Microstructures and phase transformation in directionally solidified TiAl-Nb alloys

Intermetallic Ti-45Al-8Nb-(W,B,Y)(at.%)and Ti-46Al-5Nb alloys are directionally solidified at a constant growth rate of 30μm·s-1 using a Bridgman type apparatus.The quenched microstructures and lengths of different phase regions were observed and measured after various growing times of 0-30 min.Results show that the phase transformations in different phase regions are mainly depending on the high temperature microstructure and the supercooling degree during quenching process.After isothermal holding,the primary phase grows into the liquid phase,the dendrites change from equiaxed to columnar grains,and the length of the L+βphase region,L+β+αphase region and mushy zone varies,indicating that the entire directional solidification process can be described by a static equilibrium-nonequilibrium-dynamic equilibrium evolution process.In addition,the gap between the original growth interface and front interface shows that the actual crystal growth rate is not equal to the drawing velocity during directional solidification.

Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of a low-carbon quenching and partitioning steel after partial and full austenitization

In this work, low-carbon steel specimens were subjected to the quenching and partitioning process after being partially or fully austenitized to investigate their microstructural evolution and mechanical properties. According to the results of scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations, X-ray diffraction analysis, and tensile tests, upper bainite or tempered martensite appears successively in the microstructure with increasing austenitization temperature or increasing partitioning time. In the partially austenitized specimens, the retained austenite grains are carbon-enriched twice during the heat treatment, which can significantly stabilize the phases at room temperature. Furthermore, after partial austenitization, the specimen exhibits excellent elongation, with a maximum elongation of 37.1%. By contrast, after full austenitization, the specimens exhibit good ultimate tensile strength and high yield strength. In the case of a specimen with a yield strength of 969 MPa, the maximum value of the ultimate tensile strength reaches 1222 MPa. During the partitioning process, carbon partitioning and carbon homogenization within austenite affect interface migration. In addition, the volume fraction and grain size of retained austenite observed in the final microstructure will also be affected.

MARTENSITE TRANSFORMATION MICROSTRUCTURE OF 40Cr STEEL COMPLEXLY INDUCED BY LASER SHOCK

40Cr steel is laser quenched by the NEL-2500A rapidly axial flow CO2 laser. Then the martensite induced by laser quenched is shocked by Nd：YAG laser again. Through comparing and analyzing the appearance and size of martensite, the dislocation density in microstmcture between the treated zones by laser quenched and by laser quenched plus laser shock, the following results are shown： The second martensite obtained by laser compound treatment is more fmer compared with those obtained by laser quenched; In the hardened zones obtained by compound treatment, a lot of slender second twin crystal martensites are induced; A lot of more high density dislocation tangles and cellular dislocations are generated. From the transmission electron microscope （TEM） micrograph after compound treatment, there are not only long lath and short nubbly martensites arranged in cross direction, but also massive nubbly and small short nubbly martensites arranged in longitudinal direction. Some martensites look like the broken blocks of quenched martensites. These new martensites are inserted transversely in the quenched martensites with large tangle. And they make quenched martensites break into pieces. Compared with the quenched martensites, the size of fresh martensites are smaller, about 0.3-0.5 μm.

Microstructure and magnetic properties of directly quenched Nd_2Fe_(14)B/α-Fe nanocomposite materials at different temperatures

Directly quenched Nd9.5Fe81Zr3B6.5 nanocomposite permanent magnets were prepared under different melt treatment conditions, i.e., the melt temperature was varied prior to ejection onto the quenching wheel. The effect of quenching temperature on the microstructure and magnetic properties of the alloys was studied by X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy and magnetization measurements. It is found that a finer and more uniform microstructure can be obtained directly from the melt quenched at lower temperature. With increasing initial quenching temperature, the optimal quenching speed decreases and the microstructure of the ribbons becomes coarser and more irregular. As a result, the magnetic properties of the alloys are deteriorated. It is believed that the break of the pre-existing Nd2Fe14B clusters and decrease in number of the developing nuclei of Nd2Fe14B phase with increase in quenching temperature may be the causes for the change of the microstructure and the magnetic properties of the ribbons.

Effect of Oxygen on Microstructure Evolution and Glass Formation of Zr-based Metallic Glasses

The effect of oxygen on the microstructure evolution and glass formation of Zr-based bulk metallic glasses（BMGs）was studied in detail.It was found that oxygen did not form oxides or dissolve in glass matrix,but induced the precipitation ofα-Zr which has the high affinity and solubility of oxygen in the Zr-based bulk metallic glass（ZrBMG）.With the precipitation ofα-Zr,the remaining melts contain much lower oxygen content and have strong glass formation,resulting in the formation ofα-Zr/BMG composite.The findings provide an important insight into the mechanism of the oxygen on glass formation,and give us a useful guideline to avoid the oxygen detrimental for designing new BMGs.