Stirring brazing of dissimilar Al/Mg alloy without flux in air

AZ31B magnesium alloy and 2024 aluminum alloy were successfully jointed at aid of mechanical stirring with Sn-Zn-Al filler metal. The microstructure, fracture morphologies, and mechanical properties of joint were investigated. The results show that Mg-Al intermetallic compounds can be avoided by the process. But, a small quantity of porosity is found in the joint. The sheafing strength of joint interface adjacent to magnesium alloy is 35.4 MPa for formation of Mg-Sn intermetallic compounds, which is about 46 % of that of filler metal. While, the shearing strength of joint interfaces adjacent to aluminum alloy is 70.4 MPa for formation of Zn-Sn-Al solid solution, which is about 92 % of that of filler metal.

Effect of characteristics and distribution of Mg_(17)Al_(12)precipitates on tensile and bending properties of high-Al-containing Mg alloys

This study investigates the effect of characteristics and distribution of Mg_(17)Al_(12)precipitates on the uniaxial tensile and three-point bending properties of extruded Mg alloys containing high Al contents.The extruded Mg–9Al–1Zn–0.3Mn(AZ91)alloy contains lamellar-structured Mg_(17)Al_(12)discontinuous precipitates along the grain boundaries,which are formed via static precipitation during natural air cooling.The extruded Mg–11Al–1Zn–0.3Mn(AZ111)alloy contains spherical Mg_(17)Al_(12)precipitates at the grain boundaries and inside the grains,which are formed via dynamic precipitation during extrusion.Due to inhomogeneous distribution of precipitates,the AZ111 alloy consists of two different precipitate regions:precipitate-rich region with numerous precipitates and finer grains and precipitate-scarce region with a few precipitates and coarser grains.The AZ111 alloy exhibits a higher tensile strength than the AZ91 alloy because its smaller grain size and more abundant precipitates result in stronger grain-boundary hardening and precipitation hardening effects,respectively.However,the tensile elongation of the AZ111 alloy is lower than that of the AZ91 alloy because the weak cohesion between the dynamic precipitates and the matrix facilitates the crack initiation and propagation.During bending,a macrocrack initiates on the outer surface of bending specimen in both alloys.The AZ111 alloy exhibits higher bending yield strength and lower failure bending strain than the AZ91 alloy.The bending specimens of the AZ91 alloy have similar bending formability,whereas those of the AZ111 alloy exhibit considerable differences in bending formability and crack propagation behavior,depending on the distribution and number density of precipitates in the specimen.In bending specimens of the AZ111 alloy,it is found that the failure bending strain(ε_(f,bending))is inversely proportional to the area fraction of precipitates in the outer zone of bending specimen(A_(ppt)),with a relationship ofε_(f,bending)=–0.1A_(ppt)+5.86.

Synergistic effect of gradient Zn content and multiscale particles on the mechanical properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys with coupling distribution of coarse-fine grains

This study investigated the influence of graded Zn content on the evolution of precipitated and iron-rich phases and grain struc-ture of the alloys,designed and developed the Al–8.0Zn–1.5Mg–1.5Cu–0.2Fe(wt%)alloy with high strength and formability.With the increase of Zn content,forming the coupling distribution of multiscale precipitates and iron-rich phases with a reasonable matching ratio and dispersion distribution characteristics is easy.This phenomenon induces the formation of cell-like structures with alternate distribu-tion of coarse and fine grains,and the average plasticity–strain ratio(characterizing the formability)of the pre-aged alloy with a high strength is up to 0.708.Results reveal the evolution and influence mechanisms of multiscale second-phase particles and the corresponding high formability mechanism of the alloys.The developed coupling control process exhibits considerable potential,revealing remarkable improvements in the room temperature formability of high-strength Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys.

Revealing the role of pyramidal slip in the high ductility of Mg-Li alloy

The high ductility of Mg-Li alloy has been mainly ascribed to a high activity of pyramidal<c+a>slip to accommodate plastic strain.In the present study,however,a quantitative analysis reveals that Li-addition can only slightly stimulate the activation of pyramidal<c+a>slip under compression along the normal direction of a hot-rolled Mg-4.5 wt.%Li plate,with a relative activity of approximately 18%.Although the limited activity of pyramidal<c+a>slip alone cannot accommodate a large plastic strain,it effectively reduces the number of{10.11}−{10.12}double twins,which are believed to be favorable sites for crack initiation.The evidently reduced activity of double twins leads to a lower cracking tendency,and therefore improves ductility.

Study on the low mechanical anisotropy of extruded Mg-Zn-Mn-Ce-Ca alloy tube in the compression process

In this study,the extruded Mg-Zn-Mn-Ce-Ca alloy tube with a low compression anisotropy along the ED,45ED and TD was prepared.The effect of the second phases,initial texture and deformation behavior on this low mechanical anisotropy was investigated.The results revealed that the alloy tube contains the high content(Mg1-xZnx)11Ce phase and the low content of Mg12Ce phase.These second phases are respectively incoherent and coherent with the Mg matrix,and their influence can be ignored.Additionally,the alloy tube exhibited a weak basal fiber texture,where the c-axis was aligned along the 0°∼30°tilt from TD to ED.Such a texture made the initial deformation(at 1.0%∼1.6%strain)of the three samples controlled by comparable basalslip.As deformation progressed(1.6∼9.0%strain),larger amounts of ETWs nucleated and gradually approached saturation in the three samples,re-orienting the c-axis to a 0°∼±30°deviation with respect to the loading directions.Meanwhile,the prismatic and pyramidal<c+a>slips replaced the dominant deformation progressively until fracture.Eventually,the similar deformation mechanisms determined by the weak initial texture in the three samples contribute to the comparable strain hardening rates,resulting in the low compressive anisotropy of the alloy tube.

Greatly enhanced corrosion/wear resistances of epoxy coating for Mg alloy through a synergistic effect between functionalized graphene and insulated blocking layer

The poor corrosion and wear resistances of Mg alloys seriously limit their potential applications in various industries.The conventional epoxy coating easily forms many intrinsic defects during the solidification process,which cannot provide sufficient protection.In the current study,we design a double-layer epoxy composite coating on Mg alloy with enhanced anti-corrosion/wear properties,via the spin-assisted assembly technique.The outer layer is functionalized graphene(FG)in waterborne epoxy resin(WEP)and the inner layer is Ce-based conversion(Ce)film.The FG sheets can be homogeneously dispersed within the epoxy matrix to fill the intrinsic defects and improve the barrier capability.The Ce film connects the outer layer with the substrate,showing the transition effect.The corrosion rate of Ce/WEP/FG composite coating is 2131 times lower than that of bare Mg alloy,and the wear rate is decreased by~90%.The improved corrosion resistance is attributed to the labyrinth effect(hindering the penetration of corrosive medium)and the obstruction of galvanic coupling behavior.The synergistic effect derived from the FG sheet and blocking layer exhibits great potential in realizing the improvement of multi-functional integration,which will open up a new avenue for the development of novel composite protection coatings of Mg alloys.

Mechanism of microarc oxidation on AZ91D Mg alloy induced byβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12) phase

This work proposed a strategy of indirectly inducing uniform microarc discharge by controlling the content and distribution ofβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12)phase in AZ91D Mg alloy.Two kinds of nano-particles(ZrO_(2)and TiO_(2))were designed to be added into the substrate of Mg alloy by friction stir processing(FSP).Then,Mg alloy sample designed with different precipitated morphology ofβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12)phase was treated by microarc oxidation(MAO)in Na_(3)PO_(4)/Na2SiO3electrolyte.The characteristics and performance of the MAO coating was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS),X-ray diffraction(XRD),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),contact angle meter,and potentiodynamic polarization.It was found that the coarseα-Mg grains in extruded AZ91D Mg alloy were refined by FSP,and theβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12)phase with reticular structure was broken and dispersed.The nano-ZrO_(2)particles were pinned at the grain boundary by FSP,which refined theα-Mg grain and promoted the precipitation ofβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12)phase in grains.It effectively inhibited the“cascade”phenomenon of microarcs,which induced the uniform distribution of discharge pores.The MAO coating on Zr-FSP sample had good wettability and corrosion resistance.However,TiO_(2)particles were hardly detected in the coating on TiFSP sample.

Microstructure evolution and tensile behavior of balanced Al−Mg−Si alloy with various homogenization parameters

The effects of homogenization parameters on the microstructure evolution and tensile behavior of a balanced Al−Mg−Si alloy were investigated using the optical microscope,scanning electron microscope,X-ray diffraction,electron probe microanalyzer,differential scanning calorimetry,electrical conductivity test,and tensile test.The results show that Mg_(2)Si andβ-AlFeSi are the main intermetallic compounds in the as-cast structure,and Mg solute microsegregation is predominant inside the dendrite cell.The prediction of the full dissolution time of Mg_(2)Si by a kinetic model is consistent with the experiment.Theβ-AlFeSi in the alloy exhibits high thermal stability and mainly undergoes dissolution and coarsening during homogenization at 560℃,and only a small portion is converted toα-AlFeSi.The optimal homogenization parameters are determined as 560℃and 360 min,when considering the evolution of microstructure and resource savings.Both the strength and ductility of the alloy increased after homogenization.

Effect of cold rolling deformation on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of spray formed Al−Zn−Mg−Cu−Cr alloys

The impact of cold rolling deformation,which was introduced after solid solution and before aging treatment,on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of the as-extruded spray formed Al−9.8Zn−2.3Mg−1.73Cu−0.13Cr(wt.%)alloy,was investigated.SEM,TEM,and EBSD were used to analyze the microstructures,and tensile tests were conducted to assess mechanical properties.The results indicate that the D1-T6 sample,subjected to 25%cold rolling deformation,exhibits finer grains(3.35μm)compared to the D0-T6 sample(grain size of 4.23μm)without cold rolling.Cold rolling refines the grains that grow in solution treatment.Due to the combined effects of finer and more dispersed precipitates,higher dislocation density and smaller grains,the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the D1-T6 sample can reach 663 and 737 MPa,respectively.In comparison to the as-extruded and D0-T6 samples,the yield strength of the D1-T6 sample increases by 415 and 92 MPa,respectively.

Effect of Ni on microstructure and mechanical properties of Al−Mg−Si alloy for laser powder bed fusion

The microstructures and mechanical properties were systematically studied for the high-strength Al−5Mg_(2)Si−1.5Ni alloy fabricated by laser powder bed fusion(L-PBF).It is found that the introduction of Ni(1.5 wt.%)into an Al−5Mg_(2)Si alloy can significantly improve the L-PBF processibility and provide remarkable improvement in mechanical properties.The solidification range of just 85.5 K and the typical Al−Al3Ni eutectics could be obtained in the Ni-modified Al−5Mg_(2)Si samples with a high relative density of 99.8%at the volumetric energy density of 107.4 J/mm^(3).Additionally,the refined hierarchical microstructure was mainly characterized by heterogeneousα-Al matrix grains(14.6μm)that contain the interaction between dislocations and Al−Al3Ni eutectics as well as Mg_(2)Si particles.Through synergetic effects of grain refinement,dislocation strengthening and precipitation strengthening induced by Ni addition,the L-PBFed Al−5Mg_(2)Si−1.5Ni alloy achieved superior mechanical properties,which included the yield strength of(425±15)MPa,the ultimate tensile strength of(541±11)MPa and the elongation of(6.2±0.2)%.

Improvement of microstructure and mechanical properties of Al−Cu−Li−Mg−Zn alloys through water-cooling centrifugal casting technique

The microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast Al−Cu−Li−Mg−Zn alloys fabricated by conventional gravity casting and centrifugal casting techniques combined with rapid solidification were investigated.Experimental results demonstrated that compared with the gravity casting technique,the water-cooling centrifugal casting technique significantly reduces porosity,refinesα(Al)grains and secondary phases,modifies the morphology of secondary phases,and mitigates both macro-and micro-segregation.These improvements arise from the synergistic effects of the vigorous backflow,centrifugal field,vibration and rapid solidification.Porosity and coarse plate-like Al13Fe4/Al7Cu2Fe phase result in the fracture before the gravity-cast alloy reaches the yield point.The centrifugal-cast alloy,however,exhibits an ultra-high yield strength of 292.0 MPa and a moderate elongation of 6.1%.This high yield strength is attributed to solid solution strengthening(SSS)of 225.3 MPa,and grain boundary strengthening(GBS)of 35.7 MPa.Li contributes the most to SSS with a scaling factor of 7.9 MPa·wt.%^(-1).The elongation of the centrifugal-cast alloy can be effectively enhanced by reducing the porosity and segregation behavior,refining the microstructure and changing the morphology of secondary phases.

Crack elimination and strength enhancement mechanisms of selective laser melted Si-modified Al−Mn−Mg−Er−Zr alloy

In order to increase the processability and process window of the selective laser melting(SLM)-fabricated Al−Mn−Mg−Er−Zr alloy,a novel Si-modified Al−Mn−Mg−Er−Zr alloy was designed.The effect of Si alloying on the surface quality,processability,microstructure,and mechanical properties of the SLM-fabricated alloy was studied.The results showed that introducing Si into the Al−Mn−Mg−Er−Zr alloy prevented balling and keyhole formation,refined the grain size,and reduced the solidification temperature,which eliminated cracks and increased the processability and process window of the alloy.The maximum relative density of the SLM-fabricated Si/Al−Mn−Mg−Er−Zr alloy reached 99.6%.The yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the alloy were(371±7)MPa and(518±6)MPa,respectively.These values were higher than those of the SLM-fabricated Al−Mn−Mg−Er−Zr and other Sc-free Al−Mg-based alloys.

Effect of pre-twinning and heat treatment on formability of AZX311 Mg alloy

In this study,the effects of pre-strain-induced tensile twins(TTWs)and controlled heat treatment on the formability behavior of AZX311 Mg alloy sheets were investigated.A 4%compressive strain was applied to pre-strain the sheets using the in-plane compression(IPC)technique along the rolling direction(RD)to introduce TTWs.The pre-strained(PS)samples were subsequently heat-treated at 250℃,350℃,and 400℃ independently for 1 hr,and are termed as PSA1,PSA2,and PSA3,respectively.Erichsen cupping tests were conducted to assess the formability of the sheet samples under different initial conditions.The results showed that the PS sample heat-treated at 250℃ for 1hr exhibited a decrease in the Erichsen index(IE)compared to the as-rolled sample,whereas PSA2 and PSA3 samples showed an increase in IE values.Microtexture analysis revealed that most of the TTWs generated through pre-twinning were stable at 250℃;however,the twin volume fraction reduced to 41%at 350℃ compared to the PS samples due to enhanced thermal activity at that temperature.Furthermore,PSA2 samples showed severe grain coarsening in some areas of the sample,and the fraction of such grains increased in the PSA3 samples.The stretch formability(IE value)of PSA2 samples showed a 32.3%increase compared to the as-rolled specimens.Additionally,the analysis of the deformed specimen at failure under the Erichsen test indicated that considerable detwinning occurs in the PS and PSA1 samples,whereas dislocation slip activity dominates in the PSA2 and PSA3 samples during stretch forming.Apart from detwinning and dislocation slip,deformation twins were also observed in all samples after the Erichsen test.Thus,this work highlights the importance of texture control and its underlying mechanisms via pre-twinning followed by heat treatment and their impact on the room temperature(RT)stretch formability of AZX311 Mg alloy sheets.

Microstructure and mechanical behavior of AXM Mg alloy systems—A review

Automobiles are the inevitable mode of transportation.However,increasing fuel prices and carbon dioxide emissions are posing a serious threat to automobile users and the environment.Thus,the development of new lightweight materials has been a key area of research.Magnesium-based commercial alloys(AZ and ZK series alloys)are the lightest among all structural metals.However,there is still a question about the replacement of Aluminum-based alloys due to HCP crystal structure.In this connection,Mg-Al-Ca-Mn(AXM)Mg alloy can be a choice as an alternative to the existing Mg-based commercial alloys for structural applications.It contains(Al,Mg)_(2)Ca,Al_(2)Ca,Mg_(2)Ca,and Al_(8)Mn_(5)as the secondary phases,contributing to the microstructural refinement and property enhancement.However,the formation of those precipitates depends on the amount of Al,Ca,and Mn,especially,the Ca/Al ratio.In addition,the secondary processes influence the grain refinement and property enhancement of texture modifications.Hence,this review article focuses on elaborating on the significance of the Ca/Al ratio for the precipitate formation,secondary process,and texture modifications.The co-segregation behavior of other micro-alloying elements like Cerium,Lanthanum,and Zinc in AXM Mg alloy systems has also been discussed for property enhancement.

Twinning aspects and their efficient roles in wrought Mg alloys:A comprehensive review

Twinning is widely recognized as an effective and cost-efficient method for controlling the microstructure and properties of wrought magnesium(Mg)alloys.Specifically,twins play a crucial role in initiating dynamic recrystallization(DRX),while twin regions experience rapid recrystallization during static recrystallization(SRX).The activation of twinning can lead to changes in lattice orientation,significantly impacting the final texture in Mg alloys.The active roles of twinning are influenced by various factors during the activation process,and the mobility of twin boundaries(TB)can be amplified by stress effects,dislocation interactions,and thermal effects.Conversely,annealing treatments that involve proper segregation or precipitation on TBs serve to stabilize them,restraining their motion.Events such as segregation may also alter the twinning propensity in Magnesium-rare earth(Mg-RE)alloys.While{10–11}contraction twins(CT)and{10–11}-{10–12}double twins(DT)can promote dynamic recrystallization(DRX),they also pose a risk as potential sources of voids and cracks.Additionally,understanding the nucleation and growth mechanisms of twinning is crucial,and these aspects are briefly reviewed in this article.Considering the factors mentioned above,this article summarizes the recent research progress in this field,shedding light on advancements in recent eras.

Maximizing the potential applications of plasma electrolytic oxidation coatings produced on Mg-based alloys in anti-corrosion,antibacterial,and photocatalytic targeting through harnessing the LDH/PEO dual structure

There is an increasing interest in the development of Mg alloys,both for industrial and biomedical applications,due to their favorable characteristics such as being lightweight and robust.However,the inadequate corrosion resistance and lack of antibacterial properties pose significant challenges in the industrial and biomedical applications,necessitating the implementation of advanced coating engineering techniques.Plasma electrolytic oxidation(PEO)has emerged as a preferred coating technique because of its distinctive properties and successful surface modification results.However,there is a continuous need for further enhancements to optimize the performance and functionalities of protective surface treatments.The integration of layered double hydroxide(LDH)into PEO coatings on Mg alloys presents a promising approach to bolstering protective properties.This thorough review delves into the latest developments in integrating LDH into PEO coatings for corrosion-related purposes.It particularly emphasizes the significant improvements in corrosion resistance,antibacterial effectiveness,and photocatalytic performance resulting from the incorporation of LDH into PEO coatings.The two key mechanisms that enhance the corrosion resistance of PEO coatings containing LDH are the anion exchangeability of the LDH structure and the pore-sealing effect.Moreover,the antibacterial activity of PEO coatings with LDH stemmed from the release of antibacterial agents stored within the LDH structure,alterations in pH levels,and the photothermal conversion property.Furthermore,by incorporating LDH into PEO coatings,new opportunities emerge for tackling environmental issues through boosted photocatalytic properties,especially in the realm of pollutant degradation.

Structural,mechanical and electronic properties of precipitates in Mg−Zn alloys

To accelerate the development and design of magnesium(Mg)alloys,the structural and mechanical properties of important precipitates in Mg−Zn alloys were studied by experiments and density functional theory.The nano-indentation tests revealed that the hardness of the precipitates initially increased and then decreased with increasing Zn content,and was significantly higher than that of pure Mg and Zn.The calculation results revealed that the precipitates stability initially increased and then decreased with increasing Zn concentration.The bulk moduli of the precipitates increased,whereas their shear and Young’s moduli initially increased and then decreased with increasing Zn content.The decreasing order of ductility for these compounds is MgZn_(2)>Mg_(21)Zn_(25)>Mg_(2)Zn_(11)>Mg_(4)Zn_(7).The surface profiles of the compounds revealed that they are obvious anisotropy.Both the degree of covalency and bond length of covalent bonds initially increased and then decreased with increasing Zn content.

In situ TEM investigation of electron irradiation and aging-induced high-density nanoprecipitates in an Mg-10Gd-3Y-1Zn-0.5Zr alloy

In-situ electron irradiation and aging are applied to introduce high-density precipitates in an Mg-10Gd-3Y-1Zn-0.5Zr(GWZ1031K,wt.%)alloy to improve the hardness.The results show that the hardness of the Mg alloy after irradiation for 10 h and aging for 9 h at 250℃ is 1.64 GPa,which is approximately 64% higher than that of the samples before being treated.It is mainly attributed to γ'precipitates on the basal plane after irradiation and the high-density nanoscale β'precipitates on the prismatic plane after aging,which should be closely related to the irradiation-induced homogenous clusters.The latter plays a key role in precipitation hardening.This result paves a way to improve the mechanical properties of metallic materials by tailoring the precipitation through irradiation and aging.

Development of anti-corrosive coating on AZ31 Mg alloy modified by MOF/LDH/PEO hybrids

The self-assembly of hybrid inorganic-organic materials on stationary platforms plays a critical role in improving their structural stability and wide usability.In this work,a novel two-step hydrothermal approach is proposed for synthesizing stable and advanced hybrid coatings on metal-oxide platforms through the surface modification of layered double hydroxide(LDH)films using novel metal-organic frameworks(MOFs).Initially,Mg-Al LDH nanocontainers,grown on a magnesium oxide layer produced through plasma electrolytic oxidation(PEO)of AZ31 Mg alloy substrate,were intercalated with cobalt via an oxidation route,providing the metallic coordination center for the MOF formation.In the subsequent step,a pioneering technique is introduced,utilizing tryptophan as the organic linker for the first time at a pH of 10.The self-assembly of cobalt-tryptophan complex,driven by the strong bonding between electrophilic sites of monomers and nucleophilic sites,facilitated the formation of a MOF network having a cloud-like structure on the surface of MgAl LDH's film.The resulting MOF-LDH encapsulation containers demonstrate exceptional electrochemical stability when exposed to a 3.5 wt.%NaCl solution,surpassing the performance of PEO and pure LDH coatings.This enhanced stability is attributed to the development of a dense top layer and a stable composition within the self-assembled MOF,effectively sealing flaws and preventing the infiltration of corrosive ions into the underlying metallic substrate.The formation mechanism of MOFs on LDH galleries is investigated using density functional theory calculations.

Antibacterial HA-coatings on bioresorbable Mg alloy

In this study,a calcium-phosphate coating was formed on a Mg-Mn-Ce alloy by the plasma electrolytic oxidation(PEO).The antibiotic vancomycin,widely used in the treatment of infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus),was impregnated into the coating.Samples with vancomycin showed high bactericidal activity against S.aureus.The mechanical and electrochemical properties of the formed coatings were studied,as well as in vitro cytotoxicity tests and in vivo tests on mature male rats were performed.According to SEM,EDS,XRD and XPS data,coatings had a developed morphology and contained hydroxyapatite,which indicates high biocompatibility.The analysis of roughness of coatings without and with vancomycin did not reveal any differences,confirming the high roughness of the samples.During electrochemical tests,an increase in corrosion resistance by more than two times after the application of PEO coatings was revealed.According to the results of an in vivo study,after 28 days of the implantation of samples with calcium phosphate PEO coating and vancomycin,no signs of inflammation were observed,while an inflammatory reaction developed in the area of implantation of bare alloy,followed by encapsulation.Antibiotic release tests from the coatings show a sharp decrease in the concentration of the released antibiotic on day 7 and then a gradual decrease until day 28.Throughout the experiment,no significant deviations in the condition and behavior of the animals were observed;clinical tests did not reveal a systemic toxic reaction.