Abstract: Steels 9-12% Cr, having the high creep rupture strength are advocated for the modern low polluting thermal power plants. In the present investigation, the P91 pipe weldments have been characterized for microstructural responses in as-welded, post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) and ageing conditions. The PWHT of welded samples were carried out at 760 °C for time of 2 h and ageing at 760 °C for 720 h and 1440 h, respectively. The effect of time has been studied on precipitates size, distribution of precipitates and grain sizes present in various zones of P91 steel weldments. The impact toughness and hardness variation of heat affected zone (HAZ) have also been studied in as-welded condition as well as at different heat treatment condition. A significant change was observed in grain size and precipitates size after each heat treatment condition. The maximum impact toughness of HAZ was obtained after PWHT at 760 °C for 2 h. The main phase observed in weld fusion zone in as-welded, PWHT and ageing conditions were M23C6, MX, M7C3, Fe-rich M3C and M2C. The unwanted Z-phase (NbCrN) was also noticed in weld fusion zone after ageing of 1440 h.

Abstract: The effect of weld groove design and heat treatment on microstructure evolution and Charpy toughness of P91 pipe weldments was studied. The P91 pipe weldments were subjected to subcritical post weld heat treatment (760 °C-2 h) and normalizing/tempering conditions (normalized-1040 °C/40 min, air cooled; tempered 760 °C/2 h, air cooled) were employed. The influence of subsequent PWHT and N&T treatment on the microstructure of various zone of P91 pipe weldments were also investigated. The present investigation also described the effect of PWHT and N&T treatment on hardness, grain size, precipitate size, inter-particle spacing and fraction area of precipitates present in each zone of P91 pipe weldments. The result indicated great impact of heat treatment on the Charpy toughness and microstructure evolution of P91 weldments. The N&T treatment was found to be more effective heat treatment compared to subsequent PWHT. Charpy toughness value was found to be higher for narrow-groove design as compared to conventional V-groove design.

Abstract: In this study, the surface and cross section of an as-received API X70 pipeline steel was studied by SEM and EDS techniques in order to categorize the shape and morphology of inclusions. Then, an electrochemical hydrogen charging using a mixed solution of 0.2 M sulfuric acid and 3 g/l ammonium thiocyanate has been utilized to create hydrogen cracks in X70 steel. After hydrogen charging experiments, the cross section of this steel has been accurately checked by SEM in order to find out hydrogen cracks. The region of hydrogen cracks was investigated by SEM and EBSD techniques to predict the role of different microstructural parameters involving hydrogen induced cracking (HIC) phenomenon. The results showed that inclusions were randomly distributed in the cross section of tested specimens. Moreover, different types of inclusions in as-received X70 steel were found. However, only inclusions which were hard, brittle and incoherent with the metal matrix, such as manganese sulfide and carbonitride precipitates, were recognized to be harmful to HIC phenomenon. Moreover, HIC cracks propagate dominantly in transgraular manner through differently oriented grains with no clear preferential trend. Moreover, a different type of HIC crack with about 15-20 degrees of deviation from the rolling direction was found and studied by EBSD technique and role of micro-texture parameters on HIC was discussed.

Abstract: The sintering reactions and mechanical reliability of Ag sinter paste with three different surface finishes, Cu, Ag, and electroless nickel-immersion gold, were evaluated during the sintering process. We compare the sintering reaction behaviors of the three sintered joints and identify the relationship between the sintering behavior and the sintered Ag/substrate compatibility. Inter-diffusion behaviors result in of good metallurgical bonding during the Ag sintering process in the three sintered joints. The shear strength increases on increasing the bonding pressure, irrespective of the surface finish. The surface finish material of the substrate strongly affects the shear strength of the Ag sintered joints. The Ag finished joint exhibits superior interfacial stability and shear strength compared to the Cu and Au finished joints.

Abstract: A Ni-Cr-Co-Ti-V-Al high-entropy alloy (HEA) coating with a BCC phase and (Ni, Co)Ti2 compounds was synthesized successfully by laser surface alloying on a Ti-6Al-4V substrate. The microstructure of as-synthesized coatings is typical, namely, the microstructure from the coating to the substrate changes from equiaxed grains to columnar grains. After remaining at 900 °C for 8 h, the constituent phases remain unchanged. However, owing to the unceasing dissolution of the Ti element, the lattice parameter of the BCC HEA phase changes from 3.06 A to 3.16 A. The thermoanalysis results show that the oxidation film on the Ni-Cr-Co-Ti-V-Al HEA coating is mainly composed of TiO2, V2O5, and NiO. The oxidation resistance of this HEA coating may be due to the existence of NiO and the alloying elements Al, Cr, and Co; the oxidation phenomenon should be responsible for the mass increase in the thermogravimetry process. The differential scanning calorimetry and the dynamic differential scanning calorimetry curves show that the synthesized HEA coating is stable below 1005 °C.

Abstract: Bearing steel 100CrMnSi6-4 and tool steel C105U were used to carry out this research with the steels being austempered to obtain a martensitic-bainitic structure. During the process quite a large number of acoustic emissions (AE) were observed. These signals were then analysed using neural networks resulting in the identification of three groups of events of: high, medium and low energy and in addition their spectral characteristics were plotted. The results were presented in the form of diagrams of AE incidence as a function of time. It was demonstrated that complex transformations of austenite into martensite and bainite occurred when austempering bearing steel at 160 °C and tool steel at 130 °C respectively. The selected temperatures of isothermal quenching of the tested steels were within the area near to MS temperature, which affected the complex course of phase transition. The high activity of AE is a typical occurrence for martensitic transformation and this is the transformation mechanism that induces the generation of AE signals of higher energy in the first stage of transition. In the second stage of transformation, the initially nucleated martensite accelerates the occurrence of the next bainitic transformation.

Abstract: Dynamic recrystallization behavior of AISI 321 austenitic stainless steel were studied using hot compression tests over the range of temperatures from 900 °C to 1200 °C and strain rates from 0.001 s-1 to 1 s-1. The critical strain and stress for initiation of dynamic recrystallization were determined by plotting strain hardening rate vs. stress curves and a constitutive equation describing the flow stress at strains lower than peak strain. Also, the strain at maximum flow softening was obtained and the effect of deformation conditions (Z parameter) on the critical strain and stress were analyzed. Finally, the volume fraction of dynamic recrystallization was calculated at different deformation conditions using these critical values. Results showed that the model used for predicting the kinetics of dynamic recrystallization has a great consistency with the data, in the form of θ-e curves, directly acquired from experimental flow curves.

Abstract: This study examined the alloying effect of Cu content on the localized corrosion properties of Al alloy in synthetic acid rain containing 200 ppm of Cl- ion. In aluminum alloy tubes, a small amount of Cu is contained as the additive to improve the mechanical strength or as the impurity. The Cu-containing intermetallic compound, Al2Cu can cause galvanic corrosion because it has more noble potential than Al matrix. Therefore aluminum tube could be penetrated by localized corrosion attack. The results were obtained from electrochemical test, scanning electron microscopy, and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) mapping. Severe localized corrosion was occurred on the Al-0.03 wt% Cu alloy. The negative effect of Cu on the pitting corrosion was attributed to the presence of the Al2Cu precipitates.

Abstract: This study examined the effects of substrate preheating for the hardfacing of cold-press dies using the high-speed tool steel AISI M4. The preheating of the substrate is a widely used technique for reducing the degree of thermal deformation and preventing crack formation. We investigated the changes in the metallurgical and mechanical properties of the high-speed tool steel M4 deposited on an AISI D2 substrate with changes in the substrate preheating temperature. Five preheating temperatures (100-500 °C; interval of 100 °C) were selected, and the changes in the temperature of the substrate during deposition were observed. As the preheating temperature of the substrate was increased, the temperature gradient between the melting layer and the substrate decreased; this prevented the formation of internal cracks, owing to thermal stress relief. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy showed that a dendritic structure was formed at the interface between the deposited layer and the substrate while a cellular microstructure was formed in the deposited layer. As the preheating temperature was increased, the sizes of the cells and precipitated carbides also increased. Furthermore, the hardness increased slightly while the strength and toughness decreased. Moreover, the tensile and impact properties deteriorated rapidly at excessively high preheating temperatures (greater than 500 °C). The results of this study can be used as preheating criteria for achieving the desired mechanical properties during the hardfacing of dies and molds.

Abstract: The electrochemical comparison between Sb2S3 and its composite with carbon (Sb2S3/C) involved by sodium ion carrier are explained by enhanced kinetics, particularly with respect to improved interfacial conductivity by surface modulation by carbon. Sb2S3 and Sb2S3/C are synthesized by a high energy mechanical milling process. The successful synthesis of these materials is confirmed with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). As an anode material for sodium ion batteries, Sb2S3 exhibits an initial sodiation/desodiation capacity of 1,021/523 mAh g-1 whereas the Sb2S3/C composite exhibits a higher reversible capacity (642 mAh g-1). Furthermore, the cycle performance and rate capability of the Sb2S3/C composite are estimated to be much better than those of Sb and Sb2S3. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis shows that the Sb2S3/C composite exhibited charge transfer resistance and surface film resistance much lower than Sb2S3. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses of both electrodes demonstrate that NaF layer on Sb2S3/C composite electrode leads to the better electrochemical performances. In order to clarify the electrochemical reaction mechanism, ex-situ XRD based on differential capacity plots and ex-situ HR-TEM analyses of the Sb2S3/C composite electrode are carried out and its reaction mechanism was established.

Abstract: The aging precipitation behavior in Mn18Cr18N austenitic stainless steel was investigated at temperatures from 600 °C to 900 °C. During isothermal aging treatment, the primary precipitate was Cr2N with a = 0.478 nm and c = 0.444 nm, and it preferentially nucleates along initial grain boundaries and gradually grows towards the interior of grains in discontinuous cellular way. Meanwhile, a small amount of granular face-centred cubic M23C6 with a = 1.066 nm also were observed, which mainly form along grain boundaries. The effect of these precipitates on mechanical properties of the alloy was studied. It was found that precipitates result in degeneration of the matrix hardness. Meanwhile, the SEM morphologies of aged tensile sample show that the brittle fracture predominates during deformation, i.e. the fracture mode transforms from intergranular fracture to transgranular fracture with the increasing of aging time. Compared with the solution-treated sample, the strength of the aged tensile samples slightly decreases and plasticity remarkably deteriorates.

Abstract: The four hydrogen storage systems including pure MgH2, MgH2-5 wt%NiCl2, MgH2-10 wt%NiCl2 and MgH2-10 wt%NiCl2-10 wt%graphene were prepared by ball-milling in this work. Using experimental X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry testing methods in combination with first-principle calculations, the dehydrogenation properties and mechanisms of NiCl2 single-doped and NiCl2-graphene co-doped MgH2 composites were systematically investigated. Experimental results show that the NiCl2 single-doping is conductive to decreasing the size of MgH2 grains and particles. The co-doping of NiCl2 and graphene not only reduces the size of MgH2 grains and particles, but also contributes to the uniformity of MgH2 particles. As compared with milled pure MgH2, the dehydrogenation peak temperatures are decreased by 24 °C and 47 °C for the 10 wt%NiCl2 single-doped and 10 wt%NiCl2-10 wt%graphene co-doped MgH2 systems, respectively. It is demonstrated that the co-doping of NiCl2 and graphene exhibits the synergistic effects of confinement and catalysis on improving the dehydrogenation properties of MgH2. The first-principle calculations indicate that the co-doping of NiCl2 and graphene leads to the distortion of MgH2 atomic-configuration and results in the charge transfer between the dopants and MgH2, which induce the weakened structural stability and decreased dehydrogenation enthalpy of MgH2.

Abstract: According to Lifshitz, Slyozov, and Wagner (LSW) and Trans-Interface Diffusion-Controlled (TICD) theoretical models, this paper reports the microstructure and its coarsening behavior of γ′ metastable-coherent precipitates in concentration gradient of Ni-13.75Ti (at%)/Ni generated by diffusion couple. The coarsening of precipitates was evaluated in two different Ti contents (R1-11.4Ti (at%) and R2-13Ti (at%)) generated along the concentration gradient and includes average size, size distributions and growth rate. The solvus and metastable-coherent bimodal lines as determined at 850 °C of 9.16 (at%) and 9.92Ti (at%) respectively by scanning electron microscopy. This paper suggests that elastic strains produced by the matrix/precipitate lattice mismatch caused significant deviations between the experimental results and those predicted by the LSW or TIDC theories. Activation energies for TIDC (Q i ) and LSW (Q r ) are Q r : 219.69 and 172.61 kJ mol-1 for R1 and R2 regions, respectively, and Q i : 218.46 and 164.56 kJmol-1 for R1 and R2 regions, respectively. A concentration gradient allows the study of various alloys with different concentration and volume-fraction in a single sample.

Abstract: Cu-Ag composite is one of the best conductors for high-field magnets. Increasing its strength is crucial for designing newer high-field magnets. Cu-28 wt%Ag samples were solidified with and without a 12-T high magnetic field (HMF), and then cold-drawn. We investigated the influence of HMF on microstructure, hardness and strength of Cu-Ag samples both before and after cold-drawing. The introduction of external HMF during solidification increased both the dendrite arm spacing and the dissolved Ag in Cu, and it reduced the spacing between both the Ag precipitates in proeutectic Cu and the eutectic lamellae. The transversal microstructure after cold-drawing inherited the network solidification structure, but at a refined scale. The Cu dendrite spacing in the 12-T HMF samples at all deformation strain was larger than that without HMF. HMF slightly increased the intensity of fiber texture of Cu, which strengthened proeutectic Cu at the level of 3.5 deformation strain. In samples deformed to strain of 3.5, refined Ag precipitation spacing, increased Ag solubility in Cu matrix, and refined eutectic lamellar spacing by 12-T HMF increased the strength by 5% in the sample compared with that without HMF.

Abstract: In this work, we report on the large-scale room-temperature synthesis of Co superstructures using a facile liquid phase reduction method in an aqueous medium. This method yielded pure Co powders within a short period of time without the use of any surfactants. The morphological changes in the Co superstructures could be controlled simply by varying the amounts of reducing agent (hydrazine hydrate). The morphology of the Co powders systematically controlled from aggregated foliage to isolated microfoliage by increasing the hydrazine hydrate addition from 4 ml to 8 ml. The morphology-dependent electromagnetic properties, including the electric permittivity, and magnetic permeability, were investigated over the microwave frequency range, 2-18 GHz. Co isolated microfoliage showed a maximum reflection loss (RL) of -32 dB at 9 GHz with a matching thickness of 2.5 mm, whereas the aggregated foliage Co superstructures displayed a maximum RL of -17 dB at 11 GHz with a matching thickness of 2.5 mm. The stronger absorption for isolated microfoliage was ascribed to a continuous micro networks and vibrating microcurrent dissipation arise from size and shape of the isolated microfoliage. The calculated RL suggested that the as-prepared samples were potential microwave absorption candidates in the X-band region.

Abstract: The compression deformation of 30Cr2Ni4MoV steel at different temperatures and strain rates is carried out on Gleeble 1500 thermal mechanical simulation tester. Based on the experimental flow curves, the strain hardening rate curves (θ = dσ/de versus σ) are derived, from which the characteristic stresses and strains are identified. Meanwhile, the dependences of the characteristic stresses and strains on Zener-Hollomon parameter are determined and the results show that the value of the critical stress of dynamic recrystallization is close to the value of the steady stress. With the aid of the experimental flow curves, the Avrami equation is employed to describe the kinetics of dynamic recrystallization. The time exponent (n) is expressed as a power law function of Zener-Hollomon parameter and the Avrami constant (k) is determined as a function of half of the time for the complete dynamic recrystallization (t 50). Furthermore, a constitutive model is presented based on the rule of mixtures when the dynamic recrystallization occurs. Validation of the constitutive model is implemented and the simulated results agree well with the experimental results.

Abstract: Pristine and Nb2O5 nanoparticles-decorated CuO nanorods were prepared successfully by a two step process: the thermal evaporation of a Cu foil and the spin coating of NbCl5 solution on CuO nanorods followed by thermal annealing. X-ray diffraction was performed to examine the structure and purity of the synthesized nanoatuctures. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the morphology and shape of the nanostuctures. The Nb2O5 nanoparticles-decorated CuO nanorod sensor showed responses of ~217.05-862.54%, response times of ~161-199 s and recovery times of ~163-171 s toward H2 gas with concentrations in a range of 0.5 - 5% at the optimal working temperature of 300 °C. The Nb2O5 nanoparticle-decorated CuO nanorod sensor showed superior sensing performance to the pristine CuO nanorod sensor for the same H2 concentration range. The underlying mechanism for the enhanced hydrogen sensing performance of the CuO nanorods decorated with Nb2O5 nanoparticles is discussed.

Abstract: The microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of Zr-Co-Al alloys, with compositions of (Zr50Co50)x (Zr56Co26Al18)1-x (x = 1/6, 2/6, 3/6, 4/6, 5/6, 1) and Zr54Co35Al11, (referred to as Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, and Z4.5), were investigated. Alloys Z1-Z3 consisted of crystalline phases, while alloys Z4 and Z4.5 consisted of crystalline phase particles (~3 vol% and ~35 vol%, respectively) embedded within the glassy matrix. Alloys Z5 and Z6 consisted of a monolithic glass phase. The crystalline phase of alloys Z1-Z4.5 consisted of primary B2-ZrCo dendrite and an interdendritic B2-ZrCo/Zr6CoAl2 eutectic phase. The B2-ZrCo dendritic phase exhibited a high work-hardening rate, which originated from the deformation-induced B2-to-B33 martensitic transformation. However, when the brittle interdendritic B2-ZrCo/Zr6CoAl2 eutectic phase fraction increased, the work-hardening rate significantly decreased. The ductility of the glass-matrix composites was significantly impaired by the presence of the interdendritic eutectic phase in the crystalline phase. The results indicate that the design of the crystalline particle microstructure is important with regard to enhancing the plasticity of glass-matrix composites.

Abstract: Hybrid aluminum matrix composites containing particles of boron carbide and quasicrystals were manufactured to explore the combined effect of reinforcements on microstructural evolution and mechanical performance of the composites. The particles were incorporated at a loading of 6 wt% each making a total of 12 wt% reinforcement in pure aluminum. For comparison, two composites containing individually reinforced 12 wt% particles were also prepared along with a reference specimen of pure aluminum. Ball milling technique was employed to mix the composite constituents. The green bodies of composite powders were prepared by uniaxial pressing at room temperature followed by consolidation by pressureless sintering under inert atmosphere. The microstructural characterization was performed using scanning electron microscopy while phase identification was carried out by X-ray diffraction. The mechanical characterization was performed by Vickers hardness and compression tests. Hybrid composites showed increased compressive properties while the composites containing solely quasicrystals demonstrated improved hardness. The increase in mechanical performance was related to the microstructural evolution due to the presence and uniform dispersion of binary particles.

Abstract: We underscore here a novel approach to extend the boundaries of mechanical properties of Ti-Nb low-carbon steel via combination of ultrafast cooling and deformation during austenite-to-ferrite transformation. The proposed approach yields a refined microstructure and high density nano-sized precipitates, with consequent increase in strength. Steels subjected to ultra-fast cooling during austenite-to-ferrite transformation led to 145 MPa increase in yield strength, while the small deformation after ultra-fast cooling process led to increase in strength of 275 MPa. The ultra-fast cooling refined the ferrite and pearlite constituents and enabled uniform dispersion, while the deformation after ultra-fast cooling promoted precipitation and broke the lamellar pearlite to spherical cementite and long thin strips of FexC. The contribution of nano-sized precipitates to yield strength was estimated to be ~247.9 MPa and ~358.3 MPa for ultrafast cooling and deformation plus ultrafast cooling processes. The nano precipitates carbides were identified to be (Ti, Nb)C and had a NaCl-type crystal structure, and obeyed the Baker-Nutting orientation relationship with the ferrite matrix.

Abstract: A Ni based single crystal superalloy from the 2nd generation, PWA 1484, and one from the 4th generation, PWA 1497, were comparatively studied by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and nanoindentation technique in an atomic force microscope (NI-AFM) after high temperature creep deformation. During primary creep of both generations of superalloys, γ′ precipitates start to coalesce and grow directionally. Further creep deformation leads to the topological inversion and coarsening of the rafted microstructure. The NI-AFM technique was used for measurements of the hardness of the γ and γ′ phases in as-received and creep deformed samples in various conditions. The g matrix of the PWA 1497 superalloy is on average 0.8 GPa harder than that of PWA 1484 that can be explained by higher content of Re and Ru, since they partition predominantly to the matrix phase.

Abstract: Simulated heat-affected zone continuous cooling transformation diagram was developed for advanced fireresistant steel. Over a wide range of cooling rates, corresponding to t8/5 from 6 s to 150 s, granular bainite was the dominant transformation constituent, while the morphology of less dominant martensite-austenite (M-A) constituent changed from film-like to block-type constituent; but the hardness remained similar to the average value of 190-205 HV (0.2). The start and finish transformation temperature was high at 700 °C and 500 °C, and is different from the conventional high strength low alloy steels. It is believed that the high-content (0.09 wt%) of Nb may promote bainite transformation at relatively high temperatures. Martenistic matrix was not observed at high cooling rate and the film-like M-A constituent and blocky M-A constituent with thin film of retained austenite and lath martensite were observed on slow cooling. Excellent impact toughness was obtained in the heat-affected zone with 15-75 kJ/cm welding heat input.

Abstract: In this work, the heavy deformation was performed on Ti6Al4V alloy by using surface mechanical grinding treatment (SMGT) in order to obtain surface nanocrystalline layer. The phase structure and microstructures in the deformation zones were characterized by XRD, SEM and TEM. The nanocrystallization mechanisms of α and α phase were clarified. The results show that a gradient structure including nano grain, quasi nanograin and micro-grains was achieved within the depth of 500 μm below the surface. The depth of nanocrystallines layer was at least 20 μm. From the non deformation zone in the center to the heavy deformation zone close to treated surface, dislocation densities gradually increased. The original coarse grains gradually evolved into dislocation cell structures and subgrains through dislocation movement. In the depth of about 20 μm below the treated surface, the subgrains began to split into nano-scale grains with high angle grain boundaries by lattice rotation and tilting mechanisms. During SMGT, β phase deformed and refined prior to α phase, and inhibited the generation of twinning in α grain. The coordinated deformation between a and β phase promoted the formation of nanocrystallines.

Abstract: This study investigated the feasibility of a direct energy deposition process for fabrication of oxide dispersion strengthened steel cladding. The effect of the laser working power and scan speed on the microstructural stability of oxide nanoparticles in the deposition layer was examined. Y-Ti-O type oxide nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 45 nm were successfully dispersed by the laser deposition process. The laser working power significantly affected nanoparticle size and number density. A high laser power with a low scan speed seriously induced particle coarsening and agglomeration. Compared with bulk oxide dispersion strengthened steel, the hardness of the laser deposition layer was much lower because of a relatively coarse particle and grain size. Formation mechanism of nanoparticles during laser deposition was discussed.

Abstract: In instrumented indentation testing (IIT), residual stress can be evaluated by shift in indentation load-depth curves for stress-free and stressed states. Although the average surface residual stress is able to be evaluated with Vickers indenter, in order to know stress directionality, another indentation tests with two-fold symmetric indenter, for example, Knoop indenter, are needed. As some necessities for evaluating nonequibiaxial residual stress within small indent area, we suggest a novel way to evaluate directionality of residual stress, p, using wedge indenter characterized by two parameters, edge length and inclined angle. We develop wedge-indentation-mechanics model based on predetermined conversion factors which are determined by IITs for various uniaxial stressed states combining with finite element analysis simulations. By utilizing the developed model, directionality of residual stress is evaluated through two serial wedge IITs with respect to principal directions. We find good agreements between applied residual stress and residual stress evaluated by the developed model for biaxial tensile stress states.

Abstract: The aim of this investigation was to determine a procedure based on tensile testing to assess the critical range of austempering times for having the best ausferrite produced through austempering. The austempered ductile iron (ADI) 1050 was quenched at different times during austempering and the quenched samples were tested in tension. The dislocation-density-related constitutive equation proposed by Estrin for materials having high density of geometrical obstacles to dislocation motion, was used to model the flow curves of the tensile tested samples. On the basis of strain hardening theory, the equation parameters were related to the microstructure of the quenched samples and were used to assess the ADI microstructure evolution during austempering. The microstructure evolution was also analysed through conventional optical microscopy, electron back-scattered diffraction technique and transmission electron microscopy. The microstructure observations resulted to be consistent with the assessment based on tensile testing, so the dislocation-density-related constitutive equation was found to be a powerful tool to characterise the evolution of the solid state transformations of austempering.

Abstract: The effects of stabilization annealing and cooling rate on high cycle fatigue (HCF) and fatigue crack propagation (FCP) behaviors of β-processed Ti64 alloys were examined. After β-process heating above β transus, two different cooling rates of air cooling (β-annealing) and water quenching (β-quenching) were utilized. Selected specimens were then underwent stabilization annealing. The tensile tests, HCF and FCP tests on conducted on the β-processed Ti64 specimens with and without stabilization annealing. No notable microstructural and mechanical changes with stabilization annealing was observed for the β-annealed Ti64 alloys. However, significant effect of stabilization annealing was found on the FCP behavior of β-quenched Ti64 alloys, which appeared to be related to the built-up of residual stress after quenching. The mechanical behavior of β-processed Ti64 alloys with and with stabilization annealing was discussed based on the micrographic examination, including crack growth path and crack nucleation site, and fractographic analysis.

Abstract: In this work, tension and compression deformation behaviors of rolled and aged Mg-Y-Nd alloys were investigated. The microstructure evolution and plastic deformation mechanism during tension and compression were analyzed by combined use of electron backscatter diffraction and a visco-plastic self-consistent crystal plasticity model. The results show that both rolled and aged Mg-Y-Nd sheets show an extremely low yield asymmetry. Elimination of yield asymmetry can be ascribed to the tilted basal texture and suppression of {10-12} twinning. The rolled sheet has almost no yield asymmetry, however exhibits a remarkable strain-hardening behavior asymmetry. Compressed sample shows lower initial strain hardening rate and keeps higher strain hardening rate at the later stage compared with tension. The strain-hardening asymmetry can be aggravated by aging at 280 C. It is considered the limited amount of twins in compression plays the critical role in the strain hardening asymmetry. Finally, the relevant mechanism was analyzed and discussed.

Abstract: We investigated the effects of Fe content on microstructure and properties in as-cast and as-drawn Cu-(5.1-x) vol%Ag-x vol%Fe alloys. In microscale, increasing Fe content first refined and then coarsened Cu dendrites. In nanoscale, the size and length of Ag precipitates in Fe-doped alloys were smaller than the size and length of Ag precipitates in Fe-free alloy, and the γ-Fe precipitates in Cu-2.9 vol%Ag-2.4 vol%Fe alloy were finer than the γ-Fe precipitates in Cu-5.1 vol%Fe alloy. The maximum hardness in as-cast Cu-Ag-Fe alloys was found in the Cu-2.9 vol%Ag-2.4 vol%Fe alloy. With increasing drawing strain, both ultimate tensile strength and hardness of Cu-Ag-Fe composites were increased. Simulation data among the relative volume fractions of Fe, hardness and electrical conductivity showed that, as the relative value approached 40%, the Cu-Ag-Fe composite displayed greater hardness than other samples. As a small amount of Ag was replaced by Fe, the electrical conductivity decreased significantly with a descending slope of approximately 3%IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard) per vol% Fe. As 47 vol%Ag was replaced by Fe, however, the electrical conductivity decreased by 51% and remained almost invariable with further increasing Fe content. After annealing at 450 °C for 4 h, the electrical conductivity of the Cu-2.9 vol%Ag-2.4 vol%Fe composite was elevated up to 68.3%IACS from 38.5%IACS.