Effect of Pd on microstructures and tensile properties of as-cast Mg-6Al-1Zn alloys

The effects of Pd on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-6Al-1Zn alloys were investigated. Mg-6Al-1Zn-xPd (x = 0-6 wt.%) alloys were prepared using a permanent mould casting method. The microstructure of the as-cast alloys was characterized by the presence of Mg₁₇Al₁₂ and Al₄Pd phases. The volume fraction of the Al₄Pd phase was increased by the addition of 1-6 wt.%Pd but the volume fraction of the Mg₁₇Al₁₂ phases decreased. At room temperature, the tensile strength increased with increasing Pd addition up to 2 wt.%Pd, and the elongation to fracture decreased with a concomitant increase in the aggregation of the coarse Al₄Pd phase. At 150 °C, the tensile strength increased with the addition of Pd. Therefore, the room and elevated temperature tensile properties of as-cast Mg-6Al-1Zn alloys can be improved by Pd addition.     

High strength Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Ni–Si alloy with improved casting properties

Abstract

The casting properties of high strength Al-7Zn-7Mg-1Cu-3Ni-3Si(wt-%) alloy are described. Compared with common Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys, an improvement of casting properties has been achieved by adding elements (Ni, Mg, Si) that form eutectic phases, thus reducing the solidification interval of the alloy. A comparison of thermal cooling curves, castability and hot tearing tendency has been carried out for three alloys: Al-7Zn-2Mg-1Cu (structure consists mainly of solid solution), quasi-ternary eutectic alloy Al-7Zn-7Mg-1Cu-3Ni-3Si and the common casting alloy Al-10Si. In addition, the effect of melt protection against oxidation on castability has been evaluated. It is shown that the casting properties of the protected quasi-ternary eutectic alloy are significantly better than those of the common Al-7Zn-2Mg-1Cu alloy and that they achieve a level close to that of Al-10Si alloy.     

Effect of Cu addition on microstructures and tensile properties of high-pressure die-casting Al-5.5Mg-0.7Mn alloy

In this study, Cu was added into the high-pressure die-casting Al-5.5Mg-0.7Mn (wt%) alloy to improve the tensile properties. The effects of Cu addition on the microstructures, mechanical properties of the Al-5.5Mg-0.7Mn alloys under both as-cast and T5 treatment conditions have been investigated. Additions of 0.5 wt%, 0.8 wt% and 1.5 wt% Cu can lead to the formation of irregular-shaped Al₂CuMg particles distributed along the grain boundaries in the as-cast alloys. Furthermore, the rest of Cu can dissolve into the matrixes. The lath-shaped Al₂CuMg precipitates with a size of 15–20 nm × 2–4 nm were generated in the T5-treated Al-5.5Mg-0.7Mn-xCu (x = 0.5, 0.8, 1.5 wt%) alloys. The room temperature tensile and yield strengths of alloys increase with increasing the content of Cu. Increasing Cu content results in more Al₂CuMg phase formation along the grain boundaries, which causes more cracks during tensile deformation and lower ductility. Al-5.5Mg-0.7Mn-0.8Cu alloy exhibits excellent comprehensive tensile properties under both as-cast and T5-treated conditions. The yield strength of 179 MPa, the ultimate tensile strength of 303 MPa and the elongation of 8.7% were achieved in the as-cast Al-5.5Mg-0.7Mn-0.8Cu alloy, while the yield strength significantly was improved to 198 MPa after T5 treatment.     

Ti-12Mo-6Zr-2Fe钛合金的纳米压入特征

利用纳米压入测量仪测试了Ti-12Mo-6Zr-2Fe钛合金的硬度和模量.测试表明,Ti-12Mo-6Zr-2Fe钛合金的硬度比Ti-6Al-4V ELI高,而模量比后者低,与常规方法得到的规律一致,表明该方法能很好地表征钛合金的力学特性.对测试过程的分析表明这种方法得到的结果不能与传统方法得到的结果互换,表面状态对测量结果有一定影响.     

固溶体Mg-5Al-xGd合金的制备及其压缩性能EI北大核心

利用Gd(0.00%,0.25%,0.50%,0.75%,1.00%,质量分数,下同)元素和凝固压力(3 GPa)调控Mg-5Al合金凝固组织结构,对合金样品进行压缩测试,并研究组织结构与室温压缩性能相关性。结果表明:常压石墨型铸造下,仅Mg-5Al-0.75Gd合金获得了晶界无共晶相生成、粒状Al2Gd相弥散分布在基体上、晶粒平均尺寸约为85μm的固溶体组织,其抗压强度和最大压缩应变分别为379 MPa和33.46%,高于存在晶间第二相的合金。3 GPa高压下,Gd含量≤0.25%合金的凝固组织为单一固溶体,Gd含量≥0.50%合金的晶界(枝晶间)有共晶Al_(2)Gd相生成。固溶体Mg-5Al-0.25Gd合金的平均晶粒尺寸是74μm,抗压强度是402 MPa,最大压缩应变是33.61%。Mg-5Al-0.75Gd合金的平均晶粒尺寸是38μm,抗压强度和最大压缩应变分别是341 MPa和25.12%,其性能低于Mg-5Al-0.25Gd合金。可见,晶间Al,Gd元素的存在形式是影响铸造Mg-Al合金力学性能的重要因素。     

Deformation mechanism and dynamic precipitation in a Mg-7Al-2Sn alloy processed by surface mechanical attrition treatment

The effect of second phases on the deformation mechanism of as-cast, solution-treated and aged Mg-7Al-2Sn (AT72) alloys during surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) was investigated. Twinning was suppressed in the alloys containing second phases, which can provide nonuniform microstructures and phase boundaries as dislocation sources. Dynamic precipitation in AT72 alloys was studied during SMAT deformation as well. Mg₂Sn particles can dynamically precipitate on the surface of all AT72 alloys during SMAT process. The quantity of Mg₂Sn particles in the as-cast alloy, which is determined by the initial quantity of second phases, is larger than that of T4 and T6 alloys after the SMAT process.     

Tensile microstrain properties of vapour quenched and rolled Al-alloys

Al-alloy deposits produced by quenching from the vapour phase were rolled into sheet and tensile stress-strain curves were obtained in the microstrain region (<10⁻⁴ strain). Two binary alloys (Al-5% Cr and Al-11% Cr) and two ternary alloys (Al-8% Cr-1.2% Fe and Al-6% Cr-1.0% Fe) were tested (compositions in wt%). The corresponding tensile strengths were 375 and 590 MPa for the binary alloys, and 679 and 662 MPa for the ternary alloys. The microyield stresses (the stress to produce a residual plastic strain of 2×10⁻⁶) for the vapour quenched alloys were less than 26 MPa compared with 100 to 260 MPa for commercial aluminium alloys. When the vapour quenched alloys were retested immediately after prestrain, the values were much greater (166 to 254 MPa), but after resting at room temperature for 7 to 106 days low values were again obtained. The low microyield stresses were attributed to the high density of dislocations present in the rolled sheet and the behaviour observed may be characteristic of high strength dispersion hardened Al-alloys produced by rapid solidification and rolling.     

Effects of calcium on the microstructures and tensile properties of Mg-5Li-3Al alloys

The as-cast Mg-5Li-3Al-xCa (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 wt.%) was prepared with vacuum induction melting furnace, then processed by hot extrusion. The microstructures and tensile properties were investigated. The results show that the grains of as-cast alloys were refined gradually with the increase of Ca content from 0.5 wt.% to 1 wt.%, while the Ca content increases to 1.5 wt.%, the grain size increases. The microstructures of investigated alloys were further refined after hot extrusion. Both as-cast and as-extruded Mg-5Li-3Al-0.5Ca alloys have the highest mechanical properties, which is mainly attributed to the grain refinement caused by the addition of Ca and the formation of strengthening phase, Al₄Ca. When the addition of Ca is up to 1-1.5 wt.%, the tensile properties of alloys are worsened due to the excessive (Mg, Al)₂Ca eutectic phase forming at grain boundary.     

Joint effect of quasicrystalline icosahedral and L12-strucutred phases precipitation on the grain structure and mechanical properties of aluminum-based alloys

Dispersoid hardening is a key factor in increasing the recrystallization resistance and mechanical strength of non-heat treatable aluminum-based alloys.Mn and Zr are the main elements that form dispersoids in commercial Al-based alloys.In this work,the annealing-induced precipitation behavior,the grain struc-ture,and the mechanical properties of Al-3.0Mg-1.1 Mn and Al-3.0Mg-1.1 Mn-0.25 Zr alloys were studied.The microstructure and the mechanical properties were significantly affected by annealing regimes after casting for both alloys.The research demonstrated a possibility to form high-density distributed quasicrystalline-structured I-phase precipitates with a mean size of 29 nm during low-temperature annealing of as-cast alloys.Fine manganese-bearing precipitates of Ⅰ-phase increased recrystallization resistance and significantly enhanced the mechanical strength of the alloys studied.The estimated strengthening effect owing to Ⅰ-phase precipitation was 150 MPa.Due to the formation of L12-structured Al3Zr dispersoids with a mean size of 5.7 nm,additional alloying with Zr increased yield strength by about 90 MPa.The L12-phase strengthening effect was estimated through the dislocation bypass looping and shearing mechanisms.     

Sb对Mg-5Al-2Sr合金组织和性能的影响

采用表面活性元素Sb微合金化的方法制备了Mg-5Al-2Sr-xSb(x=0,0.3,0.6,1.0)合金,通过金相显微镜、X射线衍射仪、扫描电镜和力学性能测试等方法研究了Sb含量对Mg-5Al-2Sr合金微观组织和力学性能的影响.结果表明,Mg-5Al-2Sr-xSb合金铸态组织主要由枝晶α-Mg、沿晶界或分布在枝晶间的层状或离异共晶的Al4Sr相、块状三元Mg9Al3Sr相(τ相)和颗粒状SbSr2相组成,随着Sb含量的增加,Sb-Sr2相的数量逐渐增多,τ相逐渐减少.Sb的质量分数为0.6%时,断续分布的Al4Sr相和细小弥散分布的Sb-Sr2相能够提高Mg-5Al-2Sr合金的室温和高温(150℃)机械性能.     

Influence of boron on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-11.6Si-0.4Mg casting alloy modified with strontium

Abstract

The influence of the addition of Al-1B master alloy on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-11.6%Si-0.4%Mg alloy modified with 0.030%Sr has been investigated. The mechanical properties and fracture behaviour of the alloys as cast and after T6 heat treatment with three different melt treatments (no treatment; 0.030%Sr modifying treatment; and 0.030%Sr + 0.028%B combined melt treatment) were also compared. Al-1B master alloy has a strong action in refining the dendritic structure in near eutectic Al-Si casting alloys modified with Sr. The Sr+B combined melt treatment can improve considerably the mechanical properties of the alloys, both as cast and after T6 heat treatment. Fracture modes of the alloys with the Sr modifying treatment and the Sr+B combined melt treatment are typically ductile. However, fractographs indicate that the alloy with combined melt treatment suffered greater ductile deformation before fracture. The Sr+B combined melt treatment significantly improves the mechanical properties of near eutectic Al-Si casting alloys.     

Structure,mechanical properties and fracture of aluminium alloy A-356 modified with Al-5Sr master alloy

The cooling rate during solidification of the aluminium-silicon alloy A-356 was found to have a pronounced effect not only on the structure and mechanical properties, but also on the modification process using Al-5 mass% Sr master alloy. Cooling rates in the range of 0.2 to 5 K sec^–1 were conducted using different types of moulds. Decreasing the cooling rate increases the degree of modification obtained, and a cooling rate of 0.2 K sec^–1 showed the optimum modification in the present study. The mechanical properties were significantly improved by modification. Ductility of the modified alloy was eight times greater than that for the non-modified one. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the modified alloys, in the present study, were higher than those modified with sodium, and additionally the ductility of the present modified alloy was higher than that for alloys modified with strontium. A tendency towards ductile rupture was observed. The transgranular type of fracture was optically detected, and a dimple-pattern was observed on the fracture surface by scanning electron microscopy.     

Improvement of Ductility of Powder Metallurgy Titanium Alloys by Addition of Rare Earth Element

Ti-4.5Al-6.0Mo-1.5Fe, Ti-6Al-1Mo-1Fe and Ti-6Al-4V alloys were prepared by blended elemental powder metallurgy （PM） process, and the effects of Nd on the microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. It was found out that the addition of Nd increased the density of sintered titanium alloys slightly by a maximum increment of 1% because small amount of liquid phase occurred during sintering. The addition of Nd shows little effect on the improvement of tensile strength, while the elongation is significantly improved. For example, the elongation of Ti-4.SAl-6.0Mo-1.5Fe can be increased from 1% without addition of Nd to 13% at a Nd content of 1.2 wt pct.     

Effect of addition of Al-Si eutectic alloy on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-12wt%Li alloy

Mg-12Li, Mg-12Li-3(Al-Si), Mg-12Li-7(Al-Si) and Mg-12Li-9(Al-Si) alloys (all in wt%) were fabricated by high frequency vacuum induction melting in a water cooled copper crucible. After subsequently hot-rolling and annealing, their microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. Experimental results show that mechanical properties of Mg-12Li alloy were significantly improved by the addition of Al-Si eutectic alloy. Mg-12Li-7(Al-Si) alloy shows the highest strength of 196 MPa of the investigated alloys, which is about 1.8 times of the strength of Mg-12Li alloy, and maintains high elongation of 27%. The improved mechanical property with addition of Al and Si in the eutectic proportion into Mg-12Li alloy was attributed to the solution strengthening effect of Al and precipitation hardening effect from AlLi and Mg₂Si precipitates.     

新型Mg-8Li-5Al-5Ca合金的微观组织、力学及耐腐蚀性能

设计了新型高钙铝比Mg-8Li-5Al-5Ca合金,通过常温拉伸、失重法、pH测定和电化学测试等方法研究了合金的常温力学性能和耐腐蚀性能。采用扫描电镜(SEM)和X射线衍射(XRD)分析了基体和腐蚀产物相结构、合金显微组织以及腐蚀形貌。研究结果表明,这种镁锂合金形成Al2Ca相包围双基体(α-Mg+β-Li)的结构,挤压后基体组织和第二相粒子均明显细化。Mg-8Li-5Al-5Ca合金的耐腐蚀性能优于一般镁锂合金,且随着挤压比的增大进一步提升。该合金的力学性能协调了镁锂合金的优良塑性和高钙铝比镁合金的高强度,拥有较高的抗拉强度(222 MPa)和延伸率(8.3%)。     

Fe和Ce 含量对Galfan合金力学性能及耐蚀性的影响

将真空熔炼的Zn-Fe-Ce中间合金加入到Zn-Al熔池中,制备Zn-5Al-0.1Ce-xFe和Zn-5Al-yCe-0.1Fe合金,分析了Fe和Ce含量对合金显微组织及力学性能的影响,并使用电化学工作站测试了合金的电化学性能。结果表明,在Zn-5Al-0.1Ce合金中Fe含量大于0.02%后会形成颗粒状的FeAl3Znx相。随着Fe含量的增加,FeAl3Znx相和先共晶的η-Zn相增加,Zn-Al共晶组织由层片状向点状转变。添加0.1%以下的Fe可提高Galfan合金的抗拉强度。但随着Fe含量的增加,合金的抗拉强度略有降低,Zn-5Al-0.1Ce-0.02Fe合金的综合力学性能最好。添加0.04%以下的Fe会提升合金耐蚀性。此外,随着Ce含量的增加,Zn-5Al-yCe-0.1Fe合金的抗拉强度有所降低,耐蚀性变化不明显。因此,在生产中需要根据镀层性能要求,严格控制合金液中的Fe和Ce含量。     

Effects of samarium on microstructures and tensile properties of Mg-5Al-0.3Mn alloy

Microstructures and tensile properties of Mg-5Al-0.3Mn-xSm (x = 0, 1, 2 and 3 wt.%) alloys prepared by metal mould casting method were investigated. It was demonstrated that Mg-5Al-0.3Mn alloy was mainly composed of α-Mg and β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ phases. However, the other two precipitates (Al₁₁Sm₃ and Al₂Sm) were observed along grain boundaries in the alloys containing Sm. The amount of Al₁₁Sm₃ and Al₂Sm precipitates was increased with the increment of Sm content. Meanwhile, volume fraction of β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ phase was decreased. Moreover, the morphology of β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ was altered from bulk bone-like shape to spherical one. Tensile results showed that Mg-5Al-0.3Mn-2Sm alloy exhibited the highest tensile properties both at room temperature and 150 °C. Compared with ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS) and elongation (?) of Mg-5Al-0.3Mn alloy, UTS, YS and ? of Mg-5Al-0.3Mn-2Sm alloy were enhanced by 30%, 45% and 35% at room temperature, and by 17%, 48% and 96% at 150 °C, respectively. The improvement of tensile properties was attributed to the decreased amount of β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ and its refined morphology, and high thermal stable Al₁₁Sm₃ and Al₂Sm precipitates which effectively prohibited dislocation movement and grain boundary sliding during deformation process.     

The microstructural observation and wettability study of brazing Ti-6Al-4V and 304 stainless steel using three braze alloys

Both Ti-6Al-4V and 304 stainless steels (304SS) are good engineering alloys and widely used in industry due to their excellent mechanical properties as well as corrosion resistance. Well-developed joining process can not only promote the application of these alloys, but also can provide designers versatile choices of alloys. Brazing is one of the most popular methods in joining dissimilar alloys. In this study, three-selected silver base filler alloys, including Braze 580, BAg-8 and Ticusil®, are used in vacuum brazing of 304SS and Ti-6Al-4V. Based upon dynamic sessile drop test, Braze 580 has the lowest brazing temperature of 840°C, in contrast to 870°C for BAg-8 and 900°C for Ticusil® braze alloy. No phase separation is observed for all brazes on 304SS substrate. However, phase separation is observed for all specimens brazed above 860°C on Ti-6Al-4V substrate. The continuous reaction layer between Braze 580 and 304SS is mainly comprised of Ti, Fe and Cu. The thickness of reaction layer at Braze 580/Ti-6Al-4V interface is much larger than that at Braze 580/304SS interface. Meanwhile, a continuous Cu-Sn-Ti ternary intermetallic compound is found at the Braze 580/Ti-6Al-4V interface. Both Ticusil® and BAg-8 brazed joint have similar interfacial microstructures. Different from the Braze 580 specimen, there is a thick Cu-Ti-Fe reaction layer in both BAg-8/304SS and Ticusil®/304SS interfaces. The formation of Cu-Ti-Fe interfacial layer can prohibit wetting of BAg-8 and Ticusil® molten brazes on 304SS substrate. Meanwhile, continuous Ti₂Cu and TiCu layers are observed in Ti-6Al-4V/BAg-8 and Ti-6Al-4V/Ticusil® interfaces.     

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mg-Al-Ca-Nd Alloys Fabricated by Gravity Casting

The aims of this study are to investigate the effects of Nd addition in the Mg-Al-Ca alloys on microstructure and mechanical properties.Microstructure of as-cast Mg-5Al-3Ca alloy containing Nd consists ofα-Mg matrix, eutectic phase and Al-Nd rich intermetallic compound.As Nd addition was increased,α-Mg matrix morphology was changed from dendritic to equiaxed grains and average value of grain size was decreased.Nd addition to Mg-5Al-3Ca based alloys resulted in the formation of Al-Nd rich intermetallic compounds at grain boundary andα-Mg matrix grains.And these Al-Nd rich intermetallic compounds were dispersed homogeneously.In these alloys,two kinds of eutectic phases were observed,i.e.coarse irregular-shape structure at grain boundary and fine needle-shape structure in theα-Mg matrix grain.It is found that the ultimate strength showed the maximum value of 271 MPa at Mg-5Al-3Ca-2Nd alloy and elongation was decreased as the addition of Nd was increased.     

Stress-strain rate relations for high-temperature deformation of two-phase Al-Cu alloys

Al-Cu alloys containing 6, 11, 17, 24 and 33 wt% Cu, annealed for 0.5–100 h, were deformed by the differential strain-rate test technique over a strain-rate range of 4×10^–6 to 3×10^–2s^–1 at temperatures ranging from 460–540°C. Superplastic behaviour, with strain-rate sensitivity, m0.5, and activation energy, Q=171.5 kJ mol^–1, is shown by the Al-24Cu and Al-33Cu alloys at lower strain rates and higher temperatures. All the alloys show m0.20 at higher strain rates, but the average activation energy for deformation of the Al-6Cu, Al-11Cu, and Al-17Cu alloys is evaluated to be 480.7 kJ mol^–1, in contrast to a lower value of 211 kJ mol^–1 for the Al-24Cu and Al-33Cu alloys. Instead of grain size, the mean free path between particles is suggested to be a more appropriate microstructural parameter for the constitutive relationship for deformation of the Al-Cu alloys.