Cellular precipitation and discontinuous coarsening of cellular precipitate in an Al-29 at.% Zn alloy

The morphology and growth kinetics of cellular precipitation and discontinuous coarsening of the cellular precipitate in an Al-29 at.% Zn alloy have been investigated at temperatures ranging from 323 to 523 K (50 to 250°C) by light microscopy, electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. At all aging temperatures the alloy was observed to decompose completely by a cellular precipitation reaction which resulted in a fine lamellar structure of aluminium rich and zinc rich solid solutions. The first cell lamellar structure was then decomposed at all aging temperatures by a second cellular or discontinuous coarsening reaction. The discontinuous coarsening reaction occurred at a much slower rate than the first cellular reaction and resulted in a much coarser lamellar structure. Lattice parameter measurements showed the aluminum rich phase in the cellular precipitate to have a composition far from equilibrium while that in the product of discontinuous coarsening was close to equilibrium. Analysis of the growth kinetics of both the cellular precipitation and the discontinuous coarsening suggested that they were controlled by grain boundary diffusivity.     

Kinetics of discontinuous coarsening of cellular precipitate in a Cu-15 wt% in alloy

The morphology and growth kinetics of the cellular precipitate and discontinuously coarsened cellular precipitate have been studied in the temperature range 573–731 K by utilizing optical and scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. In order to avoid precipitation of the Widmanstatten precipitate phase, which has a retarding effect on the rate of growth of primary cells, isothermal aging of the alloy was preferred. The Cu-In alloy was observed to decompose completely by cellular precipitation reaction into a lamellar structure consisting of alternate lamellae of the α and δ phases at all aging temperatures. The fine lamellar structure of the primary cells decomposed into a coarse lamellar structure consisting of the same two phases by a discontinuous coarsening or secondary reaction. Lattice parameter measurements indicated that whereas the depleted matrix was richer in solute than the equilibrium solvus during the primary reaction, it was very close to the equilibrium solvus during the secondary reaction. Analysis of the growth kinetics both of the primary and secondary cellular reaction indicated that the transformations are controlled by diffusion through the cell boundaries.     

Morphology and kinetics of discontinuous precipitation and dissolution in an Fe-8.5Al-27Mn-1.0Si-0.92C alloy

The morphology and growth kinetics of discontinuous precipitation (DP) and discontinuous dissolution (DD) in an Fe-8.5Al-27Mn-1.0Si-0.92C alloy are investigated. The results indicate that the solid-solution-treated austenite phase decomposes into lamellar DP after aging at temperatures ranging from 900 to 1050 K. After the specimens of a preaged DP structure go through further aging at temperatures ranging from 1118 to 1173 K, the lamellar DP falls into dissolution because of the DD reaction. The lamellar spacings of the DP structure, as well as the reaction-front migration rates during DP and DD reactions, are measured. Based on Aaronson and Liu’s simplified kinetics model, the grain-boundary diffusivities are estimated. They are found to be slightly lower than the grain-boundary diffusion data of Mn in Fe and Fe in Fe as reported by Aaronson and Liu.     

Kinetics of discontinuous coarsening of cellular precipitate in a Ni-8.5 at.% Sn alloy

The morphology and growth kinetics of the cellular precipitate and discontinuous coarsening of the cellular precipitate have been studied in the temperature range 815–995 K by utilizing optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The Ni-Sn alloy was observed to decompose completely by cellular precipitation reaction into a lamellar structure consisting of alternate lamellae of the α and β phases at all aging temperatures. The fine lamellar structure of the primary cells decomposed into a coarse lamellar structure in two stages. In the first stage, the secondary cells with larger interlamellar spacing decomposed the primary cells. In the second stage, the tertiary cells with a much larger inter-lamellar spacing decomposed the secondary cells. The tertiary cells also decomposed the primary cells. The primary cell growth data were analysed by using theories of Petermann and Hornbogen, Turnbull and Cahn. The secondary and tertiary cell growth data were analysed by assuming that these also follow the theory of Petermann and Hornbogen of primary cell growth. From the diffusivity values, it has been concluded that the growth of primary, secondary and tertiary cells occurs by diffusion of tin along the migrating grain boundaries.     

Phenomenology of precipitation in copper-20 pct nickel-20 pct manganese

The precipitation phenomena in the alloy copper-20 pct nickel-20 pct manganese have been investigated. Utilizing transmission electron microscopy as the principal tool; the effects of aging temperature and time as well as prior cold work were studied. For all aging temperatures the reaction products are the solute depleted fcc solid solution and an ordered structure with fct symmetry. Three aging temperatures characterized by different precipitate morphologies were studied. At 350°C discontinuous precipitation is the predominant mode of decomposition. Precipitate colonies nucleate at grain and twin boundaries and eventually grow through the entire structure. Microtwinning of the colony matrix accompanies the precipitation reaction. At 450°C both grain boundary nucleated discontinuous precipitates and fine periodic homogeneous arrays are observed in the absence of cold work. The fine periodic arrays coarsen and eventually form nuclei for the ordered fct phase. The coarsening of the periodic arrays prohibits the growth of the discontinuous precipitate early in the process, so only a small volume fraction of discontinuous precipitate is formed at the grain boundaries. Aging subsequent to cold work results in ordered, fct precipitates heterogeneously nucleated on dislocations. At 500°C no precipitate is observed in the absence of cold work. When aging is preceded by cold work, the ordered fct phase appears as heterogeneously nucleated Widmanstatten laths. No grain boundary nucleated colonies are observed at this temperature.     

Characterization of Continuous and Discontinuous Precipitation Phases in Pd-Rich Precious Metal Alloys

Aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (AC-STEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron backscatter diffraction, and electron probe microanalysis were applied to characterize continuous and discontinuous phase formation in precious metal alloys used in electrical contacts. The Pd-rich Paliney^® (^®Paliney is tradename of Deringer-Ney Inc., Bloomfield, CT) alloys contain Pd, Ag, Cu, Au, Pt (and Zn or Ni). With aging at 755 K (482 °C), nanometer-scale chemistry modulation was observed indicating spinodal decomposition. An ordered body-centered tetragonal (bct) structure was also observed with AC-STEM after the 755 K (482 °C) aging treatment and another phase, tentatively identified as β-Cu₃Pd₄Zn, was found by microscopy and XRD after prolonged holds at higher temperatures. During slow cooling or isothermal holds at high temperature [755 K to 973 K (482 °C to 700 °C)], a two-phase lamellar structure develops along grain boundaries by discontinuous precipitation. XRD and AC-STEM showed that the lamellar structure was comprised of Ag-rich and Cu-rich fcc phases (α ₁ and α ₂). The phases are discussed in relation to a pseudo-ternary diagram based on Ag-Cu-Pd, which provides a simplified representation of the discontinuous phase compositions in the multi-component alloy system.     

Kinetics and Grain Boundary Selectivity of Discontinuous Precipitation in Binary Ni-Cr Alloy

A supersaturated Ni-Cr alloy (42 wt pct Cr) was subjected to a series of aging heat treatments in the two-phase region in the temperature range of 923 K to 1123 K (650 °C to 850 °C) for different time periods. The resultant microstructures were seen to be composed of varying volume fractions of continuous (CP) and discontinuous precipitation (DP). The DP dominated at lower temperatures, while CP dominated at higher temperatures and the expected DP termination temperature was estimated to be 1138 K (865 °C). The kinetics of DP followed the Turnbull model at lower temperatures and the Aaronson–Liu model at higher temperatures. The nucleation and growth of DP cells, which occurred via the ‘precipitate driven grain boundary migration,’ was seen to be a strong function of the nature of the participating grain boundaries.

     

The structure and properties of thermomechanically treated β-III titanium

Beta-III titanium (Ti-11.5Mo-5.5Zr-4.5Sn) was solutionized above the β-transus, water-quenched and deformed by rolling at room temperature. The deformation accelerated the aging kinetics at all temperatures up to the β transus. The thermomechanically treated (TMT) alloy always had higher strength than the conventionally heat treated (CHT) alloy; the effect being most marked when the aging product was normally α in a β matrix. In addition, the ductility and notched impact resistance of TMT β-III was greater than that of the CHT alloy in the over-aged condition. The TMT did not alter the morphology of the ellipsoidal α phase formed at low aging temperatures and short aging times, respectively. Here the strengthening increase is attributed to strain hardening of the initial β + ω microstructure. The deformation did substantially change the morphology of the Widmanstätten α phase that formed at higher aging temperatures. In particular, the Widmanstätten α plates were much finer and the β grain boundaries were no longer a preferred precipitation site following TMT. At the highest aging temperatures, the TMT material developed a cell structure of about 1 μ in diameter.     

The kinetics of transformation in Zn-Ai superplastic alloys

We report herein on the kinetics of transformation of a eutectoid Zn-AI alloy containing additions of Cu, Mg and Ca. The alloy possesses excellent superplasticity at elevated temperatures, and it has a relatively high strength at ambient temperature (∼345 MPa). TTT curves for the alloy are presented, and the corresponding microstructures obtained at the various transformation temperatures are reported. Also, the results of Jominy endquenched tests are reported and the corresponding continuous cooling kinetics are compared to the isothermal kinetics. The alloy was observed to decompose by two distinct mechanisms, depending upon the degree of supercooling. At temperatures just below the eutectoid, it decomposes into a lamellar microstructure, whereas at larger undercooling it decomposes into a coherent two-phase mixture. The interlamellar spacing and colony size are reported as a function of transformation temperature, and shown to follow expected trends. Since neither the lamellar nor coherent microstructure is superplastic, thermomechanical methods of producing a superplastic structure are discussed.     

Kinetics of discontinuous precipitation and dissolution in Cu–Ag alloys

The kinetics of discontinuous precipitation and dissolution of the cellular precipitate have been studied in Cu-3 at.% Ag and Cu-4 at.% Ag alloys. The growth rates of the cells were measured using optical microscopy. The interlamellar spacings of the primary cells and compositions of the depleted matrix were measured using scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The Cu–Ag alloys were observed to decompose into a lamellar structure consisting of alternate lamellae of the α (Cu-rich) and β (Ag-rich) phases when a solid solution of the alloy was aged below the solvus temperature. The rod shaped morphology of the β phase dispersed in the matrix of α was observed at all temperatures. The primary cell growth data were analysed using the theories of Cahn, Hillert, Sundquist, Turnbull and Petermann and Hornbogen. From the diffusivity values, it has been shown that the growth of primary cells occurs by the diffusion of Ag along the grain boundaries. The results are consistent with the diffusivity values reported in the literature in the same temperature range.The discontinuous dissolution of the primary cells occurred above the solvus temperature as well as 30–40 K below it. The dissolution occurred primarily at the prior positions of grain boundaries as well as at the primary cells intersection, at least in the initial stages of dissolution. The discontinuous dissolution occurred by the diffusion of Ag along the interface boundary between the primary and dissolution cells. The diffusivity and mobility values obtained during dissolution are one order of magnitude smaller than those obtained for the discontinuous precipitation. This has been explained by volume diffusion ahead of the interface and not all of the free energy being used to drive the interface boundary.     

Solidification and solid state transformations during cooling of chromium-molybdenum white cast irons

Two series of Cr, Mo white cast irons were investigated by different techniques. Differential thermal analysis was carried out to determine the liquidus and eutectic temperatures. Unidirectional solidification was used to promote coarser structures easier to analyze. Furthermore, the microstructures of the sample, quenched during a slow unidirectional solidification, illustrate the behavior of the alloy during continuous cooling. The precipitates were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and microprobe analysis. The main findings are reported: (1) a correlation was found between the end of solidification and the chromium to carbon ratio; (2) the determination was made of the crystallization path; (3) in some high Cr/C ratio alloys a peritectic reaction occurs on the border of the grain giving aδ ferritic phase; (4) then this δ ferrite was found to decompose in a complex manner giving austenite and ferrite probably in a lamellar structure, then precipitates of M₆C and Mo₂C in the austenitic and ferritic phases, respectively; and (5) according to the kinetics of cooling, some alloys undergo martensitic and bainitic transformations.     

A calorimetric study of precipitation in aluminum alloy 2219

Precipitate microstructures in aluminum alloy 2219 were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The DSC signatures of individual precipitate phases were established by comparing the DSC and TEM results from samples that had been aged such that only one precipitate phase was present. These signatures were then used to analyze the commercial tempers. It was found that DSC could readily distinguish between the T3, T4, T6, T8 and O tempers but could not distinguish amongst T81, T851 and T87. Small amounts of plastic deformation between solution treatment and aging had a significant effect on the thermograms. Aging experiments at 130 and 190 °C showed that the aging sequence and DSC response of this alloy were similar to those of pure Al-Cu when the increased copper content is taken into account. Further aging experiments at temperatures between room temperature and 130 °C showed pronounced changes of the GP zone dissolution peak as a function of aging conditions. These changes were found to be related to the effect of GP zone size on the metastable phase boundary and on the GP zone dissolution kinetics.     

粉末冶金Cu-15Ni-8Sn合金时效组织的演变行为

对粉末冶金Cu-15Ni-8Sn合金进行热挤压、固溶处理后,研究400℃时效不同时间对合金力学性能及其组织的影响。结果表明:随时效时间延长,Cu-15Ni-8Sn合金的抗拉强度先升高后降低,伸长率先降低后升高,合金断裂方式表现为由沿晶断裂为主向穿晶断裂为主转变。合金抗拉强度在400℃时效1.5 h时获得最大值918MPa。综合考虑合金的强度和韧性,400℃的最佳时效时间为2 h。借助扫描电子显微镜和透射电子显微镜研究合金在400℃时效不同时间(1~3 h)的组织结构变化及其对合金强度和塑性的影响,结果表明:在欠时效阶段,合金组织在富Sn区出现了有序排列的介稳态DO22相,基体的FCC结构开始向DO22有序化结构转变,合金强度大幅提升。而在峰时效阶段,DO22向L12转变,合金强度继续增加,随片层状不连续析出组织开始由晶界向晶内生长,合金强度下降。在过时效阶段,DO22进一步向L12转变,并且片层状不连续析出组织开始大肆侵蚀基体调幅组织,导致合金强度降低,塑性提高。在时效后期,调幅组织被片层状组织大幅侵蚀,出现片层状组织粗化并断裂的现象,粒状γ相(DO3)不断生成,由于这一过程需要更大的浓度起伏而进行得非常缓慢,合金组织仍以大量片层结构为主,因而合金强度和塑性变化不明显。     

冷却速度对TC2钛合金板材β淬火组织的影响

通过水淬+空冷复合的方式,实现了在一个试样上淬火的冷却速度从水淬到空冷的不同,进而研究了冷却速度对TC2钛合金板材β淬火组织的影响。结果表明,β淬火时冷却速度不同,使得淬火后合金的金相组织存在较大的差别,进而对成品板材的组织产生影响。TC2合金板在热轧过程中获得了球状-纤维状的混合显微组织,水淬+空冷复合试样的水淬部分均发生马氏体转变,但转变的进程有所不同,水淬+空冷复合试样的空冷部分均为片状组织,随着冷却速度的降低,α片丛明显长大,α片宽度变大。淬火的延迟会导致板材显微组织不均匀。     

固溶温度对挤压态Mg-13Al-6Zn-4Cu合金组织与性能的影响

采用不同的固溶温度对挤压态Mg-13Al-6Zn-4Cu(质量分数,%)合金进行热处理,然后在(150℃/10 h)条件下进行时效处理,通过金相显微镜、扫描电镜及能谱分析、维氏硬度与极化曲线测试,研究固溶温度对挤压态合金显微组织、硬度与腐蚀性能的影响。结果表明:固溶处理促进晶界处的β-Mg_(17)Al_(12)相充分溶入α-Mg基体中。提高固溶温度使基体晶粒再结晶长大,逐渐缩小T-MgAlCuZn相心部的Cu元素富集区,改变β析出相的形态和分布,促进层片状β相在α-Mg晶界析出,从而提高时效态合金的硬度。但固溶温度超过420℃时,合金晶粒粗化并发生过烧。固溶温度升高导致合金腐蚀电位负移,腐蚀电流增大,腐蚀速率加快。     

Effects of Nd on microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast Mg-8Li-3Al alloy

Effects of Nd on microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast Mg-8Li-3Al alloy were investigated by OM,X-ray diffraction(XRD),EPMA,scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS).The results showed that the dendrites sizes of α phase were decreased by the Nd addition.When the amount of addition Nd was 1.6 wt.%,the alloy with the smallest α phase was obtained.The refining mechanism mainly owed to the increasing constitutional supercooling at the solidification front.Furthermore,the compound Al 2 Nd generated by the reaction of Al and Nd,which distributed at the phase boundary and inside β phase,could also restrain the growth of α phase.Nd could improve the tensile strength and elongation of Mg-8Li-3Al alloy,however,excessive Al 2 Nd might also become crack source and decrease the elongation.     

基于球化机理的TA15钛合金热变形统一本构模型

应用晶界分离模型解释了片层α相的球化现象,阐述了TA15钛合金转变组织中次生片层α相的球化是其主要的流动软化机制.基于钛合金球化软化机理,建立了TA15钛合金的统一黏塑性本构模型.本构模型综合考虑了次生α相的球化、正则位错密度、等向硬化、塑性成形产生的温升、成形过程中的相变等物理变量.利用遗传算法确定了本构模型中的材料常数.本构模型能够较好地描述TA15钛合金热变形下的流动应力变化.      

低温时效对QBe2.0铍青铜组织与性能的影响

通过硬度测试、室温拉伸实验、电导率测试合金性能,以及借助OM、XRD、TEM等手段分析合金组织特征,研究QBe2.0合金在280 ℃下时效的组织与性能,结果表明:随着时效时间的延长,合金的硬度、屈服强度与抗拉强度持续上升,于8 h达到峰时效状态,主要强化相为以调幅组织的形式存在于基体中的γ’相;时效初期,基体中析出共格γ”相,引起严重的晶格畸变,使合金在时效过程中电导率先降低后升高;时效16 h后合金发生过时效,金相组织显示此时发生了较为严重的晶界反应,XRD图谱显示此时析出了少量平衡相γ,两者的共同作用使合金的力学性能下降.      

“Black Plate” Formation in TiX alloys

Typically of many TiX systems, two different types of proeutectoid α plate are observed in a Ti-6.6 at.% Cr alloy, Rather ill-formed normal α plates appearing at higher reaction temperatures are increasingly replaced by slender, almost perfectly formed black plates below a characteristic temperature. Lengthening kinetics of black plates are about an order of magnitude more rapid than those of normal α. Both varieties, however, are h.c.p. and obey the Burgers' orientation relationship with respect to the β matrix, but black plates maintain a near-{110}_β, habit in contrast to a near-{111}_β habit associated with normal α plates. A model based on the thermodynamics of the β phase is presented to explain the distinctions in kinetics, morphology and crystallography between the two types of α. Accordingly, as a consequence of the doubly inflected free energy-composition curve associated with the β phase, normal α precipitation occurs when the a phase equilibrates with a Ti-rich β phase while black plates form at temperatures where the α phase can maintain equilibrium with the Cr-rich β phase.     

热处理制度对Ti-55531合金组织和力学性能的影响

通过采用不同的热处理制度研究了时效温度和β退火温度对Ti-55531合金显微组织和力学性能的影响。结果表明:Ti-55531合金固溶加时效处理后可获得初生α相呈长条或等轴状的组织,β基体上大量析出的次生α相使其获得较高的强度,且强度随时效温度升高而显著降低,延伸率变化不明显,断面收缩率在620℃以上随着时效温度升高有所增加,但该组织状态断裂韧度偏低;β退火后可获得均匀的片状组织,具有较高的断裂韧性,抗拉强度在600~650℃之间随退火温度升高呈线性关系降低,可根据需要很方便地调整强度级别,塑性随退火温度升高变化不太明显。