Ultrahigh strength Mg-Y-Ni alloys obtained by regulating second phases

Mg-Y-Ni alloys with different second phases were designed by changing Y/Ni atomic ratio from 1.5 to 0.5.The microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast and as-extruded alloys were investigated. The as-cast Mg-Y-Ni alloy with Y/Ni ratio of 1.5 is composed of α-Mg and long period stacking ordered(LPSO)phase. When Y/Ni ratio is equal to 1, nanoscale lamellar γ' phase and eutectic Mg_2Ni phase are formed in addition to LPSO phase. As Y/Ni ratio decreases further, the amount of eutectic Mg_2Ni phase increases,while the amount of LPSO phase decreases. After extrusion, the LPSO and γ' phases are distributed along the extrusion direction, while eutectic Mg_2Ni phase is broken and dispersed in the as-extruded alloys.LPSO phase and Mg_2Ni phase in the alloys promote dynamic recrystallization(DRX) during extrusion,while γ' phase inhibits DRX. Consequently, the Mg96Y2Ni2(at.%) alloy with LPSO phase and γ' phase as the main second phases shows the strongest basal texture after extrusion. The tensile yield strength of the as-extruded Mg-Y-Ni alloys increases first and then decreases with decreasing Y/Ni ratio. The as-extruded Mg96Y2Ni2(at.%) alloy with Y/Ni = 1 exhibits excellent mechanical properties with tensile yield strength of 465 MPa, ultimate tensile strength of 510 MPa and elongation to failure of 7.2%, which is attributed to the synergistic effect of bulk LPSO phase and nanoscale γ' phase.     

Effects of Alloying Elements on the Volume Fraction of Ordered α2 Phase Precipitated in Ti-Al-Sn-Zr Alloys

An ideal method has been established for calculating the precipitation of α2 ordered phase in near-α titanium alloys based on the theory on the critical electron concentration for the precipitation of α2 ordered phase in near-α titanium alloys. With complete precipitation of α2 phase in near-α titanium alloys, the alloys can be considered to be composed of two parts： （1） the α2 ordered phase with the stoichiometric atomic ratio of Ti3X; （2） the disorder solid solution with the critical composition in which the α2 ordered phase is just unable to precipitate. By using this method, the volume fractions of α2 ordered phase precipitated in Ti-Al, Ti-Sn, Ti-Al-Sn-Zr alloys with various AI, Sn and/or Zr contents have been calculated. The influences of AI and Sn on the precipitation of α2 ordered phase are discussed. The calculating results show substantial agreement with the experimental ones.     

Effects of Extrusion Speed on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mg—9Gd—3Y—1.5Zn—0.8Zr alloy

The effects of the extrusion speed on the microstructures,mechanical properties and aging hardening behaviors of Mg—9Gd—3Y—1.5Zn—0.8Zr alloy have been investigated.The microstructure evolution during hot extrusion has also been discussed.The microstructures of the extruded alloys mainly consist of the equiaxed dynamically recrystallized grains and fiber-like long period stacking ordered(LPSO)phase.The increasing extrusion speed results in grain coarsening and the mechanical properties deterioration.Meanwhile,it could also retard the aging hardening response.The extrudability of the investigated alloy is limited.Cracks nucleate and grow up rapidly when the extrusion speed is over 0.3 m/min.It should be closely related to the large amount of LPSO phase and the unique microstructure evolution.The rapidly precipitating fine lamella during extrusion could pin the dislocations and grain boundaries effectively.It could strengthen the alloy but also limit the extrudability of the investigated alloy.     

Effect of γ phase on mechanical behavior and detwinning evolution of directionally solidified Ni-Mn-Ga alloys under uniaxial compression

Specimens with single-phase martensite, net-like γ/martensite mixed structure and lamella-likeγ/martensite mixed structure were designed to investigate the effect of the γ phase on the mechanical behavior and the detwinning of non-modulated(NM) martensitic variant in Ni-rich Ni-Mn-Ga alloys under uniaxial compression. It can be found the existence of the γ phase significantly enhances the compressive stresses, and the net-like γ phase specimen presents a higher value of compressive strain than that of the lamella-like γ phase specimen. Especially, the detwinning plateau of the lamella-like γ phase specimen is almost invisible due to the martensite colonies with low Schmid factors. Finally, according to the calculation of deformation gradient tensor, we found that the tensors along compression direction(εzz) of net-like γ phase/martensite mixed structure specimen and single-phase martensite specimen are lower than that of the specimen with lamella-like γ phase/martensite mixed structure, which well explained the detwinning strain for these specimens. The present study not only highlights the role ofγ phase on the mechanical behavior, but also provides more guidelines for the mechanical training of Ni-Mn-Ga shape memory alloys.     

First-principles investigation of B2 partial disordered structure,martensitic transformation,elastic and magnetic properties of all-d-metal Ni-Mn-Ti Heusler alloys

In this work,the B2 partial disordered structure of the austenitic parent phase,martensitic transformation,elastic and magnetic properties of the Ni8 Mn4+xTi4-x(x=0,1 and 2) Heusler alloys have been systematically investigated by the first-principles calculations.The preferential atomic occupation of B2 structure is one Ti atom exchange with the nearest neighboring Mn atom from the view of lowest energy principle.This disordered exchange sites(Mn-Ti) and the excess Mn atoms occupying the Ti sites(MnTi)could reduce the nearest Mn-Mn distance,resulting in the anti ferromagnetic state in the austenitic and martensitic phases of the alloys.The total magnetic moment of the alloy decreases with the increasing Mn content;it is ascribed to the antiferromagnetic magnetic moments of the excess Mn atoms.When x=0,the alloy does not undergo martensitic transformation since the austenite has absolute phase stability.The martensitic transformation will occur during cooling process for x=1 or 2,owing to the energy difference between the austenite and the martensite could provide the driving force for the phase transformation.The elastic properties of the cubic austenitic phase for the Ni2 MnTi alloy is calculated,and the results reveal the reason why Ni-Mn-Ti alloy has excellent mechanical properties.The origin of martensitic transformation and magnetic properties was discussed based on the electronic density of states.     

Phase Relations in TiAl+Nb System

The microstructures and phases of ternary TiAl+Nb alloys containing 50-60 at.-%Al, 0-21 at.-%Nb have been studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray powder diffraction. The phases present in the alloys and their distribution were found to be a sensitive function of composition. The phase relations between γ-TiAl and γ1 (a new ordered ternary intermetallic compound based on γ-TiAl) were determined. Essentially single γ phase was determined for alloys with relativety low Nb content (≤10 at.-%Nb). the γ1 phase was determined to exist in the composition range containing higher Nb contents (15-21 at.-%Nb). Between γ and γ1 phases, with intermediate Nb contents there is a transitional phase γ1 (a superstructure of γ-TiAl). As for the influence of Al concentration on the phase relations. the γ1 phase was inclined to form in the alloys with relatively high Al contents. The ordering transformation of γ, to γ1 is a continuous ordering process and the transition may be second order.     

Formation Behavior of 14H Long Period Stacking Ordered Structure in Mg–Y–Zn Cast Alloys with Different α-Mg Fractions

Phase compositions and microstructure evolutions of three Mg–Y–Zn cast alloys during isothermal annealing at 773 K have been systematically investigated to clarify the formation behavior of 14 H long period stacking ordered(LPSO) structure from α-Mg grains.The annealed microstructure characteristics indicate that the 18 R phase is thermal stable in Mg86Y8Zn6 alloy where 18 R serves as matrix,and 14 H lamellar phase only forms within tiny α-Mg slices(less than 1% for volume fraction).The α-Mg grains in Mg88Y8Zn4 and Mg89Y8Zn3 alloys exhibit cellular shape,and 14 H phase forms and develops into lamellar shape in these cellular grains after annealing.The results suggest that the presence of α-Mg grains is a requirement for the generation of 14 H phase.The nucleation and growth rates of 14 H lamellas are accelerated in α-Mg grains with higher concentrations of stacking faults and solute atoms.Moreover,the 14 H lamellas are parallel to adjacent 18 R plates in Mg86Y8Zn6 alloy,but the 14 H phase precipitated in cellularα-Mg grains of Mg88Y8Zn4 and Mg89Y8Zn3 alloys exhibits random orientation relationship with surrounding 18 R phase,indicating that the orientation relationship between 14 H and 18 R phases depends on the relationship between α-Mg grains and 18 R phase.     

Antiphase Boundary Strengthening in a Single Crystal Nickel—base Superalloy

An investigation has been made into strengthening mechanism in a single crystal nickel-base superalloy DD8 by transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the stress rupture strength of the alloy increases with decreasing misfit, and the antiphase boundaries (APBs) formed in the ordered γ' phase, rather than the misfits, play a dominate role in strengthening of the single crystal Ni-base superalloy DD8. There are three kinds of mechanisms for forming the APBs which were observed in the present materials. One is mis-arrangement of the local ordered atoms in the γ' precipitates due to the local strain; the second arises from the 1/2<110> dislocations cutting into the γ', and the third is the formation of the APBs induced by the 1/2<110> matrix dislocation network. The contribution of the antiphase boundary energy to the strength of the alloy can be expressed by: where τ is the resistance to deformation provided by the APB energy; S is the long-range order degree in γ'; Tc is the transition     

Effects of Temperature and Disperse Phase of Disordered γ on Strain Hardening Rate of Ni_3Al

Investigations have been made on the effects of temperature and fine disperse phase of disordered γ on strain hardening rate of Ni3Al based alloy. The result is found that there exists a peak temperature for the strain hardening rate of Ni3Al based alloy below the peak temperature of its yield strength. Analysis shows that the appearance of the peak temperature of strain hardening rate is caused by both the decreasing of the movability of <101> superdislocations on {111}slip plane and the increasing of the dynamic recovery in Ni3Al with increasing temperature. A Ni3Al based alloy hardened by disperse phase of disordered γ has been obtained by controlling chemical composition and treating processes. The peak temperature of strain hardening rate of this alloy is increased due to the fine disperse phase of disordered γ, which causes the reductions of the movability of the superdislocations and the dynamic recovery in Ni3Al     

Mechanism and Kinetics of Phase Transformation in Two-phase TiAl-based Alloys

The aged and quenched microstructures of both alloys, Ti-42at-%Al and Ti-45at -%Al,homogenized in the disordered single phase field. were investigated And the results show that the quinched microstructure is a supersaturated single phase of ordered 22. When the supersaturated phase is aged in the two phase range at 1273 and 1373 K, it will transform to a lamellar microstructure of γ+α2. with a discontinuous decomposition mechanism in Ti-42at-%Al alloy and a semicontinuous decomposition mechanism in T1-45at-%Al alloy. With the methods of quantitative metallograph examination and X-ray diffraction analysis. the relationship between the amount of γ, phase precipitation and the time of isothermal transformation is agreed     

Microstructure of the Ductile Phase in Intermetallic Compound Ni_(50)Al_(20)Fe_(30)

The microstructure of the single hot extruded and annealed Ni50Al20Fe30Y0.003 intermetallic compound alloys has been examined by means of high resolution electron microscopy (HREM). In these extruded and annealed alloys. the ductile phase is of a mixture of the disordered fcc γ matrix and or dered γ' precipitates. This fact well interprets the reason why the degree of annealing treatment can influence the strength and ductility of these alloys. The HREM observation revealed directly that there was some strain concentration at γ'-γ interfaces, due to the presence of more iron atoms in these two phases. The fixed orientation relationship between the γ phase and γ' precipitates was identified to be {001}γ{00 }γ' and <100 >γ < 100 > γ'     

Microstructure and Phase Transformation of a Niobium-rich TiAl-based Alloy Containing Boron and Carbon

Microstructure and phase transformation of Ti46Al8Nb0.5B0.2C alloy have been investigated.X-ray diffraction (XRD),optical microscopy (OM),scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results show that as-cast and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) alloy mainly composed of γ and α 2 phase have fully lamellar microstructure with point-like or ribbon-like TiB 2 distributing in lamellar colony or at grain boundary.The mean size of lamellar colony is about 150 and 450 μm for as-cast and HIP alloy,respectively.The lamellar spacing is about 550 and 600 nm for as-cast and HIP alloy,respectively.It has been found that cooling rates and quenching temperatures have significant effect on phase transformation of Ti46Al8Nb0.5B0.2C alloy.When the alloy is treated at 1380℃ for 1 h and cooled from α domain,water cooling leads to complete α→α 2 transformation,oil cooling leads to predominant α→α 2 and part α→γ m transformation,air cooling leads to α→α + γ p2 →L(α + γ) →L(α 2 + γ) transformation,and furnace cooling leads to α→α + γ p3 →L(α + γ) →L(α 2 + γ) transformation.However,when the alloy is treated at 1400℃ for 1 h and cooled from α domain,water cooling leads to predominant α→α 2 and part α→α + γ p4 →γ m transformation,oil cooling leads to α→α + γ p5 →γ m transformation,air cooling leads to α→α + γ p6 →L(α + γ) →L(α 2 + γ) transformation,and furnace cooling leads to α→α + γ p7 →L(α + γ) →L(α 2 + γ) transformation.Microstructural evolution of the alloy during various heat treatments has been examined and the phase transformation mechanisms have been elucidated.Based on the experimental observation,schematic CCT diagrams for the alloy have been given.     

Effect of Multi-Pass Equal Channel Angular Pressing on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a Heterogeneous Mg_(88)Y_8Zn_4 Alloy

The microstructure evolutions and mechanical properties of a heterogeneous Mg88Y8Zn4(in at.%) alloy during multi-pass equal channel angular pressing(ECAP) were systematically investigated in this work.The results show that four phases,i.e.α-Mg,18 R long period stacking ordered(LPSO) phase,Mg24Y5 and Y-rich phase,are present in cast alloy.During ECAP,dynamic recrystallization(DRX) occurs and the diameter of DRXedα-Mg grains decreases to 0.8 μm.Moreover,precipitation of lamellar 14 H LPSO structure is developed withinα-Mg phase.Both the refinement of α-Mg grains and precipitation of 14 H LPSO contribute to the increase in micro-hardness from 98 HV to 135 HV for α-Mg.In addition,a simplified model describing the evolution of 18 R LPSO phase is established,which illustrates that 18 R undergoes a four-step morphological evolution with increasing strains during ECAP,i.e.original lath → bent lath → cracked lath → smaller particles.Compression test results indicate that the alloy has been markedly strengthened after multi-pass ECAP,and the main reason for the significantly enhanced mechanical properties could be ascribed to the DRXed α-Mg grains,newly precipitated 14 H lamellas,18 R kinking and refined 18 R particles.     

Structure and properties of nanoporous FePt fabricated by dealloying a melt-spun Fe_(60)Pt_(20)B_(20) alloy and subsequent annealing

A nanoporous FePt alloy has been fabricated by dealloying a melt-spun Fe(60)Pt(20)B(20)alloy composed of nanoscale amorphous and face-centered-cubic FePt(fcc-FePt)phases in H2 SO4 aqueous solution.The nanoporous alloy consists of single fcc-FePt phase with an Fe/Pt atomic ratio of about 55.3/44.7,and possesses a uniform interpenetrating ligament-channel structure with average ligament and pore sizes of 27 nm and 12 nm,respectively.The nanoporous fcc-FePt alloy shows soft magnetic characteristics with a saturation magnetization of 37.9 emu/g and better electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation than commercial Pt/C in acidic environment.The phase transformation from disordered fcc-Fe Pt into ordered face-centered-tetragonal FePt(L10-FePt)in the nanoporous alloy has been realized after annealing at823-943 K for 600 s.The volume fraction of the L10-FePt phase in the alloy increases with the rise of annealing temperature,which results in the enhancements of coercivity and saturation magnetization from 0.14 kOe and 38.5 emu/g to 8.42 kOe and 51.4 emu/g,respectively.The ligament size of the samples is increased after annealing.     

Mechanism of Bainite Nucleation in Steel, Iron and Copper Alloys

During the incubation period of isothermal treatment(or aging) within the bainitic transformation temperature range in a salt bath (or quenching in water) immediately after solution treatment, not only are the defects formed at high temperatures maintained, but new defects can also be generated in alloys, iron alloys and steels. Due to the segregation of the solute atoms near defects through diffusion, this leads to non-uniform distributions of solute atoms in the parent phase with distinct regions of both solute enrichment and solute depletion. It is proposed that when the Ms temperature at the solute depleted regions is equal to or higher than the isothermal (or aged) temperature, nucleation of bainite occurs within these solute depleted regions in the manner of martensitic shear. Therefore it is considered that, at least in steel, iron and copper alloy systems, bainite is formed through a shear mechanism within solute depleted regions, which is controlled and formed by the solute atoms diffusion in the parent phase.     

Fabrication and characterization of novel biodegradable Zn-Mn-Cu alloys

Zn-Mn-Cu alloys with micro-alloying of Mn and Cu in Zn are developed as potential biodegradable metals. Although the as-cast alloys are very brittle, their ductilities are significantly improved through hot rolling. Among the as-cast and the as-hot-rolled alloys, as-hot-rolled Zn-0.35 Mn-0.41 Cu alloy has the best comprehensive property. It has yield strength of 198.4 ± 6.7 MPa, tensile strength of 292.4 ± 3.4 MPa,elongation of 29.6 ± 3.8% and corrosion rate of 0.050-0.062 mm a~(-1). A new ternary phase is characterized and determined to be MnCuZn18, which is embedded in MnZn13, resulting in a coarse cellular/dendritic MnZn13-MnCuZn18 compound structure in Zn-0.75 Mn-0.40 Cu alloy. Such a coarse compound structure is detrimental for wrought alloy properties, which guides future design of Zn-Mn-Cu based alloys.The preliminary research indicates that Zn-Mn-Cu alloy system is a promising candidate for potential cardiovascular stent applications.     

Oxygen Permeation Behaviors and Hardening Effect of Titanium Alloys at High Temperature

In order to improve the surface hardness and wear resistance of Ti and Ti alloy components, an oxygen permeationtreatment (OPT) was developed. The oxygen permeation behaviors of three Ti alloys, TA2, TB5 and TC11, treatedin air with O-P medium at high temperature have been studied. The results show that the O-P treatment cansignificantly improve the surface hardness of Ti alloys. The oxidation mass-gain of β-Ti alloy (TB5) is much higherthan α-Ti alloy (TA2) under the same condition, while α β Ti alloy (TC11) is the lowest. All the Ti alloys treatedat this condition produce two surface layers: the outer layer consists mainly of TiO2, as well as trace of other oxides,and the inner layer consists of a Ti-O interstitial solid solution formed by the diffusion of oxygen in α crystal latticeThick scales of β Ti alloy (TB5) are easily formed depending mainly on the poor solid solution content of oxygen,while deep solution layer can be formed since partial β phase has been transformed into α phase. The scales of α-βTi alloy (TC11) are very thin and compact. Aluminum-rich zone, as well as deficient zone, is found in oxide layerrs.A crystallographic characterization of oxygen solution layer has been performed and evaluated by crystallographiclattice constant.     

Influences of Alloying Elements W, Mo, Cr and Nb on Retained Beta Phase in 47Al Based near γ-TiAl Alloys

The influences of alloying elements W, Mo, Cr, and Nb on retained β phase in 47Al based near γ-TiAI alloys have been studied.The results reveal that the amount of retained β phase is increased by the addition of Cr, Mo, W in rising rank, although the distribution of β phase in Cr-bearing alloys is different from that of Mo- or W-bearing alloys. For Nb-doped alloys, no retained β was found even when 5 at. pct Nb was added. The as-cast microstructural features and the distribution of the β phase in the different alloy families were compared and interpreted in terms of the different segregation behaviour of these elements in Ti.     

A review of composition evolution in Ni-based single crystal superalloys

Due to the outstanding creep performance, nickel-based single crystal superalloys(Ni-SXs) are extensively applied in modern aero-engine and industrial gas turbine. Apart from the special single crystal structure which is disadvantageous to extension of creep cracks, Ni-SXs derive the creep strength from intrinsic two-phase microstructure(γ phase and γ' phase). Main microstructural parameters including volume fraction of γ' phase and the lattice misfit, and the formation and distribution of precipitated phase are determined by the compositions of alloys. Besides, the creep properties are greatly influenced by these microstructural parameters and precipitated phase. This review has summarized the relationships between different alloying elements and microstructures and indicated their influence on creep properties of Ni-SXs. In addition, with the improvements of experimental methods and characterization technique, some recent discoveries have provided additional evidence to support or challenge the pervious creep theories of superalloys. In view of these new discoveries, this review has provided some perspectives which can be referenced in future compositional design of Ni-SXs.     

Modeling and Simulation of the Microstructure Evolution during a Cooling of Immiscible Alloys in the Miscibility Gap

The microstructure development during a cooling period of alloys being immiscible in the liquid state such as Al-Pb or Al-Bi has gained renewed scientific and technical interest during the last decades.Experiments have been performed to investigate the phase transformation kinetics in the liquid miscibility gap and numerical models have been developed to simulate and analyze the solidification process.The recently developed computational modeling techniques can,to some extent,be applied to describe the decomposition,the spatial phase separation and the microstructure evolution during a cooling period of an immiscible alloy through the miscibility gap.This article overviews the researches in this field.