Understanding ductile-to-brittle transition of metallic glasses from shear transformation zone dilatation

A theoretical model that takes into account the flee-volume aided cooperative shearing of shear transformation zones （STZs） is developed to quantitatively understand the ductile-to-brittle transition （DBT） of metallic glasses. The STZ dilatational strain is defined as the ratio of STZ-activated free volume to STZ volume itself. The model demonstrates that the STZ dilatational strain will increase drastically and exceed the characteristic shear strain of STZ as temperature decreases below a critical value. This critical temperature is in good agreement with the experimentally measured DBT temperature. Our results suggest that the DBT of metallic glasses is underpinned by the transition of atomic-cluster motions from STZ-tvpe rearrangements to dilatational processes （termed tension transformation zones （TrZs））.

Estimation of Fracture Toughness for A508-III Steel in Ductile-to-Brittle Transition Region Using a Strain-Energy–Density-Based Fracture Failure Model

According to the assumption of intrinsic relationship between ultimate strain energy density and microcrack nucleation,this work developed a fracture failure model to estimate the fracture toughness of A508-III steel in the ductile-to-brittle transition region.The fracture toughness and uniaxial tension tests at different temperatures were carried out to determine the relationship between nucleation parameter and ultimate strain energy density,from which the evolutions of fracture toughness of A508-III ferritic steel for different cumulative failure probabilities at different temperatures were predicted.The fracture failure model can well describe the fracture toughness distribution of A508-III steel in the ductile-to-brittle transition region.Compared with the master curve method,this model has better temperature adaptability.It is more convenient to calibrate the parameters of this model compared with the traditional Beremin model,and without complex finite element analysis.

Effects of Orthogonal Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of GN9 Ferritic/Martensitic Steel

Microstructure and mechanical properties of GN9 Ferritic/Martensitic steel for sodium-cooled fast reactors have been investigated through orthogonal design and analysis.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),differential scanning calorimeter(DSC),tensile and impact tests were used to evaluate the heat treatment parameters on yield strength,elongation and ductile-to-brittle transition temperature(DBTT).The results indicate that the microstructures of GN9 steel after orthogonal heat treatments consist of tempered martensite,M23C6,MX carbides and MX carbonitrides.The average prior austenite grains increase and the lath width decreases with the austenitizing temperature increasing from 1000°C to 1080°C.Tempering temperature is the most important factor that influences the dislocation evolution,yield strength and elongation compared with austenitizing tempera-ture and cooling methods.Austenitizing temperature,tempering temperature and cooling methods show interactive effects on DBTT.Carbide morphology and distribution,which is influenced by austenitizing and tempering tempera-tures,is the critical microstructural factor that influences the Charpy impact energy and DBTT.Based on the orthogo-nal design and microstructural analysis,the optimal heat treatment of GN9 steel is austenitizing at 1000°C for 0.5 h followed by air cooling and tempering at 760°C for 1.5 h.

Effect of grain boundary characteristic distribution on brittle cracking of ferritic stainless steel

In order to better understand the relation between grain boundary characteristic distribution （GBCD） and the brittle cracking of ferritic stainless steel, the GBCD, impact test and bend test were investigated using scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and the electron backscatter diffraction （EBSD） technique. The results show that a crack occurs preferentially at high angle boundaries, and that low angle and low-∑ coincidence site lattice（CSL） boundaries can offer resistance to the propagation of cracks. It is suggested that an optimum GBCD, i.e. a high frequency of low angle or low-∑ CSL boundaries and discontinuous high angle boundaries network can offer the potential for decreasing the ductile-to-brittle transition temoerature （DBTT） of ferritic stainless steels.

Effect of zirconium on inclusions and mechanical properties of China low activation martensitic steel

The effects of 0.01–0.11 wt.%Zr on the inclusions,microstructure,tensile properties,and impact toughness of the China low activation martensitic steel were investigated.Results showed that Zr exhibits good deoxidation and desulfurization abilities.The scanning electron microscope was used to examine the inclusions in the ingots.The main inclusions in the alloys were Zr–Ta–O,Zr–O,and Zr–O–S.However,some blocky Zr-rich inclusions appeared in Zr-2 and Zr-3 alloys.Typical martensitic structures were observed in the alloys,and average prior austenite grain sizes of 21.1,15.7,and 14.8µm were obtained for Zr-1,Zr-2,and Zr-3 steels,respectively.However,increasing Zr content of the steels deteriorated their mechanical property,owing to the blocky inclusions.The alloy with 0.01%Zr resulted in excellent mechanical properties due to the fine inclusions and the precipitation of Zr3V3C carbides.Values of 576 and 682 MPa were obtained for the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of Zr-1 alloy,respectively.Furthermore,the ductile–brittle transition temperature of the alloy decreased to−85℃.

Low-temperature mechanical and magnetic properties of the reduced activation martensitic steel

Mechanical and magnetic properties as well as their relationship in the reduced activation martensitic （RAM） steel were investigated in the temperature range from -90℃ to 20℃. Charpy impact tests show that the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature （DBTT） of the RAM steel is about -60℃. Low-temperature tensile tests show that the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and total elongation values increase as temperature decreases, indicating that the strength and plasticity below the DBTT are higher than those above the DBTT. The coercive field （Hc） in the scale of logarithm decreases linearly with the increasing temperature and the absolute value of the slope of InHc versus temperature above the DBTT is obviously larger than that below the DBTT, also confirmed in the T91 steel. The results indicate that the non-destructive magnetic measurement is a promising candidate method for the DBTT detection of ferromagnetic steels.

Effect of heat treatments on Charpy impact properties of 15Cr12MoVWN ferritic/martensitic steel

The Charpy impact properties of 15Cr12MoVWN ferritic/martensitic steel for sodium-cooled reactors with variation in heat treatment factors and parameters are reported.The results show that the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature(DBTT)increased and the upper shelf energy(USE)decreased with increase in normalizing temperature.However,the variation tendency of DBTT and USE was the opposite with increase in tempering temperature.The tempering temperature showed a greater influence on USE than the normalizing temperature,and normalizing and tempering temperatures had the equally significant effects on DBTT,but the cooling method was not a significant factor for DBTT and USE.The prior austenite grain and M_(23)C_(6) size were the main influences on DBTT,and the dislocation density was the main factor affecting the variation of USE.The heat-treatment regime recommended for 15Cr12MoVWN steel was composed of normalizing at 1000-1050℃ for 0.5 h followed by water quenching or air cooling and tempering at 760℃ for 1.5 h.