Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of TiC／TiAl Composites

TiC/ TiAl composites with different TiC content were fabricated by rapid heating technique of spark plasma sintering ( SPS ). The effect of TiC purticles on microstructure and mechanical properties of TiAl matrix was imestigated. The results indicate that grain sizes of TiAl matrix decrease and mechanical properties are improved because of the addition of TiC particles. The composites display a 26.8% increase in bending strength when 10wt% TiC is added and 43.8% improvement in fracture toughness when 5ut% TiC is added compared to values of TiC-free materials. Grain-refinement and dispersion-strengthening were the main strengthening mechanism. The improvement of fracture toughness was due to the deflexion of TiC particles to the crack.     

Fabrication and mechanical properties of Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>/TiAl composites

Al₂O₃/TiAl composites were successfully fabricated by hot-press-assisted exothermic dispersion method with elemental powder mixtures of Ti, Al TiO₂ and Nb₂O₅, and the microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. The results indicate the fine Al₂O₃ particles tend to disperse on the grain boundaries. The grain size of TiAl matrix decreases and the hardness increases with increasing Nb₂O₅ content. The bending strength and fracture toughness reach to a maximum when Nb₂O₅ content is 6 wt%, under 642 MPa and 6.69 MPa·m^1/2, respectively. Based on the fractography and the observation of crack propagation path, it is concluded that the strengthening and toughening of such composites at room temperature can be attributed to the refinement of the TiAl matrix, the deflection behavior in the crack propagation and the dispersion of Al₂O₃ particles.     

Tribological Properties of Polyvinyl Mcohol Hydrogel Reinforced with Nanometer Hydroxy Apatite

As a potential artificial cartilage material,the friction and wear properties of nano-hydroxy apatite(HA)particles filled poly(vinyl alcohol)hydrogel(PVA-H)composites sliding against stainless steel disk under water lubrication condition were studied by using a four ball tester.The worn surfaces were investigated by using a scanning electron microscope(SEM)to determine the wear mechanisms.Experimental results show that filling HA to PVA-H will slightly increase the friction coefficient of composites with the increasing of HA content under water lubrication condition.Meanwhile,HA particles can greatly reduce the wear mass loss of the PVA-H composites and enhance the load carrying capacity,the wear loss of the 1 wt% HA reinforced PVA-H composites can be decreased by 30 percent under 2.0 MPa to 50 percent under 0.5 MPa contact pressure.We also found that 2 wt% HA content of composites increase the wear mass loss under the same condition.SEM examination shows that the worn surface of low HA containing(1 wt%)composites are much smoother than that of pure PVA-H or high HA containing(2 wt%)composites under 1.5 MPa contact pressure.It is also found that there are big hole and big reunited HA particles in the surface of 2 wt% HA containing composites,which leads to deterioration of the surface of samples under higher loads in water lubrication.These results may be useful in the tribological design of artificial articular cartilage material.     

Tribological Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogel Reinforced with Nanometer Hydroxy Apatite

As a potential artificial cartilage material, the friction and wear properties of nano-hydroxy apatite （HA） particles filled poly （vinyl alcohol） hydrogel （PVA-H） composites sliding against stainless steel disk under water lubrication condition were studied by using a four ball tester. The worn surfaces were investigated by using a scanning electron microscope （SEM） to determine the wear mechanisms. Experimental results show that filling HA to PVA-H will slightly increase the friction coefficient of composites with the increasing of HA content under water lubrication condition. Meanwhile, HA particles can greatly reduce the wear mass loss of the PVA-H composites and enhance the load carrying capacity, the wear loss of the 1 wt% HA reinforced PVA-H composites can be decreased by 30 percent under 2.0 MPa to 50 percent under 0.5 MPa contact pressure. We also found that 2 wt% HA content of composites increase the wear mass loss under the same condition. SEM examination shows that the worn surface of low HA containing （1 wt%） composites are much smoother than that of pure PVA-H or high HA containing （2 wt%） composites under 1.5 MPa contact pressure. It is also found that there are big hole and big reunited HA particles in the surface of 2 wt% HA containing composites, which leads to deterioration of the surface of samples under higher loads in water lubrication. These results may be useful in the tribological design of artificial articular cartilage material.     

Effects of microstructures on the deformation and fracture behaviors of TiAl-based alloys

The fracture toughnessK _Ic, the tensile deformation and fracture behaviors of different microstructures ofγ-TiAl based alloy, Ti-33Al-3Cr-0.5Mo] were studied at room temperature. It is found that theK _Ic value is lower in the duplex microstructure, and increases with the increase of vol pct of the lamellar microstructure, and that the full lamellar has the highestK _Ic value. Cleavage was the dominant fracture mechanism in the duplex microstructure material. In contrast, for the full lamellar microstructure the high anisotropy of deformation and the large strain discontinuity at grain boundaries resulting in decohesion of grain boundaries are the main fracture processes. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and National Advanced Materials Committee of China Synopsis of the first author Chen Xiaoqun, associated professor, born in Jan. 1965, current research fields: physical metallurgy of high-temperature structural intermetallic compounds.     

Grain Refining Performance of SHS Al—50TiC Master Alloys for Commercially pure Aluminum

An Al-50wt^TiC composite was directly synthesized by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis(SHS) technology,and then was used as a grain refining master alloy for commercially pure aluminun.The microstructure and grain refining performance of the synthesized master alloy were emphatically investigated.The SHS master alloy only ocntained submicron TiC particles except for Al matrix.Moreover,TiC particles were relatively free of agglomeration.Grain refining tests show that adding only 0.1wt^ of the master alloys to the aluminum melt could transform the sturcture of the solidified samples from coarse columnar grains to fine almost 1.5h at 1003K.Therefore,it is concluded that the SHS master alloy is an effective grain refiner for aluminum and its alloys,and that it is highly resistant to the grain refining fading encountered with most grain refiners.     

烧结温度和成分对Al_2O_3-TiC复合材料力学性能影响

以α-Al2O3粉、TiC粉为原料,采用热压烧结工艺制备了Al2O3-TiC复合材料,系统研究了烧结温度以及成分对Al2O3-TiC复合材料的组织结构和力学性能的影响规律.结果表明:α-Al2O3与TiC间没有发生化学反应,两相间具有很好的化学相容性.TiC的引入有利于提高Al2O3-TiC复合材料的力学性能.1 600℃热压烧结的Al2O3-20%TiC复合材料具有最佳的力学性能,其抗弯强度和断裂韧性分别达到509.45 MPa和5.27 MPa·m1/2,复合材料的断裂方式主要是沿晶断裂,同时伴有穿晶断裂.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of rapidly solidified Al-Cr alloys

The microstructure and mechanical properties of rapidly solidified Al-Cr alloys were investigated by XRD, TEM and microhardness testing instrument. The results indicate that the matrix of rapidly solidified Al-Cr alloys is α-Al solid solution when the Cr content is lower than 4 wt%. However, when the Cr content is above 4 wt%, the microstructures of rapidly solidified Al-Cr alloys are different along cross section. The microstructure of alloy contacting copper roller consists of α-Al and a few intermetallic compounds. With the increase of distance from copper roller, the matrix consists of α-Al and spherical intermetallic compounds which conglomerate in α-Al matrix. These intermetallic compounds are Al₇Cr, Al₁₁Cr and Al₄Cr. The tensile strength has the maximal value when the Cr content is about 8 wt%. The annealed microstructures show that supersaturated α-Al solid solution dissolved with increasing anneal temperature. The starting temperature of the second phase precipitated from the supersaturated α-Al solid solution desponds on the supersaturation. Meanwhile, the microhardness of rapidly solidified Al-Cr alloy reaches maximal value after annealing at 300 °C. Funded by the Innovation Fund for Outstanding Scholar of Henan Province (No. 0621000700)     

Interfacial reaction between solid nickel and liquid zinc

Interfacial reactions between solid nickel and liquid zinc at 450-650 ℃ for 30-600 s were studied. The morphology and growth behavior of intermetallic compound layers at the interface between solid nickel and liquid zinc were observed and analyzed by SEM and EDS. The results show that γ and 8 phases are formed at 450 ℃ at the Ni/Zn interface, and at 550 ℃ and 650 ℃ only ）,phase is formed at the interthce and some δ phase particles will be participated during solidification on the surface of γphase layer. The β1 phase is absent under experimental conditions. Many cracks occur in the layers due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficients of these phases. It is found that the kinetics of the intermetallic compounds growth follows a parabolic law of time, as controlled by the diffusion mechanism. The apparent activation energies are 113.9 kJ/mol for the growth of γphase and 125.87 kJ/mol for γ1 phase, respectively.     

Effect of the addition of Al-Ti-C master alloy on the microstructure and microhardness of a cast Al-10Mg alloy

The microstructure and microhardness of a cast Al-10wt%Mg （henceforth Al-10Mg） alloy with 0.2wt% addition of Al- 5Ti-0.25C master alloy were compared with those of a refiner-free alloy of similar chemical composition. It was found that this level of the master alloy addition not only caused an effective grain refinement, but also caused a significant increase in the microhardness of the Al-10Mg alloy. Microchemical analysis revealed that TiC particles existed in the grain center. The relationship between the holding time and grain size was also studied. It shows that the grain refining efficiency is faded observably with the holding time. This is explained in terms of the instability of TiC particles.     

Structure and mechanical properties of Al-based gradient composites reinforced with primary Si and Mg2Si particles through centrifugal casting

The structure and mechanical properties of a new type of Al-based discontinuous gradient composites prepared by using the ternary Al-19Si-5Mg alloys as the raw material adopting the centrifugal casting method were investigated. Structurally, the composites are divided into two zones: a reinforced zone with the high volume fraction of primary Si and Mg₂Si particles and an unreinforced zone with no or a few particles. In the reinforced zone, the primary particles are evenly distributed, with the sizes of the primary Si particles 80–120 μm, and that of primary Mg₂Si particles 20–50 μm. The properties test results show the reinforced zone has higher Rockwell hardness and better wear resistance than the unreinforced zone, due to the complementary reinforcement relationship between the primary Si and Mg₂Si particles and their high volume fraction.     

Influence of Ni-electrodeposited Pretreatment on Galvanized Coatings of Reactive Steels

Four types of steel sheets containing 0.04%, 0.09%, 0. 14% and 0.36% Si, respectively, were electrodeposited with a nickel layer of 3 tam in thickness and then galvanized in molten Zn at 450℃ for various periods of time. The formation and growth of intermetallic compound layers on the surface of the samples were investigated by SEM and EDS. The experimental results show that the method of Ni-electrodeposited pretreatment can distinctively restrain the over-growth of the galvanized coatings of reactive steels and get eligible coatings with a proper thickness, bright appearance and strong adherence. EDS results indicate that a series of Ni-Zn intermetallic compounds γ′, γ and δ, are first formed on the surface of the samples. With a prolonged immersion time, the F2-Fe-Zn-Ni and δ-Fe-Zn are formed accompanied by the gradual disappearance of γ′, γ and δ2 layer. After a longer immersion time, the lumpy ζ- Fe-Zn occurs between δ and liquid Zn and the F-Fe-Zn does between steel substrate and δ. Subsequently, ζ is in the form of a continuous and compact layer. The method of Ni-electrodeposited pretreatment changes the formation of Fe-Zn intermetallic compounds, which delay the growth of lumpy （and promote the growth of compact δ. Consequently, the abnormal growth of reactive steels is eliminated.     

纳米TiC对Si3N4基复合陶瓷材料性能和微观结构的影响

用热压法制备了纳米TiC增韧补强的Si₃N₄基复合陶瓷材料,研究了不同TiC含量对复合陶瓷材料力学性能与微观结构的影响.结果表明：纳米TiC颗粒的添加对复合材料的力学性能的提高是有利的,当纳米TiC的质量分数为15%时,复合材料具备较优的力学性能,其抗弯强度、断裂韧性、HV硬度分别达到895MPa,8.03MPa.m1/2,15.06GPa;不同尺寸的Si₃N₄晶粒形成双峰结构,有利于复合材料性能的提高;其断裂机制为沿晶断裂和穿晶断裂的混合类型.     

Microstructure of a spray deposited intermetallic compound alloy of Ni-Al-Mo system

The microstructure of a spray deposited intermetallic compound alloy of Ni-Al-Mo system(Ni3Al-Mo intermetallic compound alloy) prepared by a spray atomization deposition was studied in detail by using optical metallography,XRD,DTA,SEM,TEM,HREM and computer simulation.The preform consists of uniform and equiaxial grains,ranging from 10-40 μm,with some microporosity.Besides the main phases of the matrix alloy γ' and γ,Ni2Mo and Ni3Mo phases are also found within the γ network.A new Ni enriched phase in the γ phase was identified to have face-centered cubic structure with a lattice constant α=1.09 nm and space group Fm3m.     

Wetting behavior of graphite and CFC composites by Cu-Ti compacts

The wetting behavior of Cu-Ti powder compacts with 22 wt %Ti and 50 wt %Ti on carbon materials, including graphite and carbon fiber reinforced carbon composites(CFC), has been investigated in a vacuum using the sessile drop method. The equilibrium contact angles of Cu-22Ti(containing 22 wt%Ti) on the graphite and the CFC substrates at 1 253 K are 32 o and 26 o, respectively, whereas the equilibrium contact angle of 9° is obtained for Cu-50Ti(containing 50 wt%Ti) on both the graphite and the CFC substrates at 1 303 K.Microstructural analysis of the wetting samples shows that a thin TiC reaction layer is developed at the interfacial area and Ti-Cu intermetallic compounds are formed over the reaction layer. The investigation on the spreading kinetics of Cu-Ti compacts on carbon materials substrates at fixed temperatures reveals that the spreading is controlled by the interfacial reactions in the first stage and then by the diffusion of the active Ti from the drop bulk to the triple line in the later stage. The spreading is promoted by the intense reaction at higher Ti concentrations.     

Effect of High-energy Ball Milling on Synthetic Reaction in Al-TiO2-C System

High-energy ball milling has a great influence on the temperature characters of synthetic reaction in Al-TiO2-C system by changing the size,distribution state and wet ability of reactants.Reaction temperature characters（reaction ignition time,ignition temperature time.the maximum temperature and temperature rising rate）were changed by different milling time.The longer the milling time.the earlier the reaction.the quicker the temperature rise and the higher the maximum temperature.When the milling time exceeded 10 hours,the reactivity of reactants was so high that the synthetic reaction could take place at 850℃ directly without a long time pretreatment at 670℃.The microstructure of synthetic composites became uniform and the reinforced particles（TiC and α-Al2O3）became fine with milling time increasing.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of an in situ synthesized TiB and TiC reinforced titanium matrix composite coating

A titanium-based composite coating reinforced by in situ synthesized TiB and TiC particles was fabricated on Ti6Al4V by laser cladding. The microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. The coating was mainly composed of β-Ti cellular dendrites and an eutectic in which a large number of rod/needle-shaped TiB and a few equiaxial TiC particles were homogeneously embedded. The microstructural evolution could be divided into four stages: precipitation and growth of primary β-Ti phase, formation of the binary eutectic β-Ti+TiB, formation of the ternary eutectic β-Ti+TiB+TiC, and solid transformation from β-Ti to β-Ti. Microhardness of the coating showed a gradient variation from the surface (about HV0.2 876) to the bottom (about HV0.2 660) and was prominently improved in comparison with that of the substrate. Fracture toughness of the coating also exhibited a gradient variation from the surface (6.3 MPa·m1/2) to the interface (11.9 MPa·m1/2). Wear resistance of the coating was significantly superior to that of Ti6Al4V.     

Physical and Mechanical Properties of PP Composites based on Different Types of Lignocellulosic Fillers

The presents preparation and characterization of different types of lignocellulosic fillers (pine wood sawdust/ walnut shell flour/ black rice husk powder) reinforced polypropylene composites were presented. The effect of MAPP as coupling agent (4wt%) on the physical and mechanical properties was also investigated. Polypropylene composites were prepared at different rates of filler/matrix (wt%) by using extrusion (for melt blending) and hot compression molding process. Maximum values of tensile and flexural strength were obtained as 26.1 and 43.4 MPa, respectively, whereas the elongation at break value was 4.11% at 10% pine wood sawdust reinforced PP. Tensile and flexural modulus of composites reached the maximum values as 3855 and 3633 MPa with the composite of 30% walnut shell flour reinforced PP. Characterization of composites was carried out by using tensile test, flexural test, FT-IR, and SEM.     

Sr Microalloying for Refining Grain Size of AZ91D Magnesium Alloy

The grain refining process of an AZ91D Mg alloy by Sr addition was studied and the heterogeneous nucleating particles of α-Mg were investigated by electron probe microanalysis （EPMA）. With 0.6 wt% Sr addition, the mean grain size of AZ91D alloy was refined from 235.4μm to 52.5 μm at the one-half radius of the ingot. The morphology of primary crystal changed from a sixford symmetrical shape to a petallike shape, Mg-Sr-Al-Fe-Mn heterogeneous nucleating particles were observed at the grain centers and Sr solute atoms presented segregation along the grain boundaries. Grain refinement was facilitated by both the Mg-Sr-Al- Fe-Mn nucleating particles and the Sr solute atoms, and the former played a dominate role in the process.     

Stainless steel binder for the development of novel TiC-reinforced steel cermets

Steel reinforced TiC composites are an attractive choice for wear resistance and corrosion resistance applications. TiC- reinforced 17-4PH maraging stainless matrix composites were processed by conventional powder metallurgy （P/M）. TiC-reinforced maraging stainless steel composites with 〉97% of theoretical density were fabricated. The microstructure, mechanical and wear properties of the composites were evaluated. The microstructure of these composites consisted of spherical and semi-spherical TiC particles. A few microcracks appeared in the composites, showing the presence of tensile stress in the composites produced during sintering. Typical properties, namely, hardness and bend strength were reported for the sintered composites. After heat treatment and aging, the increase of hardness was observed. The increase of hardness was attributed to the aging reaction in the 17-4PH stainless steel. The precipitates appeared in the microstructure and were responsible for the increase in hardness. The specific wear behavior of the composites was strongly dependent on the content of TiC particles, the interparticle spacing, and the presence of hard precipitates in the binder phase.