Phase Morphology Evolution in AISI301 Austenite Stainless Steel under Different Cooling Rates

Quenching experiments were performed at different cooling rates under non-directional solidification by differential thermal analysis, and the morphologic variation of primary phase, phase transition temperature and hardness change at the same quenching temperature were investigated. The experimental results show that, with the gradual decrease of the cooling rate from 25 K/min, the morphology of ferrite starts to transform experiencing the dendrite, radial pattern, Widmanstatten-like and wire-net. Sample starts to present the Widmanstatten-like microstructure at 10 K/min which does not exist at higher or lower cooling rates, and this microstructure is detrimental to the mechanical property. Except 10 K/min, the hardness decreases with decreasing cooling rate.

Phase and Microstructure Selection During Directional Solidification of Peritectic Alloy Under Convection Condition

A phase and microstructure selection map used for peritectic alloy directionally solidified under convection condition was presented,which is based on the nucleation,constitutional undercooling criterion（NCU criterion）,and the highest interface temperature criterion.This selection map shows the relationships between the phase/microstructure,the G/V ratio（G is the temperature gradient,V is the growth velocity）,and the alloy composition under different convection intensities and nucleation undercoolings.Comparing with the results from directional solidification experiments of Sn–Cd peritectic alloys,this selection map was generally in agreement with the experimental results.

The Minor Precipitation at the Final Stage of U720Li Solidification

The minor precipitations caused by B and Zr which are the normal constituents of U720 Li alloy have been studied by analyzing the solidification process and the composition evolution. The present study aims to supply the elementary information about the existing form of B and Zr in the as-cast microstructure, which is helpful for the subsequent processing, such as homogenization treatment. The M_3B_2 and Ni_5Zr phases were observed in the U720 Li alloy in as-cast state, which were usually accompanying with each other together with g-Ni_3 Ti phase at the edge of eutectic（γ＋γ＇）. Combining the DTA analysis and heating and quenching tests, the solidification sequence was determined to be the following： c matrix, eutectic（γ＋γ＇）, g-Ni_3Ti, M_3B_2 and Ni_5Zr. The in situ composition analysis by EDS and EPMA revealed that the precipitation and microstructure were governed by the composition evolution in the liquids. The solidification of c matrix increased the Ti concentration in the residual liquids and resulted in the eutectic（γ＋γ＇） formation; the（γ＋γ＇） formation increased the Ti/Al radio in the liquids and the g-Ni_3Ti was formed in front of the eutectic（γ＋γ＇）; the g-Ni_3Ti precipitation consumed up Al and Ti and increased the concentration of B, Mo and Cr, and M_3B_2 boride is formed;the previous precipitation of the phases consumed up most of the elements other than Ni and Zr, and Ni_5Zr is formed finally. The melting points are in the ranges of 1130–1140 °C for Ni_5Zr phase, 1180–1190 °C for M_3B_2 boride and1190–1200 °C for g-Ni_3Ti phase.

Influence of Zn Addition on Microstructures and Martensitic Transformation in CuZr-based Alloys

Compositional dependences on microstructures and martensitic transformation behaviors in（Cu_（0.5）Zr_（0.5））_（100-x）Zn_x（x=1.5,2.5,4.5,7.0,10.0,and 14.0at.%）alloys were investigated.It was found that CuZr martensites were present in the present alloys.With increasing Zn content,the volume fractions of CuZr martensitic crystals and B2 CuZr phase gradually decrease and increase,respectively.With the addition of high Zn contents（i.e.,7.0,10.0,and 14.0at.%）,the matrix proves to be eutectic.Thermal analysis results show that the initial martensitic transformation temperature（M_s）decreases from（412±5）K to（329±5）K as the Zn content increases from 1.5at.% to14.0at.%.The values of Msof Cu-Zr-Zn shape memory alloys are inversely proportional to the number and concentrations of valence electrons（i.e.,e_v/a and c_v）,respectively,implying that the martensitic transformation in CuZrZn alloys could be of electronic nature.