Strengthening and Improving Yield Asymmetry of Magnesium Alloys by Second Phase Particle Refinement Under the Guidance of Integrated Computational Materials Engineering

Author(s):  
Dongsheng Li ◽  
Curt Lavender

Improving yield strength and asymmetry is critical to expand applications of magnesium alloys in industry for higher fuel efficiency and lower CO2 production. Grain refinement is an efficient method for strengthening low symmetry magnesium alloys, achievable by precipitate refinement. This study provides guidance on how precipitate engineering will improve mechanical properties through grain refinement. Precipitate refinement for improving yield strengths and asymmetry is simulated quantitatively by coupling a stochastic second phase grain refinement model and a modified polycrystalline crystal viscoplasticity φ-model. Using the stochastic second phase grain refinement model, grain size is quantitatively determined from the precipitate size and volume fraction. Yield strengths, yield asymmetry, and deformation behavior are calculated from the modified φ-model. If the precipitate shape and size remain constant, grain size decreases with increasing precipitate volume fraction. If the precipitate volume fraction is kept constant, grain size decreases with decreasing precipitate size during precipitate refinement. Yield strengths increase and asymmetry approves to one with decreasing grain size, contributed by increasing precipitate volume fraction or decreasing precipitate size.

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (2) ◽  
pp. 205
Author(s):  
Zaiwang Liu ◽  
Yonglin Kang ◽  
Yiding Li

The relationship between fish-scaling resistance of ultra-low carbon (ULC) enamel steel and continuous annealing soaking temperature was rarely studied before. In this paper, the influence of continuous annealing soaking temperature on microstructure, precipitation behavior and fish-scaling resistance of ULC steel for porcelain enameling was investigated. The results obtained were as follows: for ULC enamel steel, with the continuous annealing soaking temperature increasing from 750 °C to 840 °C, the mean diameter of second phase particle increased from 41 nm to 52 nm, the corresponding volume fraction decreased from 5.8 × 10−3 m3/m3 to 2.9 × 10−3 m3/m3, and the ferrite grain size grew from 13.4 µm up to 17.3 µm, the hydrogen permeation value (TH value) decreased from 32 min/mm2 to 12 min/mm2. The grain boundary and precipitates are main hydrogen traps, as the ferrite grain size increased and the volume fraction of second phase particles decreased, the fish-scaling resistance of ULC enamel steel decreased.


2012 ◽  
Vol 510 ◽  
pp. 772-775
Author(s):  
Zong Lei Gu ◽  
Yu Liang Yin

Based on cellular automata, a model of simulating grain growth was established and the key technologies of simulation was studied which including second phase particle of single size, multi-size distribution and different shapes generation technologies. The simulation result can accurately reflect the influence law of the second phase particle grain growth and its pinning mechanism. Grain boundaries can therefore more easily break free from the particles than in purely two-dimensional systems, resulting in fewer grain boundaryparticle intersections and a larger final grain size. For a given volume fraction f and size of the particles r, the final grain size increases with film thickness. Moreover, it was found that particles located in the middle of the film are most efficient in pinning grain boundaries. The simulation results are compared with Zener type relations and previous simulation results.


Author(s):  
Alexis Deschamps

This article provides a guideline for selection of analytical methodologies for aluminum precipitates. These methodologies include: crystallographic structure, precipitate size, volume fraction, atom probe tomography, compositional chemistry, precipitation sequence, second phase particle characterization, and geometrical information analysis.


Author(s):  
B. B. Rath ◽  
J. E. O'Neal ◽  
R. J. Lederich

Addition of small amounts of erbium has a profound effect on recrystallization and grain growth in titanium. Erbium, because of its negligible solubility in titanium, precipitates in the titanium matrix as a finely dispersed second phase. The presence of this phase, depending on its average size, distribution, and volume fraction in titanium, strongly inhibits the migration of grain boundaries during recrystallization and grain growth, and thus produces ultimate grains of sub-micrometer dimensions. A systematic investigation has been conducted to study the isothermal grain growth in electrolytically pure titanium and titanium-erbium alloys (Er concentration ranging from 0-0.3 at.%) over the temperature range of 450 to 850°C by electron microscopy.


Materials ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuhao Song ◽  
Mingtao Wang ◽  
Yaping Zong ◽  
Ri He ◽  
Jianfeng Jin

Based on the principle of grain refinement caused by the second-phase particles, a phase field model was built to describe the recrystallization process in the ZK60 alloy system with Y added under applied stress between temperatures 573 and 673 K for 140 min duration. The simulation of grain growth with second phase particles and applied stress during annealing process on industrial scale on the condition of real time-space was achieved. Quantitative analysis was carried out and some useful laws were revealed in ZK60 alloy system. The second phase particles had a promoting effect on the grain refinement, however the effect weakened significantly when the content exceeded 1.5%. Our simulation results reveal the existence of a critical range of second phase particle size of 0.3–0.4 μm, within which a microstructure of fine grains can be obtained. Applied stress increased the grain coarsening rate significantly when the stress was more than 135 MPa. The critical size of the second phase particles was 0.4–0.75 μm when the applied stress was 135 MPa. Finally, a microstructure with a grain size of 11.8–13.8 μm on average could be obtained when the second phase particles had a content of 1.5% and a size of 0.4–0.75 μm with an applied stress less than 135 Mpa after 30 min annealing at 573 K.


2012 ◽  
Vol 191 ◽  
pp. 145-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michał Stopyra ◽  
Robert Jarosz ◽  
Andrzej Kiełbus

The paper presents analysis of section thickness’ influence on microstructure of Elektron 21 and QE22 magnesium alloys in the form of a stepped casting test. Solid solution grain size and volume fraction of eutectic areas were measured using light microscope and sterological methods. The results showed the significant increase of grain size caused by wall thickness and its slight decrease connected with the distance beetwen analysed section and the gating system. This relationship was confirmed using statistical methods. QE22 alloy demonstrated finer grain structure than Elektron 21 alloy as well as lesser susceptibility of grain size to solidification conditions


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdallah Elsayed

For the A1-5Ti-1B grain refiner, the addition of 0.1 wt.% provided a 68 % reduction in grain size as compared to the unrefined AZ91E alloy at a holding time of five minutes. Grain growth restriction by TiB₂ particles was the source of grain refinement. With the addition of A1-5Ti-1B, only a small reduction in hot tearing susceptibility ws observed because large TiA1₃ particles bonded poorly with the eutectic and blocked feeding channels.The addition of 1.0 wt.% A1-1Ti-3B provided a grain size reduction of 63% as compared to the unrefined AZ91E alloy at a holding time of five minutes. The grain refinement with A1-1Ti-3B addition was attributed to a combination of TiB₂ grain growth restriction and A1B₂ nucleating sites. A significant reduction in hot tearing susceptibility was observed with A1-1Ti-3B addition as a result of a higher cooling rate and shorter local soldification time as compared to the AZ91E alloy. The reduction in hot tearing susceptibility was attributed to the good interface between eutectic and TiB₂ particles. Both grain refiners demonstrated a good resistance to fading during the holding times investigated. In addition, the AZ91E + A1-5Ti-1B and AZ91E + A1-1Ti-3B castings showed much fewer dislocation networks as compared to the untreated AZ91E casting.The development of efficient A1-Ti-B refiners can also improve castability of magnesium alloys. In addition, the fade resistant A1-Ti-B grain refiners can reduce operating costs and maintain productivity on the foundry floor. Thus, magnesium alloy with A1-Ti-B treatment have the potential for more demanding structural applications in the automobile and aerospace industries. Vehicle weight in the aerospace and automotive industries directly impacts carbon emissions and fuel efficiency. An increase in the use of lightweight materials for structural applications will result in lighter vehicles. Low density materials, such as magnesium (1.74 g/cm³) are a potential alternative to aluminium (2.70 g/cm³), to reduce component weight in structural applications.However, current magnesium alloys still do not have adequate mechanical properties and castability to meet the performance specifications of the automotive and aerospace industries. Grain refinement can significantly improve mechanical properties and reduce hot tearing during permanent mould casting. Recently, Al-Ti-B based grain refiners have shown potential in grain refining magnesium-aluminum alloys such as AZ91E. This study investigates the grain refining efficiency and fading of A1-5Ti-1B and A1-1Ti-3B in AZ91E magnesium alloy and their subsequent effect on hot tearing.The grain refiners were added at 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 wt.% levels. For the grain refinement and fading experiments, the castings were prepared using graphite moulds with holding times of 5, 10 and 20 minutes. For the hot tearing experiments, castings were produced representing the optimal addition level of each grain refiner. The castings were prepared using a permanent mould with pouring and mould temperatures of 720 and 180 ºC, respectively. The castings were characterized using SEM, TEM, optical microscopy and thermal analysis.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1004-1005 ◽  
pp. 123-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Yin ◽  
Xiu Jun Ma ◽  
Jun Ping Yao ◽  
Zhi Jian Zhou

Effect of pulsed magnetic field treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg97Y2Zn1 alloy has been investigated. When the pulsed magnetic field is applied on the alloy in semi-solid state, the α-Mg was modified from developed dendrite to fine rosette, resulting in a refined solidification microstructure with the grain size decreased from 4 mm to 0.5 mm. The volume fraction of the second phase ( X phase) increased by about 10 %. The yield strength, fracture strength and plasticity were improved by 21 MPa, 38 MPa and 2.4 %, respectively. The improvement of mechanical properties was attributed to the refined grain size and increased volume fraction of X phase.


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2454
Author(s):  
Damin Lu ◽  
Shuai Wang ◽  
Yongting Lan ◽  
Keshi Zhang ◽  
Wujun Li ◽  
...  

To reveal the relationship between grain size and twinning deformation of magnesium alloys under cyclic strain, this study carried out a group of strain-controlled low-cycle fatigue experiments and statistical analysis of microstructures. Experimental results show that the shape of the hysteresis loop exhibits significant asymmetry at different strain amplitudes, and the accumulation of residual twins plays an important role in subsequent cyclic deformation. For the different strain amplitudes, the statistical distribution of the grain size of magnesium alloy approximately follows the Weibull probability function distribution, while the statistical distribution of twin thickness is closer to that of Gaussian probability function. The twin nucleation number (TNN) increases with the increase of grain size, but there is no obvious function relationship between twin thickness and grain size. Twin volume fraction (TVF) increases with the increase of grain size, which is mainly due to the increase of TNN. This work can provide experimental evidence for a more accurate description of the twinning deformation mechanism.


2007 ◽  
Vol 558-559 ◽  
pp. 557-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Behrang Poorganji ◽  
Takuto Yamaguchi ◽  
Tadashi Maki ◽  
G. Miyamoto ◽  
Tadashi Furuhara

Microstructure change during warm deformation of tempered lath martensite in Fe-2mass%Mn-C alloys with different carbon contents in the range between 0.1 and 0.8mass%C was investigated. Specimens of the alloys after being quenched and tempered at 923K for 0.3ks were compressed by 50% with a strain rate varying from 10-3 to 10-4s-1 at 923K. EBSD analysis of the deformed microstructures has revealed that fine equiaxed ferrite (α) grains surrounded by high-angle boundaries are formed by dynamic recrystallization (DRX). As carbon content increases, the DRX α grain size decreases. This could be attributed to the change in volume fraction of the cementite (θ) phase as boundary dragging particles. The sub-micron θ particles can suppress the coarsening of the DRX α grains by exerting a pinning effect on grain boundary migration. Furthermore, the fraction of recrystallized region increases by increasing carbon content, presumably due to a decrease in the martensite block width as an initial α grain size and a larger volume fraction of hard second phase (θ) particles. Both of these should increase inhomogeneous plastic deformation which promotes the recrystallization. It seems that continuous DRX is responsible for the formation of ultrafine α grains in the tempered lath martensite.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document