Simulation of deformation twins and deformation texture in an AZ31 Mg alloy under uniaxial compression

To investigate deformation twins and the evolution of deformation texture during plastic deformation, uniaxial compression tests on a hot-rolled AZ31 Mg alloy were carried out at 200 °C. Cylindrical specimens were then compressed in both the rolling and the normal directions. The findings revealed that texture evolution, work hardening and macroscopic anisotropy are strongly dependent on the loading direction. Electron backscattered diffraction analysis was used to examine the orientation of parent grains and twin bands in the AZ31 Mg alloy under uniaxial compression. A viscoplastic self-consistent model (VPSC) was theoretically employed to calculate the relative activities of slip and twin systems in polycrystalline hexagonal aggregates under uniaxial compression. Each deformed grain exhibited an independent number and type of twin variants under uniaxial compression. Neutron diffraction was used to measure the macroscopic texture of the AZ31 Mg alloy. The VPSC model was used to simulate texture evolution, work hardening and macroscopic anisotropy during the uniaxial compression. A modified predominant twin reorientation (PTR) scheme was suggested to explain the gradual increase in twin volume in deformed grains.     

Deformation twins in nanocrystalline body-centered cubic Mo as predicted by molecular dynamics simulations

This work studies deformation twins in nanocrystalline body-centered cubic Mo, including the nucleation and growth mechanisms as well as their effects on ductility, through molecular dynamics simulations. The deformation processes of nanocrystalline Mo are simulated using a columnar grain model with three different orientations. The deformation mechanisms identified, including dislocation slip, grain-boundary-mediated plasticity, deformation twins and martensitic transformation, are in agreement with previous studies. In 〈1 1 0〉 columnar grains, the deformation is dominated by twinning, which nucleates primarily from the grain boundaries by successive emission of twinning partials and thickens by jog nucleation in the grain interiors. Upon arrest by a grain boundary, the twin may either produce continuous plastic strain across the grain boundary by activating compatible twinning/slip systems or result in intergranular failure in the absence of compatible twinning/slip systems in the neighboring grain. Multiple twinning systems can be activated in the same grain, and the competition between them favors those capable of producing continuous deformation across the grain boundary.     

Laser (Nd:YAG) cladding of AZ91D magnesium alloys with Al + Si + Al2O3

The laser surface cladding of AZ91D magnesium alloy with Al + Si + Al₂O₃ powders (in the wt.% ratio of 7:1:2) was investigated. Laser processing was carried out with a 5 kW Nd:YAG laser. The microstructure and phase analyses of the surface cladding layer were carried out; furthermore, the morphology of the cladding zone, volume fraction and distribution of the Si and Al₂O₃ particles in the laser surface cladding layer were also investigated. The average microhardness of the surface layer was measured in detail as a function of laser parameters. Microhardness of the surface layer was significantly improved to as high as 210 HV_0.05 as compared to 60–70 HV_0.05 of the AZ91D substrate, and the average microhardness of the cladding layer of the composite surfaced specimen decreases with increasing of laser power. However, the rate of decrease is faster at lower power. Though the average microhardness of the surface cladding layer remains constant, there is a little fluctuation in the reading in some regions possibly, because of the random distribution of hard particles in the cladding layer. Finally, the proper processing parameter ranges for formation of a homogeneous microstructure and enhancement of microhardness for laser surface cladding of AZ91D with Al + Si + Al₂O₃ were established.     

Comparative study of the deformation behavior of hexagonal magnesium–lithium alloys and a conventional magnesium AZ31 alloy

Specimens of a conventional magnesium AZ31 alloy and a binary α-solid solution Mg4Li alloy with similar starting textures and microstructure were subjected to plane strain deformation under various deformation temperatures ranging from 298 K to 673 K. Lithium addition to magnesium exhibited remarkable room temperature ductility improvement owing to enhanced activity of non-basal slip, particularly, 〈c + a〉-slip mode. Furthermore, the addition of lithium to magnesium seemed to reduce the plastic anisotropy, typical for commercial magnesium alloys. This was evident in the flow curves and texture development obtained at 200 °C and 400 °C. At 400 °C prismatic slip gains strong influence in accommodating the imposed deformation. In terms of thermal stability against microstructure coarsening at elevated temperatures, the lithium containing alloy undergoes significant grain growth following recrystallization.     

Stress corrosion cracking of a recent rare-earth containing magnesium alloy,EV31A,and a common Al-containing alloy,AZ91E

Stress corrosion cracking of the magnesium alloy Elektron 21 (ASTM–EV31A) and AZ91E was studied using constant load test in 0.1 M NaCl solution (saturated with Mg(OH)₂), and slow strain rate test using glycerol, distilled water and Mg(OH)₂ saturated, 0.01 M and 0.1 M NaCl solutions. Slow strain rate test indicated that EV31A was less susceptible to stress corrosion cracking than AZ91E. Under less intense loading of constant load, EV31A was found to be resistant to stress corrosion cracking. Fractography of EV31A specimens showed little evidence of hydrogen embrittlement. The superior resistance of EV31A is attributed to a more robust oxide/hydroxide layer.     

High temperature oxidation of AZ31 + 0.3 wt.%Ca and AZ31 + 0.3 wt.%CaO magnesium alloys

Magnesium alloys of AZ31 + 0.3 wt.%Ca and AZ31 + 0.3 wt.%CaO were cast and oxidized between 450 and 650 °C in atmospheric air. The initially added Ca and CaO enabled to cast the alloys in air without using environmentally hazardous SF₆ gas, by forming a thin CaO-rich barrier layer at the surface during casting. A thin CaO-rich barrier layer was also formed at the surface during oxidation in air, thereby increasing the oxidation resistance of the AZ31 alloy considerably. The initially added Ca and CaO reacted with Al to become Al₂Ca along the grain boundaries of the AZ31 alloy during casting.     

Deformation mechanisms of a 20Mn TWIP steel investigated by in situ neutron diffraction and TEM

The deformation mechanisms and associated microstructure changes during tensile loading of an annealed twinning-induced plasticity steel with chemical composition Fe–20Mn–3Si–3Al–0.045C (wt.%) were systematically investigated using in situ time-of-flight neutron diffraction in combination with post mortem transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The initial microstructure of the investigated alloy consists of equiaxed γ grains with the initial α′-phase of ～7% in volume. In addition to dislocation slip, twinning and two types of martensitic transformations from the austenite to α′- and ε-martensites were observed as the main deformation modes during the tensile deformation. In situ neutron diffraction provides a powerful tool for establishing the deformation mode map for elucidating the role of different deformation modes in different strain regions. The critical stress is 520 MPa for the martensitic transformation from austenite to α′-martensite, whereas a higher stress (>600 MPa) is required for actuating the deformation twin and/or the martensitic transformation from austenite to ε-martensite. Both ε- and α′-martensites act as hard phases, whereas mechanical twinning contributes to both the strength and the ductility of the studied steel. TEM observations confirmed that the twinning process was facilitated by the parent grains oriented with 〈1 1 1〉 or 〈1 1 0〉 parallel to the loading direction. The nucleation and growth of twins are attributed to the pole and self-generation formation mechanisms, as well as the stair-rod cross-slip mechanism.     

Topological analysis of {1 1 0} slip in an α-iron crystal from in situ atomic force microscopy

In situ tensile tests were performed inside an atomic force microscope on commercially pure α-iron single crystals to examine the process of emerging slip at a free surface during plastic straining. The reported study corresponds to a crystal orientation which favors slip on a {1 1 0} plane. Statistical analysis of periodically stored images during the test allowed the collection of information on the planar and heterogeneous nature of slip, as well as on the evolution of this heterogeneity with strain. The average slip and the slip dispersion were step-wise estimated separately in each of the slip bands in a representative crystal observation zone. An estimate of the related heterogeneous evolution of the mobile dislocation density was also obtained. For the advanced microstructure-based modeling of intra-crystalline plastic behavior actually used in multiscale computational approaches of metal plasticity it is of interest to describe the relevant intra-crystalline slip process, which is not homogeneous even in single slip mode, although it is frequently simplified as such. These results also are of particular importance in validating the dislocation collective behaviour predicted by dislocation dynamics simulations.     

Microstructural evolution and grain boundary sliding in a superplastic magnesium AZ31 alloy

Tensile experiments on a fine-grained single-phase Mg–Zn–Al alloy (AZ31) at 673 K revealed superplastic behavior with an elongation to failure of 475% at 1 × 10^?4 s^?1 and non-superplastic behavior with an elongation to failure of 160% at 1 × 10^?2 s^?1; the corresponding strain rate sensitivities under these conditions were ～0.5 and ～0.2, respectively. Measurements indicated that the grain boundary sliding (GBS) contribution to strain ξ was ～30% under non-superplastic conditions; there was also a significant sharpening in texture during such deformation. Under superplastic conditions, ξ was ～50% at both low and high elongations of ～20% and 120%; the initial texture became more random under such conditions. In non-superplastic conditions, deformation occurred under steady-state conditions without grain growth before significant flow localization whereas, under superplastic conditions, there was grain growth during the early stages of deformation, leading to strain hardening. The grains retained equiaxed shapes under all experimental conditions. Superplastic deformation is attributed to GBS, while non-superplastic deformation is attributed to intragranular dislocation creep with some contribution from GBS. The retention of equiaxed grain shapes during dislocation creep is consistent with a model based on local recovery related to the disturbance of triple junctions.     

2-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-acetophenone as an environment-friendly corrosion inhibitor for AZ91D magnesium alloy

The inhibition behavior of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-acetophenone (paeonol) as an environment-friendly corrosion inhibitor for AZ91D magnesium alloy was investigated in 0.05 wt.% NaCl solution by means of polarization curve, AC impedance, weight loss measurement, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet analysis, and computer molecular simulation. The results show that paeonol can inhibit the corrosion of AZ91D. The maximum inhibition efficiency is achieved when paeonol concentration is 50 ppm by weight in this study. It is proposed that paeonol chelates with Mg to form a paeonol-Mg complex mixing with the original Mg(OH)₂ film on the surface to inhibit the anodic dissolution of AZ91D.     

Orientation dependence of plastic deformation in nickel-based single crystal superalloys: Discrete–continuous model simulations

The anisotropic mechanical response of single-crystal nickel-based superalloys is simulated. At 1123 K, two uniaxial tensile loading cases are simulated: one along [0 0 1] and another along [1 1 1]. Resulting stress–strain curves, stress distributions, interfacial dislocation structures are analysed. In accordance with experiments, the simulations show an anisotropic yield strength. The applied strain is accommodated by dislocations propagating through matrix channels on octahedral slip systems. The net result appears as slip bands along the cubic directions, even though no cubic slip systems are activated. In the [0 0 1] case, the plastic flow is distributed more or less evenly among the three matrix channels, whereas in the [1 1 1] case it is mainly concentrated in one single channel. Typical zig–zag configurations are observed. The elementary mechanisms controlling their formation are explained. Cross-slip does not play any role there. The hardening anisotropy between both loading cases is related to strong differences between the interfacial dislocation microstructures.     

The effect of rare earth elements on the kinetics of the isothermal coarsening of the globular solid phase in semisolid AZ91 alloy produced via SIMA process

In the present study, the effects of rare earth (RE) elements on the microstructure and coarsening kinetics of the solid globular particle in the semisolid slurry of AZ91 magnesium alloy have been studied at 570 °C and 580 °C. The results showed that the coarsening kinetics of the solid globular particles in semisolid slurry of AZ91 alloy satisfies the Ostwald ripening theory. It was shown that the coarsening rate of the solid particles decreases by adding RE elements into AZ91 alloy, specially at 580 °C, which results in the smaller particles size. It was attributed to the solid–liquid interfacial energy reduction due to the addition of RE elements.     

Stress fields and geometrically necessary dislocation density distributions near the head of a blocked slip band

We have examined the interaction of a blocked slip band and a grain boundary in deformed titanium using high-resolution electron backscatter diffraction and atomic force microscopy. From these observations, we have deduced the active dislocation types and assessed the dislocation reactions involved within a selected grain. Dislocation sources have been activated on a prism slip plane, producing a planar slip band and a pile-up of dislocations in a near screw alignment at the grain boundary. This pile-up has resulted in activation of plasticity in the neighbouring grain and left the boundary with a number of dislocations in a pile-up. Examination of the elastic stress state ahead of the pile-up reveals a characteristic “one over the square root of distance” dependence for the shear stress resolved on the active slip plane. This observation validates a dislocation mechanics model given by Eshelby, Frank and Nabarro in 1951 and not previously directly tested, despite its importance in underpinning our understanding of grain size strengthening, fracture initiation, short fatigue crack propagation, fatigue crack initiation and many more phenomena. The analysis also provides a method to measure the resistance to slip transfer of an individual grain boundary in a polycrystalline material. For the boundary and slip systems analysed here a Hall–Petch coefficient of K = 0.41 MPa m^½ was determined.     

An intrinsic effect of hydrogen on cyclic slip deformation around a {1 1 0} fatigue crack in Fe–3.2 wt.% Si alloy

The effect of gaseous hydrogen on cyclic slip behavior around a fatigue crack tip introduced along the {1 1 0} plane in a Fe–3.2 wt.% Si alloy is precisely investigated by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy and fractography. The results clearly suggest that the fatigue crack growth rate is promoted by hydrogen, whereas the number of dislocations emitted per load cycle is reduced. In addition, dislocation distribution is localized around the crack, causing quasi-brittle crack morphology. A sustained load test confirms that no subcritical crack growth caused by cleavage or micro-void coalescence exists along the {1 1 0} plane, which indicates that the observed increase in the fatigue crack growth rate is correlated solely to the intrinsic effect of hydrogen on the cyclic slip-off process around the crack tip.     

Correlation between the corrosion resistance and the semiconducting properties of the oxide film formed on AZ91D alloy after solution treatment

The corrosion resistance and semiconducting properties of the oxide film formed on the AZ91D alloy were evaluated. The alloy was tested in the as-cast condition and after a solution annealing treatment. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements and potentiodynamic polarization curves were obtained in a H₃BO₃ (0.05 M) + Na₂B₄O₇⋅10H₂O (0.075 M) solution with pH = 9.2 at room temperature. The semiconducting properties of the oxide film were evaluated using Mott–Schottky plots. The corrosion resistance of the AZ91D was reduced after the solution treatment while the semiconducting properties of the passive films were little affected.     

Direct determination of elastic strains and dislocation densities in individual subgrains in deformation structures

A novel synchrotron-based technique “high angular resolution 3DXRD” is presented in detail, and applied to the characterization of oxygen-free, high-conductivity copper at a tensile deformation of 2%. The position and shape in reciprocal space of 14 peaks originating from deeply embedded individual subgrains is reported. From this dataset the density of redundant dislocations in the individual subgrains is inferred to be below 12 × 10¹² m⁻² on average. It is found that the subgrains on average experience a reduction in strain of 0.9 × 10⁻⁴ with respect to the mean elastic strain of the full grain, a rather wide distribution of the strain difference between the subgrains (twice the standard deviation is 2.9 × 10⁻⁴), and a narrow internal strain distribution (upper limit is 2.4 × 10⁻⁴ full width at half maximum).     

XRD studies of electrochemically hydrided–dehydrided thin films of the alloy AZ31 and AZ31 with Ti

A magnetron sputtered thin films of the AZ31 alloy and AZ31 alloy with Ti capped with Pd were electrochemically hydrogenated and dehydrogenated in a 3 M KOH solution. A phase composition and structure of the films were studied by XRD. It has been determined that the behaviour of magnetron sputtered alloy AZ31 during electrochemical charging with hydrogen was alike that of pure Mg. The shift of the XRD peak Mg (0 0 0 2) to lower angles indicates that a hydrogen solid solution in the AZ31 alloy was formed along with MgH₂. When the AZ31 alloy with 18 at.% of Ti was electrochemically hydrogenated the whole film was transformed into hydride. The minor part of the hydride was in the nanocrystalline state with a structure of rutile and a major part of the hydride was in the amorphous state. After dehydrogenation only a part of the alloy recovered and the rest remained in the state of amorphous hydride. A positive shift of peak Pd (1 1 1) was observed in all of the XRD patterns for hydrogenated films. At least partially the shift should be associated with the compressive stresses in the top-cap layer of Pd, which arose due to the hydrogenation of the AZ31 alloy.     

Microstructure and crystallographic texture of an ultrafine grained C–Mn steel and their evolution during warm deformation and annealing

The evolution of microstructure and texture of a 0.2%C–Mn steel during large strain warm deformation and subsequent annealing has been investigated. The process of grain subdivision during warm deformation is essential for the formation of ultrafine grains in such a material. The study reveals that pronounced recovery instead of primary recrystallization is required to obtain a large fraction of high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) as a prerequisite for the development of ultrafine grains in the course of warm deformation. The prevalence of primary recrystallization instead of recovery is not generally beneficial in this context since it reduces significantly the dislocation density and removes the substructure which is important for the gradual formation of subgrains and, finally, of ultrafine grains which are surrounded by HAGBs. Consistently, the texture of the ultrafine grained 0.2%C–Mn steel observed after large strain warm deformation and subsequent annealing, consists primarily of the α-(〈1 1 0〉∥RD) texture fiber which indicates strong recovery. The γ-(〈1 1 1〉∥ND) texture fiber which is typical of recrystallized rolled ferritic steels does not appear. The process occurring during the deformation and subsequent annealing can, therefore, be interpreted as a pronounced recovery process during which new grains are created without preceding nucleation.     

Evolution of microstructural parameters and flow stresses toward limits in nickel deformed to ultra-high strains

A quantitative analysis of microstructure and strength as a function of strain is presented for polycrystalline nickel (99.5%) deformed by high-pressure torsion in the strain range 1–300 (ε_VM, von Mises strain). Typical lamellar structures consisting of extended boundaries and short interconnecting boundaries have been found, with additional features at large strains which are equiaxed regions, small equiaxed subgrains and deformation twins. The evolution of microstructure and microstructural parameters falls in stages: (i) the first stage at ε_VM = 1–12; (ii) a transition stage at ε_VM = 12–34; and (iii) a saturation stage at ε_VM ⩾ 34. A scaling analysis of spacing between boundaries shows a universal behavior up to ε_VM = 300, indicating that the predominant deformation mechanism is dislocation glide whereas twin formation is of minor importance. A clear link is observed between the evolution in structure and flow stress, which can guide the development of strong metals with a structural scale extending below 50–100 nm.     

Mechanisms for initial grain refinement in OFHC copper during equal channel angular pressing

The stages of microstructural evolution during the first pass of equal channel angular pressing in polycrystalline oxygen-free, high conductivity (OFHC) copper are identified using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Microstructural features are generated in the following order: randomly distributed dislocations, dislocation cell structures, elongated laminar substructures (ELSs), and if a transition in activated slip systems takes place, secondary ELSs and/or microbands. TEM analysis suggests that primary and secondary ELSs form along certain {1 1 1} slip planes via a self-organized gliding of dislocations. Prior to reaching the main shear plane (MSP), many ELS boundaries are nearly perpendicular to the MSP. After crossing it, they are most often nearly parallel to it (±15°). The initial grain orientation determines if such a transition in slip pattern occurs. Mechanisms for initial grain refinement are proposed and the final dimension of refined grains is found to be directly associated with some initial substructure characteristics prior to reaching the MSP.