Production of Ti–13Nb–13Zr Alloy by Powder Metallurgy (P/M) via Sintering Hydrides

The blended elemental method was selected for the manufacture of Ti–13Nb–13Zr alloy by a cold isostatic pressing process and sintering densification under high vacuum. The samples were sintered at the different temperatures from 1250°C to 1450°C with a pressure of 10^?3 ～ 10^?5 Pa. The decomposition of titanium, niobium, and zirconium hydride powders was discussed by thermal gravimetric analyses and differential scanning calorimetry. The phase composition, microstructure and fracture morphology of Sintered Ti–13Nb–13Zr samples were determined by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that the hydrogen can be removed effectively. Chemical analysis shows that the Nb, Zr alloying element and hydrogen contents accord with the standard of the ASTM-1713. The final density of sintered Ti–13Nb–13Zr specimens is 4.99 g cm^?3 after sintering at 1450°C for 4 h, representing 99.69% of the theoretical density. The microstructure of sintered Ti–13Nb–13Zr alloys by powder metallurgy is a typical Widmannstätten (α + β).     

Microstructure and mechanical property of sintered Fe-Cr-Mo steels due to phase transformations with fast cooling rates

The influence of carbon content in the range of 0.01–0.3 wt.% on microstructure, hardness and tensile property of sintered Fe-Cr-Mo steels was investigated. The sintered Fe–3.0 wt.%Cr–0.5 wt.%Mo–(0.1, 0.2, 0.3) wt.% C steels were prepared by using powder metallurgical process. After sintering, the specimens were rapidly cooled by nitrogen at the rate of 5.4 °C/s. It was found that in the sintered steels with a lower carbon content of 0.01 and 0.1 wt.%, the allotriomorphic ferrite and Widmanstӓtten ferrite formed at austenite grain boundaries and grew to occupy the whole prior austenite grains. With higher carbon contents of 0.2 and 0.3 wt.%, the microstructures consist of bainite, martensite and some retained austenite. These steels exhibited increases of hardness, tensile strength and elongation at break with increasing carbon content. Increase of strength is due to the transformations from austenite, formed during sintering, to hard bainite and martensite structures.     

Superhardening behaviour of titanium treated Cr–Mo steel

The effect of titanium on the hardening behaviour of medium carbon steel alloyed with chromium and molybdenum has been studied. It has been shown that the superhardening could be produced without superheating. The optimum titanium content for superhardening is between 0.03–0.05 wt %, and above this optimum level the hardening decreases with increasing titanium content. By dilatometry, it is shown that the optimum titanium content results in large hardness increases due to a strong retardation of the ferrite/pearlite and bainite transformations, this being particularly noticeable for the bainite transformation. However the superhardening behaviour weakens as the melting temperature is increased from 1550 to 1650 °C, and the superhardening effect completely disappears after a spheroidization annealing treatment. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Tensile properties of iron-based P/M steels with ferrite + martensite microstructure

The effect of intercritical heat treatments on the tensile properties of iron-based P/M steels was investigated. For this purpose, atomized iron powder (Ancorsteel 1000) was admixed with 0.3 wt.% graphite powder. Tensile test specimens were cold pressed at 700 MPa and sintered at 1120 °C for 30 min under pure argon gas atmosphere. After sintering, ∼20% pearlite volume fraction in a ferrite matrix was obtained. To produce coarse ferrite + martensite microstructures, the sintered specimens were intercritically annealed at 724 and 760 °C and quenched in water. To obtain fine ferrite + martensite microstructures, the sintered specimens were first austenitized at 890 °C and water-quenched to produce a fully martensitic structure. These specimens were then intercritically annealed at 724 and 760 °C and re-quenched. After the intercritical annealing at 724 and 760 °C and quenching, martensite volume fractions were ∼ 18% and 43%, respectively, in both the coarse- and fine-grained specimens. Although the intercritically annealed specimens exhibited higher yield and tensile strength than the as-sintered specimens, their elongation values were lower. Specimens with a fine ferrite + martensite microstructure showed high yield and tensile strength and ductility in comparison to specimens with a coarse ferrite + martensite microstructure. The strength values of specimens increased with increasing martensite volume fraction.     

TiC/NiCrMoAlTi金属陶瓷的微观结构与力学性能

采用粉末冶金真空烧结方法制备了TiC/NiCrMoAlTi金属陶瓷.研究了Mo含量对TiC/NiCrAlTi金属陶瓷的微观结构与力学性能的影响.结果表明,在TiC/NiCrAlTi金属陶瓷中添加Mo后,在金属陶瓷的硬质相颗粒周围出现了典型的环形相,随着Mo含量的增加,环形相增多变厚,致使金属陶瓷的硬度线性增加,环形相的生成使金属陶瓷硬质相的颗粒细化、尖角钝化,从而提高了金属陶瓷的抗弯强度,当环形相过度发达时由于其本身较脆,金属陶瓷的抗弯强度降低,Mo含量为4%(质量分数)时抗弯强度达到最大值.     

Microstructure and rheological properties of titanium carbide-coated carbon black particles synthesised from molten salt

Homogeneous titanium carbide (TiC) coatings were prepared on carbon black (CB) particles by firing them with metallic titanium (Ti) powder in KCl or KCl–LiCl for 4 h at 750–850 °C. As-prepared TiC-coated CB retained the spherical shape of as-received CB, indicating that the ‘template-growth’ mechanism had dominated the reaction process. TiC coating thickness could be readily tailored by simply adjusting the Ti to CB ratio (Ti/C) of the initial starting mixture. The true density of TiC-coated CB particles increased with Ti/C, reducing the density difference between them and other aggregates used in castable systems and potentially improving the castables consistency. Zeta potential measurement, sedimentation comparison and rheology testing revealed that water-wettability and dispersivity of CB were improved significantly after TiC coating.     

Study of the properties of low-cost powder metallurgy titanium alloys by 430 stainless steel addition

Titanium is a lightweight metal with an outstanding combination of properties which make it the material of choice for many different applications. Nonetheless, its employment at industrial level is not widespread due to higher production costs with respect to competitor metals like steel and aluminium. In this work the production of low-cost titanium alloys is attempted by combining the utilisation of a powder metallurgy process and cheap alloying elements (i.e. commercial 430 stainless steel powder optimised for the powder metallurgy industry). Low-cost titanium alloys are fabricated by blending elemental titanium with stainless steel. The behaviour of the powders as well as that of the sintered materials are analysed and compared to that of a master alloy addition Ti6Al4V alloy. The produced low-cost titanium alloys show comparable properties to both wrought and powder metallurgy titanium alloys and, therefore, they are proposed as an alternative to obtain structural component made out of titanium alloys.     

Transformation of austenite remaining after intercritical rolling to ferrite

Abstract

The impact of austenite deformation in the intercritical range on the rate of transformation in continuous cooling to ferrite, pearlite, bainite or martensite has been studied. The austenite associated with the rolled ferrite is much higher in carbon content, which does not influence the pearlite transformation but retards bainite and martensite. Furthermore, in comparison with rolling of stable austenite the increased strain hardening of the intercritically cooled austenite accelerates the formation of ferrite and pearlite (+ 10–30°C) and refines them but retards the bainite and martensite transformations (?20–40°C). At the intermediate cooling rate near 16 K s^?1, these several influences combined with near doubling of the ferrite production give rise to the suppression of bainite formation and to maximum increased delay of martensite start.     

金刚石表面形成Ti3SiC2的反应机理

采用Ti、Si、TiC、金刚石磨料为原料,通过放电等离子烧结(SPS),制备了Ti3SiC2陶瓷结合剂金刚石材料.研究结果表明,Ti-Si-2TiC试样经SPS加热的过程中位移、位移率和真空度在1200℃时发生明显变化,表明试样发生了物理化学变化.XRD分析结果表明1200℃时试样发生化学反应生成了Ti3SiC2.随着温度升高,试样中Ti3SiC2含量逐渐增加.当烧结温度为1200℃、1300℃、1400℃和1500℃时,产物中Ti3SiC2含量分别为65.9%、79.97%、87.5%和90.1%.在Ti/Si/2TiC粉料中添加适量的金刚石5%和10%进行烧结,并未抑制Ti3SiC2的反应合成.SEM观察表明,金刚石与基体结合紧密,同时其表面生长着发育良好的Ti3SiC2板条状晶粒.提出了一种金刚石表面形成Ti3SiC2的机制,即金刚石表面的碳原子首先与周围的Ti反应生成TiC,然后TiC再与Ti-Si相发生化学反应,生成Ti3SiC2.     

Changes in γ-TiC stoichiometry during heat treatment of TiC reinforced Ti composites

Abstract

A liquid phase technique (casting) has been successfully employed for the production of Ti/TiC in situ metal matrix composites. The γ-TiC phase produced by this process is highly substoichiometric. Changes in chemistry of the TiC phase in these composites are noted during annealing at elevated temperatures. The degree of stoichiometry of TiC increases during annealing at 1050°C and further during post-annealing aging at 750°C. This increase in the degree of stoichiometry (C/Ti atomic ratio) is accompanied by lattice expansion and reduction in microhardness values of the TiC particles. The change in TiC stoichiometry is accompanied by the precipitation of soft Ti particles within the TiC phase. The results are compared with those obtained from composites fabricated by a powder metallurgy route where the carbide chemistry is insensitive to heat treatment.     

Hydrogen Sintering of Titanium to Produce High Density Fine Grain Titanium Alloys

Titanium powder is typically sintered in high vacuum to achieve high density and low oxygen. Sintered materials usually have coarse grain size or coarse lamellar structure if it is the Ti–6Al–4V alloy. A novel process—hydrogen sintering and phase transformation (HSPT)—for sintering Ti in hydrogen is studied in this paper that can produce near‐fully dense (>99%CP‐Ti, >98%Ti–6Al–4V) Ti materials with very fine grain size (<1.0µm) in as‐sintered state. This presents a potential opportunity for low cost manufacturing of powder metallurgy Ti materials with superior mechanical properties.     

Fabrication and characterization of NiTi shape memory alloy synthesized by Ni electroless plating of titanium powder

In this work NiTi shape memory alloy was fabricated from mixed elemental powders, Ni plated titanium powder and Ni heated/plated titanium powder by Ar-sintering. Electroless plating process was utilized to fabricate Ni plated titanium powder. For this purpose titanium powder was plated in an electroless Ni bath for 225?min and hydrazine hydrate was used as a reductant to deposit pure nickel on the titanium particles. Ni plated titanium powder was heat treated under an argon atmosphere at 1000?°C to prepare Ni heated/plated titanium powder. Finally, the three sample powders were pressed by CIP followed by sintering at 980?°C for 8?h to manufacture NiTi shape memory alloy. The prepared powders, as well as sintered samples, were characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer analysis (EDS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC). The results indicated the presence of NiTi phase and also non-transformable phases (NiTi₂ and Ni₃Ti) in the heated/plated Ti powder and sintered samples. NiTi compound was dominated phase in the heated/plated sintered sample. All three sintered samples, as well as heated/plated powder, showed one-step phase transformation (B2???B19′).     

The bainite transformation behavior,the influencing factors and control strategy in ferritic‐pearlitic forged crankshafts with coarse grains

Microstructural characterization of the bainite in a ferritic–pearlitic forged crankshaft was carefully investigated. A Gleeble thermo‐mechanical simulator as well as a high resolution dilatometer were also used to analyze the effect of cooling rate on the bainite formation and the bainite transformation mechanism in steels with different austenite grain sizes. Results show that the fine structure of the bainite mainly consists of bainitic ferrite and martensite. No segregations are found where bainite forms. Bainite tends to form in the slower cooled inner part of the crankshaft with an austenite grain size exceeding 100 μm. The formation of bainite is mainly affected by the austenite grain size as well as the cooling rate in the crankshaft studied. As the austenite grain size increases, ferrite start, pearlite finish and bainite finish temperatures are decreased. More bainite forms when bainite finish temperature decreases. The critical cooling rate of bainite transformation is increased from 0.34 °C?s^‐1 to 0.44 °C?s^‐1, if the maximum austenite grain size is refined from 216 μm to 100 μm. For ferritic–pearlitic crankshafts, or other bulky products, the elimination of bainite can be achieved through austenite grain refinement.     

Effect of Ti concentration on the structure and texture of SiTiOC glasses

Five different silicon–titanium organic–inorganic hybrid materials were prepared by the reaction of tetraethoxysilane, titanium tetrabutoxide and silanol-terminated polydimethylsiloxane. Si–Ti oxycarbide glasses were prepared by pyrolysis of the hybrid materials in nitrogen atmosphere in the range of 400 to 1500 °C. The obtained Si–Ti oxycarbide materials were characterized by Fourier Transform-Infra Red spectroscopy, X-ray-diffraction, mercury porosimetry and SEM.The study indicated that the reactivity towards water increases up to 1000 °C, at higher temperatures it decreases for all samples. During the pyrolysis, Ti atoms were incorporated into the silicate network leading to the formation of Si–Ti oxycarbide glasses, except with sample containing 7% of Ti which presented also the formation of β-SiC and TiC crystalline phases.The porosity was increased up to 600 °C and then decreased tending to disappear at 1500 °C. When the titanium concentration increased from 1 to 3% in the oxycarbide glass, the porosity decreased; for higher concentration, an increase in the porosity was observed.     

Effect of dispersion method on the deterioration,interfacial interactions and re-agglomeration of carbon nanotubes in titanium metal matrix composites

The influence of various synthesis techniques on the dispersion and evolution of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in titanium (Ti) metal matrix composites (TMCs) prepared via powder metallurgy routes has been investigated. The synthesis techniques included sonication, high energy ball milling (HEBM), cold compaction, high temperature vacuum sintering and spark plasma sintering (SPS). Powder mixtures of Ti and MWCNTs (0.5 wt.%) were processed by HEBM in two batches: (i) ball milling of the mixtures (Batch 1) and (ii) ball milling of Ti powder alone, followed by a further ball milling with sonicated MWCNTs (Batch 2). Both batches of the powder mixtures were pressed at 40 MPa into green compacts and then sintered in vacuum. Batch 2 powder mixtures were also consolidated using SPS. The crystallinity and sp² carbon network of the MWCNTs were characterized through analyzing the characteristic Raman peak ratio (I_D/I_G) of each processed sample. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used for phase identification. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to study the morphology of the MWCNTs in the powder mixtures. The evolution of MWCNTs during the fabrication process and mechanical properties of the sintered compacts were discussed in conjunction with the formation of nano-crystalline TiC.     

Sintering properties of submicron TiC powders from carbon coated titania precursor

The sintering behavior of submicron titanium carbide (TiC) synthesized from carbon coated titania (TiO₂) precursor was investigated in TiC-Ni system. The densification was examined as functions of initial carbon content (30.95–34 wt.%) and Ni content (3–20 wt.%). The sintered density of TiC-Ni was markedly decreased with increased carbon content in the precursor. The amount of Ni had a relatively small influence on the densification of submicron TiC-Ni cermet compared with TiC (commercially available HCS)-Ni cermets. The results show that submicron TiC with only 3 wt.% Ni can be sintered to densities above 95% TD in flowing Ar+10H₂ at 1500°C and below. The improvements in densification result from the capillary force increase since it is inversely dependent on the particle size. With decreased Ni content, the Vickers hardness increased and the fracture toughness decreased, as expected. However, the sufficient densification cannot be achieved for commercial HCS TiC powder sintered with Ni (<10 wt.%) under the same conditions. Therefore, both the Vickers hardness and fracture toughness decreased as the Ni content decreased. This was due to the increase of porosity in the sintered samples containing commercial TiC powder.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of hot extruded 6016 aluminum alloy/graphite composites

The incorporation of graphite particles into AA6016 aluminum alloy matrix to fabricate metal/ceramic composites is still a great challenge and various parameters should be considered. In this study, dense AA6016 aluminum alloy/(0-20 wt%) graphite composites have successfully been fabricated by powder metallurgy process. At first, the mixed aluminum and graphite powders were cold compacted at 200 MPa and then sintered at 500 ℃ for 1 h followed by hot extrusion at 450 ℃. The influence of ceramic phases(free graphite and in-situ formed carbides) on microstructure, physical and mechanical properties of the produced composites were finally investigated. The results show that the fabricated composites have a relative density of over 98%. SEM observations indicate that the graphite has a good dispersion in the alloy matrix even at high graphite content. Hardness of all the produced composites was higher than that of aluminum alloy matrix. No cracks were observed at strain less than 23% for all hot extruded materials.Compressive strength, reduction in height, ultimate tensile stress, fracture stress, yield stress, and fracture strain of all Al/graphite composites were determined by high precision second order equations. Both compressive and ultimate tensile strengths have been correlated to microstructure constituents with focusing on the in-situ formed ceramic phases, silicon carbide(SiC) and aluminum carbide(Al_4 C_3). The ductile fracture mode of the produced composites became less dominant with increasing free graphite content and in-situ formed carbides. Wear resistance of Al/graphite composites was increased with increasing graphite content. Aluminum/20 wt% graphite composite exhibited superior wear resistance over that of AA6016 aluminum alloy.     

尿素含量对Ti-10%Mg多孔材料孔隙结构和抗压性能的影响

以尿素为造孔剂,采用粉末冶金法在630℃真空条件下烧结制备Ti-10%Mg多孔材料,研究了造孔剂含量对其孔隙结构、物相成分、孔隙率及抗压性能的影响。研究表明,造孔剂含量为25%(w)时,烧结体的孔隙大小均匀,主要相为Ti和Mg,造孔剂添加量未对其物相产生明显影响;随着造孔剂含量的增加,烧结体的孔隙率随之增加,抗压强度和弹性模量随之降低;Ti-10%Mg多孔材料的抗压强度和弹性模量分别为16~183MPa和1.87~10.15 GPa,理论上可以作为人体骨骼的替代材料。     

Effect of SiC content on the processing, compaction behavior, and properties of Al6061/SiC/Gr hybrid composites

Aluminum matrix composites reinforced with SiC and graphite (Gr) particles are a unique class of advanced engineered materials that have been developed to use in tribological applications. The conventional techniques for producing these composites have some drawbacks. In this study, a new method, namely In situ Powder Metallurgy (IPM), is applied for the preparation of Al6061/SiC/Gr hybrid composites. In this method, the stir casting and the powder metallurgy synthesizing processes are combined into an integrated net shape forming process. 0?C40 vol.% of SiC particles with an average size of 19 ??m, along with 9 vol.% of uncoated Gr particles, were introduced to the molten 6061 aluminum alloy. Then, the slurries were stirred in a specified time?Ctemperature regime resulting in mixtures of the SiC, Gr, and aluminum powder particles. The powder mixtures were cold pressed in six different pressures (between 250 and 750 MPa) and sintered. Finally, the produced composites were heat treated and their hardness and wear properties were investigated. Homogenous distribution of the SiC and Gr particles within the powder mixtures and the hybrid composites is clear from the SEM images. The results also show that the SiC particles decrease the compressibility of the hybrid powders and improve the hardness of composites. The best wear resistance is achieved in the hybrid composite containing 20 vol.% SiC particles.     

显微组织对球墨铸铁电阻率的影响

利用双臂电桥测量电阻的方法,研究了石墨球和基体组织对球墨铸铁电阻率的影响。研究结果表明,珠光体和混合基体球墨铸铁的电阻率随石墨球数增加而逐渐提高,而石墨球数对铁素体基体的球墨铸铁电阻率影响不显著;基体组织对球墨铸铁的电阻率有较大影响,随着铁素体量的增加,电阻率逐渐降低。石墨球数量增加导致球墨铸铁电阻率升高的原因是单位体积中石墨球与基体的晶界面积增多。