Effect of pressurizing speed on filling behavior of gradual expansion structure in low pressure casting of ZL205A alloy

The mold filling behavior of gradual expansion structure in low pressure casting was studied by two phase flow model using the Volume of Fluid method, and was verified by water simulation with a Plexiglas mold. To get smooth mold filling process and provide a guide for the pressurizing speed design in the producing practice, the mathematical model with the pressurizing speed, expansion angle and height of the gradual expansion structure was established. For validation experiments, ZL205 A alloy castings were produced under two different pressurizing speeds. Weibull probability plots were used to assess the fracture mechanisms under different pressurizing speeds. Mechanical properties of ZL205 A alloy were applied to assess the entrainment of oxide film. The results show that the filling process of a gradual expansion structure in a low pressure casting can be divided into the spreading stage and filling stage by gate velocity. The gate velocity continues to increase in the gradual expansion structure, and increases with the increase of pressurizing speed or expansion angle. Under the effect of the falling fluid raised by the jet flow along the sidewall, the fluid velocity decreases in the jet zone from ingate to free surface. As such, oxide film entrainment does not occur when the gate velocity is greater than the critical velocity, andthe gate velocity no longer reflects the real state of the free surface. The scatter of the mechanical properties is strongly affected by the entrainment of oxide films.

Effect of directional solidification process on microstructure and stress rupture property of a hot corrosion resistant single crystal superalloy

The influences of different directional solidification processes, i.e., the high rate solidification(HRS) and liquid metal cooling(LMC), on microstructure and stress rupture property of DD488 alloy were investigated. The DD488 alloy was directional solidified by both HRS and LMC processes. The microstructure and stress rupture properties at 980 ℃/250 MPa were investigated by using optical microscopy(OM), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), electron microprobe analyzer(EPMA), transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and stress rupture testing. The results indicated that the LMC process refined the primary dendrite arm and decreased the microporosity volume fraction and solidification segregations of Cr and Co in as-cast DD488 alloy. After standard heat treatment of 1,260 ℃/4 h, AC(air cooling) + 1,080 ℃/4 h, AC + 870 ℃/24 h, AC, the γ′ morphology in LMC alloy was more cuboidal than that in HRS alloy, and the γ′ volume fraction of LMC alloy was higher than that of HRS alloy. The stress rupture life at 980 ℃/250 MPa of HRS alloy was 76.8 h, and it increased to 110.0 h in LMC al oy. The LMC process increased the stress rupture life due to the higher γ′ volume fraction, more perfect rafting structure and finer interfacial dislocation networks.

Retrogression characteristics of a novel Al-Cu-Li-X alloy

Retrogression characteristics of a novel Al-Cu-Li-X alloy of 2A97 were studied by hardness testing, transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, and differential scanning calorimetry （DSC）. The retrogression treatments of aging at 155°C for 12 h followed by aging at 220 and 240°C were chosen by determining the peak temperature of δ＇ precipitation at 230°C by DSC. The retrogression treatment at a lower temperature of 220°C causes the precipitation and coarsening of δ＇ and θ＇ phases in the matrix, resulting in an increase in hardness. Retrogression at a higher temperature of 240°C causes the dissolution and coarsening of δ＇ and θ＇ precipitates in the matrix and on the grain boundaries, resulting in a decrease in hardness. Microstructural changes upon retrogression including the appearance of equilibrium precipitates such as T1, T2, δ＇, and θ are confirmed by the selected area electron diffraction and the bright and dark field image analysis.