Microstructural characterization and mechanical properties of(TiC+TiB)/TA15 composites prepared by an in-situ synthesis method

Titanium matrix composites reinforced with ceramic particles are considered a promising engineering material due to their combination of high specific strength,low density,and high modulus.In this study,the TA15-based composites reinforced with a volume fraction of 10% to 25%(TiB+TiC)were prepared using powder metallurgy and casting technique.Microstructural characterization and phase constitution were examined using optical microscopy(OM),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),and X-ray diffraction(XRD).In addition,the microhardness,room temperature(RT)and high temperature(HT)tensile properties of the composites were evaluated.Results revealed that the reinforcements are distributed uniformly even in the composites with a high volume of TiB and TiC.However,as the volume fraction exceeds 15%,TiB and TiC particles become coarsening and exhibit rod-like and dendritic-like morphology.Microhardness increases gradually from 321.2 HV for the base alloy to a maximum of 473.3 HV as the reinforcement increases to 25vol.%.Tensile test results indicate that a reinforcement volume fraction above 20% is beneficial for enhancing tensile strength and yield strength at high temperatures,but it has an adverse effect on room temperature elongation.Conversely,if the reinforcement volume fraction is below 20%,it can improve high-temperature elongation when the temperature exceeds 600℃.

In-situ additive manufacturing of high strength yet ductility titanium composites with gradient layered structure using N_(2)

It has always been challenging work to reconcile the contradiction between the strength and plasticity of titanium materials.Laser powder bed fusion(LPBF) is a convenient method to fabricate innovative composites including those inspired by gradient layered materials.In this work,we used LPBF to selectively prepare Ti N/Ti gradient layered structure(GLSTi)composites by using different N_(2)–Ar ratios during the LPBF process.We systematically investigated the mechanisms of in-situ synthesis Ti N,high strength and ductility of GLSTi composites using microscopic analysis,TEM characterization,and tensile testing with digital image correlation.Besides,a digital correspondence was established between the N_(2) concentration and the volume fraction of LPBF in-situ synthesized Ti N.Our results show that the GLSTi composites exhibit superior mechanical properties compared to pure titanium fabricated by LPBF under pure Ar.Specifically,the tensile strength of GLSTi was more than 1.5times higher than that of LPBF-formed pure titanium,reaching up to 1100 MPa,while maintaining a high elongation at fracture of 17%.GLSTi breaks the bottleneck of high strength but low ductility exhibited by conventional nanoceramic particle-strengthened titanium matrix composites,and the hetero-deformation induced strengthening effect formed by the Ti N/Ti layered structure explained its strength-plasticity balanced principle.The microhardness exhibits a jagged variation of the relatively low hardness of 245 HV0.2 for the pure titanium layer and a high hardness of 408 HV0.2 for the N_(2) in-situ synthesis layer.Our study provides a new concept for the structure-performance digital customization of 3D-printed Ti-based composites.

Hot deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of Be/2024Al composites

The high temperature compression test of Be/2024Al composites with 62wt%Be was conducted at 500–575℃ and strain rate of0.003–0.1 s^(-1).The strain-compensated Arrhenius model and modified Johnson–Cook model were introduced to predict the hot deformation behavior of Be/2024Al composites.The result shows that the activation energy of Be/2024Al composites was 363.364 k J·mol^(-1).Compared with composites reinforced with traditional ceramics,Be/2024Al composites can be deformed with ultra-high content of reinforcement,attributing to the deformable property of Be particles.The average relative error of the two models shows that modified Johnson–Cook model was more suitable for low temperature condition while strain-compensated Arrhenius model was more suitable for high temperature condition.The processing map was generated and a hot extrusion experiment was conducted according to the map.A comparation of the microstructure of Be/2024Al composites before and after extrusion shows that the Be particle deformed coordinately with the matrix and elongated at the extrusion direction.

Effects of Hydrothermal Environment on the Deformation of the Thin Bamboo Bundle Veneer Laminated Composites

To overcome warping in thin bamboo bundle veneer laminated composites(TBLC),their hydrothermal deformation characteristics were systematically investigated in this study.It was found that TBLCs accelerated the release of internal stress in the thickness direction in a hydrothermal environment,which increased their warpage.TBLCs showed increased warpage in the width and diagonal directions upon increasing the temperature.The warpage of Type E increased by 155.88%and 66.67%in the width and diagonal directions,respectively,when the temperature increased from 25
C to 100
C.The symmetrical TBLC with cross-lay-up and odd layers displayed better hydrothermal stability.We revealed that the deformation of the TBLCs could be regulated under the synergistic effect of water and temperature.These results provide a scientific basis for improving the uniformity of bamboo bundle composite materials and for developing thin bamboo bundle fiber composite materials with designable structures and controllable performance.

Structures and properties of deformation-processed Cu-16Fe-2Cr in-situ composites

Microstructure and properties of deformation processed Cu 16Fe 2Cr and Cu 18Fe in situ composite wires obtained by cold drawing combined with intermediate annealing were investigated. At lower strains( η <2.52), most of the Fe(Cr) phases were elongated into filaments except some remain granular because of their higher hardness. The ultimate tensile strengths of Cu 16Fe 2Cr and Cu 18Fe are approximately equal at the same drawing strains, suggesting the increase of strength of Cu 16Fe 2Cr due to higher strength of Fe(Cr) filaments than that of Fe filaments which is counteracted by the somewhat coarse Fe(Cr) filaments in Cu 16Fe 2Cr at the same drawing strains. The increase of the electrical conductivity of Cu 16Fe 2Cr and Cu 18Fe after intermediate annealing is attributed to the precipitation of Fe, Cr atoms, which dissolved during melting processing. Electrical conductivity of the Cu 16Fe 2Cr in situ composites is higher than Cu 18Fe in situ composites at the same drawing strains. The addition of Cr to Cu Fe system can increase mechanical stability of the filaments in the composites.

Strength of deformation-processed Cu-Fe in-situ composites

The strength of the deformation-processed Cu-Fe in-situ composite was conducted by material test system(MTS). The results show that the strength increases with the increasing deformation strain and iron content,which is greater than that of the calculated value based on the rule of mixture. The mechanism of strengthening was analysed and evidenced by interface barrier. The correlation between the strength and the thickness of copper phase (tcu) obeys Hall-Petch relationship and can be described well by geometrical necessary dislocation model and interface as dislocation source model.

Microstructure and properties of deformation-processed Cu-Fe in-situ composites

The effects of intermediate annealings on the microstructure, the strength and the electrical resistivity of deformation-processed Cu-Fe in-situ composites were studied. The results show that intermediate annealings favour the formation of uniform tiny fibres from the iron dendrites but they have no obvious effect on the strength of the composite. The bigger the strain is, the higher the strength is. As the strain increases, the resistivity increases due to the increase of interface density. Intermediate annealings result in notable decreasing resistivity due to the precipitation of the iron atoms from the Cu matrix and decrease of solute scattering resistivity. The doping with Zr improves the strength of the composite slightly and the ultimate tensile strength(UTS) increases about 10%. The colligated performances of deformation-processed Cu-11.5%Fe and Cu- 11.5%Fe-Zr composites at strain η= 5.37 are 64.6% IACS/752MPa and 61.4% IACS/824MPa respectively.

Origin of nucleation and growth of extension twins in grains unsuitably oriented for twinning during deformation of Mg-1%Al

A large number of anomalous extension twins,with low or even negative twinning Schmid factors,were found to nucleate and grow in a strongly textured Mg-1Al alloy during tensile deformation along the extruded direction.The deformation mechanisms responsible for this behaviour were investigated through in-situ electron back-scattered diffraction,grain reference orientation deviation,and slip trace-modified lattice rotation.It was found that anomalous extension twins nucleated mainly at the onset of plastic deformation at or near grain boundary triple junctions.They were associated with the severe strain incompatibility between neighbour grains as a result from the differentbasal slip-induced lattice rotations.Moreover,the anomalous twins were able to grow with the applied strain due to the continuous activation ofbasal slip in different neighbour grains,which enhanced the strain incompatibility.These results reveal the complexity of the deformation mechanisms in Mg alloys at the local level when deformed along hard orientations.

Deformation Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Ti/Al Bimetallic Composite Materials Fabricated by Wire Plus Arc Additive Manufacturing

We focused on Ti/Al composite materials fabricated by wire and arc addictive manufacturing,and the microstructure and interface characteristics of them before and after hot compression deformation were compared.After compression deformation,allαstructures of titanium were compacted with the emergence of Widmanstatten structures.Coarsened coloniesαof titanium were elongated and waved along the original growth direction,resulting in anisotropy of grains.Pores and Ti/Al intermetallic compounds of aluminum are significantly decreased after hot compression.Meanwhile,a good bonding interface between titanium and aluminum is obtained after hot compression,and the element diffusion is more intense.In addition,the mechanical properties and fracture behaviors of Ti/Al composite material with different clad ratio that is defined as the ratio of the thickness of titanium to that of the Ti/Al composite material are investigated by uniaxial tensile test.The experimental results show that the ultimate tensile strength of Ti/Al composite material is between that of single deposited titanium and aluminum,while the elongation of Ti/Al composite material with low clad ratio is lower than that of single aluminum due to the metallurgical reaction.As the clad ratio increases,the two component layers are harder to separate during deformation,which is resulted from the decrease of the inward contraction stress of three-dimensional stress caused by necking of aluminum.This work may promote the engineering application of Ti/Al bimetallic structures.

Effect of particle characteristics on deformation of particle reinforced metal matrix composites

The particle characteristics of 15%SiC particles reinforced metal matrix composites(MMC)made by powder metallurgy route were studied by using a statistical method.In the analysis,the approach for estimation of the characteristics of particles was presented.The study was carried out by using the mathematic software MATLAB to calculate the area and perimeter of each particle, in which the image processing technique was employed.Based on the calculations,the sizes and shape factors of each particle were investigated respectively.Additionally,the finite element model(FEM)was established on the basis of the actual microstructure.The contour plots of von Mises effective stress and strain in matrix and particles were presented in calculations for considering the influence of microstructure on the deformation behavior of MMC.Moreover,the contour maps of the maximum stress of particles and the maximum plastic strain of matrix in the vicinity of particles were introduced respectively.

Hot Deformation Behavior of Squeeze Casting SiC_p/2 A50 Matrix Composites

The flow stress behaviors of squeeze casting SiCp/2A50 matrix composites were investigated by means of compression tests on a Gleeble 1500 therma1 mechanical simulator at isothermal constant strain rates ranging from of 0.001 to 1.0 with the testing temperature ranging from 350 to 500 ℃. The experiments showed that the relationship between stress and strain was obviously influenced by the strain rate and temperature. Dynamic recrystallization generally occurred at a higher temperature and a 1ower strain rate. A linear equation could be fitted between the Zener-Hollomon parameter Z and stress in the experiments. The mean value reciprocal of temperature at every true strain had a linear relation with natural logarithm of Z parameter, and the correlation coefficient, R=0.99, which was very significant by examination. The hot deformation activation energy of SiCp/2A50 matrix composites was 163.47 KJ/mol by calculation.

Effect of Hot Deformation on Microstructure and Hardness of In-situ TiB_2/7075 Composite

Hardness of the TiB2/7075 composite increased with increasing deformation temperature. In the annealed TiB2/7075 composite, a great amount of fiber-like MgZn2 phases (about 1 mum in length) and small MgZn2 phases (about 100 nm in size) were precipitated nearby the grain boundaries where the TiB2 particles exist. After deformation at 300 degreesC, some of the large precipitates and all the small precipitates in these area dissolved into the matrix, meanwhile, fine precipitates were formed in grains. After deformation at 450 degreesC, all the precipitates in the annealed composite dissolved into the matrix, and new phases were precipitated in grains. The dissolution of the large fiber-like precipitate makes the saturation level of the matrix increased and leads to an increased solution hardening and natural aging, which contribute much to the hardening effect.

Anisotropic and asymmetric deformation mechanisms of nanolaminated graphene/Cu composites

We conducted molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of tension and compression along the <112> direction and MD simulations of compression along the <110> and <111> directions on nanolaminated graphene/Cu (NGCu) composites to investigate the effects of the incorporated graphene and the deformation mechanisms related to the loading direction. The deformation behavior and the defect structures were found to be strongly dependent on the loading conditions. An asymmetric tension-compression deformation behavior was thus found in graphene/Cu nanolaminates under the <112> loading, which was dominated by stacking faults and deformation twins formed by dislocation slide under tension and compression, respectively. High density and ordered nanotwins were formed at the graphene/Cu interfaces. Two different formation mechanisms of the twins were found under the <112> compression, and the nucleated twins were easy to be thickened with the assistance of the graphene wrinkles. Multiple twins were formed under the <110> compression by the dislocation cross-slip. This study provides a way to introduce graphene reinforcement and twin boundary to Cu matrix composites and design nanotwinned graphene/Cu composites with excellent mechanical performance.

Deformation treatment and microstructure of graphene-reinforced metal matrix nanocomposites: A review of graphene post-dispersion

Graphene/aluminum(Gr/Al)composites have attracted the attention of researchers all over the world due to their excellent properties.However,graphene agglomerates easily because of the van der Waals force between graphite sheets,thereby affecting the performance of the composites.Decreasing the agglomeration of graphene and dispersing it uniformly in the Al matrix is a key challenge.In the preparation process,predispersion treatment and deformation treatment can play important roles in graphene dispersion.Researchers have conducted a series of research and literature reviews of the graphene predispersion and consolidation of composites.However,they paid less attention to post-deformation processing.This review summarizes different deformation treatments involved in the preparation process of Gr/Al composites and the evolution of the microstructure during the process.Research on deformation parameters is expected to further improve the properties of Gr/Al composites and would provide a deep understanding of the strengthening effect of graphene.

Deformation behavior of SiC particle reinforced Al matrix composites based on EMA model

Effects of the matrix properties,particle size distribution and interfacial matrix failure on the elastoplastic deformationbehavior in Al matrix composites reinforced by SiC particles with an average size of 5μm and volume fraction of 12%werequantitatively calculated by using the expanded effective assumption(EMA)model.The particle size distribution naturally bringsabout the variation of matrix properties and the interfacial matrix failure due to the presence of SiC particles.The theoretical resultscoincide well with those of the experiment.The current research indicates that the load transfer between matrix and reinforcements,grain refinement in matrix,and enhanced dislocation density originated from the thermal mismatch between SiC particles and Almatrix increase the flow stress of the composites,but the interfacial matrix failure is opposite.It also proves that the load transfer,grain refinement and dislocation strengthening are the main strengthening mechanisms,and the interfacial matrix failure and ductilefracture of matrix are the dominating fracture modes in the composites.The mechanical properties of the composites strongly dependon the metal matrix.

ANALYSIS OF ELASTOPLASTIC DEFORMATION IN METAL-MATRIX COMPOSITES WITH PARTICULATE REINFORCEMENTS

In this paper, elastoplastic stress-strain behavior during tensile deformation of an aluminum alloy matrix composite containing alumina circular and non-circular particles is analyzed. In terms of cell models in conjunction with continuum plasticity theory, various periodic arrays of particles are assumed in a three-dimensional finite element simulation. The geometrical effects of particle volume fraction, shape, aspect ratio, array and distribution, as well as non-circular particle orientation on the overall elastoplastic stress-strain behavior are examined in view to design optimum microstructures of the composites.

TiC/AZ91D composites fabricated by in situ reactive infiltration process and its tensile deformation

An innovative processing route was adopted to fabricate 42.1%(volume fraction) TiC/AZ91D magnesium matrix composites. The reinforcement TiC was in situ synthesized from elemental powders of Ti and C and the matrix magnesium alloy AZ91D pressurelessly infiltrated into the preform of Ti and C. A comparative tensile deformation tests were conducted on the as-synthesized TiC/AZ91D composites and magnesium alloy AZ91D. The true strain—stress curves were fitted by Hollomon relation and their failure mechanisms were finally analyzed. The results show that the in situ formed TiC can increase the tensile strength, and is especially effective at elevated temperatures. Theoretical calculation of the strain hardening exponent (n) for TiC/AZ91D composites indicates that the n value ranges from 0.71 to 0.82 when tensile deformation was carried out at 423?723 K and shows fracture with brittle characteristic. However, the n value of 0.11?0.32 obtained for the matrix alloy AZ91D shows typical ductile features at elevated temperatures.

Thixotropic compression deformation behavior of SiC_p/AZ61 magnesium matrix composites

Compression tests on semi-solid SiCp/AZ61 magnesium matrix composites were carried out using Thermecmastor-Z dynamic material testing machine.Influences of strain-rate,strain,temperature and volume fraction of SiC particles on flow stress were analyzed.The results show that the flow stress of semi-solid SiCp/AZ61 composites is sensitive to temperature and strain rate.The lower the temperature and the larger the strain rate,the higher the flow stress.Meanwhile the flow stress increases with the increase of the volume fraction of SiC particles.This study helps establish the constitutive model of magnesium matrix composites and offers theoretic and experimental references for its thixoforming.

Effect of deformation temperature on the hot compressive behavior of metal matrix composites with misaligned whiskers

A multi-inclusion cell model is used to investigate the effect of deformation temperature and whisker rotation on the hot compressive behavior of metal matrix composites with misaligned whiskers. Numerical results show that deformation temperature influences the work-hardening behavior of the matrix and the rotation behavior of the whiskers. With increasing temperature, the work hardening rate of the matrix decreases, but the whisker rotation angle increases. Both whisker rotation and the increase of deformation temperature can induce reductions in the load supported by whisker and the load transferred from matrix to whisker. Additionally, it is found that during large strain deformation at higher temperatures, the enhancing of deformation temperature can reduce the effect of whisker rotation. Meanwhile, the stress-strain behavior of the composite is rather sensitive to deformation temperature. At a relatively lower temperature （150℃）, the composite exhibits work hardening due to the matrix work hardening, but at relatively higher temperatures （300℃ and above）, the composite shows strain softening due to whisker rotation. It is also found that during hot compression at higher temperatures, the softening rate of the composite decreases with increasing temperature. The predicted stress-strain behavior of the composite is approximately in agreement with the experimental results.

Effect of plastic deformation on microstructure and hardness of AlSi/Al gradient composites

The effects of plastic deformation on the evolution of microstructure and micro-hardness were studied on plates made from a cylindrical ingot of AlSi/Al aluminum composite. This ingot was produced by double-stream-pouring continuous casting(DSPCC). The results show that the three layers, i.e. the external pure aluminum, internal Al-Si alloy and the transition gradient layer, are maintained after compression as well as rolling processing. With the decrease in thickness of the gradient composite plate, the fluctuation of micro-hardness in transition layer in the direction normal to the applied force is significantly reduced. A simplified lamination model was used to evaluate qualitatively the micro-hardness distribution in the direction parallel to the applied force. However, the model is invalid in the explanation of the fluctuation of the micro-hardness in the direction normal to the applied force. The micro-hardness distribution variation in this direction is mainly attributed to the deformation of α(Al) matrix incorporated the dissolution and spheroidization of eutectic silicon phase.