Regularities of Formation and Degradation of the Microstructure and Properties of New Ultrafine-Grained Low-Modulus Ti–Nb–Mo–Zr Alloys

Abstract—Regularities of the formation of ultrafine-grained (UFG) and submicrocrystalline (SMC) structures in new nickel-free low-modulus Ti–Nb–Mo–Zr titanium β alloys under the action of plastic deformation have been studied. Temperature–time ranges of the development of dynamic recrystallization processes under the simultaneous action of temperature and plastic deformation are determined. A type-II recrystallization diagram of the Ti–28Nb–8Mo–12Zr alloy is constructed and analyzed. It is shown using scanning electron microscopy and the electron backscatter diffraction method that the UFG structure with an average grain size of no more than 7 μm and high fraction of high-angle grain boundaries is formed in the investigated alloys as a result of longitudinal rolling, followed by annealing for quenching. It is found that the formation of the UFG structure leads to a significant increase in the strength and plastic characteristics of these alloys. The regularities of the formation of UFG and SMC structures in titanium β alloys Ti–28Nb–8Mo–12Zr and industrial VT30 under the action of plastic deformation by the helical rolling method are studied. It is shown that the helical rolling of the VT30 alloy leads to the formation of the homogeneous UFG state as opposed to the Ti–28Nb–8Mo–12Zr alloy, where this method causes structure softening with micropores and microcracks formed in the central region. It is possible to form a nanostructured state with an average grain size of about 100 nm in Ti–Nb–Mo–Zr titanium β alloys using the high-pressure torsion method.     

Effect of Coiling Temperature on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Hot-Rolled Ti–Nb Microalloyed Ultra High Strength Steel

A novel low carbon Ti–Nb microalloyed hot rolled steel with minimum yield strength of 700 MPa and good balance of stretch-flangeability and impact toughness has been developed by controlled thermo-mechanical processing following thin slab direct rolling route. In the present work, the effects of two coiling temperatures on the resulting microstructure, micro-texture and mechanical properties on this Ti–Nb microalloyed steel have been studied. It is observed that increase in coiling temperature from 520 to 580 °C significantly affects the mechanical properties. Higher dislocation density and increased precipitation along with slightly smaller grain size is observed for 580 °C coiling temperature resulting in about 50 MPa increase in yield and tensile strengths as compared to 520 °C coiling temperature.     

Effect of Microstructure on the Creep Properties of Ti–6Al–4V Alloys: An Analysis

The effects of microstructure types and microstructural parameters on creep properties were investigated systematically through an analysis of microstructure and creep properties of Ti–6Al–4V alloys based on the available literature data. The results indicated that the creep properties of the Ti–6Al–4V alloy are strongly dependent on microstructure type. Creep resistance of Ti–6Al–4V alloys is better in lamellar microstructure followed by bimodal and equiaxed microstructure respectively. Also, microstructural parameters such as the size of both prior beta grain and alpha colony and thickness of alpha lamellae in the lamellar microstructure, the volume fraction of primary alpha phase in bimodal microstructure and size of alpha phase in equiaxed microstructure can influence the creep properties.     

Effects of Thermalrate Treatment Technique on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Hypoeutectic Al–Si Alloys

In this study, effects of thermalrate treatment (TRT) technique on microstructure and mechanical properties of hypoeutectic Al–Si alloys with addition of Ti were studied. The superheating temperatures of the melt were ascertained based on the DSC result. The results show that when the alloy castings in sand mold were treated with TRT technique at the superheating temperature of 930 °C, α-Al changes into smaller equiaxial crystals from coarse dendrites, and hardness of the alloy increases by 12.7 %, compared to that of the alloy treated with conventional casting technique. In addition, the supercooling increases to 8.5 °C and the characteristic temperatures of eutectic solidification are all the lowest with TRT technique at the superheating temperature of 930 °C. As holding time increases at the pouring temperature of 730 °C in TRT at the superheating temperature of 930 °C, the effects on microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloy casting in sand mold decrease. TRT technique plays a limited role in the alloy casting in permanent mold.     

Effect of Cr–Mo Addition on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Medium-Carbon Steel

Herein, the effects of Chromium–Molybdenum (Cr–Mo) addition on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of medium-carbon steel after spheroidization annealing are systematically studied through scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and tensile testing. Cr–Mo addition hinders the proeutectoid ferrite + pearlite transformation, thereby promoting the bainite transformation. Moreover, it refines the pearlite lamellar spacing as well as decreases the average carbide diameter, increases the number of carbides per unit area, and hinders ferrite recrystallization. Compared with those in the B1 steel annealed for 8 h, the size of carbides and their number per unit area in the CM1 steel are 30% lower and 2.2-fold higher, respectively. Due to finer ferrite grains, smaller carbides, and a higher amount of carbides, the strength of steel improves, and the plasticity slightly reduces after Cr–Mo addition. After 2 h of annealing, the yield strengths of Cr–Mo steels are 77.5–109.5 MPa higher than those of base steels; the elongations are above 20%. The contributions of the strengthening mechanism of steel to the yield strength are as follows (from high to low): grain boundary, precipitation, solid solution, and dislocation strengthening.     

Increasing the Stability of Mechanical Properties of Semifinished Products from Ti–6Al–4V Alloys by Correcting the Alloying Range and Annealing Modes

Metallurgist - Statistical studies on the stability of the mechanical properties of various semifinished products made from Ti–6Al–4V alloys depending on the content of alloying...     

The Inhomogeneous Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ti–6Al–4V Additively Manufactured by Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF3), a wire-fed directed energy deposition additive manufacturing process that enables high deposition rates of...     

Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Extruded PM Ti–6Al–4V Alloy With Deformation Flowlines

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Two heat treatments, namely 955°C/2h/AC (AC = air cooling) and 955°C/4h/FC (FC = furnace cooling), were carried out on...     

Multi-component Alloying Effects on the Stability and Mechanical Properties of Nb and Nb–Si Alloys: A First-Principles Study

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Niobium–silicon (Nb–Si)-based superalloys have attracted attention as potential super high-temperatures materials for hot-end components of...     

Influence of Rare Earth Elements on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mg-Li Alloys

Mg-Li alloy , which is also called superlight al-loy ,has many advantages ,such as lowdensity ,highstiffness-to-weight ratio , superior strength-to-weightratio ,good deformation ability ,good damping ability ,and high energetic particle penetration resistance[1 ,2].These advantages provide promising applicationsintheaerospace , electronic industry , and military field[3].Mg-Li alloys ,such as LA141 , LA191 ,and LAZ933were developed and have been usedfor components insatellites and aircrafts…     

Solidification Behaviour of Ti–Cu–Fe–Co–Ni High Entropy Alloys

For the first time, we report here that the development of the novel Ti?CCu?CFe?CCo?CNi high entropy alloys (HEAs) via vacuum arc melting technique using non consumable tungsten electrode under high purity Ar atmosphere on a water-cooled copper hearth. Ti?CCu?CFe?CCo?CNi multicomponent alloys with varying Ti/Cu (x) molar ratio (x?=?1/3, 3/7, 3/5, 9/11, 1, 11/9 and 3/2) have been prepared through the tailoring of microstructure to get understanding of the phase formation and the microstructural evolution of these multicomponent HEAs. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopic results confirm the presence of (Cu)_ss, (Co)_ss and (??-Ti)_ss dendrites with ultrafine eutectic between cubic (Cu)_ss and Laves phase (Ti₂Co type). The solidification pathways of novel alloys are critically discussed as follows. For x?=?9/11, 1, 11/9 and 3/2; firstly, (??-Ti)_ss dendrite is formed from the liquid, followed by the liquid phase separation between the cobalt-rich solid solution (Co)_ss and copper-rich solid solution (Cu)_ss and finally, the remaining liquid undergoes eutectic reaction between copper solid solution (Cu)_ss and the Laves phase (Ti₂Co Type), whereas for x?=?1/3, 3/7 and 3/5; (??-Ti)_ss dendrite is formed first from the liquid and then remaining liquid undergoes the liquid phase separation resulting two different dendrites of (Cu)_ss and (Co)_ss phases. Detailed thermodynamic calculations have been carried to rationalize the formation of stable solid solution phases of these newly developed multicomponent Ti?CCu?CFe?CCo?CNi HEAs.     

Mechanical Properties of Friction Stir Welded Cast Al–Mg–Sc Alloys

Friction Stir (FS) welding promises joints with low porosity, fine microstructures, and low vaporization of volatile elements compared with conventional welding techniques. FS weld was carried out on Vacuum Induction Melted 5?mm thick cast Aluminum?CMagnesium?CScandium (Al?CMg?CSc) alloy plates. Microstructural evaluation revealed that due to FS welding, fine and fragmented dynamically recrystallized grains have been formed in the weld nugget. Tensile fracture occurred out side the weld zone. The tensile strength of the welded joint is more than the cast base metal. The hardness of the FS welded joint is less than the hardness of the cast base metal. The minimum hardness was located on the retreating side of the weld. These results clearly show that FSW process is amenable to join cast Al?CMg?CSc alloy.     

Microstructure and Properties of Ti and Ti+Nb Ultra-Low Carbon Bake Hardening Steels

 Hot rolling, cold rolling and continuous annealing processes of Ti bearing and Ti+Nb stabilized ultra low carbon bake hardening(ULC-BH) steels were experimentally studied. The microstructure and texture evolution, as well as the morphology, size and distribution of the second phase precipitates during the hot rolling, cold rolling and continuous annealing were also analyzed. The results showed that the size of NbC precipitates in Ti+Nb stabilized ULC-BH steel was smaller than that of TiC precipitates in Ti bearing ULC-BH steel, this caused the average grain size of Ti+Nb stabilized ULC-BH steel to be finer than that of Ti bearing ULC-BH steel, for the yield strength, the former was higher than the latter, but for the r value which reflecting the deep drawing performance, the former was lower than the latter.     

Effect of Melting Process on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Fe–7 wt% Al Alloy

This article presents the effect of melting process on chemical composition, microstructure and mechanical properties of Fe–7 wt% Al alloy. The alloy ingot was prepared by air induction melting (AIM), air induction melting with flux cover (AIMFC) and vacuum induction melting (VIM) and cast into 50 mm diameter split cast iron mould. These cast ingots were hot-forged and hot-rolled at 1,373 K to 2 mm thick sheet. Hot-rolled alloys were characterized with respect to chemical composition, microstructure and mechanical properties. Ingots produced by AIM, AIMFC and VIM were free from gas porosity, however AIM ingots exhibited higher concentration of hydrogen as compared to AIMFC and VIM. The recovery of aluminium as well as reduction of oxygen during AIM is very poor as compared to AIMFC and VIM. AIMFC ingots exhibit low level of sulphur as compared to AIM and VIM ingots. The alloys produced by AIMFC and VIM exhibited superior tensile ductility compared to the alloys produced by AIM. The tensile properties of alloys produced by AIMFC are comparable to the alloys produced by VIM.     

Hybrid Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing of Ti–6Al–4V: Processing,Microstructure, and Mechanical Properties

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Processing, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the hybrid electron beam powder bed fusion (E-PBF) additive manufacturing of...     

Microstructure and Properties of Hot Rolled Ti23Al17Nb Alloy Sheets

 Microstructure and tensile properties of the Ti-23Al-17Nb alloy sheets rolling at （α2＋B2＋O）phase field with the various heat treatments were studied. Before rolling the microstructure of B2 phase particles embedded in O phase continuity matrix is acquired. The B2 phases deform more greatly and recrystallize more easily than α2/ O phases during the same rolling step. The (α2＋B2) two-phase equiaxed microstructure is obtain by solution treatment at (α2＋B2) phase field. The B2 phases become the continuity matrix by recrystallization and growing up of B2 grains and the anisotropy caused by rolling disappears. The microstructure obtained by solution treatment has more excellent tensile properties than the microstructure gained by subsequent aging treatment at (O＋B2) phase field because the O phases precipitate as the block structure during aging and the B2 matrix continuity is broken down.     

Effect of Cr and Ni/Fe Ratio on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of γ′-Strengthened Ni–Fe-Based Alloys

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - To continue to meet the future materials’ requirements for advanced power generation systems, enhancing the mechanical properties and long-term...