Solidification Microstructures of a Single-crystal Superalloy under Ultra-high Temperature Gradient Conditions

The solidification microstructures and solute segregation of a newly developed hot corrosion resistant single-crystal Ni-base superalloy were investigated with a zone-melting and ultra-high thermal gradient unidirectional solidification apparatus.Compared with the microstructures solidified at conventional low thermal gradient conditions,the dendrite arm spacings,the interdendritic microporosity and γ/γ' eutectic,and the severity of solute segregation of the single-crystal superalloy solidified at ultra-high thermal gradient conditions were considerably reduced.It was shown that the microstructure solidified under ultra-high thermal gradient condition is ideal for the full exploitation of the excellent property potentials of single-crystal superalloys.

Microstructure Evolution during Solidification of AZ91D Magnesium Alloy in Semisolid

The liquid quenching method was adopted to study the solidification morphology and microstructure of AZglD Mg alloy in semisolid. The results indicate that cooling rate has important effects upon the solidification structures. Under the cooling rate of liquid quenching, primary α-phase grows first by attaching on the original α grains, or independent nucleation and growth. The high cooling rate makes primary α-phase grow in ＂rags＂ or dendrite shape. Eutectic solidification is carried out in terms of both dissociated growth and symbiotic growth. The dissociated growth forms rough and large β-phase at grain boundaries, while symbiotic growth forms eutectic of laminar structure. The small liquid pool inside the original α-phase solidifies basically in the same way as that of intergranular liquid, but owing to less amount of liquid phase, the eutectic solidification is mainly carried out in the dissociated pattern.

Effect of Ta addition on solidification microstructure and element segregation of IN617B nickel-base superalloy

IN617B nickel-base superalloy is considered as a good candidate material in 700℃advanced ultrasupercritical coal-fired power plants.The effect of Ta addition on solidification microstructure and element segregation of IN617B alloy was investigated by OM,SEM,TEM,EDS,EPMA and thermodynamic calculation.The results showed that the solidification microstructure exhibited a dendritic segregation pattern with many primary carbides distributed in interdendritic regions,such as network M_(6)C,lath M_(23)C_(6) and granular Ti(C,N).The addition of Ta promoted the precipitation of Ta-rich MC significantly inhibiting the precipitation of M_(6)C and M_(23)C_(6),and reduced the segregation degree of Al,Mo and Ti alloying elements.The addition of Ta decreased the melting temperature of MC carbide,but did not impact the solidification path,that was,L→γmatrix→MC or Ti(C,N)→M_(6)C→M_(23)C_(6),where MC and Ti(C,N)tended to form symbiotic microstructure with M_(6)C.This study will provide theoretical basis and data support for the alloy optimization and casting structure control of IN617B nickel-based superalloy.

Simulation on microstructure evolution of Al-Si alloy under effect of natural convection during solidification

The solidification microstructure of Al-Si alloy was observed in the experiment,the second dendrite arm spacing(SDAS)was measured,and the effect of temperature on the microstructure was analyzed.Phase-field(PF)model incorporating natural convection caused by gravity was employed to simulate the microstructure evolution of Al-Si alloy under the experimental conditions.Good agreements between the experimental and simulation results verified the reliability of the simulation approach proposed in this study.Based on the proposed model,a series of simulation cases(2D and 3D)were performed to investigate the evolution of columnar and equiaxed dendritic structures.It was found that the solute content of the alloy had little impact on the microstructure evolution,while the solute expansion coefficient had obvious effect on the dendrite tip velocities.Significant improvement of computational efficiency was achieved via novel algorithms,making it possible to perform massive simulation for studying the evolution of solidification microstructures,which is hard to be directly observed in experiments via synchrotron radiation for Al-Si alloy.

Solidification process and microstructure of transition layer of Cu-Al composite cast prepared by method of pouring molten aluminum

The Cu?Al composite casts were prepared by the method of pouring molten aluminum. The solidification process and themicrostructure of the transition layer were investigated during the recombination process of the liquid Al and the solid Cu. The results reveal that the microstructure of the transition layer in the Cu?Al composite cast consists of α(Al)+α(Al)?CuAl2 eutectic,α(Al)?CuAl2 eutectic, CuAl2+α(Al)?CuAl2 eutectic and Cu9Al4. Additionally, the pouring temperature, cooling mode of the Cu platesurface and start time of the forced cooling after pouring have no effect on the microstructure species. But the proportion of thevarious microstructures in the transition layer changes with the process parameters. The pure Al at the top of the transition layer startsto solidify first and then the α(Al) phase grows in a dendritic way, while the CuAl2 phase exhibits plane or cellular crystal growth from the two sides of the transition layer towards its interior. The stronger the cooling intensity of the Cu plate outer surface, the more developed the dendrite, and the easier it is for the CuAl2 phase to grow into a plane crystal.

Modeling of microporosity formation and hydrogen concentration evolution during solidification of an Al-Si alloy

We simulate the evolution of hydrogen concentration and gas pore formation as equiaxed dendrites grow during solidification of a hypoeutectic aluminum-silicon(Al-Si)alloy.The applied lattice Boltzmann-cellular automaton-finite difference model incorporates the physical mechanisms of solute and hydrogen partitioning on the solid/liquid interface,as well as the transports of solute and hydrogen.After the quantitative validation by the simulation of capillary intrusion,the model is utilized to investigate the growth of the equiaxed dendrites and hydrogen porosity formation for an Al-(5 wt.%)Si alloy under different solidification conditions.The simulation data reveal that the gas pores favorably nucleate in the corners surrounded by the nearby dendrite arms.Then,the gas pores grow in a competitive mode.With the cooling rate increasing,the competition among different growing gas pores is found to be hindered,which accordingly increases the pore number density in the final solidification microstructure.In the late solidification stage,even though the solid fraction is increasing,the mean concentration of hydrogen in the residue melt tends to be constant,corresponding to a dynamic equilibrium state of hydrogen concentration in liquid.As the cooling rate increases or the initial hydrogen concentration decreases,the temperature of gas pore nucleation,the porosity fraction,and the mean porosity size decrease,whilst the mean hydrogen concentration in liquid increases in the late solidification stage.The simulated data present identical trends with the experimental results reported in literature.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Ni3Al intermetallics prepared by directional solidification electromagnetic cold crucible technique

The present work focused on the Ni_3Al-based alloy with a high melting point. The aim of the research is to study the effect of withdrawal rate on the microstructures and mechanical properties of directionally solidified Ni-25 Al alloy. Ni_3 Al intermetallics were prepared at different withdrawal rates by directional solidification(DS) in an electromagnetic cold crucible directional solidification furnace. The DS samples contain Ni_3 Al and Ni Al phases. The primary dendritic spacing(λ) decreases with the increasing of withdrawal rate(V), and the volume fraction of Ni Al phase increases as the withdrawal rate increases. Results of tensile tests show that ductility of DS samples is enhanced with a decrease in the withdrawal rate.

NEAR RAPID DIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION AND ITS SUPERFINE MICROSTRUCTURE

This paper briefly reviews the recent research on the near rapid directional solidification and microstructure superfining. The morphology transitions and the corresponding mechanical properties are presented. The critical velocities relevant to the morphology transitions are comprehensively given. Meanwhile the solidification characteristics near absolute stability limit are studied.It can be clearly seen that the superfine microstructures possess extremely better properties compared with the conventional microstructures.

SOLIDIFICATION MICROSTRUCTURE AND FRACTURE MORPHOLOGY OF SiCp/ZA27 COMPOSITE

Solidification microstructure and mechanical property are explored.Furthermore,tensile fracture and microstructure are analyzed by using SEM and JXA 840A electron probe.The results indicate that SiC particles in SiCp/ZA27 composite are mainly distributed on interfaces or between dendrites and surrounded by primary α phase.The dendrite of α phase is fined by SiCp.The tensile strength at room temperature decreases with the increasing of SiCp addition.The tensile strength at elevated temperature increases with the addition of SiCp.The fracture of SiCp/ZA27 composites is the mixture of tough and brittle fracture.The carck is prone to extend along the interface and the region of dispersed shrinkage.

Overflowing phenomenon during ultrasonic treatment in Al-Si alloys

At the late stage of solidification with ultrasonic treatment （UST） in Al-Si alloys, a part of semisolid overflows and climbs along the probe. The interesting phenomenon and its influence on the solidification microstructure were investigated in order to better study the mechanism of UST. It is considered that the overflowing phenomenon occurs due to the changes of vibration and flow in the remaining semisolid. Because the overflowed portion comes from the region with intense UST effect and vibrates with the probe during solidification, great modification of primary and euteetic Si （about 10 pm in length） and refinement of primary a（Al） （about 70 μm in size） are observed in this portion.

Effects of tantalum addition on microstructure and properties of titanium alloy fabricated by laser powder bed fusion

The expanding of material library of laser powder bed fusion(L-PBF)is of great significance to the development of material science.In this study,the biomedical Ti-13Nb-13Zr powder was mixed with the tantalum particles(2 wt%−8 wt%)and fabricated by L-PBF.The microstructure consists of aβmatrix with partially unmelted pure tantalum distributed along the boundaries of molten pool owing to the Marangoni convention.Because the melting process of Ta absorbs lots of energy,the size of molten pool becomes smaller with the increase of Ta content.The fine microstructure exists in the center of melt pool while coarse microstructure is on the boundaries of melt pool because of the existence of heat-affected zone.The columnar-to-equiaxed transitions(CETs)happen in the zones near the unmelted Ta,and the low lattice mismatch induced by solid Ta phase is responsible for this phenomenon.The recrystallization texture is strengthened while the fiber texture is weakened when the tantalum content is increased.Due to the formation of refined martensiteα′grains during L-PBF,the compressive strengths of L-PBF-processed samples are higher than those fabricated by traditional processing technologies.The present research will provide an important reference for biomedical alloy design via L-PBF process in the future.

The role of solutes in grain refinement of hypoeutectic magnesium and aluminum alloys

The effect of solutes on grain formation has been studied over a century but is still under debating,simply because it is a very complex topic.This article focuses on the effect of dissolved solute on the growth,fragmentation of a dendrite and the resultant grain size.Experimental data on grain size in magnesium and aluminum alloys with various solute concentrations are collected and analyzed using phase diagram variables including Q,P,andΔT.The physical meaning of each phase diagram variable is discussed.Curve fitting of the recently proposed two-parameter models with experimental data suggests that there is a clear correlation between the measured grain size and the solidification range of the alloy over the entire range of the hypoeutectic composition.Such a trend of grain size vs.ΔT is closely related to the grain refining mechanisms operating under relevant experimental conditions.A critical review of the grain refining mechanisms indicates that the mechanisms associated with the dendrite fragmentation are operating under the conditions where convection is substantial in the melt during its solidification.

MICROSTRUCTURE AND MACROSEGREGATION OF Al-7%Si ALLOY SOLIDIFIED UNDER COMPLEX EFFECTS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC AND CENTRIFUGAL FORCES

Macrosegregations and microstructures of Al-7%Si alloy solidified under complex of fects of magnetic field and centrifugal forces are studied by means of a set of selfdesigned electromagnetic centrifugal casting (EMCC) device. It is shown that electromagnetic field (EMF) has an important effect on the macrosegregation of centrifugal casting specimen of Al-7%Si alloy in two respects: one is that there exists always a kind of convection in the liquid in front of the S/L interface caused by effect ofthe electromagnetic force; the other is that different atomic clusters of solidparticles with different physical characteristics are subjected to quite different electromagnetic (Lorentz) force. Therefore, their movements get changed. In addition, the formation process of a complex band structure consisting of primary α-Al dendrites and (α-Al+β-Si) eutectics in hypoeutectic Al-Si alloys during EMCC and the effect of EMF are discussed.

Effect of boron addition on the microstructure and stress-rupture properties of directionally solidified superalloys

This study is focused on the effect of boron addition, in the range of 0.0007wt% to 0.03wt%, on the microstructure and stress-rupture properties of a directionally solidified superalloy. With increasing boron content in the as-cast alloys, there is an increase in the fraction of the γ′/γ eutectic and block borides precipitate around the γ′/γ eutectic. At a high boron content of 0.03wt%, there is precipitation of lamellar borides. Upon heat treatment, fine block borides tend to precipitate at grain boundaries with increasing boron content. Overall, the rupture life of the directionally solidified superalloy is significantly improved with the addition of nominal content of boron. However, the rupture life decreases when the boron content exceeds 0.03wt%.

Microstructure and Fractural Morphology of Cobalt-based Alloy Laser Cladding

The solidification features,micro segregation,and fracture characteristics of cobalt based alloy on the substrate of 20CrMo steel by laser cladding were studied by using electron microscopy.Experimental results show that the fine columnar grains and cellular dendrite grains are obtained which are perpendicular to the coating/substrate interface;the primary arms are straight while the side branches are degenerated;the microstructure consists of primary face centered cubic (fcc) Co dendrites and a network of Cr enriched eutectic M23C6 (M=Cr,W,Fe) carbides;the micro segregation is severe for the rapid heating and cooling of laser cladding;the typical brittle intergranular fracture occurs in cobalt based laser cladding layer.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of the micrograined hypoeutectic Zn–Mg alloy

A biodegradable Zn alloy, Zn-1.6Mg, with the potential medical applications as a promising coating material for steel components was studied in this work. The alloy was prepared by three different procedures： gravity casting, hot extrusion, and a combination of rapid solidification and hot extrusion. The samples prepared were characterized by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Vickers hardness, tensile, and compressive tests were performed to determine the samples＇ mechanical properties. Structural examination reveals that the average grain sizes of samples prepared by gravity casting, hot extrusion, and rapid solidification followed by hot extrusion are 35.0, 9.7, and 2.1 μm, respectively. The micrograined sample with the finest grain size exhibits the highest hardness（Hv = 122 MPa）, compressive yield strength（382 MPa）, tensile yield strength（332 MPa）, ultimate tensile strength（370 MPa）, and elongation（9%）. This sample also demonstrates the lowest work hardening in tension and temporary softening in compression among the prepared samples. The mechanical behavior of the samples is discussed in relation to the structural characteristics, Hall-Petch relationship, and deformation mechanisms in fine-grained hexagonal-close-packed metals.

Microstructure of AISI 304 stainless steel strips produced by a twin-roll caster

By optical inspection of macro-etched metallography and electron back-scattered diffraction （EBSD） mapping, this paper analyzed the microstructure of austenitic stainless steel strips produced with an equal-diameter twin-roll strip caster. The results indicate that the microstructure of the strips includes two columnar zones with highly compact dendrites and one equiaxed zone. The characteristics, such as grain size and growing direction of columnar grains and equiaxed grains, were investigated. An additional transitional area with many finer grains between the columnar zone and the equiaxed zone was found. As shown in EBSD analysis, small angle boundaries exist both in the columnar zone and the equiaxed zone, although they are especially more in the transitional area. Additionally, some 〈111〉 twin boundaries were found in the microstructure of the strips.

Effects of Ru on Solidification Characteristic and Microstructures of Ni-Based Single Crystal Superalloy

The Ru-free and Ru-containing single crystal superalloys were cast in the directionally solidified furnace,while other alloying element contents were basically kept unchanged.The effects of Ru on the solidification characteristic and microstructures of single crystal superalloy were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry,electron probe micro analyzer,energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope,scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope.The results show that the liquidus temperature of the single crystal superalloy decreases with Ru addition.The primary dendrite arm spacing and volume fraction of γ/γ＇ eutectic both decrease with Ru addition.The sizes of γ＇ phase of dendritic core and interdendritic region have no obvious change with Ru addition.Ru tends to segregate slightly in the dendritic core.The extent of elements segregation decreases with the Ru addition.Ru tends to partition preferentially into the γ matrix.The addition of Ru decreases the partition ratio（the ratio of the γ phases composition over the γ＇ phases composition） of elements Re,W and Mo.

EFFECT OF POWDER SIZE ON MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF RAPIDLY SOLIDIFIED Al-Li-Mg-Zr ALLOY

The microstructure and properties of the rapidly solidified Al-Li-Mg-Zr alloy,in relation to the particle size of supersonic atomizing powder,have been investigated.The finer the size and the structure of powder,the higher the strength of the alloy.While the overfine powder may worsen plasticity of the alloy.The proper powder seems to be sized 40—100um.

A study of microstructure and properties of cast Fe-10Cr-1.5B alloy

In the present study, the microstructure and mechanical properties of cast Fe-10Cr-1.5B（FCB） alloy after different heat treatments were studied. The results showed that the as-cast microstructure of FCB alloy consists of α-Fe, M（M=Cr, Fe, Mn）2（B, C） and M（M=Cr, Fe, Mn）7（C, B）3 type borocarbides, and small amounts of pearlite and austenite. After oil quenching treatment, metal matrix transformed into the martensite from the mixture of martensite, pearlite and austenite. There are many M（M=Cr,Fe,Mn）23（C,B）6 type borocarbide precipitates in the metal matrix, and eutectic borocarbide appears with an apparent disconnection and isolated phenomenon. When the quenching temperature reaches 1,050℃, the hardness of FCB alloy is the highest, but the change of quenching temperature has no obvious effect on impact toughness of FCB alloy. After tempering, the eutectic microstructure of FCB alloy appears with a ＂two links＂ trend. With the increase of tempering temperature, the hardness of FCB alloy decreases gradually and impact toughness increases gradually. Cast FCB alloy oil-quenched from 1,050℃ and tempered from 200℃ has excellent combined properties; its hardness and impact toughness are 61.5 HRC and 8.8 J·cm^-2 respectively.