Serrated yielding in Cu-1 wt-%Cd alloy

Abstract

The influence of grain size and temperature on the serration patterns of the Portevin-Le Chatelier (PLC) effect and on the yield and flow stresses in a Cu-1 wt-%Cd alloy was investigated in the temperature range 150 to 360 ° C. Two kinds of serration patterns were observed in this alloy. Type I occurred at lower temperatures and its yield points are moderately spaced. Type II consists of regular jerky flow observed athigher temperatures. The Hall-Petch equation is obeyed over the temperature range in which jerky flow occurs. The Hall-Petch parameter k (?) is observed to show a local maximum in the temperature range where serrated flow is first observed. The PLC effect is associated with the solute- dislocation interactions, implying that k (?) contains a component associated with grain size dependent dislocation storage.     

Flow transitions in vacuum arc remelting

Abstract

The metallurgical structure of an ingot produced by vacuum arc remelting (VAR) depends critically on the temperature distribution within the liquid portion of the partially solidified ingot. This, in turn, depends on the fluid motion in the pool, since the dominant mechanism for transporting heat is convection. There are three primary sources of motion: buoyancy; Lorentz forces arising from the passage of current through the pool; and Lorentz forces arising from the presence of external inductors. These forces are constantly in competition with each other, and each tends to induce a quite different distribution of velocity and temperature. We examine the transition between these different flow regimes and derive dimensionless criteria which determine which regime is dominant. We show that the structure of an ingot produced by VAR depends critically on the temperature distribution within the liquid portion of the partially solidified ingot. This, in turn, depends on the fluid motion in the pool, since the dominant mechanism for transporting heat is convection. There are three primary sources of motion: buoyancy; Lorentz forces arising from the passage of current through the pool; and Lorentz forces arising from the presence of external inductors. These forces are constantly in competition with each other, and each tends to induce a quite different distribution of velocity and temperature. We examine the transition between these different flow regimes and derive dimensionless criteria which determine which regime is dominant. We show that modest changes in ingot current can produce radical changes in temperature distribution, and that weak, steady magnetic fields, of only ～1 Gs, can induce a powerful swirling motion which suppresses the normal flow.     

Magnesium matrix nanocomposites fabricated by ultrasonic assisted casting

Abstract

Magnesium matrix composites reinforced with nano-sized SiC particles (n-SiC_p/AZ91D) were fabricated by high intensity ultrasonic assisted casting. The microstructure of the nanocomposites was investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electronic microscopy (HRTEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) methods. The results showed that the dispersion and distribution of n-SiC_p in magnesium alloy melts were significantly improved by ultrasonic processing. Compared to the unreinforced AZ91D matrix, mechanical properties of the nanocomposites including tensile and yield strengths were remarkably improved and the yield strength increased by 117% after gravity permanent mould casting.     

Effect of chloride ions on passivity of Mg based materials

Abstract

The effect of chloride ions on passivation of pure Mg, Mg–0·6 vol.-%Mo composite, Mg–0·6 vol.-%Cu composite and Mg alloy AZ91D has been studied in 0·1M NaOH solution by cyclic polarisation and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). An addition of even 0·05M of chloride ions was sufficient to cause breakdown of passivity. Cyclic polarisation curves revealed a positive hysteresis loop in the presence of chloride ions. Breakdown potentials decreased continuously, for all materials, with increasing addition of chloride. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies revealed that the film resistance of all Mg based materials continuously decreased with the addition of chloride ions. The film resistance of Mg–0·6%Cu and Mg–0·6%Mo composites was lower than that of pure Mg and AZ91D. Mg–0·6%Mo composite showed the lowest film resistance in all the solutions. The increase in film capacitance, for pure Mg and Mg based composites, with the addition of chloride ions, was attributed to surface roughening. Mo reinforcements were more detrimental than copper reinforcements.     

Influence of Heat Treatment on Damping Behaviour of the Magnesium Wrought Alloy AZ61

The effect of isochronal heat treatments for 1h on variation of damping, hardness and microstructural change of the magnesium wrought alloy AZ61 was investigated. Damping and hardness behaviour could be attributed to the evolution of precipitation process. The influence of precipitation on damping behaviour was explained in the framework of the dislocation string model of Granato and Lücke.     

Method for welding highly crack susceptible magnesium alloy ZK60

Abstract

The highly crack susceptible magnesium alloy ZK60 plates of 2 mm thickness were successfully welded by laser beam welding (LBW) with filler strip, which has the advantages of low heat input and capability of adjusting the compositions of weld metal to a less susceptible level. The effects of the compositions of filler strips on the microstructures and mechanical properties of the joints were investigated. Compared with autogenous LBW, LBW with filler strip can produce a narrower joint and avoid the cracks and pits, which severely worsen mechanical properties of the joints. When the filler strip of ZK40 alloy is employed, the grains in fusion zone can be refined, and a high quality joint, with the ultimate tensile strength of 322 MPa up to 90·7% of the base metal, is obtained.     

Influence of thermomechanical processing on superplastic forming of Mg–Al alloys

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to study the influence of the initial microstructure of several Mg–Al alloys on their superplastic formability and on their post-forming microstructure and mechanical properties. Various thermomechanical processing routes, such as annealing, conventional rolling, severe rolling and cross rolling, were used in order to fabricate AZ31 and AZ61 alloys with different grain sizes. These materials were then blow formed into a hat shaped die. It was found that the processing route has only a small effect in the formability of Mg–Al alloys or on the post-forming microstructures and properties due to rapid dynamic grain growth taking place at the forming temperatures. Nevertheless, good formability is achieved as a result of the simultaneous operation of grain boundary sliding and crystallographic slip during forming.     

Microstructural evolution of AS21X HPDC alloy during thermal treatment

Abstract

The microstructure of a High Pressure Die Cast Magnesium (HPDC) AS21X alloy was investigated after various heat treatments. The material, supplied in the as cast state, consisted of Mg-α grains separated by intermetallic particles such as Mg₁₇Al₁₂, Mg₂Si and Al–Mn. The alloy was subjected to solution treatment at 415° C for times ranging from 0.5 to 48 h and to aging to assess grain growth stability and precipitation hardening. Light microscopy showed that Mg-α grains increase slightly in size whereas intermetallic particles do not disappear but assume a more rounded shape. Static precipitation and/or dissolution were followed by electrical conductivity, hardness measurements and X-ray diffractometry. Tensile properties at room temperature were evaluated on both the as cast and solution treated samples. Density was used as an indicator of porosity to explain the scatter in elongation to fracture data. Study of the fracture surfaces revealed the morphology of porosity and the otherwise ductile fracture failure mechanism.     

Sliding behaviour of nanophased AISI M2 tool steel obtained by mechanomaking and hot isostatic pressing

Abstract

The friction and wear behaviour of a nanophased AISI grade M2 tool steel was studied under dry sliding conditions and compared with that of a conventional AISI M2 steel. The nanocrystalline steel was produced by mechanosynthesis followed by cold and hot isostatic pressing. Slider-on-cylinder tests were performed against a ceramic coated countermaterial under loads of 10, 20, and 30 N and sliding speeds of 0.3 and 1.2 m s^-1 up to 10 km sliding distance. The nanocrystalline material underwent mild wear with low coefficient of friction under all testing conditions. The commercial M2 steel displayed distance dependent transitions from a regime of mild wear with low coefficient of friction, to a regime of severe wear with high coefficient of friction. The first tribological regime was due to the formation of a layer of iron oxides on the worn surfaces. In this regime, the wear resistance of both steels is mainly dominated by the mechanical properties of the carbides which have high load carrying capability. The second tribological regime, observed in the commercial steel, was due to the formation of cracks both on the mechanically mixed layer and at a depth beneath this layer, which also led to the detachment of carbides from the matrix. This abrasive ‘third body’ produced high wear damage of the commercial steel under high applied loads.