Creep Induced Phase Transformation in Extruded Zn-Al Alloy

Phase transformation and microstructural change of an extruded eutectoid Zn-Al alloy Zn76Al22Cu2 (wt pct) were investigated during creep testing by using SEM and X-ray diffraction techniques. Creep induced decomposition of a metastable η'T phase and a four phase transformation, α+ ε →T' +η, occurred during the creep testing. Also a microstructural change was observed from a lamellar structure into a spheroidized structure in the rupture part of the extruded alloy. It provided evidence of creep induced phase transformations which occurred in ageing process. The mechanism of creep rupture of the extruded Zn-Al alloy was also discussed.

Tensile Stress Induced Phase Transformations in Zn-Al Alloy

Both furnace cooled and as-cast eutectoid Zn-Al alloys were investigated under external tensile stress at 100℃. It was observed that the external tensile stress caused decomposition of two metastable phases η'T and η'S which derived from both original state of the alloy, and a phase transformation, αf +ε→T' +η， in both furnace cooled and as-cast eutectoid Zn-Al alloys. Also spheroidized structure formed partially during tensile testing. Superplasticity of the alloy has been discussed correlating with the phase transformations and microstructural changes.

Formation of quaternary all-d-metal Heusler alloy by Co doping fcc type Ni_(2)MnV and mechanical grinding induced B2–fcc transformation

The structure of the all-d-metal alloy Ni_(50-x)Co_(x)Mn_(25)V_(25)(x=0–50)is investigated by using theoretical and experimental methods.The first-principles calculations indicate that the most stable structure of the Ni_2MnV alloy is face-centered cubic (fcc)type structure with ferrimagnetic state and the equilibrium lattice constant is 3.60A,which is in agreement with the experimental result.It is remarkable that replacing partial Ni with Co can turn the alloy from the fcc structure to the B2-type Heusler structure as Co content x>37 by using the melting spinning method,implying that the d–d hybridization between Co/Mn elements and low-valent elements V stabilizes the Heusler structure.The Curie temperature T_(C) of all-dmetal Heuser alloy Ni_(50-x)Co_(x)Mn_(25)V_(25)(x>37)increases almost linearly with the increase of Co due to that the interaction of Co–Mn is stronger than that of Ni–Mn.A magnetic transition from ferromagnetic state to weak magnetic state accompanying with grinding stress induced transformation from B2 to the dual-phase of B2 and fcc has been observed in these all-d-metal Heusler alloys.This phase transformation and magnetic change provide a guide to overcome the brittleness and make the all-d-metal Heusler alloy interesting in stress and magnetic driving structural transition.

Applied Strain Field on Microstructure Optimization of Ti-Al-Nb Alloy Computer Simulated by Phase Field Approach

The effects of applied tensile strain on the coherent α_2→O-phase transformation in Ti-Al-Nb alloys are explored bycomputer simulation using a phase-field method. The focus is on the influence of the applied strain direction onthe microstructure and volume fraction of the O-phase precipitates. It is found that altering applied strain directioncan modify microstructure of Ti-25Al-10～12Nb (at. pct) alloy during α_2→O-phase transformation effectively andfull laminate microstructure in the Ti-25Al-10Nb (at. pct) alloy can be realized by an applied strain only along thedirection 30°away from the α_2 phase <1010> in magnitude equivalent to the stress-free transformation strain. Thesimulation also shows that not only the magnitude of applied strain but also the applied strain direction influencesthe O-phase volume fraction and the effect of strain direction on the volume fraction is up to 25%.

TRANSFORMATION OF RETAINED AUSTENITE IN CARBURIZED CASE DURING FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH

The morphology of the retained austenite in the carburized case of 20CrNiMo steel and its transformation during fatigue crack propagation through the case were investigated by using X-ray and TEM analysis.In the carburized case both film and block shaped retained austenite were found.Due to the crystallographic orientation relationship at the interface,the fatigue crack is inclined to pass through the block shaped retained austenite and thereby stim- ulates its strain-induced martensitie transformation.During the process of the fatigue frac- ture,most of the retained austenite structures on the crack path are transformed into the martensite,and the untranaformed parts on the fracture surface remain less than 6%.The transformation of the retained austenite,which is restrieted mainly within the plastic zone,oc- curs only during the proeess of fracture,and is independent of the magnitudes of the external stress,stress ratio and cyclic number.The volume expansion accompanying the transforma- tion creates an additional residual displacement of about 0.44μm on fracture surfaces,which is equivalent to the magnitude of the plasticity-induced residual displacement.The phase transformation induced fatigue crack closure is believed to be an important factor affecting the fatigue crack behaviors in the high carbon laver of the carburized case.