料。研究了TiC_p含量对高铬铸铁的物相组成、显微组织和力学性能的影响。研究结果表明,全致密的TiC_p增强高铬铸铁基体复合材料的构成相为TiC、M₇C₃型碳化物、马氏体和少量奥氏体;随着TiC_p添加量增大,金属基体逐步呈孤岛状,并在其中析出越来越多的M₇C₃型碳化物,同时TiC_p逐步呈连续网状分布;同时,其硬度稳步提升,而抗弯强度和冲击韧性降低。当TiC_p添加量为20wt%时烧结态复合材料具有最佳综合力学性能。此时硬度为HRC 66.8 ,冲击韧性为6.86 J/cm2,抗弯强度为1 343.10 MPa。当TiC_p添加量为25wt%时硬度达到最大值HRC 67.20 。      

Recrystallization in a directionally solidified cobalt-base superalloy

The recrystallization behavior in a range of annealing temperature from 1020 to 1280 °C in a directionally solidified cobalt-base superalloy was studied. Local recrystallization first appeared at 1040 °C. The recrystallized volume increased rapidly as increasing the annealing temperature. Pinning effect of all carbides (M₂₃C₆, M₇C₃ and MC) was observed and large amount of twin formed at low annealing temperature. The size of the recrystallized grains increased significantly at high annealing temperatures accompanied with the sharp decrease of twin. The effect of annealing temperature and the role of carbide and twin on the development of the recrystallization were discussed.     

Assessment of material thermal history in elevated temperature components

The extraction replica technique provides a valuable nondestructive metallographic tool both for monitoring microstructural changes caused by material aging and for quantitatively assessing the thermal history of material in components operating in creep regime. It has been, in fact, verified that the chemical composition of carbides collected on replicas is correlated both to temperature and to time of exposure of the material. In this report, the infield application of the replica technique is described, focusing on the quantitative evaluation of exposure temperature of a 21/4Cr1Mo steel. The validity of the technique has also been verified for 9–12% Cr ferritic steels after long-term creep exposure in laboratory tests; also in this case, on the basis of the available data, a correlation between the Cr/Fe ratio in M₂₃C₆ carbide and the Larson-Miller parameter appears promising.     

Synthesis and mechanical properties of niobium aluminide-based composites

Niobium aluminide-based composites reinforced with in situ and externally added Al₂O₃ and TiC particulates were fabricated by hot-pressed sintering at 1400 °C. In particular, Nb₂Al–Al₂O₃–TiC in situ composites were successfully obtained from the raw powder mixtures of Nb60Al40 (in at.%)–TiO₂20C8 (in wt.%) by means of this process. The influences of ceramic particulates on the microstructures, flexural strength and fracture toughness were examined. The experimental results indicate that the presence of ceramic particulates yielded a remarkable improvement in both the strength and fracture toughness in comparison with previous results for monolithic niobium aluminide compounds.     

微量Ce元素对高铬高钴型马氏体耐热钢力学性能的影响

在不同条件下对X20Co高钴高铬型马氏体耐热钢进行热处理,用光学显微镜、扫描电镜、X射线衍射仪以及拉伸实验等手段进行表征,研究了微量Ce元素对其微观组织和力学性能的影响。结果表明,在X20Co钢的淬火过程中,添加质量分数为50×10^-6 Ce元素能促进M₆C型碳化物沿晶析出,阻碍晶界迁移,使奥氏体晶粒细化;在回火过程中能抑制M₂₃C₆型碳化物沿晶界聚集长大。同时,添加50×10^-6 Ce元素对X20Co高钴高铬型马氏体耐热钢的室温硬度、室温强度、高温瞬时拉伸强度没有显著的影响,但是使其室温韧性、塑性和高温塑性显著改善。     

A Metallographic Study of the High-Temperature Decomposition of Austenite in Alloy Steels Containing Mo and Cr

Optical and electron microscopy have been used to study the complex microstructures developed during the isothermal decomposition of austenite above 550°C in Fe-4Mo-0.2C and Fe-10Cr-0.4C alloy steels. As the transformation temperature is decreased, the decomposition products change from the disordered growth of nodular alloy pearlites to blocky ferrite structures containing fine dispersions of alloy carbide, and finally to acicular ferrite structures also containing alloy carbide. The branched M₆C and M₂₃C₆ of the high-temperature pearlite is replaced by Mo₂C and M₇C₃ with a fibrous or lath morphology in the lower temperature structures. The decomposition microstructures are explained in terms of a model which takes account of the growth of particular alloy carbides at the interfaces of ferrite allotriomorphs, where the growth mechanism, and hence the morphology, is sensitive to transformation temperature.     

M-subshell ionization of U by light-ion bombardment

M X-rays of U were produced by proton, deuteron and alpha-particle bombardment in the energy range of 0.20–1.00 MeV/u. N_6,7 → M₅ (M), N₆ → M₄ (M_β), N₅ → M₃ (M_γ), N₄ → M₂ and N₂ → M₁ line yields were obtained from a least-squares fit to the spectra and used to convert M X-ray production into M-subshell ionization cross sections. The uncertainty induced by the atomic parameters (X-ray fluorescence yields, Coster-Kronig and radiative transition rates) used in the conversion is discussed. The subshell ionization cross sections are then compared to PWBA values corrected for Coulomb deflection and energy loss according to Brandt and Lapicki, to the semiclassical theoretical values of Kocbach and to relativistic PWBA results, corrected for Coulomb and binding effects, of Chen et al. Intrashell transitions induced by the projectile and multiple ionization are suggested as causes of disagreement between theory and experiment, especially for alpha-particles. It is concluded that theory must go beyond the simple picture of the first-order perturbation approximation to explain M-subshell results and that care must be taken in the choice of wave functions.     

高暴露(001)面BiOBr/Ti3C2复合光催化剂的制备及其可见光催化性能

通过水解法合成具有高暴露(001)面的BiOBr/Ti₃C₂复合光催化剂, 利用不同手段对样品进行表征。以罗丹明B为目标污染物, 评价了不同样品的可见光催化性能。结果表明, 层状Ti₃C₂添加量为20.0wt%时, BiOBr/Ti₃C₂复合光催化剂在60 min内对罗丹明B的降解效率为97.1%, 比BiOBr的降解效率提高了34.7%。引入层状Ti₃C₂使得BiOBr与Ti₃C₂界面形成肖特基结能垒, 产生有效的电子陷阱抑制了光生电子-空穴对的复合, 从而大大提高了BiOBr的可见光催化活性。BiOBr/Ti₃C₂复合光催化剂经5次循环实验后, 降解效率仍保持在91.0%, 表明其具有良好的稳定性。活性物种捕获实验表明, 超氧自由基为罗丹明B可见光催化降解中的主要活性物种, 并据此提出了可能的光催化机理。     

Effect of CeO2 addition on structure and electrical properties of (Na0.5Bi0.5)0.93Ba0.07TiO3 ceramics prepared by citric method

(Na_0.5Bi_0.5)_0.93Ba_0.07TiO₃ ceramics added with 0–0.8 wt.% CeO₂ were prepared by a citrate method, and the influence of the CeO₂ addition on the structure and electrical properties was investigated. The specimens containing various amounts of CeO₂ show the coexistence of rhombohedral and tetragonal phases, with the relative content of the tetragonal phases gradually enhancing with increasing amount of CeO₂. Compared with (Na_0.5Bi_0.5)_0.93Ba_0.07TiO₃, the specimen added with a small amount of CeO₂ (≤0.2 wt.%) display a slightly improved electromechanical coupling factor (k_p) and piezoelectric constant (d₃₃) in conjunction with a reduced dielectric loss (tg δ) and an enhanced mechanical quality factor (Q_m), while higher CeO₂ amounts led to a rapid deterioration of the piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties. The variation of the electrical properties with the CeO₂ addition was tentatively interpreted with respect to doping effect, crystal-structural evolution and stability of ferroelectric domains.     

Microstructure characteristics of Ni-based WC composite coatings by laser induction hybrid rapid cladding

To avoid low cladding rate and cracks of cladding layer, laser induction hybrid rapid cladding (LIHRC) has been put forward in the paper. The microstructure characteristics of Ni-based WC composite coatings at the different laser scanning speed were investigated. For low laser scanning speed, the growth of γ-nickel was characterized by coarse columnar dendrites and eutectics, blocky W₂C + Fe₃W₃C carbides, and bar-like (W, Cr, Ni)₂₃C₆ carbides were formed. With increasing laser scanning speed, the growth of γ-nickel presented the fine dendrites and eutectics, the only blocky mixed carbides were precipitated and identified as W₂C + FeW₃C + W₆C_2.54 carbides. With further increasing laser scanning speed, the growth of γ-nickel was characterized by cellular crystals and eutectics, the only blocky carbides were identified as W₂C + W₆C_2.54. Moreover, experimental results showed that the efficiency of LIHRC was increased much four times higher than that of laser cladding without preheating, ceramic–metal composite coatings detected were free of cracks and had a good metallurgical bonding with substrate.     

微合金元素Nb对低碳铸钢强度和冲击韧性的影响

采用中频炉冶炼制备不同Nb含量的微合金低碳铸钢,用光学显微镜(OM)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、液压万能强度试验机、半自动冲击试验机等手段研究了Nb微合金化对低碳铸钢显微组织、强度和冲击韧性的影响.结果表明,添加合适的微合金元素Nb可以使低碳铸钢的晶粒尺寸减小20.8％～34.6％,同时促进细小NbC析出相的形成,能有效提高低碳铸钢的强度和冲击韧性,晶粒细化和析出强化为其主要的强韧化机制.其中,含Nb量为0.044％的微合金铸钢屈服强度为350 MPa,抗拉强度为520 MPa,室温冲击功为119.7 J.与普通低碳铸钢相比,其塑性基本保持不变,但屈服强度、抗拉强度和室温冲击功分别提高了20.7％、7.2％和25.6％.