Effect of Two Steps Overaging on Mechanical Properties of Tailor Rolled Blank of Dual Phase Steel

Herein, a new kind of overaging strategy: two steps of overaging for tailor rolled blank of dual phase steel (DP-TRB) was investigated. The results indicate that two steps of the overaging process is a useful way to control the mechanical properties of DP-TRB. In the premise of satisfying the requirement for the strength of DP590 grade, the total elongation can be significantly increased (3~7% in most cases). Due to the different degrees of ferrite recrystallization (differences of densities of dislocation) among the thicknesses, the obvious changes of mechanical properties among thicknesses are found. The thicknesses zones of 1.0~1.4 mm show lower strength, while the zones of 1.6~1.8 mm present higher strength. Otherwise, the high density of dislocations in samples of 1.6~1.8 mm provide more locations for Cottrell atmospheres, yield plateau occur easier. The zones with different thicknesses for one DP-TRB show two kinds of yield behaviors (continuous yield and non-continuous yield) simultaneously. The subtle C diffusion control by two step overaging leads to the quite different pinning effect of Cottrell atmospheres. Thus, the pinning effect occurs in a gradual way, and a transition state of yield behavior, which combines the characteristic of smooth curve in continuous yield and the plateau in non-continuous yield, is found.

Atomistic Study of the Role of Defects on α → ϵ Phase Transformations in Iron under Hydrostatic Compression

It has long been known that iron undergoes a phase transformation from body-centered cubic/ α structure to the metastable hexagonal close-packed/ ε phase under high pressure. However, the interplay of line and planar defects in the parent material with the transformation process is still not fully understood. We investigated the role of twins, dislocations, and Cottrell atmospheres in changing the crystalline iron structure during this phase transformation by using Monte Carlo methods and classical molecular dynamics simulations. Our results confirm that embryos of ε -Fe nucleate at twins under hydrostatic compression. The nucleation of the hcp phase is observed for single crystals containing an edge dislocation. We observe that the buckling of the dislocation can help to nucleate the dense phase. The crystal orientations between the initial structure α -Fe and ε -Fe in these simulations are 110 b c c | | 0001 h c p . The presence of Cottrell atmospheres surrounding an edge dislocation in bcc iron retards the development of the hcp phase.

Mg-Zn-Y Alloys with Long-Period Stacking Ordered Phases: Deformation, Creep, Solute Segregation and Strengthening Mechanisms at Elevated Temperatures

Mg-Zn-Y alloys with long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) phases have superior strength at elevated temperatures. We studied plastic deformation and creep behavior of a Mg97Zn1Y2 (at.%) alloy. Deformation kinking of the LPSO phase plays an important role in strengthening the alloy during compression at elevated temperatures. Growth stacking faults with Zn/Y segregation can act as obstacles to non-basal slip and deformation twinning in Mg matrix. The tensile creep strain was only about 0.01% under a tensile stress of 70MPa for 100h at 200 °C, demonstrating excellent creep resistance of this alloy. Generation and motion of basal dislocations led to bending of LPSO phase during tensile creep of the Mg97Zn1Y2 (at.%) alloy. Plastic deformation in Mg grains was mostly achieved through basal slip during creep at temperatures below 200 °C, while non-basal slip through the generation and motion of “a + c” dislocations was activated with increasing the temperature to 200 °C and above. Dissociation of dislocations and Suzuki segregation on basal planes occurred widely in Mg matrix, which hindered dislocation motion and thus played an important role in preventing Mg grains from softening during deformation at elevated temperatures. In addition, Cottrell atmospheres were observed along dislocations in plastically deformed LPSO phase, impeding motion of dislocations. The superior strength and creep resistance of the Mg97Zn1Y2 (at.%) alloy at elevated temperatures are thus associated with the LPSO phase, stacking faults in Mg grains, formation of Cottrell atmospheres in LPSO and occurrence of Suzuki segregation in Mg.