Microstructure and elevated temperature mechanical properties of Al–8Fe–4RE alloy fabricated by spray forming

Al–8Fe–4Ce alloy is currently manufactured by consolidating the atomized powders. With the aim to reduce the cost, spray forming process was applied in manufacturing with misch metal as raw materials. Spray forming (SF) as well as casting were employed to prepare Al–8Fe–4RE alloy, followed by hot‐press to compact the samples. The mechanical properties of SFed and cast Al–8Fe–4RE alloys are characterized at a temperature of 350 °C. The results show that the Al₃Fe phases contained in SF alloy is comparatively refined, forming needle‐shaped phases embedded in the Al matrix, and the SF alloy also showed lower degree of preferred orientation in (111) plane. Although both factors might explain the superior performance of the SF sample, the fracture appearance after tensile test at 350 °C shows that the contribution from crystallographic feature might be predominant. Spray forming is proved to be a very promising technique for manufacture of Al–Fe–Ce alloys of high strength at an elevated temperature.     

预处理工艺对双辊铸轧3003铝合金再结晶行为的影响

对双辊铸轧3003铝合金板材进行了3种预处理退火,研究不同预处理工艺下的冷轧板材在380～500℃退火时晶粒组织和再结晶织构的变化规律。结果表明:最优化预处理工艺为610℃/12h+460℃/12h,高温阶段第二相尺寸发生粗化,低温阶段基体中Mn的过饱和固溶度显著降低,两者均有利于提高后续退火时的再结晶形核率。500℃退火时,在粗大第二相的附近产生了粒子诱发形核机制,降低了再结晶织构强度;并且退火时几乎不存在析出,析出相对再结晶形核的抑制作用甚微,从而得到了晶粒细小、织构弱的再结晶组织。     

Analysis of spray formed tool steels

The technique of atomising liquid metal and compacting the micro‐droplets to a billet on a rotating support combines advantages from cast, wrought and powder metallurgical materials. A production rate of several tons per hour requires precisely controlled processing routines. Important process parameters based on processing, manufacturing and application of spray formed material are now developed by fundamental investigations established in projects focused in a special co‐operative research program (SFB 372) at the University of Bremen which is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). By this method advanced alloys of high hardness can be formed without inhomogeneities like segregations and pores in the center of the ingot. By example of tool steels the influence of spray forming on microstructure and homogeneity of the elemental distribution is shown.     

Microstructures and high temperature properties of spray formed niobium‐containing M3 high speed steel

The billets of M3 high speed steel (HSS) with or without niobium addition were prepared via spray forming and forging, and the corresponding microstructures, properties were characterized and analysed. Finer and uniformly‐distributed grains without macrosegregation appear in the as‐deposited high speed steel that are different to the as‐cast high speed steel, and the primary austenite grain size can be decreased with 2% niobium addition. Niobium appears in primary MC‐type carbides to form Nb₆C₅ in MN2 high speed steel, whereas it contributes less to the creation of eutectic M₆C‐type carbides. With same treatments to forged MN2 high speed steel and M3 high speed steel, it is found that the peak hardness of these two steels are almost the same, but the temper‐softening resistance of the former is better. With higher high‐temperature hardness of the forged MN2 high speed steel, its temper softening above 600 °C tends to slow down, which is related to the precipitation of the secondary carbides after tempering. A satisfactory solid solubility of Vanadium and Molybdenum can be obtained by Nb substitution, precipitation strengthening induced by larger numbers of nano‐scaled MC and M₂C secondary carbides accounts for the primary role of determining higher hardness of MN2 high speed steel. The results of the wear tests show that the abrasive and adhesive wear resistance of MN2 high speed steel can be improved by the grain refinement, existence of harder niobium‐containing MC carbides, as well as solute strengthening by more solute atoms. The oxidational wear behavior of MN2 high speed steel can be markedly influenced by the presence of the high hardness and stabilization of primary niobium‐containing MC‐type carbides embedded in the matrix tested at 500 °C or increased loads. The primary MC carbides with much finer sizes and uniform distribution induced by the combined effects of niobium addition and atomization/deposition would be greatly responsible for the good friction performance of the forged MN2 high speed steel.     

Verallgemeinerungsfähige Merkmale und Besonderheiten des Sprühkompaktierens

Characteristic Features and Specific Qualifications of the Sprayforming Process to be Generalized The solidification and cooling process of spray formed materials predominates the extent of any segregation and separation process, which is conducive to avoid macro‐segregation and to diminish concentration of alloying components at the grain boundaries. The risk of coarse porosity or of hot cracking is reduced significantly by the momentum of the mass flow during spray deposition. This means that those materials which e.g. during the casting process tend to establish strong segregation effects and cavities and/or hot cracks as well as those which tend to create filaments of carbides, nitrides or sulphides during rolling can be generated by the spray forming process in large dimensions with chemical homogeneity and without any of those defects. A characteristic feature of spray formed materials is the fine equiaxed grain structure and the high ductility. Specific features of this new free forming process will be discussed.