Grain refinement of AZ31 magnesium alloy by new Al-Ti-C master alloys

New Al₄C₃-containing Al-Ti-C master alloys (Al-0.6Ti-1C and Al-1Ti-1C) were developed by introducing Ti element into Al-C melt using melt reaction method, in which most of the TiC particles distribute around Al₄C₃ particles. It is believed that most of the C firstly reacts with Al melt and form Al₄C₃ particles by the reaction Al(l)+C(s)→Al₄C₃(s), and after adding Ti into the Al-C melt, the size of Al₄C₃ particles is decreased and the distribution of Al₄C₃ is improved through the reaction Ti(solute)+Al₄C₃(s)→TiC(s)+Al(l). With the addition of 1% Al-1Ti-1C master alloy, the average grain size of AZ31 is reduced sharply from 850 μm to 200 μm, and the grain morphology of α-Mg transits from a fully-developed equiaxed dendritic structure to a petal-like shape. Al-C-O-Mn-Fe compounds are proposed to be potent nucleating substrates for primary Mg. Appropriate addition of Ti is believed to increase the grain refinement efficiency of Al₄C₃-containing Al-Ti-C master alloys in AZ31 alloy.     

挤压态AZ31镁合金单向压缩过程中的退孪生行为

用金相法、XRD等技术研究了挤压态AZ31镁合金单向压缩过程中的退孪生行为,并探讨退孪生机理.结果表明,在应变量较低时,拉伸孪晶数量随变形量的增大而增多,而当应变量＞4％时,随着变形量的增大,拉伸孪晶数量反而减少,即产生了退孪生现象.这种特殊的退孪生现象可以通过晶体转动理论解释,即随变形量的增大,基体逐渐转到硬取向,孪晶伴随转动,变形量较大时产生的{1012}拉伸孪晶的受力状态随转动发生改变,在已孪生部分又发生一次{10 12 }拉伸孪生,使原来已孪生部分取向再次与基体相同,即产生了退孪生.     

AZ31B镁合金塑性变形动态再结晶的实验研究

通过不同应变速率和不同温度下的轴对称压缩试验,研究了AZ31B镁合金塑性变形与动态再结晶的相互依赖关系。研究证实,温度T在200℃～400℃区间、变形程度ε约0.2左右时,开始出现动态再结晶(DRX)现象。随变形程度的增加,DRX晶粒不断增多,材料呈现明显的软化趋势,流动应力下降。当DRX过程完成以后,继续变形,材料又出现硬化行为。为镁合金塑性变形组织演变的定量研究打下了基础。     

Friction stir welding of AZ31 magnesium alloys processed by equal channel angular pressing

Equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) is an effective thermo-mechanical process to make ultrafine grains.An investigation was carried out on the friction stir welding (FSW) of ECAPed AZ31 magnesium alloys with a thickness of 15 mm.For different process parameters,the optimum FSW conditions of ECAPed AZ31 magnesium alloys were examined.The basic characterization of weld formation and the mechanical properties of the joints were discussed.The results show that the effect of welding parameters on welding quality was evident and welding quality was sensitive to welding speed.Sound joints could be obtained when the welding speed was 37.5 mm/min and the rotation speed of the stir tool was 750 r/min.The maximum tensile strength (270 MPa) of FSW was 91% that of the base materials.The value of microhardness varied between advancing side and retreating side because of the speed field near the pin of the stir tool,which weakened the deformed stress field.The value of microhardness of the welding zone was lower than that of the base materials.The maximum value was located near the heat-affected zone (HAZ).Remarkable ductile character was observed from the fracture morphologies of welded joints.     

Interaction of crack with twins in hot-rolling AZ31 magnesium alloys during in-situ TEM straining experiments

In-situ straining experiments in transmission electron microscopy were performed to investigate the propagation of crack, twinning and interaction of crack with twins. Lots of micro-twins were observed in the deformation band near the tip of crack. The stress is relaxed by the formation of micro-twins and the densely developed micro-twins prevent the growth of crack from the deformation band, subsequently the cracks extend into adjacent grains across grain boundaries, and grow along cleavage plane. Multiple twins are observed in hot-rolling AZ31 magnesium alloys, when cracks propagate into twins through twin grain boundaries（GBs）, the direction of growth deviates. It is concluded that twins, especially multiple twins effectively baffle the development of crack.     

Shear banding phenomenon during severe plastic deformation of an AZ31 magnesium alloy

Severe plastic deformation was applied on a wrought AZ31 magnesium alloy by a new method called accumulative back extrusion (ABE). Instabilities of plastic flow in the form of localized shear bands were experimentally observed during ABE processing of the AZ31 alloy. The obtained microstructures show the appearance of shear bands in ABE processed specimens, the extent of which was observed to be decreased by increasing the temperature. The restricted flow (due to the deformation geometry) was discussed as the main cause of the latter behavior. A noticeable grain refinement was observed inside the shear bands which was attributed to the occurrence of continuous dynamic recrystallization inside the bands. To analyze the homogeneity of mechanical properties, the microhardness variations from the deformed bulk to the shear bands were measured and interpreted. The role of shear banding in grain refinement with no harmful effect on material soundness was explained.     

Microstructure formation and grain refinement of Mg-based alloys by electromagnetic vibration technique

The microstructure formation and grains refinement of two Mg-based alloys, i.e. AZ31 and AZ91D, were reported using an electromagnetic vibration （EMV） technique. These two alloys were solidified at various vibration frequencies and the microstructures were observed. The average size of grains was quantitatively measured as a function of vibration frequencies. Moreover, the grain size distribution was outlined versus number fraction. A novel model was proposed to account for the microstructure formation and grain refinement when considering the significant difference of the electrical resistivity properties of the solid and the liquid during EMV processing in the semisolid state. The remarkable difference originates uncoupled movement between the mobile solid and the sluggish liquid, which can activate melt flow. The microstructure evolution can be well explained when the fluid flow intensity versus vibration frequency is taken into account. Moreover, the influence of the static magnetic field on texture formation is also considered, which plays an important role at higher vibration frequencies.     

Mechanical properties and microstructures of magnesium alloy AZ31B joint fabricated by resistance spot welding with cover plates

Abstract

The authors welded magnesium alloy AZ31B sheets using the technique of resistance spot welding with cover plates, and investigated the effects of welding parameters on the tensile shear strength of joints and shape characteristic of nugget. The joints with high tensile shear strength were obtained under relatively low welding current. The equiaxed grains with the many intragranularly precipitated particles Mg₁₇Al₁₂ in the nugget were observed.     

振动搅拌摩擦焊镁合金动态再结晶过程的模拟与实验研究

采用二维元胞自动机(CA)模型分析机械振动对AZ91合金在搅拌摩擦焊(FSW)过程中组织演变的影响.将模拟结果,即晶粒拓扑结构、粒度分布、平均晶粒度以及动态再结晶(DRX)分数与实测数据进行比较.结果显示,有限元分析结果与实验数据具有充分的相似性,CA方法可用于搅拌摩擦焊AZ91合金组织演变的分析.与FSW相比,振动搅...     

Effects of die angle on microstructures and mechanical properties of AZ31 magnesium alloy processed by equal channel angular pressing

1　INTRODUCTIONMagnesiumalloysarethelightestmetallicstruc turalmaterialsandhencetheyprovidegreatpotentialintheweightsavingofautomotiveandaerospacecomponents ,materialhandlingequipment ,portabletoolsandevensportinggoods[1,2 ] .Duetotheirhexago nalclose packed (HCP)crystalstructure ,magnesiumalloysperform poorformabilityandlimitedductilityatroomtemperature ,thustheirproductsaremainlyfabricatedbycasting ,inparticular ,die casting ,andtheapplicationsofwroughtmagnesiumalloysarelim ited .Nowit…     

通道间隙对等径角轧制AZ31镁合金板材组织与性能的影响

研究了不同通道间隙下,AZ31镁合金板材在等径角轧制过程中晶体取向的演化特征以及通道间隙对其显微组织和力学性能的影响.X射线衍射分析表明在等径角轧制过程中,随着通道间隙的减小,晶体取向变化加大,(0002)基面取向减弱.等径角轧制后,孪晶明显增多,且随着通道间隙的减小,孪晶数量逐渐增多.单向拉伸试验表明,等径角轧制后的板材,其变形行为和力学性能存在明显的各向异性特征,与等径角轧制前的板材相比,在轧向其屈服强度明显降低由轧制前的240MPa降至155MPa,抗拉强度略有增加,但随着通道间隙的减小,断裂延伸率略有增大;在横向其屈服强度和抗拉强度均增大,随着通道间隙的减小,屈服强度和抗拉强度略有减小,但断裂延伸率增大.     

Investigation of solidification cracking susceptibility during laser beam welding using an in-situ observation technique

In recent years, laser beam welding has found wide applications in many industrial fields. Solidification cracks are one of the most frequently encountered welding defects that hinder obtaining a safe weld joint. Decades of research have shown that one of the main causes of such cracks are the strain and the strain rate. Obtaining meaningful measurements of these strains has always been a major challenge for scientists, because of the specific environment of the measurement range and the many obstacles, as well as the high temperature and the plasma plume. In this study, a special experimental setup with a high-speed camera was employed to measure the strain during the welding process. The hot cracking susceptibility was investigated for 1.4301 stainless steel, and the critical strain required for solidification crack formation was locally and globally determined.     

Microstructures and mechanical properties of AZ31-0.1Ca magnesium alloy produced by soft-contact electromagnetic casting and hot extrusion

An AZ31-0.1Ca magnesium alloy produced by Soft-contact electromagnetic continuous casting(SEMC) was investigated.The fine homogeneous structure and the precipitated phases were obtained by SEMC.The effects of microalloying of Ca and middle frequency electromagnetic field on AZ31-0.1Ca magnesium alloy were discussed.And the as-cast billets were extruded with different extrusion ratios subsequently.The alloy showed an ultrafine grain size of 2-5 μm due to dynamic recrytallization(DRX) in the course of hot ext...     

镁合金双向挤压-螺旋变形的数值模拟与实验研究

利用双向挤压与螺旋变形的特性,本研究提出镁合金双向挤压-螺旋复合变形的新方法。采用DEFORM-3D软件模拟分析螺旋角度和凹槽半径对坯料变形过程中累积应变的影响,得出合适的结构参数并加工制造出模具进行实验研究。研究结果表明:双向挤压-螺旋复合变形可极大地提高镁合金变形过程的等效应变,随着螺旋角度和凹槽半径的增大,等效应变值也相应的增大,但不均匀程度有所变大。模具螺旋角为40°和凹槽半径为0.8 mm时,试样可获得良好的等效应变值和均匀的等效应变分布,晶粒组织显著细化。     

Improving single pass reduction during cold rolling by controlling initial texture of AZ31 magnesium alloy sheet

The AZ31 magnesium alloy sheets obtained by multi-pass hot rolling were applied to cold rolling and the maximum single pass cold rolling reduction prior to failure of AZ31 magnesium alloy was enhanced to 41%. Larger single pass rolling reduction led to weaker texture during the multi-pass hot rolling procedure. The sheet obtained showed weak basal texture, while the value was only 1/3–1/2 that of general as-rolled AZ31 Mg alloy sheets. It was beneficial for the enhancement of further cold rolling formability despite of the coarser grain size. The deformation mechanism for the formation of texture in AZ31 magnesium alloy sheet was also analyzed in detail.     

镁/钢填镍夹层激光-电弧复合对接熔化焊特性

利用激光-电弧(TIG)复合热源的能量密度梯度分布特征,通过添加镍箔夹层,开展了AZ31B镁合金与Q235钢对接熔化焊研究.采用电子万能拉伸试验机、扫描电镜、X射线衍射仪等手段分析了焊接接头的组织特征以及力学性能.结果表明,采用该方法能够实现镁/钢异质金属对接焊接成形,界面结合良好,接头钢侧形成了由Fe,Ni,Al元素构成的明显过渡区,焊缝主要由α-Mg和大量弥散分布的白色AlNi相颗粒组成.焊接接头断裂在钢侧界面附近,断口形貌呈现准解理断裂特征,接头平均抗拉强度为232 MPa,可达镁合金母材的90%.     

Volume change during the solidification of grey cast iron: its relation with the microstructural variation,comparison between experimental and theoretical analysis

The expansion/contraction during the solidification of grey cast iron was studied using Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT). The experiments were conducted with and without melt treatment. Two types of inoculant used for melt treatment: ASSC (Si, Ca, Sr & Al) and MBZCAS (Si, Ca, Zr, Ba, Mn & Al). Microstructural investigations carried out to quantify the eutectic cells, undercooled graphite, primary austenite and secondary dendritic arm spacing (SDAS). It was found that the casting shows hardly any shrinkage during early solidification but in the eutectic region, the casting expands until the end of solidification. The measured and the calculated volume changes are close to one another, but the former shows more expansion. The addition of MBZCAS promotes more flake graphite, and ASSC does not increase eutectic cells much. In addition to that, it lowers the primary austenite fraction, promotes more eutectic growth, decreases undercooled graphite and SDAS. As a result, the volume expansion changes in the eutectic region.     

Quantitatively comparing phase-field modeling with direct real time observation by synchrotron X-ray radiography of the initial transient during directional solidification of an Al-Cu alloy

The initial transient during directional solidification of an Al-4 wt.% Cu alloy was simulated by a quantitative phase-field model solved with the adaptive finite element method. The simulated solidification process was compared with the related analytical theory and in situ and real time observations by means of X-ray radiography at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. The simulated velocity of the planar interface and solute profile ahead of the solidification front in the liquid are close to the predictions of the Warren-Langer model of the initial planar solidification transient, but in fair quantitative agreement with experimental results only at early stages of planar solidification. After the accelerated flat interface lost its stability a transition to cellular solidification was initiated. The initial cell spacing predicted by the phase-field simulation agreed well with the experimental observations in the region where the cell growth direction was perpendicular to the fluid flow, whereas a discrepancy was obvious in the corners where the fluid flow was parallel to growth. An analytical relation describing the wavelength of the initial solid-liquid interface corrugations under diffusion-limited transport is screened out by comparing the phase-field simulation data with expressions based upon the Mullins-Sekerka linear stability analysis theory or derived for primary spacing. The gravity-driven natural convection in the experiment resulted in misfits between the phase-field predictions and the experimental observations in the late stage of planar solidification, onset and development of morphological instability.     

Corrosion protection of magnesium AZ31 alloy using poly(ether imide) [PEI] coatings prepared by the dip coating method: Influence of solvent and substrate pre-treatment

In this study, investigations on the protectiveness of poly(ether imide) coatings against corrosion of magnesium AZ31 alloy sheets are performed. The coatings were prepared in different pre-treated substrates by the dip coating method using N′N′-dimethyl acetamide (DMAc) and N′-methyl pyrrolidone solutions. The optimal performance was obtained for hydrofluoric acid treated substrates coated using DMAc solution (coating thickness 13 μm) which showed impedances in the order of 10⁷ Ω cm² even after more than 3300 h of exposure to a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. This high performance is associated to an acid–base interaction at the interface as observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.