Evaluation of microstructure and mechanical properties of squeeze overcast Al7075-Cu composite joints

Al7075-Cu composite joints were prepared by the squeeze overcast process.The effects of melt temperature,die temperature,and squeeze pressure on hardness and ultimate tensile strength(UTS)of squeeze overcast Al7075-Cu composite joints were studied.The experimental results depict that squeeze pressure is the most significant process parameter affecting the hardness and UTS.The optimal values of UTS(48 MPa)and hardness(76 HRB)are achieved at a melt temperature of 800℃,a die temperature of 250℃,and a squeeze pressure of 90 MPa.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)shows that fractured surfaces show flatfaced morphology at the optimal experimental condition.Energy-dispersive spectroscopy(EDS)analysis depicts that the atomic weight percentage of Zn decreases with an increase in melt temperature and squeeze pressure.The optimal mechanical properties of the Al7075-Cu overcast joint were achieved at the Al2Cu eutectic phase due to the large number of copper atoms that dispersed into the aluminum melt during the solidification process and the formation of strong intermetallic bonds.Gray relational analysis integrated with the Taguchi method was used to develop an optimal set of control variables for multi-response parametric optimization.Confirmatory tests were performed to validate the effectiveness of the employed technique.The manufacturing of squeeze overcast Al7075-Cu composite joints at optimal process parameters delivers a great indication to acknowledge a new method for foundry practitioners to manufacture materials with superior mechanical properties.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of overcast aluminum joints

The aluminum joints were prepared by overcasting liquid aluminum A356 onto 6101 aluminum extrusion bars. The microstructure, element distribution, hardness and tensile strength of the joint interface area were investigated, the mechanism of interface formation and fracture behavior were analyzed. The results show that good metallurgical bonding was formed in the joints by electro-plating the solid 6101 aluminum alloy with a layer of zinc coating and carefully controlling the overcasting process. There is a transition zone between the two bonded aluminum alloys, and the fine equiaxed grained structure in the transition zone is due to the high undercooling during solidification. The tensile strength of the joint interface is higher than that of the as-cast A356 aluminum alloy(about 145 MPa) and the final fracture is always located in the as-cast A356 material.

Ultraviolet Radiation in Overcast Sky at the Surface

Based on the analysis of one year of observation data of solar radiation at the ground in Beijing in 1990, a simple empirical formula for calculating UV radiation in overcast sky is established. The formula is Quv/Quv0 = A1S + A0, where Quv and Quvo are monthly mean daily sums of UV exposure in overcast sky and clear sky, respectively. 5 is the daily sunshine hours. The calculated results agree well with the observed. The maximum and minimum relative biases are 9.9% and 0.1%, respectively, and the yearly relative bias is 2.9%. The ratio of ultraviolet radiation of overcast sky to clear sky in 1990 is between 44.6% and 61.8%, and the yearly average is 53.9%. Thus, almost half of the UV energy is lost in the atmosphere in overcast sky in 1990.

Effects of Autumn Continuous Overcast and Rainfall on Harvesting Period of Semilate Rice and Countermeasures

Autumn continuous overcast and rainfall weather affects normal rice harvest and often causes higher rice output which is not accompanied by a higher income,and it is one of main agrometeorological disasters in harvesting period of middle and late rice in Hubei Province. Especially in recent years,plantation area of single-season rice in Hubei Province is larger,and it is mostly harvested from last dekad of September to middle dekad of October,and the opportunity of encountering autumn continuous overcast and rainfall in harvesting period is larger. From later period of last dekad of September to first and middle dekads of October,2017,continuous overcast and rainfall weather occurred in most areas of east Hubei Province,which caused serious influence on the harvesting of semilate rice. In this paper,adverse influence on semilate rice harvest by the autumn continuous overcast and rainfall was investigated and analyzed,and the suggestions on defending and reducing the harm of continuous overcast and rainfall in the harvesting period of semilate rice were proposed.

Control Measures for Protected Strawberry Cultivation in Continuous Overcast and Hazy Days

Continuous overcast and hazy days are common for the winter in Hebei Province,these disastrous weathers have tremendous negative effect on the production of protected strawberry cultivation,for leading to the problems such as degrading photosynthesis of leaves,poor pollination and fertilization,more malformed fruits,low percentage of fertile fruits,delayed maturation of fruits,degraded quality and yield,and aggravated diseases.In view of the disastrous weathers and problems,the authors put forward the measures for the management of protected strawberry cultivation in continuous overcast and hazy days,to provide technical support for strawberry farmers.

Effect of Ca Addition and Heat Treatment on the A390(S)/AM60(L) Interface Microstructure

Overcasting is a new kind of dissimilar joining technique used to produce the aluminum（solid）/magnesium（liquid） bonding bi-metallic material in this study. For the Al/Mg（A390/AM60） bi-metallic samples, the interface microstructures are the research points, which directly influence the mechanical properties. It is, therefore, of vital importance to find a method to improve the interface microstructures. This research focused on the effect of the calcium（Ca） addition in the liquid Mg alloys and the heat treatment on the A390/AM60 interface microstructures of the bi-metallic samples. The testing results showed that, with Ca addition in AM60, owing to two possible reasons, the interface microstructure and the shear strength of the A390/AM60 bi-metallic samples could be improved. The heat treatment could further improve the interface microstructure and the mechanical properties by dissolving β-Mg_（17）Al_（12） into α-Mg and destroying the Mg_2Si layer structure.

Celebrating Family Ties

It was the night of Friday,September 13.We sat in an open terrace restaurant under an overcast sky.With child-like eagerness,we all gazed at the sky from time to time to catch a glimpse of the moon.It was the Mid-Autumn Festival in Beijing!After some time,I wondered out loud,"Will the moon ever appear?"