Effect of Reheating Temperature and Cooling Treatment on the Microstructure,Texture, and Impact Transition Behavior of Heat-Treated Naval Grade HSLA Steel

In order to achieve the desired mechanical properties [YS > 390 MPa, total elongation >16 pct and Charpy impact toughness of 78 J at 213 K (?60 °C)] for naval application, samples from a low-carbon microalloyed steel have been subjected to different austenitization (1223 K to 1523 K) (950 °C to 1250 °C) and cooling treatments (furnace, air, or water cooling). The as-rolled steel and the sample air cooled from 1223 K (950 °C) could only achieve the required tensile properties, while the sample furnace cooled from 1223 K (950 °C) showed the best Charpy impact properties. Water quenching from 1223 K (950 °C) certainly contributed to the strength but affected the impact toughness. Overall, predominantly ferrite matrix with fine effective grain size and intense gamma-fiber texture was found to be beneficial for impact toughness as well as impact transition behavior. Small size and fraction of precipitates (like TiN, Nb, and V carbonitrides) eliminated the possibility of particle-controlled crack propagation and grain size-controlled crack propagation led to cleavage fracture. A simplified analytical approach has been used to explain the difference in impact transition behavior of the investigated samples.     

Variation in Mechanical Properties and Heterogeneity in Microstructure of High-Strength Ferritic Steel During Mill Trial

HS600 and HS800 are two new generation, high-strength advanced ferritic steels that find widespread application in automobiles. During commercial production of the same grades with different thicknesses, it has been found that mechanical properties like tensile strength and stretchability varied widely and became inconsistent. In the current endeavor, two different thicknesses have been chosen from a mill trial sample of HS600 and HS800. An in-depth structural characterization was carried out for all four alloys to explain the variation in their respective mechanical and shear punch properties. The carbon content was smaller and Ti + Mo quantity was higher in case of HS800 with respect to HS600. The microstructure of both steels consisted of the dispersion of (Ti,Mo)C in a ferrite matrix. The grain size of HS800 was little larger than HS600 due to an increased coiling temperature (CT) of the former in comparison to the latter. It was found that in case of same grade of steel with a different thickness, a variation in microstructure occurred due to change in strain, CT, and cooling rate. The strength and stretch formability of these two alloys were predominantly governed by a microalloyed carbide. In this respect, carbides with a size range above 5 nm were responsible for loosing coherency with ferrite matrix. In case of HS600, both ≤5 and >5-nm size (Ti,Mo)C precipitates shared a nearly equal fraction of microalloyed precipitates. However, for HS800, >5-nm size (Ti,Mo)C carbide was substantially higher than ≤5-nm size alloy carbides. The ultimate tensile strength and yield strength of HS800 was superior to that of HS600 owing to a higher quantity of microalloyed carbide with a decreased column width and interparticle distance. A higher degree of in-coherency of HS800 made the alloy prone to crack formation with low stretchability.     

Kinetics of Sub-Micron Grain Size Refinement in 9310 Steel

Recent efforts have focused on the development of novel manufacturing processes capable of producing microstructures dominated by sub-micron grains. For structural applications, grain refinement has been shown to enhance mechanical properties such as strength, fatigue resistance, and fracture toughness. Through control of the thermo-mechanical processing parameters, dynamic recrystallization mechanisms were used to produce microstructures consisting of sub-micron grains in 9310 steel. Starting with initial bainitic grain sizes of 40 to 50 μm, various levels of grain refinement were observed following hot deformation of 9310 steel samples at temperatures and strain rates ranging from 755 K to 922 K (482 °C and 649 °C) and 1 to 0.001/s, respectively. The resulting deformation microstructures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction techniques to quantify the extent of carbide coarsening and grain refinement occurring during deformation. Microstructural models based on the Zener–Holloman parameter were developed and modified to include the effect of the ferrite/carbide interactions within the system. These models were shown to effectively correlate microstructural attributes to the thermal mechanical processing parameters.     

Carbide- matrix interface mechanism of stress corrosion cracking behavior of high-strength CrMo steels

The effects of tempering temperature and carbon content on the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of high-strength CrMo steels in 3.5 pct NaCl aqueous solution have been studied by means of Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and scanning and transmission electron micros- copy (SEM and TEM). Experimental results show that the specimens with higher carbon content and tempered at lower temperatures have a higher tendency for intergranular fracture and lower threshold stress intensity K_ISCC The SCC behavior is significantly affected by the distribution of carbide particles, especially carbide coverage on prior austenitic grain boundaries, through a carbide-matrix interface mechanism as the interface is the preferential site for the nucleation and propagation of microcracks because of its strong ability to trap hydrogen atoms. In low- temperature tempered states, there is the serious segregation of carbon in the form of carbide particles at prior austenitic grain boundaries, causing low-stress intergranular fracture. After tempering at high temperatures (≥400 °C), both the coalescence of the carbide particles at the grain boundaries and the increase of carbide precipitation within grains cause the decrease of the tendency for intergranular fracture and the rise of K_ISCC. The higher the carbon content in steels, the more the carbide particles at the grain boundaries and, subsequently, the higher the tendency for low-stress intergranular fracture. The carbide effect on K_ISCC makes an important contribution to the phenomenon that K_ISCC decreases with the rise of yield strength of the steels.     

Fabrications of Surface Nanocomposite by Friction Stir Processing to Improve Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of Low Carbon Steel

Friction stir processing was used to fabricate metal matrix composites on the surface of low carbon steel. In this research for making 2 mm surface MMC, the groove method was applied to fabricate TiB₂ nanocomposite via cylindrical tool made of tungsten carbide. Microstructural properties of FSPed samples were studied by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. To evaluate mechanical properties, the micro hardness and tensile properties of MMC were measured. The results indicated that the surface nanocomposite produced by this method had excellent properties. The microstructure of surface MMCs became fine (ferrite grain size became about 1–2 µm) with no defect and porosity. Moreover by adding TiB₂ nanoparticles to the low carbon steel matrix alloy, mechanical properties were improved. Micro hardness can become 200HV higher than that of the base metal. The surface nanocomposite also exhibited better tensile strength when sample yield stress increased to about 28 %.     

Study of Aging-Induced Degradation of Fracture Resistance of Alloy 617 Toward High-Temperature Applications

For the Alloy 617, the effect of aging on the fracture energy degradation has been investigated after aging for different time periods at 1023 K (750 °C). A sharp reduction in impact energy (by ~55 pct vis-à-vis the as-received material) after 1000 hours of aging, as evaluated from room-temperature Charpy impact tests, has been observed. Further aging up to 10,000 hours has led to a degradation of fracture energy up to ~78 pct. Fractographic examinations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have revealed a change in fracture mode from fibrous-ductile for the un-aged material to intergranular mode for the aged one. The extent of intergranular fracture increases with the increasing aging time, indicating a tendency of the material to undergo grain boundary embrittlement over long-term aging. Analysis of the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs along with selected area diffraction (SAD) patterns for the samples aged at 10,000 hours revealed finely dispersed γ′ precipitates of size 30 to 40 nm, rich in Al and Ti, along with extensive precipitation of M₂₃C₆ at the grain boundaries. In addition, the presence of Ni₃Si of size in the range of 110 to 120 nm also has been noticed. The extensive precipitation of M₂₃C₆ at the grain boundaries have been considered as a major reason for aging-induced embrittlement of this material.     

Tensile and fracture properties of type 316 stainless steel after creep

The effects of creep on the mechanical properties of type 316 stainless steel were studied. Tensile and Charpy specimens were machined from the oversize specimens crept at 750 °C and 103 MPa. The ambient fracture energy was found to deteriorate rapidly after creep. The ambient yield stress was increased moderately, but the tensile ductility was severely reduced. The effects of intergranular carbides alone on mechanical properties were studied with specimens thermal aged without load. These carbides were shown to cause a moderate reduction in fracture energy and tensile ductility but had little effect on yield stress. Extensive grain boundary separations were observed on the fracture surfaces. SEM studies showed that these grain boundaries were covered with micro voids initiated by the dense intergranular carbides. Frequently, large dimples on grain boundary joined up and initiated shear fracture into the grain. In the crept specimens additional microstructural changes in the form of intragranular carbides and subgrain boundaries were observed. Both are responsible for the increase in yield stress and the further reduction in tensile ductility and fracture energy. The intragranular carbides also modified the size and density of the dimples on the fracture surfaces. Formerly with Metallurgy and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973.     

The role of aging reactions in the hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility of an HSLA steel

Hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility, as measured from room temperature precharged tensile specimens, indicates that the type, extent, and morphology of carbide precipitation are all important in determining the degree and mode of degradation. At equivalent charging conditions, embrittlement is virtually eliminated by aging to produce fine scale clustering of Ti(C, N), even when concurrent with cementite precipitation. High temperature aging (> 500 °C) results in exclusive precipitation of the alloy carbide, but also in a total loss of ductility due to a fracture mode transition to intergranular. This is shown to be associated with metalloid (P, S) segregation to grain boundaries accompanying depletion of Ti in solution. Intermediate behavior is observed in microstructures produced by high temperature quenching or aging at temperatures (∼ 400 °C) where only cementite precipitation is observed.     

Effects of Static Recrystallization and Precipitation on Mechanical Properties of 00Cr12 Ferritic Stainless Steel

The 00Cr12 ferritic stainless steel samples were isothermally held at different temperatures in the range of 700 °C to 1000 °C to investigate the effect of static recrystallization and precipitation on mechanical properties, such as microhardness, tensile strength, and yield strength. The results show that the formation of the fine recrystallized grain, as well as precipitation, coarsening, and dissolution of the second-phase particles, influences the mechanical properties remarkably. The fine recrystallized grain can provide a positive grain boundary-strengthening effect in the sample under a relatively high holding temperature. Coarsening and dissolution of M₂₃C₆ result in partial depletion of precipitate hardening. In contrast, the size and number density of MX particles are almost constant, regardless of the holding temperature; therefore, it can provide a better precipitation-hardening effect.     

烧结温度对内燃机用TiZrVMo高熔合金组织和力学性能的影响

运用放电等离子烧结方法(SPS)制备TiZrVMo合金,并通过控制不同的烧结温度获得了不同力学特性与组织结构的试样。测试结果表明,对合金烧结处理后其基体中形成了包含BCC与FCC两种晶体结构,BCC组织形成了比FCC组织更高的衍射峰。当烧结温度增加后,晶粒尺寸呈现增大的现象,塑性先增大后降低。经过1100℃烧结得到的试样压缩屈服强度为1501.4MPa,塑性应变31.4%。随着烧结温度的增加,屈服强度先减少后增加,塑性应变先增大后减小。当烧结温度上升后,合金材料从准脆性断裂逐渐转变为微孔聚集型断裂,之后形成了大尺寸晶粒并发生沿晶断裂的现象,呈现脆性解理断裂的特点。     

Microstructural effects on the tensile and fracture behavior of aluminum casting alloys A356/357

The tensile properties and fracture behavior of cast aluminum alloys A356 and A357 strongly depend on secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS), Mg content, and, in particular, the size and shape of eutectic silicon particles and Fe-rich intermetallics. In the unmodified alloys, increasing the cooling rate during solidification refines both the dendrites and eutectic particles and increases ductility. Strontium modification reduces the size and aspect ratio of the eutectic silicon particles, leading to a fairly constant particle size and aspect ratio over the range of SDAS studied. In comparison with the unmodified alloys, the Sr-modified alloys show higher ductility, particularly the A356 alloy, but slightly lower yield strength. In the microstructures with large SDAS (>50 μm), the ductility of the Sr-modified alloys does not continuously decrease with SDAS as it does in the unmodified alloy. Increasing Mg content increases both the matrix strength and eutectic particle size. This decreases ductility in both the Sr-modified and unmodified alloys. The A356/357 alloys with large and elongated particles show higher strain hardening and, thus, have a higher damage accumulation rate by particle cracking. Compared to A356, the increased volume fraction and size of the Fe-rich intermetallics (π phase) in the A357 alloy are responsible for the lower ductility, especially in the Sr-modified alloy. In alloys with large SDAS (>50 μm), final fracture occurs along the cell boundaries, and the fracture mode is transgranular. In the small SDAS (<30 μm) alloys, final fracture tends to concentrate along grain boundaries. The transition from transgranular to intergranular fracture mode is accompanied by an increase in the ductility of the alloys.     

Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Properties of Al-1080 Processed by a Combination of Equal Channel Angular Pressing and High Pressure Torsion

Equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) and high pressure torsion (HPT) are the most promising severe plastic deformation (SPD) methods. Both methods impose very high strains, leading to extreme work hardening and microstructural refinement. In this paper, billets of Al-1080 were successfully processed by ECAP conducted for up to 10 passes, HPT at an applied pressure of 8 GPa for 5 revolutions, and a combination of ECAP and HPT (ECAP + HPT) at room temperature. The effects of the different SPD processes (ECAP, HPT, and ECAP + HPT) on the evolution of the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-1080 were investigated. The HPT and ECAP + HPT processes were observed to produce finer grain sizes with greater fractions of high angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) than the ECAP alone. Although the grain sizes after HPT and ECAP + HPT were similar, the ECAP + HPT sample had more dislocations than the HPT sample. HPT after ECAP enhanced the mechanical properties (hardness, tensile strength, and ductility) of the ECAP-processed Al-1080, showing larger dimple size in the tensile fracture surfaces.     

Mechanical Properties of a Ni–Cr–Mo Steel Subjected to Room Temperature Carburizing Using Surface Mechano-Chemical Carburizing Treatment (SMCT)

Surface mechano-chemical carburizing treatment (SMCT) is a modified version of surface mechanical attrition treatment and it is one of the cutting-edge technologies for producing hard nano-crystalline surface in metallic materials. In the present study, a case carburized surface layer is achieved in 1.75 Ni–Cr–Mo steel at room temperature using SMCT. Activated charcoal powder is continuously fed during the process so as to achieve the carbon diffusion into the surface layer. The SMCT process has been carried out for different periods say 15, 30, 45 and 60 min respectively. The microstructure and surface chemical composition is investigated by using TEM and XRF analysis. The mechanical properties such as yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), fracture toughness and surface hardness of SMCT samples have been investigated using universal testing machine, Plain strain fracture toughness test and Microvickers hardness test respectively. The surface carbon content has been found to increase linearly and grain size reduces continuously with processing time. A 60 min SMCT samples reveal 0.8% C and about 10 nm grains over the surface. The SMCT samples show significant improvement in mechanical properties. The surface hardness increases from 180 HV_0.1 to ~ 878 HV_0.1 by 60 min of treatment. About 55% increment in the YS and 30% increment in UTS is achieved by 60 min of SMCT. It is also interesting to note that the fracture toughness of the samples enhances from 24 to 47 MPa \( \sqrt m \) after 60 min of SMCT.     

烧结温度对反应烧结碳化硅组织与性能的影响

本文研究了1450、1550、1650℃不同烧结温度制备的反应烧结SiC材料的密度、硬度、抗弯强度、显微组织、显微硬度及断裂行为。结果表明:烧结温度对材料密度影响较小。低温反应烧结的SiC晶粒的晶体结构不够完整,存在亚晶界等缺陷,晶粒强度较低,烧结材料的硬度和抗弯强度较低。高温反应烧结的SiC晶粒的晶体结构完整性增加,晶粒强度较高,烧结材料的硬度和抗弯强度较高。因此为了提高反应烧结碳化硅的力学性能,应该适当提高烧结温度或延长烧结时间。     

Influence of Tempering Time on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AISI M42 High-Speed Steel

AISI M42 high-speed steel is prone to fracture as a result of its brittle martensitic microstructure together with abundant carbides located at the grain boundaries. In this study, a series of property tests including hardness, impact toughness, and wear loss were performed to study the effect of tempering conditions on the mechanical properties of AISI M42 high-speed steel over holding time ranging from 1 to 20 hours. The effects of the tempering time on the characteristics and growth of carbides were also investigated. The results indicated that carbides in the experimental steels were obviously coarsened when the tempering time exceeded 4 hours. The dimension of the carbides increased, while the volume fraction decreased with the increasing tempering time, and the grain sizes were significantly augmented due to the reducing of small carbides. Moreover, the dislocation density decreased with the increasing tempering time, which led to the reducing of the yield stress of high-speed steel. An appropriate holding time (4 hours) resulted in fine-scale secondary carbides and a smaller grain size, which efficiently improved the impact toughness and wear resistance simultaneously. Nevertheless, a prolonged tempering time (>?4 hours) promoted the coarsening and coalescence of carbides, which were detrimental to the impact toughness and wear resistance. Consequently, the formation of fine-scale secondary carbides is the major influential factor to improve both the wear resistance and impact toughness.     

Effect of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al–Mg Alloy Processed by ECAP at Room Temperature and Cryo Temperature

This research primarily focuses on improving the strength of Al 5083 alloy by both the ECAP and Cryo ECAP methodology. Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) is one of the best technologies that enable the direct transformation of conventional macro grained metals into sub-micron, ultra-fine and nano grained materials. Fine grain size increases the strength and the fracture toughness of the material and provides the potential for super plastic deformation at moderate temperatures and at high strain rates. The microstructure evolution in Al 5083, subjected to Room Temperature ECAP and Cryo ECAP were analysed. ECAP was carried out using an optimized die with Channel angle ‘?’ = 90°and corner angle ‘Ψ’ = 20° through processing route A and C up to four passes. The results were thoroughly studied using TEM, SEM, and optical microscopic images. Initially the annealed sample had the grain size of 80 µm with the equi-axed grains. In Room Temperature, the hardness values and the mechanical strength were found to be increased from 88 to 410 HV and 306 to 453 MPa after four passes in route A and in route C the strength increased from 390 to 416 MPa after four ECAP passes. Moreover, in Cryo Condition, the sample was processed up to four ECAP passes at route A and route C. The hardness of 153 HV was obtained after four passes in route C and 164 HV obtained after four passes on route A. Additionally, fracture behaviour using SEM, grain size using TEM and crystallite size by X-ray diffraction studies were analyzed. It was observed that the Cryo ECAP showed marginal improvements in mechanical properties relative to the RT ECAP in case of Al 5083.     

Carbide Evolution in Temper Embrittled NiCrMoV Bainitic Steel

Phosphorus segregation to prior austenite grain boundaries in low alloy steel from exposure to temperatures of 300 to 600°C results in a susceptibility for intergranular fracture referred to as “temper embrittlement”. It has been observed that alloying steel with Mo greatly reduces the phosphorus segregation kinetics. Therefore changes in the ferrite matrix composition from carbide precipitation and evolution involving Mo can influence the segregation phenomenon and fracture properties. This study uses analytical electron microscopy of extraction replicas to characterize the changes in carbide chemistry of a NiCrMoV bainitic steel with 0.25 wt% C that accompany the phosphorus segregation during aging at 480°C for up to 3400 hr. The steel was doped with 0.02 wt% P and tempered at 650°C to two different hardness levels, i.e., two different initial carbide distributions. The amount of grain boundary phosphorus segregation produced by aging at 480°C correlates with the level of molybdenum that remains in solution in the ferritic matrix whereas changes in vanadium and chromium appear to have less influence on the temper embrittlement.     

超细WC-Co复合粉热压烧结制备亚微米硬质合金

以原位还原所得超细WC-6%Co复合粉为原料,研究了热压烧结制备硬质合金材料的工艺过程,并分析了材料的物理性能及力学性能。结果表明:将平均粒径约300nm的超细WC-Co复合粉在热压炉中于1 370℃烧结1.5h,可得到平均晶粒度为600nm、相对密度99%且具有良好综合力学性能的亚微米WC-Co硬质合金。     

The structure of tempered martensite and its susceptibility to hydrogen stress cracking

A series of 4130 steels modified with 0.50 pct Mo and 0.75 pct Mo were tempered at temperatures between 300 and 700 °C for one hour. The changes in the carbide dispersion and matrix substructure produced by tempering were measured by transmission electron microscopy. These measurements were correlated with resistance to hydrogen stress cracking produced by cathodic charging of specimens in three-point bending. Scanning electron microscopy showed that specimens tempered between 300 and 500 °C failed by intergranular cracking while those tempered at higher temperatures failed by a transgranular fracture mode. Auger electron spectroscopy showed that the intergranular fracture was associated with hydrogen interaction with P segregation and carbide formation at prior austenite grain boundaries. Transgranular cracking was initiated at inclusion particles from which cracks propagated to produce flat fracture zones extending over several prior austenite grains. The 4130 steels modified with higher Mo content resisted tempering and showed better hydrogen stress cracking resistance than did the unmodified 4130 steel. The transition in fracture mode is attributed to a decohesion mechanism in the low temperature tempered samples and a pressure mechanism in the highly tempered samples.     

Effect of Laser Beam Welding on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Commercially Pure Titanium

Laser beam welding of commercially pure titanium sheets were carried out at different operating conditions. Laser powers of 2.0 and 2.5 kW, beam diameters of 0.18 and 0.36 mm and welding speeds of 4–8 m/min were used. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the welded samples were investigated in the present study. It was observed that the grain size of the welded samples increased with increasing laser power while it decreased with increasing welding speed and beam diameter. The sample welded at 2.5 kW laser power with 4 m/min welding speed and 0.36 mm beam diameter had comparable tensile properties with the base metal.