Friction stir processing: An effective technique to refine grain structure and enhance ductility

Commercial 5083 Al rolled plates were subjected to friction stir processing (FSP) with a tool rotational speed of 430 rpm and a traverse feed rate of 90 mm/min. This treatment resulted in a fine grained microstructure of 1.6 μm and an average misorientation angle of 24°. Ductility was measured using tensile elongations at a temperature of 250 °C at three strain rates, and demonstrated that a decrease in grain size resulted in significantly enhanced ductility and lower forming loads. The ductility of the friction stir processed material was enhanced by a factor ranging from 2.6 to 5 compared to the ductility of the as received material, in the range of the strain rates tested. The strain rate sensitivity of the processed material is 0.33 while for the as received, it is 0.018. The deformation mechanism, in the fine-grained specimens is mainly controlled by solute drag creep, though the contribution of grain boundary sliding to the deformation process cannot be overlooked. Both mechanisms led to significant flow localization and simultaneous cavity formation.     

Influence of process parameters on superplasticity of friction stir processed nugget in high strength Al – Cu – Li alloy

Abstract

A parametric study was carried out to evaluate the influence of friction stir processing (FSP) parameters (tool rotation speed and feed rate) on the superplasticity of the weld nugget. Dynamically recrystallised AA 2095 thin sheets with a fine grain size of 2 μm were welded using four feed rates and three rotational speeds. High temperature tensile testing was employed to understand the significance of the FSP parameters and to optimise the parameters for maximum elongation. The tool rotation speed was found to be the most decisive parameter for controlling superplastic behaviour. A strain rate sensitivity of 0·68 was measured for the highest rotational speed at the optimum superplastic forming (SPF) temperature of 495°C. A maximum percentage 'elongation to failure' of 550% was achieved for the sheets subjected to FSP at 1000 rev min^?1 and 4·2 mm s^?1, compared with 475% obtained for the base metal at the optimum SPF temperature and strain rate of 495°C and 10^?3s^?1, respectively.     

Achieving high strain rate superplasticity in cast 7075Al alloy via friction stir processing

Cast 7075Al alloys under as-cast and homogenized conditions were subjected to single-pass friction stir processing (FSP). FSP converted the coarse as-cast structure to the fine-grained structure with a grain size of 2.5–3.2 μm. A pre-homogenization prior to FSP was beneficial to the generation of a more uniform microstructure in the FSP sample with smaller particles and grains. Both FSP samples exhibited high strain rate superplasticity at 1 × 10⁻² s⁻¹ and 450 °C. Cavitation developed at the particles and the grain triple junctions. The superplasticity of the FSP sample was significantly improved by the pre-homogenization prior to FSP, with a maximum superplasticity of 890% being observed, due to reduced particle size. The analyses of the superplastic data and scanning electronic microscopic (SEM) examinations indicated that grain boundary sliding is the main deformation mechanism for the FSP 7075Al.     

Optimization of process parameters for friction stir processing (FSP) of Al–TiC in situ composite

Segregation of in situ formed particles at the grain boundaries is a major drawback of in situ composites. In this study, it has been demonstrated that friction stir processing (FSP) can be used as an effective tool to homogenize the particle distribution in Al based in situ composites and FSP processing parameters were optimized for this purpose. An Al-5 wt% TiC composite was processed in situ using K₂TiF₆ and graphite in Al melt and subjected to FSP. Processing parameters for FSP were optimized to get a defect free stir zone and homogenize the particle distribution. It was found that a rotation speed > 800 rpm is needed. A rotation speed of 1000 rpm and a traverse speed of 60 mm/min were found to be an optimum combination. The grain size was also refined in addition to homogenization of the as-cast microstructure. This resulted in significant improvement in the mechanical properties of the processed composite.     

Effect of grain refinement and crystallographic texture produced by friction stir processing on the biodegradation behavior of a Mg-Nd-Zn alloy

The application of a single pass of friction stir processing(FSP) to Mg-Nd-Zn alloy resulted in grain refinement, texture evolution and redistribution of second phases, which improved corrosion resistance.In this work, an as-rolled Mg-Nd-Zn alloy was subjected to FSP. The microstructure in the processed zone of the FS-400 rpm alloy exhibited refined grains, a more homogenous grain size distribution, less second phases, and stronger basal plane texture. The corrosion behavior assessed using immersion tests and electrochemical tests in Hank's solution indicated that the FS-400 rpm alloy had a lower corrosion rate, which was attributed to the increase of basal plane intensity and grain refinement. The hardness was lowered slightly and the elongation was increased, which might be attributed to the redistribution of the crushed second phases.     

Reactive friction stir processing of AA 5052–TiO2 nanocomposite: process–microstructure–mechanical characteristics

Friction stir processing (FSP) is a solid state route with a capacity of preparing fine grained nanocomposites from metal sheets. In this work, we employed this process to finely distribute TiO₂ nanoparticles throughout an Al–Mg alloy, aiming to enhance mechanical properties. Titanium dioxide particles (30 nm) were preplaced into grooves machined in the middle of the aluminium alloy sheet and multipass FSP was afforded. This process refined the grain structure of the aluminium alloy, distributed the hard nanoparticles in the matrix and promoted solid state chemical reactions at the interfaces of the metal/ceramic particles. Detailed optical and electron microscopic studies showed that the microstructural homogeneity was improved with repetition of FSP up to four passes. The average grain size of the nanocomposite was ～2 μm, while nanometric MgO and Al₃Ti particles were formed in situ and homogenously distributed in the metal matrix. Mechanical characterisations showed that the yield strength and elongation were increased from 93±5 MPa and 13·8% to 117±3 MPa and 25·3% after employing four-pass FSP. Fractographic studies also revealed that agglomerated TiO₂ particles could operate as sites of crack initiation and propagation, which led to brittle fracture. By increasing the number of FSP passes, the agglomerates were disappeared and the ductility was enhanced remarkably.     

Controlling the length scale and distribution of the ductile phase in metallic glass composites through friction stir processing

We demonstrate the refinement and uniform distribution of the crystalline dendritic phase by friction stir processing (FSP) of titanium based in situ ductile-phase reinforced metallic glass composite. The average size of the dendrites was reduced by almost a factor of five (from 24 μm to 5 μm) for the highest tool rotational speed of 900 rpm. The large inter-connected dendrites become more fragmented with increased circularity after processing. The changes in thermal characteristics were measured by differential scanning calorimetry. The reduction in crystallization enthalpy after processing suggests partial devitrification due to the high strain plastic deformation. FSP resulted in increased hardness and modulus for both the amorphous matrix and the crystalline phase. This is explained by interaction of shear bands in amorphous matrix with the strain-hardened dendritic phase. Our approach offers a new strategy for microstructural design in metallic glass composites.     

Microstructure and mechanical behavior of friction stir processed ultrafine grained Al-Mg-Sc alloy

Twin-roll cast (TRC) Al-Mg-Sc alloy was friction stir processed (FSP) to obtain ultrafine grained (UFG) microstructure. Average grain size of TRC alloy in as-received (AR) condition was 19.0 ± 27.2 μm. The grain size reduced to 0.73 ± 0.44 μm after FSP. About 80% of the grains were smaller than 1 μm in FSP condition. FSP resulted into 80% of the grain boundaries to have high angle grain boundary (HAGBs) character. Uniaxial tensile testing of UFG alloy showed an increase in yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) (by ∼100 MPa each) of the alloy with a very marginal decrease in total and uniform elongation (total - 27% in AR and 24% in UFG and uniform - 19% in AR and 14% in UFG). A theoretical model predicted that the grain refinement cannot take place via discontinuous dynamic recrystallization. Zener pinning model correctly predicted the grain size distribution for UFG alloy. From work hardening behaviors in both the conditions, it was concluded that grain boundary spacing is more important than the character of grain boundaries for influencing extent of uniform deformation of an alloy.     

Superplasticity of Fe3Al(Cr)

Abstract

The superplasticity of an Fe₃Al based intermetallic alloy with 3 at.-% chromium has been investigated in the strain rate range 10^-5-10^-2 s^-1 at test temperatures between 700 and 900°C. The composition of the iron aluminide was Fe–28Al–3Cr (at.-%) with additions of titanium and carbon. After thermomechanical processing the material possessed a coarse grained microstructure with an average grain size of 55 ± 10 μm. Strain rate exponents of 0·33≤m≤0.42 were recorded at strain rates of approximately 10^-5-10^-3 s^-1 in the temperature range 750-900°C. Superplastic elongations of 350% and more were achieved. From thermal activation analysis of superplastic flow, an activation energy of 185 ± 10 kJ mol^-1 was derived. This value is comparable to activation energies of superplastic flow in Fe₃Al(Ti) alloys. However, in unalloyed Fe₃Al the activation energy is higher, ~ 263 kJ mol^-1. Optical microscopy showed grain refinement to ~ 30 ± 5 μm in size in superplastically strained tensile specimens. Transmission electron microscopy gave evidence of the formation of subgrains of 0·3–0·5 μm in size. Superplasticity in this iron aluminide is mainly attributed to viscous dislocation glide, controlled by solute drag in the transformed B2 lattice at the deformation temperatures. During superplastic deformation, subgrain formation and grain refinement in the gauge length were revealed. From this it is concluded that dynamic recrystallisation makes an important contribution to the deformation mechanism of superplastic flow in this material.     

晶粒尺寸对贝氏体钢SDP1的连续冷却转变规律的影响

采用热膨胀仪测量了150μm和20μm大小两种晶粒尺寸的SDP1贝氏体钢的过冷奥氏体连续冷却转变(CCT)曲线,结合组织观察、硬度测试、热力学计算及动力学分析研究了晶粒尺寸对相变过程组织和硬度的影响。结果表明,小晶粒材料在低冷速相变过程中出现了片状珠光体,最低硬度为305HV,贝氏体转变对应冷速区间较小;大晶粒材料在各冷却条件下无珠光体产生,且贝氏体转变区较大,最低硬度为423HV。150μm和20μm晶粒材料的贝氏体相变激活能分别为124kJ·mol~(-1)和134kJ·mol~(-1)。     

Influence of grain size on hot ductility of plain C–Mn steels

Abstract

The influence of grain size on the hot ductility of 0·19 and 0·65wt-%C steels of the C–Mn type has been determined. For the low-carbon steel, a gram Size increase from 70 to 180 μm had only a small influence on hot ductility, as measured by tensile reduction in area values. However, increasing the grain size to 290 μm raised the temperature at which ductility started to fall by 50°C. In the finer grained steels it is believed that the ductility trough starts at the Ar₃ temperature when films of ferrite form round the stronger austenite grains. Ductility soon recovers as the temperature is lowered because of a thickening of the ferrite and a consequent reduction of strain concentration at the boundaries, so that only a narrow trough is observed. In coarser grained steels it is considered that deformation induced ferrite can have a pronounced influence on hot ductility over a wide range of temperatures leading to a wide ductility trough. Refining the grain size had an even greater influence on the hot ductility of the 0·65wt-%C steel. Intergranular tensile fracture at coarse grain size was by grain boundary sliding in the austenite resulting in a very wide ductility trough. Refining the grain size prevented intergranular failure occurring in the γ down to the lowest temperature examined: 700°C. Although the main influence of grain size is in controlling the width of the trough, the depth also increased with an increase in grain size.

MST/420     

Microstructural evolution and superplastic behavior in friction stir processed Mg–Li–Al–Zn alloy

A Mg–Li–Al–Zn alloy was friction stir processed (FSP) under water, and the microstructures and superplastic behavior in the FSP alloy were investigated. The FSP Mg–Li–Al–Zn alloy consisted of a mixed microstructure with fine, equiaxed, and recrystallized α (hcp) and β (bcc) grains surrounded by high-angle grain boundaries, and the average grain size of the α and β grains was ~1.6 and ~6.8 μm, respectively. The fine α grains played a critical role in providing thermal stability for the β grains. The FSP Mg–Li–Al–Zn alloy exhibited low-temperature superplasticity with a ductility of 330 % at 100 °C and high strain rate superplasticity with ductility of ≥400 % at 225–300 °C. Microstructural examination and superplastic data analysis revealed that the dominant deformation mechanism for the FSPed Mg–Li–Al–Zn alloy is grain boundary sliding, which is controlled by the grain boundary diffusion in the β phase.     

多道次搅拌摩擦加工对SiCP/2A14铝合金复合材料显微组织和力学性能的影响

采用搅拌摩擦加工(FSP)技术对SiC颗粒增强2A14铝合金(SiC_P/2A14)复合材料进行处理,通过金相表征、电子背散射衍射(EBSD)、SEM、硬度测试及力学拉伸实验等分析了多道次搅拌摩擦加工对SiC_P/2A14复合材料微观组织、力学性能及超塑性变形行为的影响。研究表明:经搅拌摩擦加工后,SiC_P/2A14复合材料搅拌区内SiC颗粒分布明显均匀,晶粒细化,其中2道次搅拌摩擦加工的SiC_P/2A14复合材料的晶粒尺寸最小,为3.14 μm。随着搅拌加工道次的增加,SiC_P/2A14复合材料的硬度降低,室温抗拉强度和高温延伸率均先提高后降低,其中2道次搅拌摩擦加工的SiC_P/2A14复合材料的室温抗拉强度为319 MPa,相较于未经FSP处理的SiC_P/2A14复合材料提高了41%,在500℃、应变速率为1.0×10?3 s?1条件下高温延伸率为609%,相较于未经FSP处理的SiC_P/2A14复合材料提高了133%。      

Evaluating the microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir processed Al–Si alloy

In this study, mechanical behaviour and microstructural evolution in friction stir processing (FSP) of casting hypereutectic A390 aluminium alloy have been investigated. The mechanical behaviour of FSP samples was investigated by measuring the strain rate sensitivity using shear punch testing. The room-temperature shear punch tests were conducted at shear strain rates in the range of 10^?4–10^?1?s^?1. The results indicate that the strain rate sensitivity index increases from about 0.015 to 0.120 for as-cast A390 after third FSP pass and then experiences a further growth in FSP passes. The increase in the grain size and CuAl₂ intermetallic particle size result in a reduction in strain sensitivity index as well as shear strength after third FSP pass.     

Recrystallization of molybdenum- and nitrogen- alloyed austenitic stainless steels after hot working

Abstract

Hot compression experiments have been performed to study the influence of molybdenum and nitrogen on the kinetics of static recrystallization in four austenitic stainless steels: AISI 316L (17Cr–13Ni–2·5Mo), AISI 316LN (17Cr–13Ni–2·5Mo–0·17N), DIN Wnr.l·4439(18Cr–12Ni–4·4Mo–0·2N), and UHB 904L(20Cr–25Ni–4·5Mo–1·5Cu). Experiments were carried out both for wrought and cast materials at temperatures of 1050–1250°C and to strains between ε = 0·10 and ε = 0·40. It was found that the static recrystallization was delayed by a factor of about 1·7 in time when raising the molybdenum content from 2·5 to 4·5 wt-%. Nitrogen was found to have no significant effect on the rate of static recrystallization. Cast material recrystallized more slowly than wrought material and this could not be attributed only to a grain size effect. Increasing strain and temperature resulted in a reduced recrystallization time. The recrystallized grain size decreased with increasing strain and decreasing temperature. Empirical expressions could reproduce with excellent accuracy the strain and temperature dependence of both the fraction recrystallized and the recrystallized grain size.

MST/360     

Effect of strain on formation of ultrafine ferrite in surface of hot rolled microalloyed steel

Abstract

The phenomenon of ultra grain refinement of ferrite in surface layers of hot rolled strip has been studied in a low carbon, niobium microalloyed steel. Wedge specimens were used, to vary the nominal equivalent strain applied during rolling from zero to approximately unity, and the cooling rate after rolling was varied from ~ 20 to 1 K s ^-1. In contrast with previous work, which contended that a very coarse austenite grain size and a low rolling temperature near the Ar ₃ were essential to obtain ultrafine ferrite in surface layers, such ultrafine layers were observed after rolling coarse austenite at up to 150 K above the Ar ₃ and after rolling fine grained austenite near the Ar ₃. In the case of coarse grained austenite, a critical nominal rolling strain needed to be exceeded to trigger the surface layer phenomenon, upon which cooling rate had little effect on the surface layer's grain size. Refining the prior austenite grain size had the further beneficial effect of refining the grain size at the centre of the rolled product, for example to 2·6 μm, while the surface layer was refined to 0·7 μm.     

Effects of ferrite grain size and martensite volume fraction on dynamic deformation behaviour of 0·15C–2·0Mn–0·2Si dual phase steels

Abstract

Effects of ferrite grain size and martensite volume fraction on quasistatic and dynamic deformation behaviour of 0·15C–2·0Mn–0·2Si dual phase steels were investigated in this study. Dynamic torsional tests were conducted on six steel specimens that had different ferrite grain sizes and martensite volume fractions, using a torsional Kolsky bar, and then the test data were compared in terms of microstructures, tensile properties, fracture mode, and adiabatic shear band formation. Under dynamic torsional loading, maximum shear stress and fracture shear strain increased with decreasing ferrite grain size and increasing martensite volume fraction. Observation of the deformed area beneath the fracture surface after the dynamic torsional test indicated that adiabatic shear bands of 5 to 15 μm in width were formed along the shear stress direction, and that voids or microcracks initiated at ferrites or martensite/ferrite interfaces below the shear band. The width of the shear band decreased as the ferrite grain size increased or the martensite volume fraction decreased. These phenomena were then analysed by introducing concepts of theoretical critical shear strain.     

Hot deformation behaviour of Cu-1.5Ti (wt-%) alloy

Abstract

A Cu-1.5Ti (wt-%) alloy was subjected to hot compression tests at temperatures ranging from 750 to 900°C and strain rates from 10⁰ s^-1 to 10^-3 s^-1. Flow softening was found to occur at all temperatures and strain rates studied. Deformation at 750°C and a relatively high strain rate (100 s^-1) resulted in grain refinement of the alloy with a grain size of ~25 μm. Room temperature hardness decreased with increasing deformation temperature, i.e. 145 HV10 after deforming at 750°C and 90 HV10 at 900°C. The higher values of hardness observed after deformation at 750°C are attributed to the fine grain size. A maximum value of 0.21 obtained for the strain rate sensitivity index m is not indicative of superplasticity in this alloy. Activation energy Q for the hot deformation process at 1173 K and strain rate 10^-3 s^-1 was determined to be 76 kJ mol^-1.     

Tensile creep behaviour of coarse grained copper foils at high homologous temperatures and low stresses

Abstract

Tensile creep behaviour of OFHC copper in the temperature range 850 to 1074°C (0·83 to 0·99T_m) under low stress (0·1 to 0·6 MPa) has been investigated in tension for 0·4 and 0·6 mm thick foils with grain size ～1 mm, in the plane of the foils. Increases in creep rate per unit stress at 0·99T_m were two orders of magnitude higher than predicted for Nabarro–Herring diffusional creep and were nearer to values expected from the operation of grain size independent Harper–Dorn creep, but the stress exponent n was closer to 2 than to the n=1 expected in this mechanism. Observations on specimen surfaces revealed some widely spaced slip bands, some small grain boundary movements and occasional cavitation on grain boundaries nearly perpendicular to the stress. Creep rates were comparable with predictions of the movement of dislocations, controlled by the rate of their generation at Bardeen–Herring sources at a spacing similar to that of the observed slip lines.     

Dynamic recrystallisation during hot working of Zr–2·5Nb: characterisation using processing maps

Abstract

The characteristics of the hot deformation of Zr–2·5Nb (wt-%) in the temperature range 650–950°C and in the strain rate range 0·001–100 s^?1 have been studied using hot compression testing. Two different preform microstructures: equiaxed (α+β) and β transformed, have been investigated. For this study, the approach of processing maps has been adopted and their interpretation carried out using the dynamic materials model. The efficiency of power dissipation given by [2m/(m+1)], where m is the strain rate sensitivity, is plotted as a function of temperature and strain rate to obtain a processing map. A domain of dynamic recrystallisation has been identified in the maps of equiaxed (α+β) and β transformed preforms. In the case of equiaxed (α+β), the stress–strain curves are steady state and the dynamic recrystallisation domain in the map occurs with a peak efficiency of 45% at 850°C and 0·001 s^?1. On the other hand, the β transformed preform exhibits stress–strain curves with continuous flow softening. The corresponding processing map shows a domain of dynamic recrystallisation occurring by the shearing of α platelets followed by globularisation with a peak efficiency of 54% at 750°C and 0·001 s^?1. The characteristics of dynamic recrystallisation are analysed on the basis of a simple model which considers the rates of nucleation and growth of recrystallised grains. Calculations show that these two rates are nearly equal and that the nucleation of dynamic recrystallisation is essentially controlled by mechanical recovery involving the cross-slip of screw dislocations. Analysis of flow instabilities using a continuum criterion revealed that Zr–2·5Nb exhibits flow localisation at temperatures lower than 700°C and strain rates higher than 1 s^?1.

MST/3103