Enhancing plastic deformability of Mg and its alloys—A review of traditional and nascent developments

Mg and its alloys have continued to attract interest for several structural and super-sensitive applications because of their light weight and good combination of engineering properties.However for some of these applications,high plastic deformability is required to achieve desired component shapes and configurations;unfortunately,Mg and its alloys have low formability.Scientifically,the plastic behaviour of Mg and its alloys ranks among the most complex and difficult to reconcile in metallic material systems.But basically,the HCP crystal structure coupled with low stacking fault energies(SFE)are largely linked to the poor ductility exhibited by Mg alloys.These innate material characteristics have regrettably limited wide spread applicability of Mg and its alloys.Several research efforts aimed at exploring processing strategies to make these alloys more amenable for high formability–mediated engineering use have been reported and still ongoing.This paper reviews the structural metallurgy of Mg alloys and its influence on mechanical behaviour,specifically,plasticity characteristics.It also concisely presents various processing routes(Alloying,Traditional Forming and Severe Plastic Deformation(SPD))which have been explored to enhance plastic deformability in Mg and its alloys.Grain refinement and homogenising of phases,reducing CRSS between slip modes,twinning suppression to activate non-basal slip,and weakening and randomisation of the basal texture were observed as the formability enhancing strategies explored in the reviewed processes.While identifying the limitations of these strategies,further areas to be explored for enhancing plasticity of Mg alloys are highlighted.

Experimental Studies of Self Healing Behaviour of Under-Aged Al-Mg-Si Alloys and 60Sn-40Pb Alloy Reinforced Aluminium Metal-Metal Composites

Experimental studies to demonstrate self healing potentials of Al-Mg-Si alloy were undertaken in this research work. Self healing exploring secondary precipitation in the Al-Mg-Si alloy and use of low melting metallic alloy reinforcement (60Sn-40Pb alloy) were used as basis for the investigation. For the precipitation study, the Al-Mg-Si alloy was under-aged at temperature of 160oC for 10 minutes and then subjected to second step ageing treatment at four different temperatures within the range of 25oC and 70oC. In the 60Sn-40Pb alloy reinforced Al-Mg-Si alloy study, the samples were prepared in pre-cracked state and then subjected to healing heat-treatment at 250oC. For all cases tensile test and healing efficiency was used to analyze the results generated. It was observed that a second step thermal ageing at 50oC resulted in peak improvement in tensile strength, yield strength, toughness and percent elongation while ageing above this temperature lead to a drop in the tensile properties in comparison to that of the sample not subjected to a second ageing treatment. Also the use of 60Sn-40Pb alloy as reinforcement in the Al-Mg-Si alloy resulted in a healing efficiency of 91% after pre-cracking and heat-treatment. The satisfactory bonding between the 60Sn-40Pb alloy and the Al-Mg-Si alloy matrix contributed to the high healing efficiency observed.

Design and Performance Evaluation of a Sustained Load Dual Grip Creep Testing Machine

The design and performance evaluation of a sustained load creep testing machine was undertaken in this research. The design was motivated by the need to make locally available, a cost effective, technically efficient, and easily operated creep testing facility;for creep behaviour studies of materials. Design drawings and purchase of materials and components for the design were undertaken after thorough evaluation of the following design and materials selection criteria: design principle and theory, local availability of raw materials and components required for the design, material properties, cost of materials and design, ease of utilization and maintenance, and basis of testing and data capture. The machine casing and frame, heating chamber (consisting of the furnace and a dual specimen mounting stage), load lever and hanger system, and the electro-technical components;were fabricated and coupled following the produced design specifications. The machine was tested and its performance was assessed using its heating efficiency, repeatability and reproducibity of experimental test results, maintainability and cost-effectiveness as criteria. It was observed from repeat tests that the machine has the capacity of generating reliable data for computing creep strain-time results. The efficiency and temperature regulating capacity of the heating unit of the machine were also observed to be very satisfactory. The cost of the design was about 112,000 Naira ($700.00) which is cheaper in comparison to similar commercial creep testing machines from abroad. The machine was also found not to pose maintenance or repairs challenges.

Corrosion Characteristics of As-Cast Aluminium Bronze Alloy in Selected Aggressive Media

This research work investigated the corrosion characteristics of aluminium bronze alloy in four selected aggressive media which are H2SO4, HCl, NaOH, and NaCl. Aluminium bronze alloy was produced locally via sand casting method. Copper coils and aluminium materials which constitute waste to the environment were used in producing the alloy. Test specimens were produced from the as cast alloy and immersed in H2SO4, HCl, NaOH, and NaCl environment. The concentrations of the environment were varied as 0.1 M, 0.3 M and 0.5 M. The aluminium bronze produced from sand casting has mechanical properties that are closer to the standards proposed by CDA [1]. The corrosion rate was determined by weight loss method at an interval of 3 days. It was observed that the corrosion behaviour exhibited by aluminium bronze in acidic media followed similar trends in 0.1 M, 0.3 M and 0.5 M respectively. However, the corrosion rates increases with increase in the concentration of H2SO4 and NaCl media, but the attack was more aggressive in HCl medium. The aluminium bronze samples in NaOH and H2SO4 media show gradual decolouration from its as-cast yellow golden colour to brown and dark colour respectively. NaCl environment shows high resistance to corrosion and slight decolouration effect even at increased concentration.