Quantitative analysis of complex carbo-nitride precipitates in steels

Two new types of extraction replicas for precipitate analysis in steels have been developed. These replicas, based on alumina, allow accurate quantification of the carbon to nitrogen ratios in carbo-nitride precipitates using parallel electron energy loss spectroscopy in the TEM. Experiments on microalloyed steels show the importance of the nitrogen content in promoting precipitation even at low temperatures.     

Effects of annealing at high pressure on structure and mechanical properties of Al87Ni7Gd6 metallic glass

The effects of annealing and annealing with a superimposed pressure of 940 MPa on the primary crystallization behaviour of α-Al and the resulting micro-hardness have been studied for as-quenched Al₈₇Ni₇Gd₆ metallic glass. Isothermal annealing experiments were conducted for 30 min at 188 °C, 191 °C, and 205 °C in silicone oil maintained either at atmospheric pressure (i.e. 0.1 MPa) or at 940 MPa. XRD analyses detected the evolution of structure with annealing at 0.1 MPa, while specimens annealed with 940 MPa pressure exhibited sharper diffraction peaks than those annealed at 0.1 MPa. DSC measurements were conducted on the as-received amorphous ribbons as well as ribbons annealed at different temperatures at either 0.1. MPa or with 940 MPa superimposed pressure. Specimens annealed with 940 MPa pressure exhibited higher onset temperatures (i.e. T_x1) and temperatures for the first exothermic peak (i.e. T_p1) for primary crystallization. TEM measurements revealed an increase in the volume fraction of α-Al with increases in annealing temperature, while micro-hardness measurements revealed an increase in hardness with increasing amounts of α-Al. Specimens annealed with 940 MPa pressure exhibited further increases in both the volume fraction of α-Al and resulting micro-hardness.     

Orientation relationship between a ferritic matrix and κ-phase (Fe3AlCx) precipitates formed during metal dusting of Fe-15Al

An Fe-15 at.% Al alloy has been exposed to a strongly carburising CO–H₂–H₂O gas mixture under metal dusting conditions. Cementite (Fe₃C) was detected to be present only in the coke which is a reaction product of the high-temperature corrosion metal dusting. Needle- or plate-like κ-phase (Fe₃AlC_x) precipitates close to the surface were identified by means of electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD). EBSD analyses of several precipitates and neighboured matrix areas indicate a Nishiyama–Wassermann orientation relationship between the κ-phase precipitates and the -Fe(Al) matrix.     

淬火介质对7055铝合金晶界析出行为的影响

采用透射电镜研究了淬火介质对7055铝合金晶界析出相及无沉淀析出带的影响。结果表明，空气淬火时，合金冷却过程在晶界上析出η平衡相。合金经室温水淬及沸水淬火合金时效后，晶界析出相尺寸差别小，呈链状连续分布；晶界无沉淀，析出带较窄，平均宽度分别约为33nm和43nm。空气淬火合金时效后晶界析出相尺寸差别较大，呈不连续分布；晶界无沉淀，析出带很宽，约102nm。对其原因进行了分析和讨论。     

Three principles for preparing Al wire with high strength and high electrical conductivity

The trade-off relation between the strength and the electrical conductivity has been a long-standing dilemma in metallic materials. In the study, three key principles, i.e. elongated grains, sharp texture and nano-scale precipitates, were presented for preparing Al wire with high strength and high electrical conductivity based on the specially designed experiments for breaking the mutually exclusive relation between the strength and the electrical conductivity. The results show that the elongated grains could lead to a higher electrical conductivity in Al wire without sacrificing the strength; while, the 111 sharp texture can efficiently strengthen the Al wire without influencing the electrical conductivity. Furthermore, nano-scale precipitates with proper size can simultaneously improve the strength and electrical conductivity of Al alloy wire. Under the guidance of the above three key principles, Al wires with high strength and high conductivity were prepared.     

TEM analysis of 2205 duplex stainless steel to determine orientation relationship between M23C6 carbide and austenite matrix at 950 °C

Microstructures of 2205 duplex stainless steel were examined using transmission electron microscopy. During isothermal heating at 950 °C, M₂₃C₆ carbide was formed on the austenite grain boundaries with two types of morphologies: “larva” and “triangle”. The orientation relationship between the M₂₃C₆ carbide and the austenite matrix is cubic-to-cubic. In addition, these two types of precipitates have a twin relationship with each other. Based on the STEM-EDS data, the silicon content of triangle M₂₃C₆ carbide is higher than that of the larva M₂₃C₆ carbide, revealing that the silicon content in the M₂₃C₆ carbide plays an important role in determining the orientation relationship between the M₂₃C₆ carbide and the austenite matrix.     

Influence of zirconium content on microstructure and creep properties of Mo–9Si–8B alloys

Mo–Si–B alloys with a molybdenum solid solution accompanied by two intermetallic phases and Mo₅SiB₂ are a prominent example for a potential new high temperature structural material. In this study the influence of 1, 2 and 4 at.% zirconium on microstructure and creep properties of Mo–9Si–8B (at.%) alloys produced by spark plasma sintering is investigated. Creep experiments have been carried out at temperatures of 1100 °C up to 1250 °C in vacuum. The samples exhibit sub-micron grain sizes as small as 450 nm due to the chosen production route. With addition of 1 at.% zirconium, formation of SiO₂ on the grain boundaries can be prevented, thereby enhancing grain boundary strength and creep properties significantly. Moreover ZrO₂ particles also enhance creep resistance of the molybdenum solid solution. Creep deformation is a combination of dislocation creep in the grains including dislocation-particle interaction and grain boundary sliding leading to intergranular fracture surfaces. It is promising to use grain size adjustments in order to balance the creep and oxidation resistance of the investigated material.     

Mechanical behavior and microstructural analysis of NiTi-40Au shape memory alloys exhibiting work output above 400 °C

Substituting Ni with Au in NiTi leads to dramatic increases in transformation temperatures, meeting one of the requirements for a viable high temperature actuator material. Consequently, four alloys containing between 49 and 51 at.% Ti, a fixed 40 at.% Au, and balance Ni, were prepared and investigated in detail using load-biased thermal cycling (LBTC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (XEDS). LBTC experiments demonstrated work output well above 400 °C, with full recovery up to 100 MPa. The alloys exhibit minimal variation in shape memory properties despite the relatively large composition range from Ti-lean to Ti-rich, in stark contrast to most other NiTi-based systems, which demonstrate extreme compositional sensitivity. Electron beam analysis revealed the presence of two types of secondary phases present in all compositions, which are subsequently characterized. Differences in secondary phase content as a function of alloy composition is shown to have a moderating effect on the transforming matrix composition - an important asset for this alloy system - potentially easing processing requirements and opening up shape memory alloys to new fabrication techniques. Unrecovered strain during cycling at higher loads is analyzed from a theoretical perspective to gain insight into the mechanisms of defect formation responsible for functional fatigue.     

Zr-0.8Sn-1Nb-0.3Fe合金的微观组织研究

本文采用光学显微镜和透射电子显微镜对两种制备工艺的Zr-0.8Sn-1Nb-0.3Fe锆合金进行了微观组织分析与表征。实验结果表明增加冷轧次数与退火过程会导致锆合金的晶粒尺寸变大和不均匀化,平均尺寸从3.9μm长大到6.0μm;且析出相的尺寸变大、弥散程度降低,平均尺寸从74.6nm长大至89.6nm。增加冷轧次数与退火过程会使基体中的Nb进一步析出,析出相中Nb/Fe比值增加,平均值从1.17增加至1.39。两种锆合金中的析出相主要为面心立方结构的(Zr,Nb)2Fe化合物,Nb/Fe比值较低,尺寸较大。而在增加冷轧次数与退火过程的锆合金中还观察到少量密排六方结构的Zr(Nb,Fe)2析出相,Nb/Fe比值较高,尺寸较小。     

Multi-stage transformation in annealed Ni-rich Ti49Ni41Cu10 shape memory alloy

Multi-stage transformation (MST) in 500 °C annealed Ni-rich Ti₄₉Ni₄₁Cu₁₀ shape memory alloy (SMA) is investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The as solution-treated alloy undergoes B2 ↔ B19 ↔ B19′ two-stage transformations. Ti(Ni,Cu)₂ precipitates are formed in 500 °C annealed specimens. Alloy annealed at 500 °C for 6–24 h exhibits MST. This MST is confirmed by DMA tests and is composed of B2₁ ↔ B19₁ ↔ B19′₁ and B2₂ ↔ B19₂ ↔ B19′₂ transformations corresponding to the regions near and far from Ti(Ni,Cu)₂ precipitates, respectively. Experimental results show that the more the annealing time, the more the B2₁ ↔ B19₁ ↔ B19′₁ transformations and finally only B2₁ ↔ B19₁ ↔ B19′₁ transformations retain with the transformation temperatures close to those of Ti₅₀Ni₄₀Cu₁₀ SMA.