Dynamic deformation and fracture behavior of ultrafine-grained aluminum alloy fabricates by equal-channel angular pressing

In the present study, ultrafine-grained microstructures of a conventional 5083 aluminum alloy were fabricated by equal-channel angular pressing, and their dynamic deformation and fracture behavior were investigated. Dynamic torsional tests were conducted on four aluminum alloy specimens using a torsional Kolsky bar, and then the test data were analyzed in relation to microstructures, tensile properties, and adiabatic shear-banding behavior. The equal-channel angular-pressed (ECAP) specimens consisted of ultrafine grains and contained a considerable amount of second-phase particles, which were refined and distributed homogeneously in the matrix as the equal-channel angular pressing pass number increased. The dynamic torsional test results indicated that the maximum shear stress increased, while the fracture shear strain remained constant, with increasing equal-channel angular pressing pass number. Observation of the deformed area beneath the dynamically fractured surface showed that a number of voids initiated mainly at second-phase particle/matrix interfaces and that the number of voids increased with increasing pass number. Adiabatic shear bands of 200 to <300 μm in width were formed in the as-extruded and 1-pass ECAP specimens having coarser particles, whereas they were hardly formed in the four-pass and eight-pass ECAP specimens having finer particles. The possibility of adiabatic shear-band formation was explained by concepts of absorbed deformation energy and void initiation.     

Effects of microstructural morphology on quasi-static and dynamic deformation behavior of Ti-6Al-4V alloy

The effects of microstructural morphology on quasi-static and dynamic deformation behavior of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy were investigated in this study. Quasi-static and dynamic torsional tests were conducted using a torsional Kolsky bar for Widmanstätten, equiaxed, and bimodal microstructures, which were processed by different heat treatments, and then, the test data were analyzed in relation to microstructures, tensile properties, and fracture mode. Quasi-static torsional properties showed a tendency similar to tensile properties and ductile fracture occurred in all three microstructures. Under dynamic torsional loading, maximum shear stress of the three microstructures was higher and fracture shear strain was lower than those under quasi-static loading, but the overall tendency was similar. In the Widmanstätten and equiaxed microstructures, adiabatic shear bands were found in the deformed region of the fractured specimens. The possibility of the adiabatic shear band formation under dynamic loading was quantitatively analyzed, depending on how plastic deformation energy was distributed to either void initiation or adiabatic shear banding. It was found to be most likely in the equiaxed microstructure, whereas it was least likely in the bimodal microstructure.     

Oxide Dissolution and Oxygen Diffusion in Solid-State Recycled Ti-6Al-4V: Numerical Modeling,Verification by Nanoindentation,and Effects on Grain Growth and Recrystallization

The oxide dissolution and oxygen diffusion during annealing of Ti-6Al-4V solid-state recycled from machining chips by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) have been investigated using nanoindentation and numerical modeling. The hardness profile from nanoindentation was converted into the oxygen concentration distribution using the Fleisher and Friedel model. An iterative fitting method was then employed to revise the ideal model proposed previously, leading to correct predictions of the oxide dissolution times and oxygen concentration profiles and verifying nanoindentation as an effective method to measure local oxygen concentrations. Recrystallization started at the prior oxide boundaries where local strains were high from the severe plastic deformation incurred in the ECAP recycling process, forming a band of ultrafine grains whose growth was retarded by solute dragging thanks to high oxygen concentrations. The recrystallized fine-grained region would advance with time to eventually replace the lamellar structure formed during ECAP.     

Microstructure transformation from lamellar to equiaxed microduplex through equal-channel angular pressing in an Al-33 pct Cu eutectic alloy

Strain-driven transformation of a lamellar structure into a homogeneous equiaxed microduplex structure was investigated in an eutectic Al-33 pct Cu alloy deformed by equal-channel angular pressing at 400 °C via route Bc. In route Bc, the rotation of sample is always 90 deg in the same sense, i.e., clockwise or counterclockwise. The transformation follows the subdivision of the colonies into smaller lamellar blocks, the separation of these lamellar blocks into isolated islands, and, finally, the shrinkage of these islands to disappear, through the breaking down of the lamellae near the boundaries of the lamellar block-and-equiaxed region. The kinetics of the strain-driven microstructure transformation process, described by the dependence of the relative lamellar area fraction on equivalent true strain accumulated by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP), physiognomically resembles that of the thermally activated transformation process described by the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov (JMAK) model for the recrystallization process.     

Structural evolution of a strip-cast al alloy sheet processed by continuous equal-channel angular pressing

Experiments were conducted on strip-cast 1050 Al alloy sheets using an equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) process to investigate the feasibility of the technique for producing metal strips. The developed process is capable of introducing shear deformation into metal strips in a continuous mode at a relatively fast forming speed of 10 to 50 m/min. The actual shear-flow patterns as a result of the continuous ECAP were demonstrated and compared with those obtained from numerical calculations. The effects of die geometry on the mechanical properties of the strips were investigated. Observations of the microstructural evolution in the equal-channel angular pressed (ECAPed) samples were conducted using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as a function of oblique angles. The texture evolution was investigated using orientation distribution function (ODF) analysis. A possible application of this process for producing an Al alloy sheet with high formability and low earing was discussed by calculating the Lankford parameter and the planar anisotropy.     

An investigation of microstructure and grain-boundary evolution during ECA pressing of pure aluminum

High-purity aluminum (99.99 pct) was processed by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) at room temperature through a die with a 90 deg angle between the die channels. Samples were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and orientation imaging microscopy (OIM) methods after one, four, and 12 passes through the die. Repetitively pressed samples were rotated by 90 deg in the same sense between successive pressing operations (route B_C). After one pressing, TEM showed a subgrain structure which was elongated in the shearing direction. Corresponding OIM data illustrated an inhomogeneous microstructure in which bandlike features were also aligned with the shearing direction. The lattice orientation varied from location to location in the material. The boundary disorientation distribution determined from the OIM data exhibited a peak at 2 to 5 deg, in agreement with a predominance of subgrains in the microstructure. After four pressings, the microstructure data obtained by TEM and OIM were mutually consistent. The disorientation data revealed a decrease in the population of 2 to 5 deg boundaries accompanied by an overall upward shift in the distribution. Two orientations were generally apparent in the texture, although specific orientations varied with location. Often, a 〈111〉 orientation tended to align with the shear direction. Following 12 ECA passes, the grain size was reduced further to about 1.0 μm. The populations of high-angle boundaries (≥15 deg) increased in the disorientation distribution. A texture characteristic of shear deformation of fcc metals became apparent, although the orientations and particular components varied with location. Microstructural refinement during severe straining includes the development of large fractions of high-angle boundaries.     

Effects of volume fraction of tempered martensite on dynamic deformation properties of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy having a bimodal microstructure

The effects of the volume fraction of tempered martensite on the tensile and dynamic deformation properties of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy having a bimodal microstructure were investigated in this study. Five microstructures having various tempered-martensite volume fractions were obtained by varying heat-treatment conditions. Dynamic torsional tests were conducted on them using a torsional Kolsky bar. The test data were analyzed in relation to microstructures, tensile properties, and adiabatic shear-band formation. Under a dynamic loading condition, the maximum shear stress increased with increasing tempered-martensite volume fraction, whereas the fracture shear strain decreased. Observation of the deformed area after the dynamic torsional test indicated that a number of voids initiated mainly at α-phase/tempered-martensite interfaces, and that the number of voids increased with increasing martensite volume fraction. Adiabatic shear bands of 6 to 10 μm in width were formed in the specimens having lower martensite volume fractions, while they were not formed in those having higher martensite volume fractions. The possibility of adiabatic shear-band formation was explained by concepts of absorbed deformation energy and void initiation.     

Warm Deformation of Low Carbon Steel Using Forward Extrusion-Equal Channel Angular Pressing Technique

A combination of extrusion and equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) was used to deform a plain low carbon steel. This process consists of two successive deformations by extrusion and ECAP in a single die (Ex-ECAP). Cylindrical samples were heated to predefined temperatures (650 and 850 ℃) and then pressed through a die channel with crosshead speed of 10 mm/s. Microstructure and resultant mechanical properties of processed material were studied. The results showed that pressing temperature has a significant effect on the resultant microstructure. While at 650 ℃, the cold worked structure with elongated ferrite grains were obtained, and at 850 ℃ the microstructure consisted of elongated ferrite grains and very fine grains at their boundaries as a consequence of continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) of ferrite phase. Also at 850 ℃, a particular microstructure consisted of cold worked ferrite and static recrystallized grains on shear bands was obtained.     

Analysis and prevention of cracking phenomenon occurring during cold forging of two AISI 1010 steel pulleys

This study is concerned with the effects of microstructural parameters on the cracking phenomenon occurring during cold forging of two AISI 1010 steels that were fabricated by converter steel making and electric furnace steel making, respectively. This allowed a comparison between microstructures that contained a small or large amount of nitrogen. Detailed microstructural analyses of the cracked region showed that a number of adiabatic shear bands, along which cracks initiated and propagated, were formed in the top interior part of the cold-forged pulley. Dynamic torsional tests were conducted using a torsional Kolsky bar in order to investigate the dynamic deformation behavior during cold forging, and then the test data were compared via microstructures, mechanical properties, adiabatic shear banding, and fracture mode. From the dynamic shear stress-strain curves, the steel containing a considerable amount of nitrogen showed a smaller shear strain of 0.2 at the maximum shear stress point, after which the shear stress decreased rapidly prior to fracture, whereas the other steel containing a smaller amount of nitrogen showed relatively homogeneous shear deformation. This dynamic torsional behavior correlated well with the cracking and adiabatic shear banding behavior, together with the yield-point phenomenon occurring in the steel containing more nitrogen. Because the cracking occurring during cold forging was associated with the adiabatic shear banding and the yield-point phenomenon, the minimization of nitrogen and the fast cooling rate after hot rolling were suggested to prevent the cracking.     

Structure and fatigue properties of 08Kh18N10T steel after equal-channel angular pressing and heating

The structure of corrosion-resistant austenitic 08Kh18N10T steel is studied after equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP), heating, and subsequent cyclic tests. After ECAP, an oriented mainly subgrain structure with a structural element size of 100–250 nm and a high fraction of deformation twins forms in the austenite of the steel, and 42 vol % of lath martensite appears. Dynamic twinning, martensitic transformation, dynamic recovery, and even recrystallization take place in the 08Kh18N10T steel during cyclic deformation in the course of fatigue tests according to the scheme of repeated tension. The fatigue strength increases after ECAP due to the refinement and twinning of an austenite structure and the appearance of martensite. The fatigue limit is maximal after ECAP and heating at 550°C for 20 h due to a high annealing twin density in a predominantly austenitic recrystallized matrix, intense dynamic twinning, and martensitic transformation during cyclic deformation.     

Recovery of Ductility in Ultrafine-Grained Low-Carbon Steel Processed Through Equal-Channel Angular Pressing Followed by Cold Rolling and Flash Annealing

The low-carbon steel workpieces are deformed by equal-channel angular pressing at 293 K (20 °C) up to an equivalent strain of ~12 using route B _c, which results in the bulk ultrafine-grained (UFG) structure with high dislocation density and partial dissolution of cementite. The yield strength (YS) is enhanced from 208 (as-received) to 872 MPa and the tensile strength is increased from 362 to 996 MPa, but the material loses total elongation (TE) from 36.2 to 2.9 pct. Cold rolling of equal-channel angular pressed steel produces the refined structure of grain size 0.11 μm. The YS increases further to 924 MPa with a marginal gain in ductility due to the reappearance of the γ fiber component. Flash annealing the samples, which were equal-channel angular pressed followed by cold rolling, at 873 K (600 °C) results in 27 pct of micron-sized (9 µm) ferrite grains in submicron-sized (<1 µm) matrix with a reduced defect density and small amount of precipitation of cementite. TE increases from 2.9 to 23.3 pct. The material retains a YS of 484 MPa and tensile strength of 517 MPa, which are higher than those of the as-received material. The UFG grains are failed by cleavage, but the micron-sized grains display ductile fracture. The ductility of the flash-annealed material is recovered significantly due to bimodal grain size distribution in ferrite and the development of a good amount of γ fiber texture components. The major contribution toward recovery of ductility comes from the bimodal grain size distribution in ferrite rather the precipitation of cementite.

     

Effect of tungsten particle shape on dynamic deformation and fracture behavior of tungsten heavy alloys

The effect of the tungsten particle shape on the dynamic deformation and fracture behavior of tungsten heavy alloys was investigated. Dynamic torsional tests were conducted using a torsional Kolsky bar for five alloys, one of which was fabricated by the double-cycled sintering process, and then the test data were compared via microstructures, mechanical properties, adiabatic shear banding, and fracture mode. The dynamic torsional test results indicated that in the double-sintered tungsten alloy whose tungsten particles were very coarse and irregularly shaped, cleavage fracture occurred in the central area of the gage section with little shear deformation, whereas shear deformation was concentrated in the central area of the gage section in the other alloys. The deformation and fracture behavior of the double-sintered alloy correlated well with the observation of the impacted penetrator specimen and the in situ fracture test results, i.e., microcrack initiation at coarse tungsten particles and cleavage crack propagation through tungsten particles. These findings suggested that the cleavage fracture mode would be beneficial for the self-sharpening effect, and, thus, the improvement of the penetration performance of the double-sintered tungsten heavy alloy would be expected.     

Effect of tungsten particle shape on dynamic deformation and fracture behavior of tungsten heavy alloys

The effect of the tungsten particle shape on the dynamic deformation and fracture behavior of tungsten heavy alloys was investigated. Dynamic torsional tests were conducted using a torsional Kolsky bar for five alloys, one of which was fabricated by the double-cycled sintering process, and then the test data were compared via microstructures, mechanical properties, adiabatic shear banding, and fracture mode. The dynamic torsional test results indicated that in the double-sintered tungsten alloy whose tungsten particles were very coarse and irregularly shaped, cleavage fracture occurred in the central area of the gage section with little shear deformation, whereas shear deformation was concentrated in the central area of the gage section in the other alloys. The deformation and fracture behavior of the double-sintered alloy correlated well with the observation of the impacted penetrator specimen and the in situ fracture test results, i.e., microcrack initiation at coarse tungsten particles and cleavage crack propagation through tungsten particles. These findings suggested that the cleavage fracture mode would be beneficial for the self-sharpening effect, and, thus, the improvement of the penetration performance of the double-sintered tungsten heavy alloy would be expected.     

Fatigue strength of a magnesium MA2-1 alloy after equal-channel angular pressing

The fatigue strength of a magnesium MA2-1 alloy is studied after annealing and equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP). The ultrafine-grained structure formed upon ECAP is shown to increase the plasticity of the material during static tension, to decrease the cyclic life to failure, and not to decrease the fatigue limit. The mechanisms of crack nucleation and growth during cyclic deformation are investigated.     

Effect of surface carburization on dynamic deformation and fracture of tungsten heavy alloys

Effects of surface carburization on dynamic deformation and fracture behavior of tungsten heavy alloys were investigated in order to improve the penetration performance. Dynamic torsional tests using a torsional Kolsky bar were conducted on four specimens, three of which were carburized by the case carburization process. The test data were then compared with hardness, Charpy impact energy, adiabatic shear banding, deformation and fracture mode, and penetration performance. With increasing carburization temperature and time, surface hardness increased, but impact energy decreased. The dynamic torsional test results indicated that for the carburized tungsten specimens, cleavage fracture occurred in the center of the gage section with little shear deformation, whereas shear deformation was concentrated at the center of the gage section for the conventionally processed specimen without carburization. The deformation and fracture behavior of the carburized specimens correlated well with the observation of the impacted penetrator specimens, i.e., microcrack initiation at tungsten particles and cleavage crack propagation. Since the cleavage fracture mode is thought to be beneficial for self-sharpening, these findings suggest the beneficial effect of the surface carburization on the penetration performance.     

热加工对铸造AM50镁合金显微结构和力学性能的影响

采用锻造和等通道转角挤压(ECAP)等技术研究了热加工对铸造AM50镁合金显微结构和力学性能的影响, 以改善该合金的力学性能.结果发现, ECAP对铸造AM50镁合金和锻造AM50镁合金两种显微结构的影响不同, 这是由于两种状态初始晶粒尺寸不同引起的.铸态AM50镁合金晶粒尺寸粗大, 经过ECAP工艺后, 晶界上出现大量平直滑移线;而锻态AM50镁合金经过ECAP工艺后, 晶粒进一步细化, 滑移线痕迹不明显.铸态AM50镁合金经过ECAP工艺后显微硬度从54.5提高到72.3, 锻造AM50镁合金经过ECAP工艺后显微硬度从60.3提高到81.9.铸造AM50镁合金经过锻造及ECAP工艺热加工后力学性能抗拉强度提高到320 Mpa, 同时延伸率保持在35%以上.     

Deformation Structures of Pure Titanium during Shear Deformation

The deformation microstructure of commercial pure (CP) titanium formed in the theoretical shear zone of an equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) die during 3 or 4 passes is investigated by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The typical feature of the microstructure is that ultrafine grains coexist with coarse elongated grains with a high density of low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs). Dislocation tangle zones (DTZs), dislocation cells (DCs), and subgrains are generated during shear deformation. The primary twin type has been found to be { 10[`1]2 }. \left\{ {10\bar{1}2} \right\}. Grain refinement appears to progress by continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX), in which dislocation movement to LAGBs leads to their evolution into high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs).     

Dynamic deformation behavior and ballistic impact properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy having equiaxed and bimodal microstructures

Effects of microstructural morphology on dynamic deformation behavior and ballistic impact properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy plates were investigated in this study. Dynamic torsional and ballistic impact tests were conducted on equiaxed and bimodal microstructures, which were processed by different heat treatments, and then the test data were analyzed in relation to microstructures and tensile properties. According to the dynamic torsional test data, maximum shear stress and fracture shear strain of the bimodal microstructure were higher than those of the equiaxed microstructure, and the possibility of the adiabatic shear band formation was more likely in the equiaxed microstructure than in the bimodal microstructure. In the ballistically impacted region of the equiaxed microstructure, a number of adiabatic shear bands and cracks were observed to be formed along plastic flow lines, and delamination occurred because of cracking along the flow lines or shear bands. In the case of the bimodal microstructure, shear bands were found in limited areas near the penetrated surface without occurring delamination, and their number was smaller than that of the equiaxed microstructure. Thus, ballistic performance of the bimodal microstructure was better than that of the equiaxed microstructure, which was consistent with the dynamic torsional test results.     

Improving corrosion resistance of RE-containing magnesium alloy ZE41A through ECAP

Significant grain refinement was achieved in rare earth (RE) containing aeronautic magnesium alloy ZE41A through equal-chan-nel angular pressing (ECAP) using rotary die at 603 K. Influence of ECAP pass number on its microstructure change and corrosion behavior was investigated by optical microscope (OM)/scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation and potentiostatic polarization tests in aque-otis solution of NaCl, respectively. The results showed that ultrafine equiaxial grains (about 2.5 μm) were obtained over 16 passes due to plastic-induced grain refinement accommodated by dynamic recrystallization. The lower corrosion current density and nobler corrosion po-tential correlated with large number of pressing passes were attributed to the low tendency toward localized corrosion with broken secondary phase after homogenization on ultrafine-grained Mg matrix. The multi-pass ECAP method made the ZE41A aeronautic magnesium alloy more attractive since severe plastic deformation may significandy improve its corrosion resistance besides superior mechanical properties.