HEAT TRANSFER BEHAVIOR OF SUPERALLOY DROPLETS DURING SPRAY FORMING

Based on the Newtonian heat transfer formulation and classical heterogeneous nucleation theory, a mathematical model has been established to predict the profile of flight velocity, heat transfer coefficient, temperature, solid fraction and cooling rate of atomizing droplets for a superalloy. The results indicated that above parameters change with different droplet size and flight distance. The changing trend as well as the mechanism for the change are described and discussed.

Production of high strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys by spray forming process

High strength Al Zn Mg Cu alloys were produced by spray forming process, and compacted by hot extrusion. The results show that the as deposited billets have fine grained microstructure and low porosity. After heat treatment, mechanical properties increase greatly: tensile strength up to 754 MPa, yield strength up to 722 MPa, fracture elongation up to 8%, and elastic modulus up to 72 GPa, respectively. [

MICROSTRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SPRAY FORMED HIGH SPEED STEEL FOR WORK ROLL

The mechanical properties and microstructure characteristics of a high speed steel (HSS) for roll has been studied. As compared with the as-cast HSS, the spray-formed HSS have fine grain and segregation free microstructures. Carbides distribute uniformly. The morphology and types of the carbides in spray-formed HSS are different from those in as-cast HSS. The results of the high temperature tensile experiment show that, as to spray-formed HSS, there is a possibility of superplastic deformation in the range of 780-810℃.

Isothermal grain growth of reactive spray formed 7075 alloys in semi-solid state

The grain growth behavior in reactive spray formed 7075+2.91 vol percent TiCAl alloy was studied and compared with that of spray formed 7075 Al alloy at semi-solid state. Theeffects of in-situ TiC particles on the microstructure of spray formed 7075 Al alloy were alsoinvestigated. The specimens were heat-treated isothermally at various temperatures between thesolidus and liquidus of 7075 Al alloy for times in the range of 10-60 min, then quenched in water.The microstructure of reheated specimens was characterized using scanning electron microscopy andoptical microscopy. The grain size was measured using a mean linear intercept method. Results showthat the in-situ TiC particles can effectively retard grain growth and refine the grain at a limitedsize. The grain growth exponent in Arrhenius equation increases from 2 to 3, which indicates thatthe in-situ TiC particles have the significant pinning effect on grain coarsening in the semi-solidstate.

Shape-predicted model of spray forming rod under scanning atomization

A model for simulating the spray forming process with scanning atomizer was developed.Models for the scanning atomization and the deposition processes were coupled together in order to obtain a new description of the spray forming process.The model,which is able to predict the shape of a spray-formed billet prepared with scanning atomizer,was established after analyzing the changes in droplet size and density distribution along the r-axis in the spray cone in scanning atomization.The effects of the two kinds of atomization were compared,showing that the scanning atomization is good for deposition.

Research on flow stress of spray formed 70Si30Al alloy under hot compression deformation

The flow stress of spray formed 70Si30Al alloy was studied by hot compression on a Gleeble- 1500 test machine. The experimental results indicated that the flow stress depends on the strain rate and the deformation temperature. The flow stress increases with an increase in strain rate at a given deformation temperature. The flow stress decreases with the deformation temperature increasing at a given strain rate. The relational expression among the flow stress, the swain rate, and the deformation temperature satisfies the Arrhenius equation. The deformation activation energy of 70Si30Al alloy during hot deformation is 866.27 kJ/mol from the Arrhenius equation.

Effect of P/M value on the preforms and microstructures of spray formed 70Si30Al alloy

A novel 70Si30Al alloy was prepared by the spray forming process for electronic packaging materials. The effect of the ratio of atomization pressure to metal melt mass flux rate （P/M） on the preforms and microstructures of the spray-deposited 70Si30Al alloy was studied. The results indicate that the PIM value has a considerable influence on the formation of the preforms and the optimal value is in the range of 0.209-0.231 MPa/（kg.min^-1）. The microstructure of the spray formed 70Si30AI alloy is fine and homogenous. The primary silicon phases distributing in the aluminum matrix evenly are fine and irregular. The aluminum matrix is divided into two groups： supersaturated α-Al phase or α-Al phase and Al-Si pseudoeutectic phase or Al-Si eutectic phase.

Modeling and Simulation of the Microstructure Evolution of the Gas-atomized Alloy Droplets during Spray Forming

In order to understand the solidification process of an atomized droplet and predict the fraction solidification of droplets with flight distance during spray forming, a numerical model based on the population dynamics approach is developed to describe the microstructure evolution under the common action of the nucleation and growth of grains. The model is coupled with droplets heat transfer controlling equations and solved for AI-4.5 wt pct Cu alloy. It is demonstrated that the numerical results describe the solidification process well.

Deformation mechanism of the spray formed 70Si30Al alloy during hot compression

The deformation mechanism of the spray formed 70Si30Al alloy was studied by hot compression on a Gleeble-1500 test machine. It is shown that hot deformation of the spray formed 70Si30Al alloy is achieved by liquid flow due to isostatic pressure and movement of solid particles due to shear force. Deformation condition depends on the nucleation rate and closure rate of the cavities. The flow stress slightly varies when the difference between the nucleation rate and closure rate of the cavities is small; however, it decreases when the nucleation rate of the cavities is greater than the closure rate of the cavities.

Experimental and mathematical modeling of metal spray forming process

The metal spray forming process was examined using mathematical simulation and verified through the prototyping evaluation at Baosteel＇ s test and development facilities. The mathematical model comprised of four sections, including jet gas flow in the deposition chamber;single droplet behavior along its trajectory path;probability and statistical analysis of droplet mass behavior, and forecast of the shape and temperature distribution of the billet during the spray forming process.

Effect of Retrogression and Reaging on Stress Corrosion Cracking of Spray Formed Al Alloy

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance of a spray formed Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy underwent retrogression and reaging (RRA) was studied by slow strain rate tests in dry air and 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. The results showed that after RRA treatment, interrupted η phases at grain boundaries and slightly wide precipitate free zones could decrease SCC susceptibility of the alloy. Lots of reticular dislocations appeared in deformation process could prevent hydrogen induced cracking, and then SCC. Abundance transgranular dispersive η' phases separated out again promoted tensile strength to 759.4 MPa. The fracture ways of the specimens were dimple fracture in dry air and sub-cleavage fracture in 3.5% NaCl solution.

Strength and elongation of spray formed Al–Si–Pb alloys

The strength and elongation to fracture of spray deposited Al-Si-Pb alloys were studied as a function of lead content, silicon content, and distance from the centre to periphery of the deposit. It is found that the ultimate tensile strength, proof stress and elongation to fracture decrease, linearly and exponentially, with the increase in lead content and porosity of the deposit, respectively. Both the strengths and elongation to fracture linearly increase with increasing distance from the centre to periphery of the deposit. The ultimate tensile strength and proof stress are higher at a higher silicon content and they have a linear relationship with the hardness of the deposit.

Spray forming and mechanical properties of a new type powder metallurgy superalloy

The deposited billet of a new type powder metallurgy （PM） superalloy FGH4095M for use in turbine disk manufac- turing has been fabricated using spray forming technology. The metallurgical quality of the deposited billet was analyzed in terms of density, texture, and grain size. Comparative research was done on the microstructure and mechanical properties between the flat disk preform prepared with hot isostatic pressing （HIP） and the same alloy forgings prepared with HIP followed by isothermal forging （IF）. The results show that the density of the spray-formed and nitrogen-atomized deposit billet is above 99% of the theoretical density, indicating a compact structure. The grains are uniform and fine. The billet has weak texture with a random distribution in the spray deposition direction and perpendicular to the direction of deposition. A part of atomizing nitrogen exists in the preform in the form of carbonitride. Nitrogen-induced microporosity causes the density reduction of the preform. Compared with the process of HIP＋IF, the superalloy FGH4095M after HIP has better mechanical properties at both room temperature and high temperature. The sizes of the 7~ phase are finer in microstructure of the preform after HIP in comparison with the forgings after HIP＋IE This work shows that SF＋HIP is a viable processing route for FGH4095M as a turbine-disk material.

Plasma Spray Forming

In the course of plasma spray, the plasma jet is comprehensively functioned by such effects as thermal pinch, magnetic pinch and mechanical compression and the flow is jetting at a high speed, the energy is concentrated and its center temperature is so high as to reach upwards of 15 000 ℃ which is capable of melting various kinds of materials inclusive of ceramic, it has a broad applied prospects in the fields of automobile, electronics, telecommunications, medical treatment, air navigation & space navigation and light industries etc because of being able to rapid fabricate thin-walled metals, ceramics and alloy parts thereof, metal moulds, functionally gradient material moulds and so on, and it has become a research spotlight for the scholars. The technology of plasma spray forming (PSF) is introduced, and the two different kinds of technique presented in this paper are studied. Some typical links in the course of technical process is also analyzed, including original prototype fabrication and surface treatment, post-treatment of formed workpiece and demoulding methods. When spraying, it should select the appropriate making methods of prototype according to the dimensions, shapes and forming accuracy as required by the formed parts. At the same time, it should be paid to the characteristic of the material for the prototype. The main purpose of surface treatment of the prototype is to raise the quality of formed parts and ensure the integrity demoulding of the coating. The method of the prototype’s surface treatment is closely related to the demoulding method, which is mainly comprised of destructive demoulding, non-destructive demoulding and composite demoulding, and is key technology in PSF. In order to eliminate these intrinsic defects and improve its performance, the fabricated parts can be given the necessary post-treatment so as to further raise the mechanical strength and surface quality. There are many methods for the post-treatment such as chemical reinforcment, metal melt-infiltration, laser-melting and self-propagating high-temperature synthesis, etc., all these methods can decrease the porosity and raise the quality of coating and service performance; whereas the finishing machining can improve the surface roughness of spray formed parts. In the course of spray forming, affected by such complex and complicated factors as electric field, the entangled ambient gas and introduced powder, as a result, it shall induce the instability of the spray condition and affect the forming quality. This paper has, on the basis of large quantity of experiments, analyzed every links in the course of PSF, summarized and evaluated the main factors affecting on the quality of formed parts, such as prototype characteristic, characteristic of plasma jet, powder characteristic, spray gun and spray parameters. The experiments prove that the process of PSF is simple and the cost is lower in rapid tooling with complex and complicated fine patterns, and PSF is apt to form special-shape and thin-walled parts made of some protective materials so as to protect those fragile workpieces. Therefore PSF is a new technology with broad and brilliant prospects of development.

High Speed Steel and WC Particle-Reinforced Composites Produce by Spray Forming

The process of spray forming utilized to fabricate WC particle-reinforced high speed steel composites has been studied. In addition, microstructures and mechanical properties of M2 high speed steel and its composites made by spray forming have been analyzed. The results show that the primary carbides of high speed steel are of two types: MC and MbC. With the increase in flight distance, the morphology of the primary carbides varies from fine fish-bone-like to islandlike and both bending strength and hardness increase. With the increase in volume fraction of WC reinforcement particles,hardness of the composites increases considerably, but bending strength, however, appears to be a decreasing tendency.

SPRAY FORMED NICKEL-BASE SUPERALLOYS

In this paper,part of the research and development work in the field of spray formed superalloys at BIAM of China is briefly summarized. With an experimental spray forming facility,whose melting capacity is suitable for making disk and columnar shaped integral-dense and clean Ni-base superalloy preforms with low oxygen content,fine grain, uniform chemistry and improved forgeability, a series of Ni-base superalloys have been spray atomized and deposited, among which three alloys have been chosen for microstructural and mechanical properties evaluation.

Numerical simulation of tube profile growth during spray forming process

Spray forming is a new type of metal material forming process,which can produce metal blanks such as billet, tube,plate etc. A mathematical model has been developed to forecast the shape evolution of tube billets during the spray forming process. The atomizer mass flux as ,radial distribution coefficient bs, draw velocity and diameter of mandrel were considered in this model and the influence of different parameters such as metal flowrate, draw velocity of mandrel, diameter of mandrel on the tube＇ s shape change were simulated and analyzed in this paper. The simulation results obtained from this model can be provided to engineers as reference.

A study on mathematical simulation of spray forming process

An integrated approach for modeling the entire spray forming process is presented in this paper, and the program for the simulation is developed. The whole spray forming process can be divided into four calculation processes and the basis for the analysis is the classical k -ε turbulence model which was used to simulate the flow field of gas formed in the chamber. In the atomization model the flow field of gas is coupled with formation, velocity and location of droplet. By means of the above mathematical model, the process of spray forming was simulated.

The numerical simulation of the movements and thermal states of atomized metal droplets in the spray forming process

Numerical simulation was performed in an atomizing chamber to investigate the movements and thermal states of the atomized metal droplets in the spray forming process. The velocity, temperature and solid fractions of metal droplets with different diameters and under different atomizing pressures were investigated. The results indicate that a higher atomizing pressure results in the increased flying velocity of the metal droplets and a decrease in the cone-shaped angle formed by their flight paths. Synchronously, the cooling of the metal droplets is accelerated and the time of the complete solidification process is shortened. Under the same atomization pressure, large metal droplets have a lower flying speed and a lower rate of temperature decrease in the atomizing chamber than small metal droplets. In addition, metal droplets flying along the edge of the atomizing region cool faster than those flying in the core region.