Synergetic deformation mechanisms in an Mg-Zn-Y-Zr alloy with intragranular LPSO structures

Deformation kink is one of the important strengthening mechanisms of the long-period-stacking-ordered(LPSO)phase containing magnesium(Mg)alloys,while the deformation twin is generally suppressed.To optimize the mechanical properties of LPSO containing Mg alloy by simultaneously exciting kink and twin,we successfully prepared the Mg-Zn-Y-Zr alloy featuring intragranular LPSO phase and free grain boundary LPSO phase by homogenization.We unraveled the corresponding strengthening and toughening mechanisms through transmission electron microscopy characterization and theoretical analysis.The high strength and good plasticity of the homogenized alloy benefit from the synergistic deformation mechanism of multiple kinking and twining in the grains.And the activation of kinking and twinning depends on the thicknesses of LPSO lamellae and their relative spacing.These results may shed light on optimizing the design of Mg alloys regulating the microstructure of LPSO phases.

The role of melt cooling rate on the interface between 18R and Mg matrix in Mg_(97)Zn_(1)Y_(2) alloys

The role of melt cooling rate on the interface morphology and dislocation configuration between 18R long-period stacking ordered(LPSO)structure and Mg matrix in Mg_(97)Zn_(1)Y_(2)(at.%)alloys was investigated by atomic-scale HAADF-STEM imaging.The 18R/Mg interface is step-like both in the near-equilibrium alloy and non-equilibrium alloy.Lower cooling rate makes the step size more regular and larger.Only 54R structure can be observed at the interface in the near-equilibrium alloy,and the dislocations are highly ordered.54R and 54R′structure sandwiched by b1 and b2+b3 dislocation arrays,and new dislocation configuration can be detected at the interface in the non-equilibrium alloy,but the dislocations are less ordered.18R/Mg interface containing 54R or 54R′in equilibrium width,parallel to the(010)plane,should be most stable based on elastic calculation.The segregation of solute atoms and its strong interaction with dislocations dominate the LPSO/Mg interface via diffusion-displacive transformation.

Formation of β' phase in LPSO structures in an Mg88Co5Y7 alloy

Formation of β’ phase in long-period stacking ordered(LPSO) structures in an Mg;Co;Y;(at.%) alloy after aging at 200 °C for 24 h or electron beam(EB) irradiation has been studied by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy(HAADFSTEM). β’ phase was precipitated only in the Mg matrix but not in LPSO structures after aging at 200 °C for 24 h. LPSO structure containing stacking defects transforms into the β’-long phase during EB irradiation, which plays a key role in accelerating solute atoms’ diffusion. New complex β’(LPSO) structures formed in the alloy after EB irradiation, such as β’(12 H) structure with an orthorhombic lattice(Mg;Y, Cmcm,a = 2 _(a0)= 0.642 nm, b=4√3_(a0), c = 6 _(c0)= 3.12 nm).

A review——Pitting corrosion initiation investigated by TEM

Passive metals have superior resistance to general corrosion but are susceptible to pitting attack in certain aggressive media, leading to material failure with pronounced adverse economic and safety consequences. Over the past decades, the mechanism of pitting corrosion has attracted corrosion community striving to study. However, the mechanism at the pitting initiation stage is still controversy, due to the difficulty encountered in obtaining precise experimental information with enough spatial resolution.Tracking the accurate sites where initial dissolution occurs as well as the propagation of the dissolution by means of multi-scale characterization is key to deciphering the link between microstructure and corrosion at the atomic scale and clarifying the pitting initiation mechanism. Here, we review our recent progresses in this issue by summarizing the results in three representative materials of 316F, and Super 304H stainless steel as well as 2024-Al alloy, using in situ ex-environmental TEM technique.

Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of Mg-9.8Gd-2.7Y-0.4Zr alloy produced by repetitive upsetting

A newly developed severe plastic deformation （SPD） technique, i.e. repetitive upsetting （RU）, is employed to improve the strength and ductility of a Mg-Gd-Y-Zr alloy. During the RU processing, dynamic recrystallization occurs in the Mg alloy, which leads to a significant grain refinement from 11.2 p.m to 2.8 μm. The yield strength （YS）, ultimate tensile strength （UTS） and elongation increase simultaneously with increasing RU passes. The microstructural evolution is affected by processing temperatures. Dynamic recrystallization prevails at low temperatures, while dynamic recovery is the main effect factor at high temperatures. Texture characteristics gradually become random during multiple passes of RU processing, which reduces the tension-compression asymmetry of the Mg-Gd-Y-Zr alloy. 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science ＆ Technology.

Structure evolution of the Fe_(3)C/Fe interface mediated by cementite decomposition in cold-deformed pearlitic steel wires

Cold-drawn pearlitic steel wire is irreplaceably used in industry owing to its outstanding mechanical property which is dominated by the cementite/ferrite(Fe_(3)C/Fe) interfaces in the material. However, the fine structures of the Fe3C/Fe interfaces in the deformed wires are less known to date. In this work, transmission electron microscopic investigation was performed on the atomic structures of the interfaces with the Isaichev orientation relationship(OR) in the wires with progressive deformation strains. In addition to the effect of the dislocation/interface interactions, this work revealed that the deformation-induced partial decomposition of cementite plays an important role in the interface reconstruction during deformation. The interfacial carbon vacancies generated by cementite decomposition and particularly, the amorphization of cementite layers in the sample with ε > 1 could effectively annihilated the interfacial dislocations and consequently relaxed the interfacial stress. The correlations between the interface structure changes and the mechanical properties of the wires were discussed.

Achieving high hetero-deformation induced(HDI)strengthening and hardening in brass by dual heterostructures

Heterostructured materials,defined as materials that contain multiple zones with dramatically different flow stresses,have the potential to push the envelope of the strength-ductility of metals and alloys beyond what can be obtained conventionally[1–3].A prominent example is the heterogeneous lamella Ti that is as strong as its ultrafine-grained Ti,while as ductile as the coarsegrained Ti[4].