Techniques for microstructural characterization of powder-processed nickel-based superalloys

Methods are described for sample preparation of polycrystalline Ni-based superalloys in order to perform a detailed microstructural characterization. Specific techniques for the precise definition of the various phases present are outlined and these are shown to be useful for the measurement of size, volume fractions and distribution. A number of optical, scanning and transmission microscopy techniques are used to provide the necessary information.     

半固态金属金相图片的计算机定量分析

基于Matlab的图形图像处理功能,开发出半固态金属金相组织的计算机分析软件,用以定量地分析半固态金相组织中的非枝晶组织分数(固相率)及晶粒尺寸.并且以镁合金半固态组织为例,与相关文献和目测结果进行了对比,证明该软件具有测量准确,简单容易,方便快捷,适应广泛等特点.     

铝-钢爆炸焊接试验与分析

介绍了一种铝-钢复合板爆炸焊接工艺，包括所采用的炸药、复合板的性能和爆炸焊接材料的准备等。采用了金相技术、电子探钳和电子显微镜物相鉴定手段以及力学性能分析．结果显示．该复合板的结合区存在着金属强烈的塑性变形、熔化和原子间的相互扩散等冶金过程；铝-钢复合板是一种具有特殊使用性能的新型结构材料．具有很高的经济效益和广泛的应用前景。     

Martensitic transformation behaviour of non-equilibrium heat treated Ni50·9Ti49·1 alloys

Abstract

Ni50·9Ti49·1 specimens were heat treated using a thermal simulator. The martensitic transformation behaviours of selected areas of the thermal simulating treated specimens were studied with resistivity temperature measurements. In the thermal simulating process specimens were heated by a large electric current to a given peak temperature (400, 500, 600, 800, 900 or 1100°C respectively) and immediately water cooled to room temperature. As the two ends of a NiTi alloy specimen were fixed in copper jigs, unequal heat treatment effect areas were formed in the specimen segments near its two ends. In the unequal area of an 800°C thermal simulating treated sample, a wide transformation temperature range phenomena appeared. The experimental results indicate that non-equilibrium heat treatment proves to be an effective method to fabricate transformation temperature gradient shape memory materials.     

Effect of different cooling rates on the microstructure of Cu–Al–Fe alloy

Abstract

The phases obtained in copper aluminium bronze alloy (Cu–10Al–2Fe) cast into a permanent die were investigated. The parameters examined were the preheating temperatures of the die and the graphite coating thickness. The phases α and γ₂ were detected as well as the metastable phases β′ and γ′. The intermetallics of the system Fe–Al were obtained in various stoichiometric compositions. The different cooling rates of the casting resulted in two mechanisms of transformation to α grains out of the unstable β phase, one being nucleation and growth producing needle shaped α grains and the other exhibiting a massive transformation to spherical α grains.

On a étudié les phases obtenues dans l’alliage de cuivre aluminium bronze (Cu–10Al–2Fe) coulé dans un moule permanent. Les paramètres examinés incluaient les températures de préchauffage du moule et l’épaisseur du revêtement de graphite. On a détecté les phases α et γ₂ ainsi que les phases métastables β′ et γ′. On a obtenu les composés intermétalliques du système Fe–Al sous des compositions stoechiométriques variées. Les différentes vitesses de refroidissement du moulage ont résulté en deux mécanismes de transformation en grains α à partir de la phase β instable, l’un étant la nucléation et la croissance produisant des grains α en forme d’aiguille, l’autre exhibant une transformation massive en grains α sphériques.     

Corrosion of New Zirconium Claddings in 500 °C/10.3 MPa Steam: Effects of Alloying and Metallography

With the aim of improving corrosion resistance of rod cladding for in-service and accident conditions, six new zirconium alloys (named N1-N6) have been designed. The contents of Sn and Nb were optimized for better behavior at high-temperature pressurized water, and Fe, Cr, V, Cu or Mo elements were added to the alloys to adjust the corrosion behavior. The current work focused on the rapid corrosion behavior in 500 °C/10.3 MPa steam for up to 1960 h, aiming to test the corrosion resistance at high temperature. The structure of matrix and properties of second-phase particles (SPPs) were characterized to find the main differences among these alloys. All the six alloys exhibited better corrosion resistance than N36, and N1 was shown to have the best performance. A careful analysis of the corrosion kinetics curves revealed that Cr was beneficial for severe condition. Elements Fe, Cr, V, Cu or Mo aggregated into SPPs with different concentrations and structures. This was demonstrated to be the main reason for different corrosion resistance. Due to good processing control, all alloys had a uniform structure and a uniform distribution of SPPs. As for N4, N6 and N36, the existing of large-size SPPs (450 nm) might be a contributing factor of the relatively poor corrosion resistance.     

A new consideration on reinforcement distribution in the different planes of nanostructured metal matrix composite sheets prepared by accumulative roll bonding (ARB)

Recently, a number of novel methods based on accumulative roll bonding (ARB) have been introduced to produce particulate metal matrix composites. Nonetheless, the microstructure uniformity from the reinforcement distribution viewpoint in the different planes of ARBed composite sheets has not been focused up to date. This paper aims to compare the evolution of the B₄C particles distribution in nanostructured Al-10 vol.% B₄C composites prepared by ARB in the rolling direction-normal direction (RD-ND) and transverse direction-normal direction (TD-ND) planes. From optical microscopic evaluations quantified by the radial distribution function analysis, it is realized that the homogeneity in the RD-ND planes is in excess of the TD-ND planes. In addition, transmission electron microscopy reveals the development of nanostructures in the Al matrix after seven ARB passes.     

秦山核电站考验元件辐照后燃料的晶粒长大及温度分布

文章介绍了秦山核电站考验元件辐照后燃料ＵＯ２的微观分析结果。用定量金相方法，结合晶粒长大动力学原理，计算出元件的中心温度，结果与ＦＲＡＰ－ＣＯＮ程序分析相符，以辐照后检验结果为基础，确定了评价国产燃料ＵＯ２辐照行为的参数Ｋ和Ｑ值。     

Analyzing the surface layer after WEDM depending on the parameters of a machine for the 16MnCr5 steel

The efficient wire electric discharge machining (WEDM) technology is a trade-off between the cutting speed and the resulting surface quality. A typical morphology of a surface machined using WEDM contains a large number of craters caused by the electric sparks generated in the cutting process. The paper analyzes the influence of the cutting speed on the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the craters formed on the surface of a workpiece made of the 16MnCr5 steel. Applying metallography to cross-section microscopic slides, diffusion subsurface damages were studied caused by the cutting. The diffusion processes taking place between the electrode and the material machined were studied using a local point EDX microanalysis applied both to the machined surfaces and to the cross sections. A detailed study was also carried out of the brass electrode to measure its wear rate caused by the cutting process as well as its degradation in terms of the quality of its morphology and the chemical composition of surface.     

A tutorial on the segmentation of metallographic images: Taxonomy,new MetalDAM dataset,deep learning-based ensemble model,experimental analysis and challenges

Image segmentation is an important issue in many industrial processes, with high potential to enhance the manufacturing process derived from raw material imaging. For example, metal phases contained in microstructures yield information on the physical properties of the steel. Existing prior literature has been devoted to develop specific computer vision techniques able to tackle a single problem involving a particular type of metallographic image. However, the field lacks a comprehensive tutorial on the different types of techniques, methodologies, their generalizations and the algorithms that can be applied in each scenario. This paper aims to fill this gap. First, the typologies of computer vision techniques to perform the segmentation of metallographic images are reviewed and categorized in a taxonomy. Second, the potential utilization of pixel similarity is discussed by introducing novel deep learning-based ensemble techniques that exploit this information. Third, a thorough comparison of the reviewed techniques is carried out in two openly available real-world datasets, one of them being a newly published dataset directly provided by ArcelorMittal, which opens up the discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of each technique and the appropriate application framework for each one. Finally, the open challenges in the topic are discussed, aiming to provide guidance in future research to cover the existing gaps.