Effect of limestone ores on grain refinement of as-cast commercial AZ31 magnesium alloys

The grain refinement of the as-cast AZ31 alloys by limestone particles was investigated by grain refining tests and microstructure observations. The results show that the limestone particles have a good grain refining potency, which is deeply related to the addition level of limestone and melting temperature. The optimal addition level and melting temperature are 2.0% (mass fraction) and 720 °C, respectively. The average grain size of AZ31 alloy is reduced from (556±60) to (236±22) μm. The sound grain refining by raw limestone particles has a good anti-fading capacity without any significant grain coarsening in a 40 min holding time. The concerned grain refining mechanism should be attributed to the inoculated Al-C and Al-C/Al-Mn-(Fe) nuclei. Ultrasonic treatment can enhance the grain refining efficiency of limestone particles through cavitation-enhanced nucleation mechanism.     

Effect of microporosity on tensile properties of as-cast AZ91D magnesium alloy

In the present study, the effect of microporosity on the tensile properties of as-cast AZ91D magnesium alloy was investigated through experimental observation and numerical prediction. The test specimens were fabricated by die-casting and gravity-casting. For gravity-casting, the inoculation and use of various metallic moulds were applied to obtain a wide range of microporosity. The deficiency of the interdendritic feeding of the liquid phase acted as a dominant mechanism on the formation of the micropores in the Mg?Al-alloys, rather than the evolution of hydrogen gas. Although tensile strength and elongation has a nonlinear and very intensive dependence upon microporosity, the yield strength appeared to have a linear relationship with microporosity. However, it was possible to quantitatively estimate the linear contribution of microporosity on the individual tensile property for a range of microporosity, which was below about 1%. The numerical prediction suggests that the effect of microporosity on fractured strength and elongation decreased as the strain hardening exponent increased. Furthermore, the shape and distribution of micropores may play a more dominant role than local plastic deformation on the tensile behavior of AZ91D alloy.     

Structure of butt joint of as-cast magnesium alloys

The article presents a structural analysis of joints of as-cast magnesium alloys created using three joining methods: friction stir welding, CO₂ laser welding and electric arc welding in inert gas shielding using tungsten electrode (TIG). The macro- and microstructures of the butt joints have been evaluated using an optical microscope with a digital image recording system. Two types of magnesium alloys were used in the research: AZ91 and AM-Lite, the main alloying elements of which are zinc and aluminium. The starting material consisted of cast ingots milled to a specific dimension and then cut into plate samples with a thickness of 3 mm. The subsequent analysis showed that it is possible to achieve high-quality joints of magnesium alloys. However, trace quantities of pores have also been found.     

不同状态Mg-9Sr中间合金对AZ31镁合金铸态组织的影响

研究Mg-9Sr中间合金及其处理工艺对AZ31镁合金铸态组织的影响。结果表明：在AZ31镁合金中加入不同状态的Mg-9Sr中间合金（常规铸态、快速凝固态、固溶态和轧制态）对AZ31镁合金均有很好的晶粒细化效果,其中轧制态Mg-9Sr中间合金的细化效果最好,其次依次为固溶态、常规铸态和快速凝态Mg-9Sr中间合金。在Sr加入量0.1%和熔体保温时间80 min条件下,轧制态Mg-9Sr中间合金可使AZ31镁合金获得62 μm的最小平均晶粒尺寸。     

Atmospheric corrosion of two field-exposed AZ31B magnesium alloys with different grain size

A fine-grained AZ31B alloy and a commonly hot-extruded AZ31B alloy with coarser grains were exposed to marine and urban environments for 1 year, and the atmospheric corrosion behavior of the AZ31B alloys was investigated. The fine-grained AZ31B alloy displays slightly higher corrosion resistance than the commonly hot-extruded AZ31B, particularly in urban environment. Magnesium carbonate hydrate and hydromagnesite are principal corrosion products of the two AZ31B alloys in both marine and urban environments. Besides, it is found that Al–Mn intermetallic particles have little influence on the atmospheric corrosion of the AZ31B alloys.     

Correlation of recalescence with grain refinement of magnesium alloys

The grain refinement of Mg-Al based alloys with carbon inoculation was investigated by a computer-aided cooling curve analysis(CA-CCA) system.The results show that carbon inoculation decreases the main parameters of the recalescence regime during the initial stage of solidification.These parameters include the recalescence undercooling(Δθ_(rec)),duration of recalescence (t_(rec)),and liquid peak parameter(LPP) which is firstly introduced into magnesium alloys.The resultant grain size decreases with incre...     

Review of grain refinement methods for as-cast microstructure of magnesium alloy

As the lightest structural metal, Mg and Mg-based alloys have great potential applications in the aerospace, automotive and nuclear industries. However, such applications have been limited by low ductility and strength. Theoretically, small grain sized structure can synchronously improve its ductility and strength. Yet,universally reliable grain refinement techniques for the magnesium alloys are still under investigation and some are in strong debating. This paper presents a brief review of development of grain refinement methods for magnesium alloys, which would contribute to a better understanding of the factors controlling grain refinement and provide an outlook of future research in this field.     

Electrochemical corrosion behavior of Cu-40Ni-20Cr alloys with different grain sizes in solutions containing chloride ions

The electrochemical corrosion behavior of the two Cu-40Ni-20Cr alloys prepared by conventional casting（CA） and mechanical alloying（MA） with the different grain sizes was studied by using open-circuit potential（OCP）, potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy（EIS） methods in solutions containing chloride ions. The results show that the free corrosion potentials of the two alloys move towards negative values, corrosion currents increase and therefore corrosion rates become faster with the increase of chloride ion concentrations. EIS plots of CACu-40Ni-20Cr alloy are composed of single capacitive loop, while EIS plots of MACu-40Ni-20Cr alloy are composed of double capacitive loops in solution containing lower chloride ion concentrations. EIS plots of the two alloys have Warburg impedance with the increase of chloride ion concentrations. Corrosion rates of MACu-40Ni-20Cr alloy become faster than those of CACu-40Ni-20Cr alloy obviously in solutions containing the same chloride ion concentrations because MACu-40Ni-20Cr alloy is able to produce large concentrations of grain boundaries in the course of reduction in grain size by mechanical alloying.     

不同相组成铸态Mg-xLi-1Al合金的阻尼性能(英文)

采用真空熔炼法制备三种不同相态的Mg-xLi-1Al三元合金,并使用光学显微镜、X射线衍射分析及动态力学分析仪研究其显微组织及阻尼性能。结果表明:由于锂含量的增加,合金的相结构发生转变且出现新的阻尼机制,其中BCC结构的出现使阻尼性能显著提高,同时弹性模量的减小也使临界应变振幅值降低。两相共存状态的合金随温度变化表现出较高的阻尼现象,并在低温与高温区均出现两个较为明显的峰值,其中低温区的P1峰是位错阻尼峰,高温区的P2峰是晶界阻尼峰。     

Microstructures and electrochemical behaviors of as-cast magnesium alloys with enhanced compressive strengths and corrosion decomposition

Rapidly disintegrating alloys with enhanced compressive strengths and corrosion rates are prepared for fracturing parts in petroleum extraction. Extrusion casting is used to prepare Mg–xZn–Zr alloys by adjusting zinc content. Mechanical and electrochemical behaviors are investigated to evaluate the practicability as decomposable materials. Superficial topographies, compositions, phases, and distributions are also characterized to determine the dissociative mechanism. The results make clear that matrixes and secondary structures with reticulate shapes arise on surfaces. The material also possesses enhanced compressive strength to guarantee stabilization and pressure-holding ability among decomposition. Concurrently, with the increase of zinc content and decomposition time, galvanic corrosion aggravates resulting in gradually reduced corrosion potentials and accelerated decomposition rates. Rapid material dissolution mainly attributes to anode corrosion of matrixes, peeling of microparticles, and inferior tolerance of corrosive products to dissolution. Such work highlights potential applications of fracturing materials for ensuring rapid decomposition and guaranteeing stable stress tolerance.     

镁合金与异质材料焊接接头界面行为及研究焊接性

对异质变形镁合金、镁合金和铝合金及镁合金和钢铁之间的焊接接头异质界面特点进行了分析,阐述了镁合金与其它金属之间的焊接性.通过新型焊接方法及填允金属的设计,能够有效地改善镁合金与异质金属间的界面组织结构特点,元素分布特征,进而实现提高焊接接头强度的日的.文中还揭示了镁合金与其它金属在焊接过程中所体现出来的界面行为特征,为镁合金和其它金属的连接奠定了基础.     

冷热循环处理对铸态镁合金组织及力学性能的影响

采用硬度检测、拉伸试验、TEM、SEM观察等方法对于两种经过冷热循环处理后的铸态镁合金AZ91和ZK60在力学性能及微观组织的变化进行了研究。研究结果表明:冷热循环处理比单独热处理或深冷处理能更有效提高合金力学性能,对于AZ91镁合金深冷处理24 h+T6效果最明显,对ZK60合金,深冷处理16 h+T6的循环处理则是最佳工艺。冷热循环处理后改变了AZ91合金中β-Mg17Al12相的数量和形貌,而在ZK60合金组织中则发现了细小的杆状相和碟状相析出。     

Effect of minor Sc and Zr addition on grain refinement of as-cast AI-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys

The optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy as well as energy dispersive spectroscopy were employed to investigate the influence of joint addition of Sc and Zr on grain refinement of AI-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys.Results show that the addition of 0.20% Sc has a little effect on grain refinement because Sc is mainly dissolved into the matrix and hardly any primary Al3Sc particles are precipitated. The alloy with addition of 0.30% Sc and 0.16%Zr has more equiaxed grains than that of others,giving cast grain sizes as fine as 13μm. This is because the Sc substitutes for AI atom in the AI-Zr crystal cell and forms AI-Sc-Zr unit cell,which grows and becomes AI3(Scx,Zr1.x)particle,acting as a nucleus for the formation of a-AI. The addition of 0.04% Ti and 0.008% B makes the grain size drop from 250 μm to 50 μm. Its refinement effect is less than the 13 μm achieved by the alloy including 0.30% Sc and 0.16% Zr.     

Electroless Ni-P coating of different magnesium alloys

Coating of AZ31B, AE 42 and ZRE1 wrought magnesium alloys was carried out using electroless Ni plating technique in a solution of nickel sulphate, sodium hypophosphite, ammonium hydrogen fluoride and glycine with a zinc immersion pre-treatment.The results of SEM/EDX investigations and X-ray diffraction indicate that the coat exhibit a typical surface morphology with compact nodules with good adherence to the substrate. The coat was composed of amorphous structure, which transformed to a mixture of crystalline Ni and Ni₃P precipitates after heat treatment at 673°K for 1 h. The phosphorous (P) content increased gradually from the substrate towards the surface reaching a maximum of 10 wt.% to 18 wt.% on the surface depending on the substrate alloy and the thickness of deposit. The hardness of the coat was found to increase with the P content and also after heat treatment. The electrochemical corrosion test in NaCl solution indicated a great improvement in the corrosion resistance of the Mg substrates and that a noble behaviour of Ni-P was obtained regardless of the heat treatment process. The forming ability test indicates that hot rolling of the coated substrate does not succeed to keep a continuous coat due to cracking of the coat in both as-coated and heat treated specimens.     

不同尺寸二相粒子材料晶粒长大的元胞自动机仿真

在现有晶粒长大元胞自动机器（CA）模型的基础上制定新的转变规则,使之能够模拟第二相粒子对晶粒长大过程的影响,且对含有不同尺寸第二相粒子材料的晶粒长大过程进行仿真模拟和定量分析。模拟结果表明：第二相粒子对基体组织具有钉扎作用,当粒子体积分数一定时,总体钉扎作用随着粒子尺寸的减小而增强;对于单一粒子而言,大尺寸粒子比小尺寸粒子具有更强的钉扎效果,该结果能够准确地反映第二相粒子对晶粒长大过程的影响规律,与现有的相关理论相符合。     

Room temperature mechanical behavior of silicon-doped TiAl alloys with grain sizes in the nano- and submicron-range

Nano- and submicron-grained intermetallic compounds consisting of γ-TiAl and ξ-Ti₅(Si,Al)₃ were produced by high energy milling and hot isostatic pressing. Owing to the pure and controlled processing conditions, the mechanical properties may be indubitably related to the microstructure. Both yield strength and hardness show a Hall–Petch-type dependence on grain size, resulting in extremely high flow and fracture stresses under compression of up to 3 GPa. With a reduction of grain size, the coefficient of strain hardening as well as the compressive fracture strain decrease and drop to zero for alloys with grain sizes of about 150 nm. Deformation at room temperature is accomplished by dislocation glide and mechanical twinning, with twinning attaining more and more importance as the grain size is further reduced. Diffusion-controlled deformation mechanisms can be ruled out even for intermetallics with crystallite sizes as small as 50 nm. A room temperature ductilization of intermetallic compounds by switching to a nanocrystalline microstructure seems to be rather unlikely.     

Different grain refinement mechanisms of minor zirconium and cerium in magnesium alloys

Zirconium and rare earth element cerium were added in magnesium and magnesium alloys to study their different grain refinement mechanisms. The results show that zirconium has an obvious refinement effect on the cast grain of magnesium and its alloys without the alloy element Al because the crystal structure of zirconium is the same as magnesium matrix, and the lattice parameters are close to magnesium. Zirconium can decrease the grain size of magnesium from 150 to 20 pm. The rare earth cerium also has a grain refinement effect on Mg and Mg-Al alloy. The cerium atoms tend to remain in the liquid rather than solidify with the solvent atoms magnesium at the solid-liquid interface. The liquid constitutional undercooling can provide a heterogeneous crystal nucleation. The grain is refined from 200 μm to 40-80 μm. These two elements have different grain refinement mechalfism on Mg alloy. The mechanism of zirconium is that it acts as the nuclei of α-Mg. But the mechanism of cerium is that it increases the liquid constitutional undercooling that can provide a heterogeneous crystal nucleation for the alloy.     

不同晶粒尺寸的Cu-40Ni合金在酸性介质中的耐蚀性能

采用电弧熔炼(CA)和机械合金化(MA)通过热压烧结工艺制备了晶粒尺寸差别较大的Cu-40Ni合金,借助于PARM273A和M5210电化学综合测量仪,利用动电位扫描法和交流阻抗技术对比研究了上述合金在酸性介质中的腐蚀电化学性能以及腐蚀机理。结果表明:随着H 浓度的增加,CA Cu-40Ni合金的自腐蚀电位负移,而MA Cu-40Ni合金则正移,两种合金的动电位扫描极化曲线均未出现钝化现象;随着H 浓度的增加,CA Cu-40Ni合金的极化电阻增大,腐蚀电流减小,合金的耐蚀性能增加,而MA Cu-40Ni合金的极化电阻减小,腐蚀电流增加,合金的耐蚀性能降低。两种合金的交流阻抗谱均由双容抗弧组成,腐蚀过程受电化学反应控制。晶粒细化后,合金中存在大量晶界,参与腐蚀反应的活性原子数增加,促使MA Cu-40Ni合金的腐蚀速度高于CA Cu-40Ni合金。