High strain rate superplasticity in microcrystalline and nanocrystalline materials

Abstract

Superplasticity has evolved to become a significant industrial forming process. The phenomenon of superplasticity is explored at high strain rates where it is economically more attractive. True tensile superplasticity has been demonstrated in nanocrystalline materials. The difference in the details of superplasticity between the nanocrystalline and microcrystalline state is emphasised.     

High strain rate superplasticity of TiNP/2014Al composite

Superplasticity of the TiN_p/2014AI composite prepared by powder metallurgy method was investigated by tensile tests conducted at different temperatures (773, 798, 818 and 838 K) with different strain rates range from 1·7×10° to 1·7×10^?3s^?1. Results show that a maximum elongation of 351% is achieved at 818 K and 3·3·10^?1s^?1. At different deformation temperatures, the curves of m value can be divided into two stages with the variation of strain rate and the critical strain rate is 10^?1 s^?1. Superplastic deformation activation energy in the TiN_p/2014AI composite is 417 kJ mol^?1, which is related to liquid phase formation at triple points of grain boundaries and interfaces between the matrix and the reinforcement. Superplastic deformation mechanism of the TiN_p/2014AI composite is grain boundary sliding accommodate mechanism when the strain rate is lower than 10^?1 s^?1, and transfers to grain boundary sliding accommodation mechanism plus liquid phase helper accommodation mechanism when the strain rate is higher than 10^?1 s^?1     

Achieving high strain rate superplasticity via severe plastic deformation processing

In this study, a thermomechanical process consisting of general precipitation and severe plastic deformation through equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) was applied to a Zn-22 wt.% Al alloy to produce a microduplex structure for high strain rate (HSR) superplasticity studies. Microstructures, hardness, and superplastic properties of the Zn–Al alloy were studied by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), recordable hydraulic press, and a tensile test with a hot stage. A work-softening phenomenon due to the occurrence of a grain boundary-sensitive dynamic recrystallization (DRX) was observed during the ECAE processing of the Zn–Al alloy at the extrusion temperatures investigated from −10 °C to 50 °C. An important discovery regarding the grain boundary-sensitive DRV was realized in this study such that through a progressive work-softening process the Zn–Al alloy will eventually exhibit HSR superplastic properties.     

A comparison of constant strain rate and creep testing procedures in superplasticity

Tests were conducted on the Zn-22 wt% Al eutectoid alloy to compare experimental conditions of true constant strain rate and true constant stress when there is relatively minor grain growth. The stress-strain curves show the presence of significant strain hardening which precedes steady-state flow. In the steady-state condition, similar stresses are obtained when the strain rate is incrementally cycled on a single specimen. There is an extensive primary stage of creep in both Regions I and II, although in Region II the time involved is often very short. It is re-affirmed that, in the absence of significant grain growth, steady-state flow data may be obtained using either constant strain rate or creep testing procedures.     

铸锭铝合金Al-Cu-Mg-Ti高应变速率超塑性

采用常规熔铸、热处理、小挤压比挤压及轧制这一低成本并适合于工业化规模应用的路线,研制了一种具有高应变速率超塑性的铸锭铝合金Al-Cu-Mg-Ti.拉伸试验结果表明在温度为793K、初始应变速率为3.16×10-1s-1的拉伸变形条件下,其超塑伸长率为218%,流变应力为32.5MPa.断面及表面形貌SEM分析和初熔行为的DSC分析表明,该合金高应变速率超塑性变形来自于晶界滑动和位错滑移,与液相没有关系.     

High strain rate superplasticity of hot extruded and hot rolled AA 6013/20 vol.-%SiCp composite

Abstract

High strain rate superplasticity(HSRS)of an AA 6013/20SiC_pcomposite, produced by powder metallurgy and then hot extruded or hotrolled, was evaluated by means of tensile tests carried out over a range of initial strain rates from 1 × 102 to 3.8 × 10^-1 s^-1 and temperatures from 520 to 590 ° C. A maximum elongation to failure of 370% was achieved in a hot rolled composite deformed at 1 × 10^-1 s^-1 and 560 ° C. Substantially lower elongations were achieved in hot extruded composites, with a maximumof200% at1 × 10^-2 s ^-1 and 580 ° C. The lower elongations in the hot extruded composite could be related to the large quantity of intermetallic compounds, shown by TEM analyses, which probably hinder large superplastic elongations. In both hot extruded and hot rolled composite, the flow stress was strongly dependenton temperature and strain rate; a steady state flow stress region was observed in the specimen that exhibited the maximum elongation to failure. The strain rate sensitivity index m reached a maximum ofabout 0.4 for the hot rolled composite, and about 0.35 for the hot extruded composite. Analyses of the fracture surfaces of hot rolled composite deformed at the maximum elongation, were characterised by the presence of many filaments or 'whiskers', which are generally considered as evidence of a liquid phase present at grain boundaries or interfaces.     

High strain rate superplasticity in powder metallurgy aluminium alloy 6061 + 20 vol.-%SiCpcomposite with relatively large particle size

Abstract

The possibility of high strain rate superplasticity (HSRS) was examined over a wide range of temperatures in a powder metallurgy aluminium alloy 6061/SiC_p composite with a relatively large SiC particle size of ~8 μm. A maximum tensile elongation of 350% was obtained at 600°C and 10^-2 s^-1. Tensile elongations over 200% were obtained in a narrow temperature range between 590 and 610°C at high strain rates of 10^-2 and 10^-1 s^-1. The current testing temperature range could be divided into two regions depending on the rate-controlling deformation mechanism. Region I is in the lower temperature range from 430 to 490°C, where lattice diffusion controlled dislocation climb creep (n = 5) is the rate-controlling deformation process, and region II is in the higher temperature range from 520 to 610°C, where lattice diffusion controlled grain boundary sliding controls the plastic flow. An abnormally large increase in activation energy was noted at temperatures above 590°C, where large tensile elonga tions over 200% were obtained at high strain rates. This increase in activation energy and high tensile ductility may be explained in terms of presence of a liquid phase created by partial melting, but such evidence could not be provided by the current differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) test. This may be because the DSC is not sensitive enough to detect the small amount of liquid phase.     

High strain rate superplasticity in a nano-structured Al–Mg/SiCP composite severely deformed by equal channel angular extrusion

High strain rate superplastic deformation potential of an Al–4.5%Mg matrix composite reinforced with 10% SiC particles of 3 μm nominal size was investigated. The material was manufactured using powder metallurgical route and mechanical alloying which was then processed by equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE). The composite showed a high resistance to static recrystallization. The manufacturing operations atomized SiC particles to nanoscale particles and the severe plastic deformation process resulted in a dynamically recrystallized microstructure with oxide dispersoids distributed homogeneously throughout the matrix. These particles stabilized the ultra-fine grained microstructure during superplastic (SP) deformation. Testing under optimum conditions at constant strain rates led to tensile elongations >360%, but it could be further increased by control of the strain rate path. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies showed that the low angle boundary sub-grain structure obtained on heating to the SP deformation temperature developed on straining into a microstructure containing high angle boundaries capable of sustaining grain boundary sliding.     

Achieving high strain rate superplasticity in cast 7075Al alloy via friction stir processing

Cast 7075Al alloys under as-cast and homogenized conditions were subjected to single-pass friction stir processing (FSP). FSP converted the coarse as-cast structure to the fine-grained structure with a grain size of 2.5–3.2 μm. A pre-homogenization prior to FSP was beneficial to the generation of a more uniform microstructure in the FSP sample with smaller particles and grains. Both FSP samples exhibited high strain rate superplasticity at 1 × 10⁻² s⁻¹ and 450 °C. Cavitation developed at the particles and the grain triple junctions. The superplasticity of the FSP sample was significantly improved by the pre-homogenization prior to FSP, with a maximum superplasticity of 890% being observed, due to reduced particle size. The analyses of the superplastic data and scanning electronic microscopic (SEM) examinations indicated that grain boundary sliding is the main deformation mechanism for the FSP 7075Al.     

High strain rate testing of plastics

A technique for subjecting thin walled tubular specimens to a controlled, sudden internal pressurization is described. The technique may be used as an impact test or to obtain stress-strain data over a wide range of strain rates. A shock tube is used to generate a shock pulse, which passes through the tubular specimen mounted essentially as a free body, causing it to fracture when the shock pressure is sufficiently large. It is found that the minimum shock pressure required for fracture varies linearly with tube wall thickness for four thermoplastics tested. The mode of fracture of the tubular specimens is also discussed, following studies of the fracture fragment distribution and fracture surfaces of poly(methylmethacrylate).     

High strain rate superplasticity of ultrafined Ti–10V–2Fe–3Al compact prepared by sintering and isothermal forging

Abstract

High strain rate superplasticity was obtained for powder Ti–10V–2Fe–3Al (Ti-1023) alloy prepared by powder sintering and isothermal forging technology. The selected powder was cold isostatic pressed, sintered and isothermal forged to prepare this powder alloy. Tensile testing was conducted at optimum superplastic temperaure of 1023 K with different initial strain rate, and the elongation to failure, the flow stress and the microstructure were analysed. The experiment results exhibited that the microstructure of this powder alloy is extraordinary uniform and fine, resulted in considerable enhancement of optimum initial strain rate increased from 3·3×10^?4 s^?1 of conventional cast and wrought Ti-1023 alloy to 3·3×10^?3 s^?1 of this powder alloy. The elongation to failure increased first and then decreased with initial strain rate from 3·3×10^?4 to 3·3×10^?2 s^?1. The strain rate sensitivity m is about 0·46 near initial strain rate of 3·3×10^?3 s^?1, larger than conventional cast and wrought Ti-1023 alloy. Microstructure observations showed that dynamic recrystallisation and grain growth were present during superplastic deforming.     

High strain rate embossing with copper plate

Embossed parts, that contain a number of features, are desired for a range of components, such as, heat exchangers, bipolar plates, micro-reactors, and micro-fluidics. A comparison of low strain rate embossing and high strain rate embossing was investigated in this study. High strain rate deformation at the embossed surface induced quatitatively different properties than those on a quasi-statically formed part. A commercial hand file was chosen as a simple and available die surface due to its high hardness and relatively fine features. Commercially pure copper (110) was embossed using four methods: quasi-static (static, low strain rate), magnetic pulse (MP, high strain rate), direct vaporizing foil actuator (direct VFA, high strain rate), and urethane-assisted vaporizing foil actuator (urethane VFA, high strain rate). Embossed depth, mechanical properties, and microstructure evolution were studied for both low strain rate embossing and high strain rate embossing. The results showed that generally better conformity to the die features and higher surface hardness were achieved with high strain rate embossing, in part because higher pressures could be developed with these methods. The study of the microstructure revealed that besides the grain size and shape change, significant twinning appeared along the deformed surface in high strain rate embossed parts. Optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed to study the resultant microstructure.     

High strain rate testing of kidney stones

Sections of struvite kidney stones were tested in compression at high strain rates ( approximately 3000s(-1)) using a Kolsky bar and at low strain rates ( < 0.001 s(-1)) using an Instron testing machine. The peak stress in both cases appeared to be similar. At high strain rates the values of flow stress measured were between 40 and 65 MPa and at low strain rates they were between 37 and 58 MPa. However, the morphology of the damage was dramatically different. Stones tested at low strain rates formed a small number of cracks but otherwise remained intact at the end of the test. In comparison, stones tested at high strain rates were reduced to a powder. Kidney stones are a two-phase material consisting of a crystalline ceramic phase and an organic binder. We speculate that in the high strain rate tests the large difference in the sound speed between the matrix and the crystalline grains leads to shear stresses that destroy the stone. These data indicate that shear stress induced by the internal structure may be a mechanism by which shock waves comminute kidney stones in lithotripsy.     

High strain rate compression of epoxy based nanocomposites

This work aimed to investigate the strain-rate effect (0.001–3000 s⁻¹) on compressive properties of the highly cross-linked epoxy and the epoxy sample filled with 10 wt% sol-gel-formed silica nanoparticles. As the strain rate increased, the compressive modulus and transition strength of both samples went up distinctly, the strain at break and ultimate strength decreased more or less, while the strain energy at fracture nearly did not change. Adding the sol-gel-formed silica nanoparticles can improve effectively the compressive modulus, transition strength as well as strain energy at fracture of the epoxy polymer owing to their homogeneous dispersion in epoxy matrix.     

High strain rate fracture and C-chain unraveling in carbon nanotubes

Nanotube behavior at high rate tensile strain (˜ 1 MHz) is studied by molecular dynamics using a realistic many-body interatomic potential. The simulatins performed for single- and double-walled nanotubes of different helicities, and at different temperatures, show that nanotubes have an extremely large breaking strain. It decreases somewhat with increasing temperature and smaller strain rate, while the influence of helicity is very weak. At later stages of fracture, the nanotube fragments are connected by a set of unraveling monoatomic chains. The chains ‘compete’ with each other for carbon atoms popping out of the original tube segments. The interaction between chains eventually leads to a single chain, which grows up to hundreds of atoms in length before its breakage.