Low-temperature superplasticity of ultra-fine-grained Ti-6Al-4V processed by equal-channel angular pressing

The low-temperature superplasticity of ultra-fine-grained (UFG) Ti-6Al-4V was established as a function of temperature and strain rate. The equiaxed-alpha grain size of the starting material was reduced from 11 to 0.3 μm (without a change in volume fraction) by imposing an effective strain of ∼4 via isothermal, equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) at 873 K. The ultrafine microstructure so produced was relatively stable during annealing at temperatures up to 873 K. Uniaxial tension and load-relaxation tests were conducted for both the starting (coarse-grained (CG)) and UFG materials at temperatures of 873 to 973 K and strain rates of 5 × 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻² s⁻¹. The tension tests revealed that the UFG structure exhibited considerably higher elongations compared to those of the CG specimens at the same temperature and strain rate. A total elongation of 474 pct was obtained for the UFG alloy at 973 K and 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹. This fact strongly indicated that low-temperature superplasticity could be achieved using an UFG structure through an enhancement of grain-boundary sliding in addition to strain hardening. The deformation mechanisms underlying the low-temperature superplasticity of UFG Ti-6Al-4V were also elucidated by the load-relaxation tests and accompanying interpretation based on inelastic deformation theory.     

The influence of grain size on the erosion rate of metals

The objective of this work was to understand the influence of grain size on solid impingement erosion behavior characterized by deformation at high strain rates and large strains. Experiments were carried out at a velocity of 40 m/s, impact angle of 90 deg with 300 to 450 μm steel shot as erodent on iron, copper, and titanium with varying grain sizes. The results indicate that the erosion rate is independent of grain size in iron and copper while it is apparently grain size dependent in titanium. The results are rationalized in terms of the negligible contribution of the Hall-Petch component to the flow stress at large strains in the case of copper and iron. The decreasing erosion rate in titanium with increasing grain size was due to the increased interstitial content picked up during thermal treatment and consequent increase in strain hardening and strain rate hardening and not due to increased grain sizeper se. Adiabatic shear bands were observed in coarse-grained iron under actual erosion conditions.     

The influence of grain size on the erosion rate of metals

The objective of this work was to understand the influence of grain size on solid impingement erosion behavior characterized by deformation at high strain rates and large strains. Experiments were carried out at a velocity of 40 m/s, impact angle of 90 deg with 300 to 450 μm steel shot as erodent on iron, copper, and titanium with varying grain sizes. The results indicate that the erosion rate is independent of grain size in iron and copper while it is apparently grain size dependent in titanium. The results are rationalized in terms of the negligible contribution of the Hall-Petch component to the flow stress at large strains in the case of copper and iron. The decreasing erosion rate in titanium with increasing grain size was due to the increased interstitial content picked up during thermal treatment and consequent increase in strain hardening and strain rate hardening and not due to increased grain sizeper se. Adiabatic shear bands were observed in coarse-grained iron under actual erosion conditions.     

Influence of Temperature and Grain Size on Austenite Stability in Medium Manganese Steels

With an aim to elucidate the influence of temperature and grain size on austenite stability, a commercial cold-rolled 7Mn steel was annealed at 893 K (620 °C) for times varying between 3 minutes and 96 hours to develop different grain sizes. The austenite fraction after 3 minutes was 34.7 vol pct, and at longer times was around 40 pct. An elongated microstructure was retained after shorter annealing times while other conditions exhibited equiaxed ferrite and austenite grains. All conditions exhibit similar temperature dependence of mechanical properties. With increasing test temperature, the yield and tensile strength decrease gradually, while the uniform and total elongation increase, followed by an abrupt drop in strength and ductility at 393 K (120 °C). The Olson–Cohen model was applied to fit the transformed austenite fractions for strained tensile samples, measured by means of XRD. The fit results indicate that the parameters α and β decrease with increasing test temperature, consistent with increased austenite stability. The 7Mn steels exhibit a distinct temperature dependence of the work hardening rate. Optimized austenite stability provides continuous work hardening in the temperature range of 298 K to 353 K (25 °C to 80 °C). The yield and tensile strengths have a strong dependence on grain size, although grain size variations have less effect on uniform and total elongation.     

Comparison of compressive deformation of ultrafine-grained 5083 Al alloy at 77 and 298 K

The compression behaviors of well-annealed coarsegrained (CG) and ultrafine-grained (UFG) 5083 Al alloys at 77 and 298 K were compared. For the CG alloy, stage II and III strain hardening were dominant at 77 and 298 K, respectively, depending on the completeness of dislocation cell formation. The UFG alloy exhibited the elastic-near perfectly plastic behavior without distinctive dislocation cell formation at both temperatures. For both alloys, the flow stress at 77 K was much higher than that at 298 K. This work was supported by the Basic Research Program (Grant No. R01-2003-000-10202-0) of the Korea Science & Engineering Foundation.     

Factors influencing ductility in the superplastic Zn-22 Pct Al eutectoid

The maximum attainable ductility in the superplastic Zn-22 pct Al eutectoid depends critically on the imposed strain rate, the testing temperature, and the initial grain size. High ductilities are observed at intermediate strain rates, and there is a decrease at both higher and lower rates of strain. It is shown that i) the maximum ductility occurs at higher strain rates as the temperature is increased and/or the initial grain size is decreased, and ii) the maximum attainable ductility increases with increasing temperature and/or decreasing initial grain size. For specimens tested at different temperatures, similar macroscopic fracture characteristics are observed in specimens exhibiting a similar maximum flow stress. The experimental trends are qualitatively explained by relating maximum ductility to the maximum strain rate sensitivity and examining the influence of cavitation on the time to rupture.     

Mechanical Behavior and Microstructural Change of a High Nitrogen CrMn Austenitic Stainless Steel during Hot Deformation

The hot deformation behavior of a high nitrogen CrMn austenitic stainless steel in the temperature range 1173 to 1473 K (900 to 1200 °C) and strain rate range 0.01 to 10 s⁻¹ was investigated using optical microscopy, stress-strain curve analysis, processing maps, etc. The results showed that the work hardening rate and flow stress decreased with increasing deformation temperature and decreasing strain rate in 18Mn18Cr0.5N steel. The dynamic recrystallization (DRX) grain size decreased with increasing Z value; however, deformation heating has an effect on the DRX grain size under high strain rate conditions. In the processing maps, flow instability was observed at higher strain rate regions (1 to 10 s⁻¹) and manifested as flow localization near the grain boundary. Early in the deformation, the flow instability region was at higher temperatures, and then the extent of this unstable region decreased with increasing strain and was restricted to lower temperatures. The hot deformation equation as well as the quantitative dependence of the critical stress for DRX and DRX grain size on Z value was obtained.     

A comparative study of the embrittlement of monel 400 at room temperature by hydrogen and by mercury

Slow strain rate tensile tests were performed at room temperature on Monel 400 specimens of grain sizes 35 to 500 μm, in the environments of air, mercury, and electrolytically generated hydrogen. Specimens of grain size 250 μm were tested at a range of strain rates in the three environments. It was found that cracks initiated easiest in hydrogen but propagated easiest in mercury; consequently the embrittlement was usually more severe in mercury. The embrittlement decreased with increasing strain rate, and with increasing grain size in hydrogen. Embrittlement in mercury was a maximum at intermediate grain sizes. A fracture sequence of intergranular to transgranular to microvoid coalescence was common. The intergranular and transgranular fractures are interpreted in terms of the reduced cohesive stress and enhanced shear models of embrittlement, respectively.     

The effect of twinning on the work-hardening behavior and microstructural evolution of hafnium

The work-hardening behavior of hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) metals, such as hafnium, is influenced by temperature, strain rate, chemistry, and texture. In the case of hafnium, while slip on the prism and pyramidal planes is dominant during deformation, the propensity of deformation twinning is known to increase with decreasing temperature and increasing strain rate. In this study, hafnium was prestrained quasi-statically in compression at liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K), creating a heavily twinned microstructure. The specimens were then reloaded in compression at room temperature (298 K). Yield stress, flow stress, and work-hardening behaviors of the prestrained specimens were higher than room-temperature compression test data typical of the as-annealed material. The microstructure of each specimen was characterized optically and using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Texture was measured by neutron diffraction and the texture evolution due to twinning, and the interaction of slip with the twins was seen to lead to higher work-hardening rates and flow stresses in the cold prestrained specimens.     

The influence of stacking fault energy on the mechanical behavior of Cu and Cu-Al alloys: Deformation twinning, work hardening, and dynamic recovery

The role of stacking fault energy (SFE) in deformation twinning and work hardening was systematically studied in Cu (SFE ∼78 ergs/cm²) and a series of Cu-Al solid-solution alloys (0.2, 2, 4, and 6 wt pct Al with SFE ∼75, 25, 13, and 6 ergs/cm², respectively). The materials were deformed under quasi-static compression and at strain rates of ∼1000/s in a Split-Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). The quasi-static flow curves of annealed 0.2 and 2 wt pct Al alloys were found to be representative of solid-solution strengthening and well described by the Hall-Petch relation. The quasi-static flow curves of annealed 4 and 6 wt pct Al alloys showed additional strengthening at strains greater than 0.10. This additional strengthening was attributed to deformation twins and the presence of twins was confirmed by optical microscopy. The strengthening contribution of deformation twins was incorporated in a modified Hall-Petch equation (using intertwin spacing as the “effective” grain size), and the calculated strength was in agreement with the observed quasi-static flow stresses. While the work-hardening rate of the low SFE Cu-Al alloys was found to be independent of the strain rate, the work-hardening rate of Cu and the high SFE Cu-Al alloys (low Al content) increased with increasing strain rate. The different trends in the dependence of work-hardening rate on strain rate was attributed to the difference in the ease of cross-slip (and, hence, the ease of dynamic recovery) in Cu and Cu-Al alloys.     

The grain size dependence of flow and fracture in a Cr-Mn-N austenitic steel from 300 to 1300K

The influence of polycrystal grain size in the range 18 μm to 184 μm on the tensile behavior of an austenitic stainless steel containing by wt pct 21 Cr, 14 Mn, 0.68 N and 0.12 C has been investigated over the temperature range 298 to 1273 K. Decreasing grain size has been shown to increase the flow stress at small strains in accordance with the Hall-Petch relationship at temperatures up to 873 K. The variation of the Hall-Petch constants with temperature is influenced by dynamic strain ageing between 575 and 775 K. Above 875 K, especially at low strain-rates a reversal of the Hall-Petch correlation occurs and the flow stress decreases with decreasing grain size. The relationship between ductility and temperature is marked by a minimum ductility at about half the absolute melting temperature and intergranular cavitation is observed. A decrease in grain size generally enhanced the ductility in this temperature regime whilst at fine grain sizes this trend was reversed. These results are explained in terms of a combination of a Griffith-Orowan type fracture criterion and an intergranular void sheet mechanism of fracture.     

1000MPa级DP钢的准静态拉伸行为与应变速率的关系

研究1000MPa的双相钢（DP钢）在室温下的准静态拉伸行为与应变速率（10^-2、10^-1、10^-1s^-1）的关系。结果表明,在准静态拉伸条件下,DP钢的拉伸性能是与应变速率相关的。随着应变速率提高,材料的屈服强度、抗拉强度、屈强比和加工硬化指数明显升高,而均匀伸长率、断裂伸长率略有下降;另外,应变速率对材料的...     

Impact Response and Microstructural Evolution of 316L Stainless Steel under Ambient and Elevated Temperature Conditions

The impact response and microstructural evolution of 316L stainless steel are examined at strain rates ranging from 1?×?10³ to 5?×?10³?s^?1 and temperatures between 298?K and 1073?K (25?°C and 800?°C) using a split Hopkinson pressure bar and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that the flow behavior, mechanical strength, and work-hardening properties of 316L stainless steel are significantly dependent on the strain rate and temperature. The TEM observations reveal that the dislocation density increases with increasing strain rate but decreases with increasing temperature. Moreover, twinning occurs only in the specimens deformed at 298?K (25?°C), which suggests that the threshold stress for twinning is higher than that for slip under impact loading. Finally, it is found that the volume fraction of transformed ???? martensite increases with increasing strain rate or decreasing temperature. Overall, the results suggest that the increased flow stress observed in 316L stainless steel under higher strain rates and lower temperatures is determined by the combined effects of dislocation multiplication, twin nucleation and growth, and martensite transformation.     

The Influence of Rapid Annealing Cycles on the Recrystallisation Behaviour of Cold Rolled Ultra Low Carbon and Low Carbon Steel

For ultra low carbon (ULC) and low carbon steel (LC), the influence of heating rate, annealing temperature, and holding time on the recrystallisation behaviour and the resulting grain size was investigated. For ULC smallest grain sizes of about 9 μm were obtained at the lowest heating rate whereas for LC significant smaller grain sizes of about 5 μm were determined at the highest heating rate. Furthermore, the evolution of the grain size distribution with varying heating rate, annealing temperature, and holding time was studied in dependence of the rolling and normal direction. The state of the as‐hot rolled microstructure as well as the precipitation state exert a strong influence on the development of the recrystallised microstructure along the different directions for both steel grades. The inherent prolonged microstructure due to the cold rolling process is still obvious just after recrystallisation. With ongoing annealing and grain growth, the aspect ratio approaches the equiaxed state. This change proceeds faster for the ULC steel grade. With increasing annealing temperature, the bimodal character of the grain size distribution disappears and the distribution becomes more homogeneous.     

Influence of Strain Rate and Temperature on Tensile Deformation and Fracture Behavior of Type 316L(N) Austenitic Stainless Steel

Tensile tests were performed at strain rates ranging from 3.16 × 10^?5 to 3.16 × 10^?3 s^?1 over the temperatures ranging from 300 K to 1123 K (27 °C to 850 °C) to examine the effects of temperature and strain rate on tensile deformation and fracture behavior of nitrogen-alloyed low carbon grade type 316L(N) austenitic stainless steel. The variations of flow stress/strength values, work hardening rate, and tensile ductility with respect to temperature exhibited distinct three temperature regimes. The steel exhibited distinct low- and high-temperature serrated flow regimes and anomalous variations in terms of plateaus/peaks in flow stress/strength values and work hardening rate, negative strain rate sensitivity, and ductility minima at intermediate temperatures. The fracture mode remained transgranular. At high temperatures, the dominance of dynamic recovery is reflected in the rapid decrease in flow stress/strength values, work hardening rate, and increase in ductility with the increasing temperature and the decreasing strain rate.     

Dynamic strain aging and ductility minima in zirconium

Tensile tests using coarse grained zirconium specimens were conducted at two strain rates, differing by 3 orders of magnitude, between 77° and 1032°K. At each strain rate, peaks were observed when the flow stress was plotted against the temperature. The temperature corresponding to a given peak was observed to rise with increasing strain rate. A pronounced minimum in the strain rate sensitivity of zirconium near 675°K can be explained in terms of the strain rate dependence of these peaks. At each strain rate, the zirconium tensile specimens also showed a minimum elongation at the hardening peak temperature. Since the reduction in area did not pass through a corresponding minimum, the elongation minima do not reflect a true ductility loss. What actually takes place is an increased tendency to neck at the hardening peak temperature. This tendency to promote a neck can be rationalized in terms of variations in the strain rate sensitivity caused by dynamic strain aging. Former Graduate Student now Post Doctoral Worker and Professor     

Influence of Strain Rate,Temperature, Plastic Strain,and Microstructure on the Strain Rate Sensitivity of Automotive Sheet Steels

This work identifies the influence of strain rate, temperature, plastic strain, and microstructure on the strain rate sensitivity of automotive sheet steel grades in crash conditions. The strain rate sensitivity m has been determined by means of dynamic tensile tests in the strain rate range 10^?3–200 s^?1 and in the temperature range 233–373 K. The dynamic flow curves have been tested by means of servohydraulic tensile testing. The strain rate sensitivity decreases with increasing plastic strain due to a gradual exhausting of work hardening potential combined with adiabatic softening effects. The strain rate sensitivity is improved with decreasing temperature and increasing strain rate, according to the thermally activated deformation mechanism. The m‐value is reduced with increasing strength level, this decrease being most pronounced for steels with a yield strength below 400 MPa. Solid solution alloying with manganese, silicon, and especially phosphorous elements lowers the strain rate sensitivity significantly. Second phase hardening with bainite and martensite as the second constituent in a ferritic matrix reduces the strain rate sensitivity of automotive sheet steels. A statistical modeling is proposed to correlate the m‐value with the corresponding quasistatic tensile flow stress.     

Roles of dislocations and grain boundaries in martensite nucleation

In order to elucidate roles of dislocations and grain boundaries in martensite nucleation, the transformation temperature (M_s) of specimens austenitized at various temperatures and subjected to prestrain has been measured, using Fe-Ni, Fe-Ni-C, and Fe-Cr-C alloys. It is concluded that the plastic accommodation, in austenite, of the shape strain of the transforming martensite is a vital step in the nucleation event. Any factors impeding such plastic accommodation, such as the lack of dislocations, work hardening, and grain refinement, suppress the transformation. Contrary to the general belief, dislocations themselves do not act as favorable nucleation sites. Grain boundaries provide nucleation site, but only certain types of grain boundaries are qualified to be potential nuclei. A quantitative analysis shows that the increasing difficulty for the plastic accommodation with decreasing grain size is the main factor to depress M_s in fine-grained specimens.