The effect of grain size on the ambient temperature creep deformation behavior of a beta Ti-14.8 V alloy

The effect of grain size in the range of 18 to 350 μm on the ambient-temperature creep behavior of a metastable β Ti-14.8 pct V alloy was investigated at a stress level of 95 pct yield stress. The main modes of deformation were found to be stress-induced plate (SIP) formation and slip. In the 350-μm grain-size material, the plates were found to nucleate and grow with time, thereby contributing to the ambient-temperature creep strain. The extent of SIP formation and growth were found to decrease with decreasing grain size, i.e., creep strain was found to decrease with decreasing grain size. The SIPs observed during creep were found to be similar to those observed in an earlier investigation during tensile testing, which were reported to be {332}〈113〉 twins.     

Elevated temperature deformation behavior of an Al-8.4 wt pct Fe-3.6 wt pct Ce alloy

The elevated temperature deformation characteristics of a rapidly solidified Al-8.4 wt pct Fe-3.6 wt pct Ce alloy have been investigated. Constant true strain rate compression tests were performed between 523 and 823 K at strain rates ranging from 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻³ s⁻¹. At temperatures below approximately 723 K, the alloy is significantly stronger than oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) aluminum. However, at higher temperatures, the strength of the Al-Fe-Ce alloy falls rapidly with increasing temperature while ODS aluminum exhibits an apparent threshold stress. It is shown that particle coarsening cannot fully account for the reduction in strength of the Al-Fe-Ce alloy at elevated temperatures. The true activation energy for deformation of the Al-Fe-Ce alloy at temperatures between 723 and 773 K is significantly greater than that for self-diffusion in the matrix. This is unlike the behavior of ODS alloys, which contain nondeformable particles and exhibit true activation energies close to that for self-diffusion in the matrix. Since abnormally high true activation energies for deformation are also exhibited by materials containing deformable particles, such as γ^′ strengthened superalloys, it is concluded that elevated temperature deformation in ythe Al-Fe-Ce alloy involves deformation of both the matrix and the precipitates. The loss of strength of the Al-Fe-Ce alloy appears to be related to a reduction in strength of at least some of the second phase particles at temperatures above 723 K. Formerly Research Assistant, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University.     

The microstructural influence of a 2 wt pct Mo addition to a Ti-1.5 wt pct Ni alloy

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

The effect of grain size and temperature on the superplastic deformation behavior of a 7075 Al alloy

The high-temperature deformation behavior of a 7075 Al alloy has been investigated within the framework of a recently proposed internal-variable theory for structural superplasticity (SSP). The flow curves were obtained by performing a series of load relaxation tests for specimens with various grain sizes, at temperatures ranging from 445 °C to 515 °C. The overall flow curves were then separated into two parts, according to the respective physical mechanisms, viz., the grain-boundary sliding (GBS) and the accommodating dislocation glide processes, contrary to the conventional approach which uses a single power-law relation. These individual curves were then analyzed based on the internal-variable theory. Much valuable information has been obtained in this way, providing new physical insight as well as a more comprehensive understanding of SSP. The GBS curve could be described as a Newtonian viscous flow, signified by the power-index value of M _g =1.0 for this alloy. The unresolved issue of threshold stress is also clarified and identified as a critical stress required for the GBS. The role of grain refinement is found to shift the grain-matrix deformation (GMD) curve into a higher stress and strain-rate region, while the GBS curve into a lower stress and higher strain-rate region along the respective characteristic scaling line to bring both curves into a common flow-stress region, in which the GMD and GBS can operate simultaneously, resulting in the usual superplastic deformation behavior.     

Effect of hydrogen on creep behavior of Ti-6AI-4V alloy at room temperature

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Room temperature creep was investigated for a commercial Ti-6Al-4V alloy containing 80 ppm to 720 ppm hydrogen. It was shown that dissolved hydrogen...     

Effect of hydrogen on creep behavior of Ti-6AI-4V alloy at room temperature

Room temperature creep was investigated for a commercial Ti-6Al-4V alloy containing 80 ppm to 720 ppm hydrogen. It was shown that dissolved hydrogen promoted the creep of this alloy at room temperature, markedly increasing both the creep strain and rate in the primary stage. The results indicated that dissolved hydrogen does not change the primary creep mechanism, but rather increases mobility of glide dislocations. It is suggested that dissolved hydrogen atoms soften the alloy at the beginning of deformation due to this increase in dislocation mobility. The initial deformation results in hydrogen build-up near the subboundaries due to the “sweeping” effect of the glide dislocations, thereby causing hydrogen embrittlement in a later stage of deformation. Formerly Visiting Scholar at the University of Delaware     

Effect of hydrogen on creep behavior of Ti-6AI-4V alloy at room temperature

Room temperature creep was investigated for a commercial Ti-6Al-4V alloy containing 80 ppm to 720 ppm hydrogen. It was shown that dissolved hydrogen promoted the creep of this alloy at room temperature, markedly increasing both the creep strain and rate in the primary stage. The results indicated that dissolved hydrogen does not change the primary creep mechanism, but rather increases mobility of glide dislocations. It is suggested that dissolved hydrogen atoms soften the alloy at the beginning of deformation due to this increase in dislocation mobility. The initial deformation results in hydrogen build-up near the subboundaries due to the “sweeping” effect of the glide dislocations, thereby causing hydrogen embrittlement in a later stage of deformation.     

The compressive creep behavior of a Pu-1 wt pct Ga δ-stabilized alloy at elevated temperatures

Constant stress compression creep tests were performed in vacuum on a high-purity Pu-1 wt pct Ga ö-stabilized alloy over the temperature range from 252° to 382°C for stresses from 700 to 2500 psi. Although the primary creep behavior could not be correlated by established techniques, the creep rates developed after true creep strains of about 0.15 provided good agreement with the temperature and stress dependence of creep for pure metals and dilute alloys. A power stress law for steady-state creep of the alloy was found forδ/E values less than 5 x 10′4, with the stress exponent being 4.0, and it was concluded that the alloy exhibits Class I solid solution behavior. For higher stress, exponential stress dependence was observed. The true activation energy for creep was found to be 38,900 cal per mole which is in good agreement with the value for self-diffus ion of plutonium in the ô-stabilized alloy. The primary creep behavior could be divided into three types: 1) at low strain rates, the creep rate gradually increases to a nearly steady-state; 2) at intermediate strain rates, the creep rate first decreases and then increases to steady-state; and 3) at high strain rates, the creep rate decreases gradually to steady-state. It was concluded that the failure of established creep correlations for primary creep of Pu-1 wt pct Ga was the result of some temperature-dependent component of creep structure, possibly resulting from radiation damage byα particles.     

Diffusion along grain and interphase boundaries in alpha Zr and Zr-2.5 wt pct Nb alloy

Diffusion parameters of Cr diffusion along the α/β interphase boundaries of a Zr-2.5 wt pct Nb alloy are presented. The conventional radiotracer technique combined with serial sectioning of the samples was applied. In the Arrhenius plot, it is possible to consider only one straight line (with Q=133 kJ/mol for 615<T<953 K) or two zones (with Q=230 kJ/mol for 773<T<953 K and Q=77 kJ/mol for 615<T<773 K). An analysis is made of these results together with previous data concerning diffusion along short circuits paths in α-Zr (grain boundaries) and Zr-2.5 wt pct Nb (interphase boundaries): Zr and Nb as the alloy component elements and Ni, Fe, and Co as other relevant impurities. Different mechanisms are proposed: a vacancy mechanism for Zr and Nb and an interstitial-like mechanism for the impurities, for both kind of boundaries. The influence on diffusion and the estimated values of the impurities segregation in the α phase are discussed in the work. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Diffusion along grain and interphase boundaries in alpha Zr and Zr-2.5 wt pct Nb alloy

Diffusion parameters of Cr diffusion along the α/β interphase boundaries of a Zr-2.5 wt pct Nb alloy are presented. The conventional radiotracer technique combined with serial sectioning of the samples was applied. In the Arrhenius plot, it is possible to consider only one straight line (with Q=133 kJ/mol for 615<T<953K) or two zones (with Q=230 kJ/mol for 773<T<953 K and Q=77 kJ/mol for 615<T<773 K). An analysis is made of these results together with previous data concerning diffusion along short circuits paths in α-Zr (grain boundaries) and Zr-2.5 wt pct Nb (interphase boundaries): Zr and Nb as the alloy component elements and Ni, Fe, and Co as other relevant impurities. Different mechanisms are proposed: a vacancy mechanism for Zr and Nb and an interstitial-like mechanism for the impurities, for both kind of boundaries. The influence on diffusion and the estimated values of the impurities segregation in the α phase are discussed in the work. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committe, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

The high temperature oxidation of Al-4.2 wt pct Mg alloy

The high temperature oxidation of Al-Mg alloys is characterized by the rapid formation of thick, micro-crystalline oxide films. The oxidation kinetics of an Al-4.2 wt pct Mg alloy under dry and moist 20 pct O₂/Ar have been measured, and oxide films grown on bulk specimens complementary to the weight gain curves have been characterized using electron optical techniques (TEM, SEM). Initial oxidation takes place by the nucleation and growth of primary crystalline oxides at the oxide/metal interface and by the formation of secondary oxides of MgO by the reduction of the original amorphous over-layer of γ-Al₂O₃ by Mg. Subsequent oxidation is dominated by the further nucleation and growth of primary oxides. The presence of water vapor in the oxidizing environment initially reduces oxidation rates through a modification of the mechanical properties of the amorphous overlayer but does not affect the overall oxidation mechanism. A microstructural model has been developed which describes oxidation of Al-Mg alloys in terms of fracture of the original air-formed film by primary MgO nucleation and growth and modification to this film by the presence of water vapor in the oxidizing environment. Formerly at Imperial College, London.     

The precipitation behavior of a Zr-2.5 wt pct Nb alloy

The morphology, crystallography, and nature of precipitates in a quenched and aged Zr-2.5 wt pct Nb alloy has been studied by transmission electron microscopy. The needle-shaped matrix precipitates and equiaxed twin boundary nucleated precipitates produced by aging at 500 °C were the equilibrium Nb-rich β₂ phase. On aging at 600 °C, the matrix precipitation was a mixture of β₂ needles and coarse metastable Zr-rich β₁ particles, while only β₁ particles were found at twin boundaries. The growth direction of the needle-shaped particles, 6.6 deg to 8.2 deg from (1-100)_h, and their orientation relationship can be predicted by an invariant line strain model. The β₁ precipitates have the Burgers orientation relationship. The formation of metastable β₁ and stable β₂ particles is considered from the free energy approach of Menon, Banerjee, and Krishnan.     

The effect of environment and grain size on the creep behavior of a ni-6 pct w solid solution

The effects of environment and grain size on the steady-state creep and creep rupture properties of a Ni-6 pct W solid solution are examined by testing in vacuum and commercial purity argon at 5000 psi and 900°C. The steady-state creep rate is found to decrease with increasing grain size at small grain sizes, both in vacuum and argon, owing to the effects of grain boundary sliding. At large grain sizes the creep rate is independent of grain size in vacuum and increases with grain size in argon. It is suggested that the increase in creep rate with increasing grain size is associated with fact that large-grained samples tested in argon do not reach steady-state before rupture occurs. Formerly Graduate Student, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.     

Mechanical properties and fracture behavior of an ultrafine-grained Al-20 wt pct Si alloy

The effect of powder particle size on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and fracture behavior of Al-20 wt pct Si alloy powders was studied in both the gas-atomized and extruded conditions. The microstructure of the as-atomized powders consisted of fine Si particles and that of the extruded bars showed a homogeneous distribution of fine eutectic Si and primary Si particles embedded in the Al matrix. The grain size of fcc-Al varied from 150 to 600 nm and the size of the eutectic Si and primary Si was about 100 to 200 nm in the extruded bars. The room-temperature tensile strength of the alloy with a powder size <26 μm was 322 MPa, while for the coarser powder (45 to 106 μm), it was 230 MPa. The tensile strength of the extruded bar from the fine powder (<26 μm) was also higher than that of the Al-20 wt pct Si-3 wt pet Fe (powder size: 60 to 120 μm) alloys. With decreasing powder size from 45 to 106 μm to <26 μm, the specific wear of all the alloys decreased significantly at all sliding speeds due to the higher strength achieved by ultrafine-grained constituent phases. The thickness of the deformed layer of the alloy from the coarse powder (10 μm at 3.5 m/s) was larger on the worm surface in comparison to the bars from the fine powders (5 μm at 3.5 m/s), attributed to the lower strength of the bars with coarse powders.     

Mechanical properties and fracture behavior of an ultrafine-grained Al-20 wt pct Si alloy

The effect of powder particle size on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and fracture behavior of Al-20 wt pct Si alloy powders was studied in both the gas-atomized and extruded conditions. The microstructure of the as-atomized powders consisted of fine Si particles and that of the extruded bars showed a homogeneous distribution of fine eutectic Si and primary Si particles embedded in the Al matrix. The grain size of fcc-Al varied from 150 to 600 nm and the size of the eutectic Si and primary Si was about 100 to 200 nm in the extruded bars. The room-temperature tensile strength of the alloy with a powder size <26 μm was 322 MPa, while for the coarser powder (45 to 106 μm), it was 230 MPa. The tensile strength of the extruded bar from the fine powder (<26 μm) was also higher than that of the Al-20 wt pct Si-3 wt pct Fe (powder size: 60 to 120 μm) alloys. With decreasing powder size from 45 to 106 μm to <26 μm, the specific wear of all the alloys decreased significantly at all sliding speeds due to the higher strength achieved by ultrafine-grained constituent phases. The thickness of the deformed layer of the alloy from the coarse powder (10 μm at 3.5 m/s) was larger on the worn surface in comparison to the bars from the fine powders (5 μm at 3.5 m/s), attributed to the lower strength of the bars with coarse powders.     

The evolution of grain boundary character during superplastic deformation of an Al-6 pct Cu-0.4 pct Zr alloy

The evolution of microstructure, texture, and microtexture in an Al-6 pct Cu-0.4 pct Zr alloy was studied during mechanical testing at 480 °C and a strain rate of 5·10⁻⁴ s⁻¹. The as-processed material had an elongated, banded microstructure and a deformation texture with orientation distribution along the β-orientation fiber. The true strain vs true stress curve exhibited three stages: I, II, and III. Work hardening occurred in stages I and III, whereas nearly steady-state behavior was observed in stage II. A bimodal distribution of boundary disorientation angles was evident in as-processed material and persisted into stage I, with peaks at 5–15 deg in the low-angle boundary (LAB) regime and at 45–60 deg in the high-angle boundary (HAB) regime. An increase in strain rate sensitivity coefficient, m, in stage I was accompanied by fragmentation of the initial microstructure, leading to the formation of new grains. During stage II the strain rate sensitivity coefficient, m, attained a value of 0.5, which is consistent with the onset of grain boundary sliding. In stage III, the texture and the grain boundary disorientation distribution became randomized while the m value decreased. Grain elongation and cavity formation at second-phase particles and along grain boundaries were seen in samples deformed to failure. The as-processed microstructure is described in terms of deformation banding, and a model for the evolution of such a structure during superplastic deformation is proposed.