In-situ Tension of Dendrite-Reinforced Zr-based Metallic-GlassMatrix Composites

The evolution of shear bands in the glassy matrix composites was observed and analyzed during in-situ tension.Based on the simple calculation,the temperature rise within the shear bands is sufficient to cause the formation of viscous shearing layer,resulting in the early failure.Zr-based metallic-glass-matrix composites（labeled as DH1 and DH2） exhibit improved tensile ductility rather than brittle failure,since the existence of secondary ductile dendrites promotes the impedance of prompt propagation of shear bands,evidenced by the multiplication of shear bands.     

Effect of coating thickness on microstructures and mechanical properties of C/Cu/Al composites

The different copper coatings with thickness varying from 0.3 lain to 1.5 lain were deposited on carbon fibers using either eleetroless plating or electroplating method. The coated fibers were chopped and composites were fabricated with melting aluminum at 700 ℃. The effect of the copper layer on the microstructure in the system was discussed. The results show that the copper layer has fully reacted with aluminum matrix, and the intermetallic compound CuAl2 forms through SEM observation and XRD, EDX analysis. The results of tensile tests indicate that composites fabricated using carbon fibers with 0.7-1.1 lain copper coating perform best and the composites turn to more brittle as the thickness of copper coating increases. The fracture surface observation exhibits good interface bonding and ductility of the matrix alloy when the thickness of copper coating is about 0.7-1.1 μm.     

Shear bands of as-cast and semi-solid Ti48Zr27Cu6Nb5Be14 bulk metallic glass matrix composites

The as-cast Ti₄₈Zr₂₇Cu₆Nb₅Be₁₄bulk metallic glass matrix composites(BMGMCs)were fabricated using a copper mold suction casting method.Then,the semi-solid BMGMC samples were obtained following an isothermal treatment(heating at 900°C for 10 min,then cooling with water).The microstructure and compression property were investigated by scanning electronic microscopy(SEM)and universal mechanical tester.As a result of the isothermal treatment,the crystal shapes change from fine,granular,and dendritic to spherical or vermicular,and the average crystal size of the as-cast and semi-solid samples is 2.2μm and 18.1μm,respectively.The plasticity increases from 5.31%in the as-cast to 10.23%in the semi-solid samples,with an increase of 92.66%.The shear bands from different areas of the side surfaces of as-cast and semisolid compression fracture samples were observed.The characteristic changes of multiplicity,bend,branch and intersection of shear bands in different areas indicate that the deformation of as-cast and semi-solid samples is non-uniform during compression.It is found that poor plasticity of the as-cast samples or good plasticity of the semi-solid samples are reflected by characteristics of the shear bands.The semi-solid isothermal treatment improves the plasticity by forming large crystals which can block the expansion of shear bands and promote the multiplicity of shear bands.     

Study on resistance spot brazing process and joint performance of pure aluminum 1060/galvanized steel

Resistance spot brazing was used to perform the lap test of pure aluminum 1060 and SGCC hot-dip galvanized steel plate, the joint interface structure was studied, and the mechanical properties of the joint were tested. The results show that the aluminum-silicon(AlSi) alloy solder used in the test has good wetting, and an intermetallic compound with a double-layer structure and uneven thickness is produced at the welded joint interface after welding. The thickness is 10 μm. The welding current is at 7.8 kA, the tensile shear load of the joint reaches a peak value of about 4.72 kN. Under the same process parameters, the tensile shear load of the resistance spot brazed joint is significantly higher than that of the spot welded joint. The joint fracture mostly occurs on the aluminum plate side, and mainly at the heat-affected zone and not at the welding point.It indicates that the quality of the spot brazed joint is good, but due to the local "unbrazed" defect on the aluminum side interface of the weld, tensile stress will occur at the weld interface and the stress effect on the intermetallic compound. It is easy to produce cracks.     

Ceramic bonding and joint＇s strengthening through forming intermetallic compounds in situ

The transient liquid phase diffusion bonding of Si3N4 ceramics with Ti/Ni/Ti and Al/Ti/AI multiple interlayers was performed. The formation of intermetallic compounds in situ and their effects on the joints‘ strengths were investigated. The Ti/Ni/Ti interlayers produce NiTi and Ni3Ti layers with considerable room temperature ductility and high elevated temperature strength to strengthen the bonding zone metals and the joints. The joints with 142 MPa shear strength at room temperature and 88 MPa shear strength at 800℃ are achieved under appropriate parameters, respectively. Al/Ti/Al interlayers transform into a special bonding zone metal with a large amount of Al3 Ti particles and a small amount of Al-based solid solution, and in this case, the joints are strengthened significantly. Their strengths at room temperature and 600℃ reach 90 MPa and 30 MPa, respectively.     

Tensile properties and fractographs of Ti–2.5Al–1.5Mn foils at different temperatures

The tensile properties and fractographs of Ti–2.5Al–1.5Mn foils at different temperatures were investigated. It is observed that material properties closely correlate with the thickness(T) to grain size(d) ratio and deformation temperature. Tensile analysis shows that local deformation is the main deformation feature in foils forming at room temperature, which may lead to premature fracture. The causes of inhomogeneous deformation behavior are the limited number of deformable grains contained in deformation zone and the weak transferability of hardening among different grains. Fracture analysis reveals that the size of dimples can represent the ductility of foils at room temperature. With the further increase of deformation temperature, the main plastic deformation mode of foils is transformed from intragranular dislocations and twin crystal to grain-boundary gliding and rolling. In conclusion, foil forming at elevated temperature can increase the hardening transferability and the number of deformable grains in deformation zone, which is an effective method to improve the formability and reduce the scatter of material properties.     

Shear bands in magnesium alloy AZ31

During deformation of magnesium at low temperatures, cracks always develop at shear bands. The origin of the shear bands is the { 1011 } twinning in basal-oriented grains and the mobility of this type of twin boundary is rather low. The most frequent deformation mechanisms in magnesium at low temperature are basal slip and { 1012 } twinning, all leading to the basal texture and therefore the formation of shear bands with subsequent fracture. The investigation on the influences of initial textures and grain sizes reveals that a strong prismatic initial texture of (0001) parallels to TD and fine grains of less than 5 8m can restrict the formation and expansion of shear bands effectively and therefore improve the mechanical properties and formability of magnesium.     

Improving Joint Morphologies and Tensile Strength of Al/Mg Dissimilar Alloys Friction Stir Lap Welding by Changing Zn Interlayer Thickness

The pure Zn foils with different thicknesses(0.02, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mm) were selected as interlayers to improve the quality of friction stir lap welding joint of 7075-T6 Al and AZ31 B Mg dissimilar alloys. The effects of the interlayer thickness on joint formation, microstructure and tensile strength were analyzed. The results displayed that the maximum length of the boundary between stir zone(SZ) and thermo-mechanically affected zone in lower plate was obtained by the addition of the Zn interlayer with 0.05 mm thickness. The Mg–Zn intermetallic compounds(IMCs) were discontinuously distributed in the SZ, replacing the continuous Al–Mg IMCs. The size of Mg–Zn IMCs increased with the increase in the thickness of the Zn interlayer. The maximum tensile shear strength of 276 N mm-1 was obtained by the addition of 0.05 mm Zn foil, which increased by 45.6% of that of the joint without the Zn foil addition.     

Fracture mechanism of a laminated aluminum alloy plate during ballistic impact

The multilayered 7XXX series aluminum alloy was impacted by 7.62 mm ogival projectiles at velocities ranging from 787 to 851m·s~(-1). The deformed microstructure under various impacting velocities and fracture surfaces of different sections were investigated at different physical scales to determine the process of failure.Optical microscopy(OM),electron back-scattered diffraction(EBSD) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM) were used in the investigation. The results show that crater is constrained in the 7B52 front layer and two types of adiabatic shear bands which are transformed bands and deformed bands and different types of cracks are observed.Spall fracture is the significant failure mode of 7B52 front layer, and the resulting delamination leads to the presence of bending tensile fracture instead of the shear plugging.The ductile 7A01 layer blunts and deflects the spall crack tips, preventing the targets from full spall, and induces a constraint of 7A52 rear layer. The level of the constraint determines different fracture modes of 7A52 layer,accounting for the asymmetry of damage.     

Brazing of 5A01 aluminum alloy using Al-Cu-Si-Ni filler metal

The vacuum brazing of 5 A01 aluminum alloy using Al-Cu-Si-Ni filler metal was investigated at 550 ℃ and 560 ℃,respectively. Microstructure and properties of brazed 5 A01 alloy joints were investigated by tensile-shear tests and scanning electron microscopy analysis. The effects of brazing temperature and holding time on the shear strength and microstructure of the joints were studied. The results show that the different intermetallic compounds such as Al-Cu-Ni and Mg_2 Si formed in the bonding area. Shear strength increased with holding time and brazing temperature. The average shear strengths increased from 42. 3 MPa brazed at 550 ℃for 5 min to 68 MPa brazed at 560 ℃ for 15 min. Discontinuous cracks were found in the joint brazed at 550 ℃ for 5 min,and the joint showed poor shear strength. high shear strength were obtained in the joints brazed at 560 ℃ for 15 min.     

Effect of cold-rolling on tensile strength of SiCw/Al composite

SiCw/Al composite was fabricated through a squeeze cast route and cold rolled to about 30%, 50% and 70% re-duction in thickness, respectively. The length of whiskers in the composite before and after rolling was examined using SEM. Some of the rolled composites were recrystallization annealed to remove the work hardening of matrix alloy. The tensile strength of the rolled and annealed SiCw/Al composites was examined and then associated with the change of the whisker length and the work hardening of matrix alloy. It was found that the tensile strength is a function of the degree of cold rolling. For the cold rolled composites, with the increase in the degree of cold rolling, the tensile strength increases at first, and decreases when the degree of cold rolling exceeds 50%. For the annealed ones, however, the tensile strength de-creases monotonously with the increase in rolling degree. The different changes in tensile strength between the rolled and annealed composites could be attributed to the result of     

"Extended" shear bands in interior of Pd-based bulk metallic glasses

Shear bands in the interior of Pd₇₉Cu_6Si₁₀P_5,Pd₇₉Cu_3Ag_3Si₁₀P_5, and Pd₇₉Cu_4Au_2Si₁₀P_5 bulk metallic glasses were investigated by optical microscopy(OM) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM). No shear bands can be observed in the samples before etching. By etching in aqua regia solution, shear bands are found to be susceptible to preferential etching, and multiple etched bands could be observed. The thickness of the etched bands is about 1-7 μm. Therefore, the preferentially etched shear bands found in the study are called the "extended" shear bands.The "extended" shear bands can be divided into three classes according to their features: early, developing, and well-developed "extended" shear bands with thickness of about 1, 5, and 7 μm, respectively. The interface between the well-developed "extended" shear bands and the matrix is clearer than that of the others.     

A study of mechanical properties and fractography of ZA-27/titanium-dioxide metal matrix composites

This paper reports an investigation of the mechanical properties and the fracture mechanism of ZA-27 alloy composites containing titanium-dioxide (TiO₂) particles 30–50 μm in size and in contents ranging from 0–6 wt.% in steps of 2 wt.%. The composites were fabricated by the compocasting technique. The results of the study revealed improvements in mechanical properties such as Young’s modulus, ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and hardness of the composites, but at the cost of ductility. The fracture behavior of the composites was influenced significantly by the presence of titanium dioxide particles. Crack propagation through the matrix and the reinforcing particles resulted in the final fracture. Scanning electron micrscopy (SEM) analyses were carried out to furnish suitable explanations for the observed phenomena.     

Effect of intermetallic compound β-Mg17Al12 on ductility of AZ91D magnesium alloy

The microstructures of the AZ91D die-cast magnesium alloy were investigated by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, X-ray diffractometry （XRD） and energy dispersion spectroscopy （EDS）. Moreover, the microstructure change of AZ91D samples was observed during the process of heat treatment at 300 ℃ for different time. And the tensile testing was carried out for these samples and the fracture morphology of the tensile test samples was also examined. The results show that the microstructures of AZglD magnesium alloy are mainly composed of a-Mg phase and β-Mg17Al12 phase. The morphology of the fl phase alters from continuous distribution to discontinuous distribution during the process of heat-treatment. Meanwhile, the ductility of the materials reduces from 1.71% to 1.08% after a long time heat-treated at 300℃. Moreover, the quasi-cleavage fractures characters are also found in the fracture morphology. The granulation and discontinuous distribution of β-Mg17Al12 results in the deterioration of the ductility of AZ91D die cast magnesium alloy.     

Damage and fracture mechanism of 6063 aluminum alloy under three kinds of stress states

To study the damage and fracture mechanism of 6063 aluminum alloy under different stress states,three kinds of representative triaxial stress states have been adopted,namely smooth tensile,notch tensile,and pure shear.The results of the study indicate the following.During the notch tensile test,a relatively higher stress triaxiality appears in the root of the notch.With the applied loading increasing,the volume fraction of microvoids in the root of the notch increases continuously.When it reaches the critical volume fraction of microvoids,the specimen fractures.During the pure shear test,the stress triaxiality almost equals to zero,and there is almost no microvoids but a shear band at the center of the butterfly specimen.The shear band results from nonuniform deformation constantly under the shear stress.With stress concentration,cracks are produced within the shear band and are later coalesced.When the equivalent plastic strain reaches the critical value（equivalent plastic fracture strain）,the butterfly specimen fractures.During the smooth tensile test,the stress triaxiality in the gauge of the specimen remains constant at 0.33.Thus,the volume of microvoids of the smooth tensile test is less than that of the notch tensile test and the smooth specimen fractures due to shearing between microvoids.The G-T-N damage model and Johnson-Cook model are used to simulate the notch tensile and shear test,respectively.The simulated engineering stress-strain curves fit the measured engineering stress-strain curves very well.In addition,the empirical damage evolution equation for the notch specimen is obtained from the experimental data and FEM simulations.     

Thermal Conductivity and Tensile Properties of Carbon Nanofiber-Reinforced Aluminum-Matrix Composites Fabricated via Powder Metallurgy: Effects of Ball Milling and Extrusion Conditions on Microstructures and Resultant Composite Properties

Carbon nanofiber(CNF)-reinforced aluminum-matrix composites were fabricated via ball milling and spark plasma sintering(SPS), SPS followed by hot extrusion and powder extrusion. Two mixing conditions of CNF and aluminum powder were adopted: milling at 90 rpm and milling at 200 rpm. After milling at 90 rpm, the mixed powder was sintered using SPS at 560 °C. The composite was then extruded at 500 °C at an extrusion ratio of 9. Composites were also fabricated via powder extrusion of powder milled at 200 rpm and 550 °C with an extrusion ratio of 9(R9) or 16(R16). The thermal conductivity and tensile properties of the resultant composites were evaluated. Anisotropic thermal conductivity was observed even in the sintered products. The anisotropy could be controlled via hot extrusion. The thermal conductivity of composites fabricated via powder extrusion was higher than those fabricated using other methods. However, in the case of specimens with a CNF volume fraction of 4.0%, the thermal conductivity of the composite fabricated via SPS and hot extrusion was the highest. The highest thermal conductivity of 4.0% CNF-reinforced composite is attributable to networking and percolation of CNFs. The effect of the fabrication route on the tensile strength and ductility was also investigated. Tensile strengths of the R9 composites were the highest. By contrast, the R16 composites prepared under long heating duration exhibited high ductility at CNF volume fractions of 2.0% and 5.0%. The microstructures of composites and fracture surfaces were observed in detail, and fracture process was elucidated. The results revealed that controlling the heating and plastic deformation during extrusion will yield strong and ductile composites.     

Effect of Zn addition in Sn-rich alloys on interfacial reaction with Au foils

To restrain the formation of AuSnx intermetallic components （IMCs） in solder joints, Zn was added into Sn-rich solders. The solder joints were fabricated by a laser reflow soldering method, and then they were aged at 125 ℃. The results show that the total thickness of AuSnx IMCs at the interface of pure Sn solder and Au foils reaches about 54 μm under the condition of 600 h aging. In Sn-1.5Zn solder joints, however, formation of AuSn4 IMCs is restrained greatly. As the content of Zn in the solder is increased to 3.5%（mass fraction）, no AuSn4 IMC is observed at the interface. Au-Zn phases form beside AuSn2 and AuSn IMCs layers. As for Sn-9.0Zn solder joints, Au-Zn and Au-Zn-Sn phases and few AuSnx IMCs form at the interface. Moreover, total thickness of the phases and IMCs is far less than that ofAuSnx IMCs in the pure Sn solder joints.     

Effect of electromigration and isothermal aging on interfacial microstructure and tensile fracture behavior of SAC305/Cu solder joint

The Cu/Sn-3.OAg-0.5Cu/Cu butting solder joints were fabricated to investigate the evolution of the interfacial intermetallic compound(IMC) and the degradation of the tensile strength of solder joints under the effect of electromigration(EM) and aging processes.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) results indicated that the Cu_6Sn_5 interfacial IMC presented obvious asymmetrical growth with the increase of EM time under current density of 1.78×10~4 A/cm~2 at 100℃,and the growth of anodic IMC presented a parabolic relationship with time while the cathodic IMC got thinner gradually.However,as for aging samples at 100℃ without current stressing,the Cu_6Sn_5 IMC presented a symmetrical growth with a slower rate than the anodic IMC of EM samples.The tensile results indicated that the tensile strength of the solder joints under current stress declined more drastic with time than the aging samples,and the fracture mode transformed from ductile fracture to brittle fracture quickly while the fracture mode of aging samples transformed from cup-cone shaped fracture to microporous gathering fracture in a slow way.     

Prevention of halfway cracks in continuous cast A36 steel slabs containing boron

The formation of halfway cracks in continuous cast A36 steel slabs containing 17 ppm boron was studied by investigating the zero ductility temperature(ZDT), zero strength temperature(ZST), solidification characteristics, and strain distribution in the steels. Results show that the formation of halfway cracks in A36-B slab is attributed to the increase in both the internal crack susceptibility(ZDT and ZST) of the steel and the external tensile strain at the solidification front. The ZST of both steels with(A36-B) and without(A36) boron addition is nearly the same, but the ZDT of A36-B steel is found 50 oC lower due to a considerable increase of boron content at the final stage of solidification. The decrease of ZDT enlarges the solidification cracking susceptibility zone and results in the A36-B steel being more prone to cracking. In addition, during the unbending segments, a large tensile strain, resulting from the unbending process and the misalignment deviation of supporting rolls, occurs in the upper part of the solidified shell, which is another reason causing halfway cracks in A36-B slab. By decreasing the P and S content to be less than 50 ppm and 150 ppm, respectively, controlling B content in the range of 10 to 15 ppm, increasing the secondary cooling specific water ratio from 0.76 to 0.85 L·kg-1, and restricting roll alignment deviation to less than plus or minus 0.3 mm, halfway cracks in the boron containing slab are almost eliminated.     

Ultrasonic dissolution of brazing of 55% SiCp/A356 composites

The brazing of 55% SiCp/A356 (volume fraction) composites in air using Zn-Al alloy as a filler metal was investigated.During the brazing process,ultrasonic vibrations were applied to samples for bonding and a significant dissolution of the filler metal into the matrix alloy in the base materials occurred.As brazing temperatures were increased,the thickness of the partial melting layers in the base material increased.SiC particles in the partial melting layer of the base material were transferred into the liquid filler under ultrasonic action and a bond with homogeneously distributed reinforcements was obtained after solidification.The volume fraction of SiC particles in the bonds could be varied by changing the brazing temperature.The maximum SiC particle volume fraction of the bond material reached 37% at a brazing temperature of 500 ℃.The shear strength of the brazed bonds was improved at pressures up to 244 MPa (at 20 ℃) and increased by 133.8% (at 200 ℃) compared with the filler of the Zn-based alloy.