Research on fractal characteristics of primary phase morphology in semi-solid A356 alloy

Semi-solid slurry of A356 alloy was prepared by low superheat pouring and slightly electromagnetic stirring, and the fractal characteristics of morphology in semi-solid primary phase was researched. The fractal dimensions of primary phase morphology in the semi-solid A356 alloy were calculated by the program written to calculate the fractal dimensions of box-counting in the image of solid phase morphology in semi-solid metal slurry. The results indicated that the morphology of primary phase in semi-solid A356 prepared by low superheat pouring and slightly electromagnetic stirring is characterized by fractal dimension, and the primary phase morphology obtained by the different processing parameters has different fractal dimensions. The morphology of primary phase at the different position of ingot has different fractal dimensions, which reflected the effect of solidified conditions at different positions in the same ingot on the morphology of semi-solid primary phase. Solidification of semi-solid alloy is a course of change in fractal dimension.

Phases of Environmental Evolution Indicated by Primary Chemical Elements and Paleontological Records in the Upper Pleistocene-Holocene Series for the Salawusu River Valley,China

Studies of lithology, sedimentary facies and the distribution regularity of SiO2 and Al2O3 contents and Al2O3/SiO2 ratio allow us to divide the Upper Pleistocene-Holocene Series represented by the MUanggouwan section in China＇s Salawnsu River valley into six segments： MGS1, MGS2, MGS3, MGS4, MGS5 and MGS6. The boundary ages for MGS1 （the Dishaogouwan and Dagouwan Formations）, MGS2 （the upper Chengchuan Formation）, MGS3 （the middle Chengchuan Formation）, MGS4 （the lower Chengchuan Formation）, MGS5 （most strata of the Salawusu Formation） and MGS6 （the bottom of the Salawusu Formation and the top of the Lishi Formation） correspond to those of MIS1, MIS2, MIS3, MIS4, MISS and MIS6, respectively, from deep sea sediments or continental glaciers. MGS5 can be subdivided into five subsegments （MGS5a, MGS5b, MGS5c, MGS5d and MGS5e） and the boundary ages of these subsegments correspond to those of MISSa, MISSb, MIS5c, MIS5d and MIS5e, respectively. Based on the paleoenvironment and paleoecology indicated by the primary chemical elements, fossil vertebrates, mollusks and pollen grains, we hypothesize that MGS1, MGS2, MGS3, MGS4, MGS5 and MGS6 and the subsegments of MGS5 match the corresponding stages for oxygen isotopes in the deep sea sediments and continental glaciers, and the substages of MIS5 in terms of climatic characters, further explaining the phenomena that determined the formation of the late Quaternary strata and the paleontology of the Salawusu River valley. These phenomena relate to fluctuations in the global climate （and particularly in the East Asian monsoon） during the glacial and interglacial periods.

Electromagnetic Filtration of Primary Fe-Rich Phases from Al-Si Alloy Melt

Electromagnetic filtration of primary Fe-rich phases (complex compound of AlFeSiMn) from Al-Si alloy melt containing 1.2 wt pct Fe have been studied by theoretical analysis and on a self-designed electromagnetic filtration equipment. The principle of the electromagnetic filtration is that the EMF (electromagnetic force) scarcely acts on the primary Fe-rich phases having low electric conductivity, which are then moved in the direction opposite to that of the EMF. Experimental results show that the primary Fe-rich phases are separated from Al-Si alloy melt and are collected in the filter while the melt is in horizontal flow. The removal efficiency of the primary iron-phases (77) calculated is less as the greatest flow velocity of the melt (UM) and the height of the filter (2h) are larger, while it becomes larger as EMF, operating distance of electromagnetic force (cr) and particle size (dv) become larger. It has been confirmed that the primary iron-phases larger than 20 jim can be removed efficiently by theoretical analysis and experiments. This new technique is high efficient and available for continuously flowing melts as compared with natural settling and filtration methods, which offer a possibility for recycling high quality aluminum alloys.

Phase Morphology Evolution in AISI301 Austenite Stainless Steel under Different Cooling Rates

Quenching experiments were performed at different cooling rates under non-directional solidification by differential thermal analysis, and the morphologic variation of primary phase, phase transition temperature and hardness change at the same quenching temperature were investigated. The experimental results show that, with the gradual decrease of the cooling rate from 25 K/min, the morphology of ferrite starts to transform experiencing the dendrite, radial pattern, Widmanstatten-like and wire-net. Sample starts to present the Widmanstatten-like microstructure at 10 K/min which does not exist at higher or lower cooling rates, and this microstructure is detrimental to the mechanical property. Except 10 K/min, the hardness decreases with decreasing cooling rate.

Discussion of RE Inclusions as Heterogeneous Nuclei of Primary Austenite in Hardfacing Metals of Medium-High Carbon Steels

As the substrate for nucleation of primary austenite in hardfacing metals, the effectiveness of RE inclusions and the most common inclusions such as Al2O3, SiO2 and MnO in hardfacing metals of medium-high carbon steels was analyzed and calculated in detail. The calculation based on the theory of planar lattice misfit shows that Ce2O3, La2O3 and Ce2O2S, instead of SiO2, Al2O3, MnO and CeS, are effective as the heterogeneous nuclei of primary austenite in medium-high carbon steels.

Influence of Si content and heat treatment on microstructure of Al-Fe-Si alloys

The effect of Si addition and heat treatment on the Al-5wt.%Fe alloy has been investigated by OM, SEM-EDS and XRD. The results show that the Si plays a significant role in refining the primary Al3 Fe phase. It was found that the addition of 3.0wt.% Si made the alloy present the finest and well-distributed primary Al3 Fe phase, but the Al3 Fe phase almost disappeared when 5wt.% Si was added. With further increase in the Si content, some Fe-rich phases appeared in the inter-grains and coarsened. In addition, the heat treatments exert a significant impact on the microstructural evolution of the Al-5wt.%Fe-5wt.%Si alloy. After heat treatment for 28 hours at 590 oC, the coarse platelet or blocky Fe-rich phase in Al-5wt.%Fe-5wt.%Si alloys was granulated; the phase transformation from metastable platelet Al3 FeSi and blocky Al8Fe2 Si to stable Al5 FeSi had occurred. With the extension of heat treatment, the Si phase coarsened gradually.

Modification of primary α-Al, eutectic silicon and β-Al_5FeSi phases in as-cast AlSi10Cu3 alloys with(La+Yb) addition

The study systematically investigated the effects of master alloy addition containing rare earth elements La and Yb on the microstructures characteristic and tensile properties of A1Sil0Cu3 alloy. It was studied by means of optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy diffraction spectnam and differential thermal analyzer. The results showed that the ad-dition of （La＋Yb） obviously reduced the sizes of the primary a-Al phase and eutectic Si particles as well as 13-A15FeSi phase and im- proved the morphology of the primary a-A1 phase and eutectic Si particles. The optimum addition of（La＋Yb） addition was 0.6 wt.%. Comparing the 0.6 wt.% （La＋Yb） modified A1Sil0Cu3 alloy with the unmodified alloy, it was found that the mean diameter, mean area and SADS of primary a-A1 phase were decreased by 50.80%, 75.74% and 50.83% respectively; the aspect ratio, size （length） and mean area of eutectic Si particles were decreased by 66.30%, 81.78% and 78.99%, respectively, and the average size of the β-AlsFeSi phase was 16.4 pro. In addition, the addition of （La＋Yb） greatly improved the tensile properties ofA1Si 10Cu3 alloy, especially in the ultimate tensile strength and elongation as a result of the significant improvement in microstructure.

Phase equilibria in low basicity region of CaO-SiO2-Nb2O5-（5 wt%,10 wt%,15 wt%） La2O3 system

The lack of thermodynamic information,such as primary phase fields and liquidus temperatures,in the CaO-SiO2-Nb2O5-La2O3 quaternary system phase diagram has restricted the comprehensive utilization of the niobium(Nb) and rare earth(RE) resources.In this work,the phase equilibria in low basicity region(w(CaO)/w(SiO2)<1) of CaO-SiO2-Nb2O5-(0-15 wt%)La2O3 system at 1373-1873 K were experimentally studied by thermodynamic equilibrium experiment,and then,the results were analyzed by X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),and energy dispersive spectrometry(EDS).Additionally,an optimized method was proposed to process the compositions of equilibrium liquid phases at different temperatures.According to the experimental results,the univariate line between CaNb2O6,SiO2 and LaNbO4 primary phase fields,interface between CaNb2O6 and SiO2 primary phase fields and isothermal liquidus surfaces in SiO2 primary phase field were determined.Finally,the spatial phase diagram of CaO-SiO2-Nb2O5-La2O3 within specific region was constructed,and furthermore,the phase diagram was also presented in CaO-SiO2-Nb2O5 pseudo-ternary system with w(La2O3)=5 wt%,10 wt% and 15 wt%.The research results have guiding significance for the improvement of related phase diagram and the comprehensive utilization of Nb and RE resources.

Effect of Squeeze Casting on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Hypereutectic Al-xSi Alloys

The effect of squeeze casting on microstructure and mechanical properties of hypereutectic Al-xS i alloys（x = 15, 17.5, 22 wt%） was investigated in this study. Results show that microstructure of the hypereutectic Al-x Si alloys was obviously improved by squeeze casting. The amount of coarse primary Si phase decreased, while that of fine primary α-Al dendrites increased with the increase of squeeze casting pressure. Due to the decrease of coarse primary Si particles, cracking of the matrix was reduced, whilst the fine microstructure, and mechanical properties of the squeeze casting alloys were improved. Compared with gravity casting alloys, mechanical properties of the hypereutectic Al-xS i alloys solidified at 600 MPa were improved significantly. Hardness of the squeeze casting hypereutectic Al-（15, 17.5, 22 wt%） Si alloys was improved by 15.91%, 12.23%, 17.48%, ultimate tensile strength was improved by 37.85%, 32.27%, 22.74%,and elongation was improved by 55.83%, 167.86%, 126.76%, respectively. Due to the uniform distribution of Si phases in squeeze casting Al-x Si alloys, their wear resistance was markedly enhanced.

Toward an understanding of dwell fatigue damage mechanism of bimodal Ti-6Al-4V alloys

Dwell fatigue effect is a long-standing problem threatening the long-term service reliability for fan blades and fan disks of an aircraft engine.To understand the basic mechanism of dwell fatigue damage,pure fatigue and 60 s dwell fatigue properties of bimodal Ti-6Al-4V alloys with different volume fractions of the primaryα(α_(p))phase were examined comparatively.The results showed that both pure fatigue and dwell fatigue life decreased with increasing the volume fraction of theα_(p)phase and the dwell fatigue life was lower than the pure fatigue one.The quasi-in-situ test results and the quantitative characterization of damage behaviors of the local microstructure units defined by theα_(p)-secondaryα(α_(s))combination reveal that theα_(s)phase close to theα_(p)phase with extensively slip activities was gradually damaged under dwell fatigue loading,while that under pure fatigue loading was undamaged,demonstrating that the dwell loading induced the damage of theα_(s)phase,and further reduced the fatigue life.A stress relaxation-based model is proposed to describe the physical mechanism on dwell fatigue damage of the bimodal Ti-6Al-4V alloy,i.e.the elastic deformation of theα_(s)phase caused by the strain incompatibility would be gradually transformed into plastic deformation during the dwell stage,and thus promotes fatigue damage.The model provides new insights into the microscopic process of stress/strain transfer between the soft and hard microstructure units under dwell fatigue loading.

Effect of WC/W_2C on the microstructure and abrasion resistance of high-boron hardfacing alloys

High boron hardfacing alloys reinforced with primary M2B phases on Q235 steel plates were prepared by the method of flux-cored wire submerged arc welding. The microstructure and boride morphology were investigated using optical microscopy （OM）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The effect of WC/W2C on the microstructure was discussed. It indicated that the volume fraction of primary M2B phases has increased due to good nucleated cores of incompletely molten W2C particles provided by casting tungsten carbide or decarburizing reaction of WC powders. Abrasion resistance was evaluated by wet sand rubber wear tests and the wear mechanism was studied using SEM. It shows that primary M2B grains play a key role in improving abrasion resistance.