Microstructure and properties of A2017 alloy strips processed by a novel process by combining semisolid rolling,deep rolling,and heat treatment

A novel short process for producing A2017 alloy strips with notable features of near net shape, saving energy, low cost, and high product performance was developed by combining semisolid rolling, deep rolling, and heat treatment. The microstructure and properties of the A2017 alloy strips were investigated by metallographic microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, tensile testing, and hardness measurement. The cross-sectional microstructure of the A2017 alloy strips is mainly composed of near-spherical primary grains. Many eutectic phases CuA12 formed along primary grain boundaries during semisolid rolling are crushed and broken into small particles. After solution treatment at 495℃ for 2 h the eutectic phases at grain boundaries have almost dissolved into the matrix. When the solution treatment time exceeds 2 h, grain coarsening happens. More and more grain interior phases precipitate with the aging time prolonging to 8 h. The precipitated particles are very small and distribute homogenously, and the tensile strength reaches its peak value. When the aging time is prolonged to 12 h, there is no obvious variation in the amount of precipitated phases, but the size and spacing of precipitated phases increase. The tensile strength of the A2017 alloy strips produced by the present method can reach 362.78 MPa, which is higher than that of the strips in the national standard of China.

Semisolid die forging process,microstructures and properties of AZ31 magnesium alloy mobile telephone shells

A semisolid slurry of AZ31 magnesium alloy was prepared by vibrating wavelike sloping plate process,and the semisolid die forging process,microstructures,and properties of the magnesium alloy mobile telephone shell were investigated.The semisolid forging process was performed on a YA32-315 four-column universal hydraulic press.The microstructures were observed by optical microscopy,the hardness was analyzed with a model 450SVD Vickers hardometer,the mechanical properties was measured with a CMT5105 tensile test machine,and the fractograph of elongated specimens was observed by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）.The results reveal that with the increase of die forging force,the microstructures of the product become fine and dense.A lower preheating temperature and a longer dwell time are favorable to the formation of fine and dense microstructures.The optimum process conditions of preparing mobile telephone shells with excellent surface quality and microstructures are a die forging force of 2000 kN,a die preheating temperature of 250℃,and a dwell time of 240 s.After solution treatment at 430℃ and aging at 220℃ for 8 h,the Vickers hardness is 61.7 and the ultimate tensile strength of the product is 193MPa.Tensile fractographs show the mixing mechanisms of quasi-cleavage fracture and ductile fracture.

Effects of Process Parameters of Semisolid Stirring on Microstructure of Mg–3Sn–1Mn–3SiC(wt%) Strip Processed by Rheo-rolling

A novel semisolid stirring and rheo-rolling process for preparing Mg-3Sn-1Mn-3SiC （wt%） composite strips was proposed, and the effects of process parameters of semisolid stirring on microstructures of Mg-3Sn-1Mn-3SiC （wt%） composite strips were investigated. The average grain size and roundness decrease, and the distribution of SiC becomes more homogeneous with the decrease in stirring temperature and the increase in the stirring speed. When the stirring time is increased, the distribution of SiC particles tends to be homogeneous, and the average grain diameter and roundness of α- Mg grain decrease. Under the following process parameters： the stirring temperature at 640 ℃, the stirring speed at 1100 rpm, the stirring time at 30 min and the roll speed at 0.2 m/s, Mg-3Sn-1Mn-3SiC （wt%） strip with a cross-sectional size of 4 mm × 160 mm was prepared. The ultimate tensile strength and elongation of Mg-3Sn-1Mn-3SiC （wt%） composite strip reached 226 ± 6 MPa and （7.4 ± 0.2）%, which are obviously improved in comparison with Mg-3Sn-1Mn （wt%）.