Bond Strength of Multicomponent White Cast Iron Coatings Applied by HVOF Thermal Spray Process

Multicomponent white cast iron is a new alloy that belongs to system Fe-C-Cr-W-Mo-V, and because of its excellent wear resistance it is used in the manufacture of hot rolling mills rolls. To date, this alloy has been processed by casting, powder metallurgy, and spray forming. The high-velocity oxyfuel process is now also considered for the manufacture of components with this alloy. The effects of substrate, preheating temperature, and coating thickness on bond strength of coatings have been determined. Substrates of AISI 1020 steel and of cast iron with preheating of 150 °C and at room temperature were used to apply coatings with 200 and 400 μm nominal thickness. The bond strength of coatings was measured with the pull-off test method and the failure mode by scanning electron microscopic analysis. Coatings with thickness of 200 μm and applied on substrates of AISI 1020 steel with preheating presented bond strength of 87 ± 4 MPa.     

Rolling of Plates and Sheets from As-Cast Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B

Trace boron addition (~0.1 wt.%) to conventional titanium alloys reduces the as-cast prior-beta grain size by an order of magnitude to about 200 μm, a grain size typically observed after ingot breakdown. In this study, the feasibility of producing plate and sheet by hot rolling of as-cast Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B (wt.%) was evaluated. Starting from an initial thickness of 25 mm, as-cast Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B was successfully rolled to 2 mm sheet in a multistep rolling process. As-cast Ti-6Al-4V (without boron addition) rolled under similar conditions exhibited severe cracking. Tensile properties of the sheets and plates made from the boron-containing alloy met or exceeded AMS 4911 specifications for Ti-6Al-4V plates and sheets produced by conventional processing route. The process of making plate and sheet stock from cast titanium alloy ingots, without recourse to expensive ingot breakdown, can significantly reduce the number of expensive and time-consuming processing steps for making titanium alloy components, thereby enhancing the affordability and expanding the range of titanium applications.     

Influence of Alloying Elements Upon the Solidification Interval of CA6NM Cast Martensitic Stainless Steel

The influence of different Cr and C contents upon the solidification interval of ASTM A352M-06 Grade CA6NM cast martensitic stainless steel has been investigated using computational thermodynamics, and checked against DTA measurements in samples taken from 13 large cast parts, in order to identify potential sources for improvement on the part castability. Calculation results suggest, indeed, that this would be the case for C: when its content increases from 0.018 to 0.044 wt.% C (within the allowed range in the alloy specification), the solidification intervals increases from 25 to 43 K, which suggests improved castability with decreasing C contents. DTA results, however, do not support this prediction, showing a fairly constant solidification interval around 23 K for all investigated samples. The results are discussed both regarding the impact in alloy processing and the fitness of the existing databases to reproduce experimental results in these limiting cases.     

耐磨铸造Fe-B-C合金的研究

借助光学显微镜、扫描电镜和X射线衍射分析等手段,研究了硼(B)含量>2．0％和碳(C)含量<0．2％的铸造 Fe-B-C合金的凝固组织及热处理后的组织和性能．铸造Fe-B-C合金的凝固组织由Fe2B、铁素体和珠光体组成,硼化物呈网状沿晶界分布．Fe-B-C合金经950℃正火处理后,局部出现断网现象,基体组织全部转变为板条马氏体,硬度大幅度提高, HRC接近60,冲击韧度大于10 J／cm2,动态断裂韧度大于30 MPa·m1/2．在干滑动磨损条件下,Fe-B-C合金的耐磨性优于镍硬白口铸铁和GCr15、Cr12MoV等合金钢,与高铬白口铸铁相当．Fe-B-C合金熔炼简便、铸造性能好,且不含Ni 和MO等昂贵合金元素,具有较低的生产成本．     

Microstructure,Mechanical Properties,and Unlubricated Sliding Wear Behavior of Air-Cooled MnSiCrB Cast Steels

Two medium carbon low-alloy MnSiCrB cast steels containing different Si contents (0.5 and 1.5 wt.%) were designed, and the effects of Si contents on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and unlubricated sliding wear behavior of the cast steels after air-cooling from 850 °C and subsequent tempering at 220 °C was studied. The results show that the microstructure of the cast steel containing 0.5 wt.% Si consists of granular bainite and lower bainite/martensite multi-phase. In the cast steel containing 1.5 wt.% Si, granular bainite was not observed. The microstructure consists of carbide-free bainite/martensite multi-phase. Excellent hardenability can be obtained at both low and high Si levels. The cast steel containing 0.5 wt.% Si exhibits excellent combination of strength, ductility, and impact toughness superior to the cast steel containing 1.5 wt.% Si. Also, the wear-resistance of the former steel is better than that of the latter in the unlubricated sliding wear condition. The air-cooled MnSiCrB cast steel containing low Si levels, with excellent mechanical properties and wear-resistance, is a potential high-performance and low-cost wear-resistant cast steel for unlubricated sliding wear condition.     

Effects of cold rolling parameters on sagging behavior for three layer Al−Si/Al−Mn(Zn)/Al−Si brazing sheets

The effects of intermediate annealing (IA) and the final cold rolling (CR) condition on the microstructure and sagging resistance during brazing were investigated using three layer clad sheets composed of the Al−7.5 wt.%Si alloy (filler, thickness: 10 μm)/Al−1.3 wt.%Mn based alloy (core, 80 μm)/Al−7.5 wt.%Si alloy (filler, 10 μm). Also, the effect of 1.2≈2 wt.% Zn addition into the core on the sagging resistance of the clad sheets was determined. It was revealed that all the clad sheets fabricated by the optimum condition (IA at 690 K and CR to 20≈45%) show excellent sagging resistance with a limited erosion due to the formation of a coarsely recrystallized grain structure in the core during brazing. It was also revealed that the recrystallization behavior of the Al−1.3 wt.%Mn based alloy is hardly affected by the addition of 1.2≈2 wt.%Zn during the brazing cycle. Therefore, the sagging resistance of the clad sheets is found to be governed not by the Zn content added in the Al−1.3wt.%Mn based core, but by the intermediate annealing and final cold rolling condition.     

新型铝青铜及其喷涂层中Ce元素的作用(英文)

采用一次共装熔炼、砂型铸造Al含量超过Cu-Al二元合金共析点的新型铝青铜合金Cu-14Al-4.5Fe,在45#中碳钢表面制备铝青铜等离子喷涂层。通过扫面电镜、X射线衍射分析、电子探针、透射电镜和显微硬度计分析Ce元素对新型铝青铜合金及喷涂层表面组织形貌和维氏硬度的影响。结果表明:添加0.6%Ce到铸态合金及喷涂层可以使细化的κ相均匀分布于基体,并提高材料硬度。等离子喷涂层快速凝固,保留铝青铜涂层中Fe元素的过饱和固溶体,避免生成(α+γ2)共析相。含Ce喷涂层中的堆垛层错是提高材料力学性能的因素。     

Microstructure evolution and low temperature superplasticity of ZK40 magnesium alloy subjected to ECAP

Microstructure evolution and superplastic behaviors of ZK40 magnesium alloy were investigated in the temperature range of 473–623 K. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to study the microstructure changes. After the alloy had been processed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) for one pass through the die, significant twinning was found to have occurred, and the mean grain size was 5.6 μm. Finer grains were obtained after multi-pass ECAP, and the average grain size of the alloy ECAPed for three passes was as low as 0.8 μm; this alloy exhibited low temperature superplasticity at 473–523 K, and the elongations obtained at the initial strain rate of 1×10⁻³ s⁻¹ were 260% at 473 K and 612% at 523 K. Corresponding values for the ZK40 alloy processed by ECAP for only one pass were 124% at 473 K and 212% at 523 K. Poor superplastic behavior of the ZK40 alloy processed by ECAP for only one pass was related to the longrange stresses associated with the non-equilibrium grain boundaries within the coarse grains. The incompatibility between the fine grains and the coarse grains was thought to be unfavorable to the improvement of superplascity. This article is based on a presentation in “The 7th Korea-China Workshop on Advanced Materials” organized by the Korea-China Advanced Materials Cooperation Center and the China-Korea Advanced Materials Cooperation Center, held at Ramada Plaza Jeju Hotel, Jeju Island, Korea on August 24–27, 2003.     

Inoculated Slightly Hypereutectic Gray Cast Irons

The current experimental investigation in this article was designed to characterize the structure of mold (M) and ladle (L) inoculated, low-S (0.025 wt.% S), low-Al (0.003 wt.% Al), slightly hypereutectic (CE = 4.4-4.5 wt.%) electric melted gray irons, typical for high performance thin-wall castings. It describes the effect of a Ca, Al, Zr-FeSi inoculant addition of 0-0.25 wt.% on structure characteristics, and compares to similar treatments with hypoeutectic irons (3.5-3.6 wt.% CE, 0.025 wt.% S, and 0.003 wt.% Al). A complex structure including primary graphite, austenite dendrites, and eutectic cells is obtained in hypereutectic irons, as the result of nonequilibrium solidification following the concept of a coexisting region. Dendrites appear to be distributed between eutectic cells at higher eutectic undercooling, while in inoculated irons and for lower undercooling, the eutectic cells are “reinforced” by eutectic austenite dendrites. A Zr, Ca, Al-FeSi alloy appears to be an effective inoculant in low S, low Al, gray cast irons, especially for a late inoculation technique, with beneficial effects on both graphite and austenite phases. First, inoculation influenced the nucleation of graphite/eutectic cell, and then their characteristics. A further role of these active elements directly contributed to form nucleation sites for austenite, as complex (Mn,X)S particles.     

Analyzing As-Cast Age Hardening of 356 Cast Alloy

The as-cast age hardening behavior of 356 cast alloy has been investigated by micro hardness measurement, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and electron probe micro analyzer. Age hardening results show that micro hardness value after as-cast aging treatment is almost the same as by T6 treatment, and the solidification rate has little effect on the as-cast age hardening response of 356 cast alloy. DSC and TEM analysis results show that the as-cast age hardening response of 356 cast alloy is attributed to the precipitation of β′ and β″ phases, the high Si concentration in α(Al) contributes about 10 HV to the micro hardness value for samples in as-cast and as-cast aging conditions.     

Influence of prior-austenite grain size on the oxidation behavior of 9 wt.% cr-1 wt.% Mo steel

The effect of grain size on the oxidation of 9 wt.% Cr-1 wt.% Mo steel (with prior-austenite grain sizes of 90, 210, and 360 m) has been studied at 973 K in air. After the initial stages of oxidation (up to 60 min), the fine-grain specimen (90 m) suffered heavy spallation. A similar spallation took place after 120 min in the case of the specimen with intermediate grain size (210 m), and after 360 min in a coarse-grain (360 m) specimen. This increase in the duration for the onset of pronounced spallation with grain size has been attributed to the smaller area of the grain boundaries which are the locations of higher growth stresses leading to spallation. This dependence of spallation characteristics on the alloy grain size has been confirmed by the incidence of higher acoustic-emission activity during AE monitoring. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has confirmed the occurrence of pronounced spallation of the oxides formed in the areas adjoining the grain boundaries.     

Metallurgical Design of High-Performance GMAW Electrodes for Joining HSLA-65 Steel

A C++ algorithm was used to metallurgically design high-performance GMAW electrodes for joining HSLA-65 steel. The electrode design was based on: (1) a carbon content ≤0.06 wt.% for improved weldability, (2) a 5-15% lower A_r3 transformation temperature than HSLA-65 steel for enhanced strength and toughness, and (3) a desirable range of carbon equivalent number (CEN) for consistently overmatching the minimum specified tensile strength of HSLA-65 steel. The algorithm utilized a set of boundary conditions that included calculated A_r3, B_S, B_F, and M_S transformation temperatures besides CEN. Numerical ranges for boundary conditions were derived from chemical compositions of commercial HSLA-65 steel, substituting thermomechanical effects with weld solidification effects. The boundary conditions were applied in evaluating chemical composition ranges of the following three prospective welding electrode specification groups that offered to provide ≤0.06 wt.% carbon, a minimum transverse-weld tensile strength of 552 MPa (80 ksi), and a minimum CVN impact toughness of 27 J at −29 °C through −51 °C (20 ft lbf at −20 °F through −60 °F) in the as-welded condition: (1) ER80S-Ni1, (2) E90C-K3, and (3) E80C-W2. At ≤0.06 wt.% carbon, the algorithm returned over 3100 results for E90C-K3 that satisfied the boundary conditions, but returned no acceptable results for other two electrode specification groups. Results revealed that welding electrode designs based on an Fe-C-Mn-Ni-Mo system, containing 0.06 wt.% C, 1.6 wt.% Mn, 0.8 wt.% Ni, and 0.3 wt.% Mo that provide weld metals characterized by an A_r3 of 690 °C, a CEN of 0.29, and a (B_F − M_S) of 30 °C are expected to consistently overmatch the minimum specified tensile strength of HSLA-65 steel while offering a minimum CVN impact toughness of 41 J at −40 °C (30 ft lbf at −40 °F).     

Microstructure and properties of Cr3C2-modified nickel-based alloy coating deposited by plasma transferred arc process

The nickel-based alloy with 30 wt.% chromic carbide (Cr₃C₂) particles has been deposited on Q235-carbon steel (including 0.12 wt.% C) using plasma transferred arc (PTA) welding machine. The microstructure and properties of the deposited coatings were investigated using optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) equiped with X-ray energy spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), microhardness testes, and sliding wear test. It was found that the γ(Ni, Fe), M₇(C,B)₃, Ni₄B₃, and (Cr,Fe)₂B phases existed in the Cr₃C₂-free nickel-based alloy coating obtained by PTA process. The typical hypoeutectic structure and composition segregation in the solid solution could be found clearly. The addition of 30 wt.% Cr₃C₂ particles led to the existing of Cr₃C₂ phase and the microstructure changing from hypoeutectic structure into hypereutectic structure. The composition segregation in the solid solution could not be found clearly. The average microhardness of the Cr₃C₂-free nickel-based alloy coating increased by 450-500 HV after the addition of 30 wt.% Cr₃C₂ particles. The partial dissolution of Cr₃C₂ particles led to the enrichment of carbon and chromium in the melten pool, and hence caused the formation of more chromium-rich carbides after the solidification process. The undissolved Cr₃C₂ particles and the increasing of chromium-rich carbides was beneficial to enhance the hardness and wear resistance of the Cr₃C₂-modified nickel-based alloy coating deposited by PTA process.     

Effect of high pressure on microstructure of cast Mg-8Zn-0.5Zr-0.5Gd alloy

Mg-8Zn-0.5Zr-0.5Gd alloy was prepared by high pressure solidification. Effect of high pressure on microstructure, micro-hardness and corrosion behavior in Hank's solution of the Mg-8Zn-0.5Zr-0.5Gd alloy were investigated by means of optical microscopy(OM), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS), and X-ray diffractometer(XRD). The results showed that, compared with the conventional solidification, high pressure solidification obviously refined the grain size of Mg-8Zn-0.5Zr-0.5Gd alloy. The grain size was refined from 200-300 μm to 100-200 μm and the secondary dendrite arm spacing reduced from 30-50 μm to 10-30 μm. Moreover, the solubility of Zn in the alloy increased and the amount and size of Mg-Zn-Gd phases significantly decreased. The micro-hardness of the alloy solidified under high pressure was improved significantly from 56.17 HV to 63.14 HV. The polarization resistance(Rp) of the alloy had a substantial increase in simulated body fl uid, thus the corrosion rate was significantly reduced from 4.0 to 2.7 mm·year-1.     

Strengthening mechanisms in a high-strength bulk nanostructured Cu–Zn–Al alloy processed via cryomilling and spark plasma sintering

A bulk nanostructured alloy with the nominal composition Cu–30Zn–0.8Al wt.% (commercial designation brass 260) was fabricated by cryomilling of brass powders and subsequent spark plasma sintering (SPS) of the cryomilled powders, yielding a compressive yield strength of 950 MPa, which is significantly higher than the yield strength of commercial brass 260 alloys (～200–400 MPa). Transmission electron microscopy investigations revealed that cryomilling results in an average grain diameter of 26 nm and a high density of deformation twins. Nearly fully dense bulk samples were obtained after SPS of cryomilled powders, with average grain diameter 110 nm. After SPS, 10 vol.% of twins is retained with average twin thickness 30 nm. Three-dimensional atom-probe tomography studies demonstrate that the distribution of Al is highly inhomogeneous in the sintered bulk samples, and Al-containing precipitates including Al(Cu,Zn)–O–N, Al–O–N and Al–N are distributed in the matrix. The precipitates have an average diameter of 1.7 nm and a volume fraction of 0.39%. Quantitative calculations were performed for different strengthening contributions in the sintered bulk samples, including grain boundary, twin boundary, precipitate, dislocation and solid-solution strengthening. Results from the analyses demonstrate that precipitate and grain boundary strengthening are the dominant strengthening mechanisms, and the calculated overall yield strength is in reasonable agreement with the experimentally determined compressive yield strength.     

Nanocrystalline Fe–C alloys produced by ball milling of iron and graphite

A series of nanocrystalline Fe–C alloys with different carbon concentrations (x_tot) up to 19.4 at.% (4.90 wt.%) are prepared by ball milling. The microstructures of these alloys are characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, and partitioning of carbon between grain boundaries and grain interiors is determined by atom probe tomography. It is found that the segregation of carbon to grain boundaries of α-ferrite can significantly reduce its grain size to a few nanometers. When the grain boundaries of ferrite are saturated with carbon, a metastable thermodynamic equilibrium between the matrix and the grain boundaries is approached, inducing a decreasing grain size with increasing x_tot. Eventually the size reaches a lower limit of about 6 nm in alloys with x_tot > 6.19 at.% (1.40 wt.%); a further increase in x_tot leads to the precipitation of carbon as Fe₃C. The observed presence of an amorphous structure in 19.4 at.% C (4.90 wt.%) alloy is ascribed to a deformation-driven amorphization of Fe₃C by severe plastic deformation. By measuring the temperature dependence of the grain size for an alloy with 1.77 at.% C additional evidence is provided for a metastable equilibrium reached in the nanocrystalline alloy.     

On the nature of anomalously high plasticity of high-strength titanium nickelide alloys with shape-memory effects: II. Mechanisms of plastic deformation upon isothermal loading

Mechanisms of plastic deformation have been studied in detail in the process of isothermal loading at room temperature in a high-purity shape-memory alloy of composition Ti_49.4Ni_50.6. The alloy was studied in two initial states: usual coarse-grained (with an average grain size of 20–30 μm) and submicrocrystalline (with an average grain size of 0.2–0.3 μm). It has been shown that during tensile tests there occurs a mechanically induced martensitic transformation in the alloy at stresses corresponding to stages I, II, and III in the tensile curve and then elastic and plastic deformation of B19′ martensite is observed at stages IV, V, and VI, respectively. Optical metallography in situ and electron microscopy have been used to study microstructural features and mechanisms of plastic deformation of the alloy up to its failure. Original Russian Text ? E.F. Dudarev, R.Z. Valiev, Yu.R. Kolobov, A.I. Lotkov, V.G. Pushin, G.P. Bakach, D.V. Gunderov, A.P. Dyupin, N.N. Kuranova, 2009, published in Fizika Metallov i Metallovedenie, 2009, Vol. 107, No. 3, pp. 316–330.     

Effects of carbide size and Co content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of HVOF-sprayed WC-Co coatings

Twelve commercially available WC-Co powders with different average WC grain sizes (0.2, 2, and 6 μm) and cobalt contents (8, 12, 17 and 25 wt.%) were sprayed on carbon steel substrates using High Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) spraying process. Hardness, Young's modulus, and fracture toughness of the coatings were measured. While the hardness and Young's modulus decreased with increasing cobalt content from 1600 to 1100 Hv and from 400 to 300 GPa respectively, the fracture toughness remained in the range from 4 to 6 MPam^1/2. The coatings with 2 μm carbide showed lower hardness than those deposited from 0.2 and 6 μm carbide. These measured mechanical properties were discussed with the help of microstructures of the coatings investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and chemical analysis. Finally, the hardness of the binder phase in these coatings was estimated to range from 1000 to 1300 Hv by applying the mixture rule for composites to the experimental data, demonstrating that such hardening of the binder phase is a key factor affecting the mechanical properties of the coatings.     

Influence of Applied Pressure on Tensile Behaviour and Microstructure of Squeeze Cast Mg Alloy AM50 with Ca Addition

The development of alternative manufacturing processes is essential for the success in applying Ca-containing magnesium alloys for automotive applications due to their relatively poor die castability. Squeeze casting with its inherent advantages has been demonstrated capable of minimizing the formation of casting defects in Mg-Al-Ca alloys. In this study, the effect of applied pressures on tensile behavior and microstructure of squeeze cast Mg-5wt.%Al-1%wt.%Ca alloy (AMX501) was investigated with the applied pressure varying from 3 to 90 MPa. The results of tensile testing indicate that the tensile properties of AMX501 alloy including ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation (E _f) increase from 153.7, 80 MPa and 3.26% to 183.7, 90.5, and 5.42% with increasing applied pressure levels from 3 to 90 MPa, respectively. The analysis of true stress versus strain curves shows that an increase in applied pressure levels result in high straining hardening rates during the plastic deformation of the alloy. Microstructural analysis and density measurements indicate that, as the applied pressure increases, the porosity levels of the alloy decrease considerably, despite of almost no significant reduction in grain sizes of the squeeze cast alloys due to their high aspect ratio of cylindrical castings. Hence, the improvement in tensile properties should be primarily attributed to casting densification resulting from applied pressures. The scanning electron microscopy observation on fractured surfaces reveals that the fracture modes of the squeeze cast alloys transit to ductile from brittle with increasing applied pressures.     

Abrasive wear behavior of Ni-P coated Si3N4 reinforced Al6061 composites

Ni-P coated Si₃N₄ reinforced Al6061 composites were fabricated by vortex method. Percentage of reinforcement was varied from 6 wt.% to 10 wt.% in steps of 2. Cast matrix alloy and developed composites were hot forged at a temperature of 500 °C using a 300T hydraulic hammer. Both as cast and hot forged matrix alloy and its composites were subjected to microstructure studies, grain size analysis, microhardness and abrasive wear tests. Microstructure studies reveal uniform distribution of silicon nitride particles with good bond between matrix and reinforcement in both as cast and hot forged condition. It is observed that, increased content of reinforcement in both as cast and hot forged composites do result in significant grain refinement. However, when compared with as cast matrix alloy and its composites hot forged alloy and its composites exhibits higher extent of grain refinement. Both as cast and hot forged composites exhibit improved microhardness and abrasive wear resistance when compared with the unreinforced alloys under identical test conditions. Abraded worn surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for possible wear mechanisms. Increased abrasive particle size and load has resulted in larger extent of grooving leading to increased abrasive wear loss for both the matrix alloy and developed composites.