MODULATED STRUCTURES AND ORDERING STRUCTURES IN ALLOYING AUSTENITIC MANGANESE STEEL

The microstructure of Fe-10Mn-2Cr-1.5C alloy has been investigated with transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometer. The superlattice diffraction spots and satellite reflection patterns have been observed in the present alloy, which means the appearance of the ordering structure and the modulated structure in the alloy. It is also proved by X-ray diffraction analysis that the austenite in the alloy is more stable than that in traditional austenitic manganese steel. On the basis of this investigation, it is suggested that the C-Mn ordering clusters exist in the austenitic manganese steel and the chromium can strengthen this effect by linking the weaker C-Mn couples together, which may play an important role in work hardening of the austenitic manganese steel.

Effect of Solution Heat Treatment in α+β Phase Region on Shape Memory Characteristics of Cu-Al-Ni-Mn-Ti Alloys

The effect of aluminium content and solution heat treatment in α+β phase region on the shape memory characteristics and mechanical properties of cold wrought Cu-Al-Ni-Mn-Ti alloy are studied in this paper. Results indicate that the transformation temperature (Tt) of Cu-Al-Ni-Mn-Ti alloy reduces obviously with the increase of the amount of α-phase. During aging at 623 K, Tt increases at first up to a peak value, then decreases with prolongation of aging time. Life time of heat resistance of the alloy at high temperatures is improved with increase of the amount of α-phase, this life time becomes poor with Bainite precipitation. When the amount of α-phase is less than 5%, the ratio of shape recovery brought about by the solution heat treatment in α+β phase region is almost not effected. However, plasticity of the alloy increases obviously as aluminium content decreases. We believe that improving cold workability of Cu-Al-Ni-Mn-Ti alloy and keeping good heat resistant property and shape memory effects are possible by means of reducing the content of aluminium and solulion heat treatment in α+β phase region.

Kinetics of discontinuous precipitation in Cu–20Ni–20Mn alloy

The morphology and growth kinetics of discontinuous precipitation （DP） in a Cu-20Ni-20Mn alloy were investigated in the tem- perature range of523-573 K by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. A lamellar mixed structure consisting of alternating larnellae of a matrix and NiMn phase was observed in DP colonies. The volume fraction of regions formed by a DP reaction was determined by quantitative metallographic measurements. The kinetics of DP was evaluated on the basis of the John- son-MehI-Avrami Kohnogorov equation, which resulted in a time exponent of approximately 1.5. We confirmed that the nucleation of the discontinuous precipitate was confined to grain edges or boundaries at an early stage of the reaction. The activation energy of DP process was determined to be approximately （72.7 ± 7.2） kJ/mol based on the Arrhenius equation; this result suggests that DP is controlled by gn-ain boundary diffusion. The hardness values exhibited good correlation with the volume fraction of DP; this correlation was attributed to the plvsence of the ordered N iMn phase.

Effects of aging treatment on the microstructure and superelasticity of columnar-grained Cu71Al18Mn11 shape memory alloy

The effect of aging treatment on the superelasticity and martensitic transformation critical stress in columnar-grained Cu_（71）Al_（18）Mn_（11） shape memory alloy（SMA） at the temperature ranging from 250°C to 400°C was investigated. The microstructure evolution during the aging treatment was characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The results show that the plate-like bainite precipitates distribute homogeneously within austenitic grains and at grain boundaries. The volume fraction of bainite increases with the increase in aging temperature and aging time, which substantially improves the martensitic transformation critical stress of the alloy, whereas the bainite only slightly affects the superelasticity. This behavior is attributed to a coherent relationship between the bainite and the austenite, as well as to the bainite and the martensite exhibiting the same crystal structure. The variations of the martensitic transformation critical stress and the superelasticity of columnar-grained Cu_（71）Al_（18）Mn_（11） SMA with aging-temperature and aging time are described by the Austin-Rickett equation, where the activation energy of bainite precipitation is 77.2 kJ ·mol1. Finally, a columnar-grained Cu_（71）Al_（18）Mn_（11） SMA with both excellent superelasticity（5%-9%） and high martensitic transformation critical stress（443-677 MPa） is obtained through the application of the appropriate aging treatments.

Mn-based permanent magnets

Mn-based intermetallic compounds have attracted much attention due to their fascinating structural and physical properties, especially their interesting hard magnetic properties. In this paper, we have summarized the magnetic and structural properties of Mn-based intermetallic compounds（Mn X, where X = Al, Bi, and Ga）. Various methods for synthesizing single phases of MnAl, MnBi, and Mnx Ga were developed in our lab. A very high saturation magnetization of 125 emu/g,coercivity of 5 kOe, and maximum energy product（BH）max of 3.1 MG·Oe were achieved at room temperature for the pure τ-Mn–Al magnetic phase without carbon doping and the extrusion process. Low temperature phase（LTP） MnBi with a purity above 95 wt.% can be synthesized. An abnormal temperature coefficient of the coercivity was observed for the LTP MnBi magnet. Its coercivity increased with temperature from 100 K to 540 K, reached a maximum of 2.5 T at about540 K, and then decreased slowly to 1.8 T at 610 K. The positive temperature coefficient of the coercivity is related to the evolution of the structure and magnetocrystalline anisotropy field of the LTP MnBi phase with temperature. The LTP MnBi bonded magnets show maximum energy products（BH）max of 8.9 MG·Oe（70 kJ/m^3） and 5.0 MG·Oe（40 k J/m^3） at room temperature and 400 K, respectively. Ferrimagnetic Mnx Ga phases with L10 structures（x 〈 2.0） and D022 structures（x 〉 2.0） were obtained. All of the above structures can be described by a D0（22） supercell model in which 2 a-Ga and 2 b-Mn are simultaneously substituted. The tetragonal D0（22） phases of the Mnx Ga show high coercivities ranging from 7.2 kOe for low Mn content x = 1.8 to 18.2 kOe for high Mn content x = 3 at room temperature. The Mn（1.2） Ga sample exhibits a room temperature magnetization value of 80 emu/g. The hard magnetic properties of coercivityiHc = 3.5 kOe, remanence Mr = 43.6 emu/g, and（BH）max = 2.5 MG·Oe were obtained at room temperature. Based on the above studies, we believe that Mn-based magnetic materials could be promising candidates for rare earth free permanent magnets exhibiting a high Curie temperature, high magnetocrystalline anisotropy, and very high coercivity.

Investigations of a nanostructured FeMnSi shape memory alloy produced via severe plastic deformation

Low-cost iron-based shape memory alloys（SMAs） show great potential for engineering applications. The developments of new processing techniques have recently enabled the production of nanocrystalline materials with improved properties. These developments have opened avenues for newer applications for SMAs. The influence of severe plastic deformation induced by the high-speed high-pressure torsion（HSHPT） process on the microstructural evolution of an Fe–Mn–Si–Cr alloy was investigated. Transmission electron microscopic analysis of the alloy revealed the existence of nanoscale grains with an abundance of stacking faults. The high density of dislocations characteristic of severe plastic deformation was not observed in this alloy. X-ray diffraction studies revealed the presence of ε-martensite with an HCP crystal structure and γ-phase with an FCC structure.

Direct smelting process for stainless steel crude alloy recovery from mixed low-grade chromite, nickel laterite and manganese ores

Stainless steel crude alloy recovery from direct smelting of low-grade chromite, nickel laterite and manganese ores was investigated. The mixed low-grade ores were directly smelted in an elevator furnace at smelting temperatures ranging from 1550 to 1600 ℃. Smelting experiments were conducted in a laboratory elevator furnace equipped with 8 U-shaped high- quality molybdenum disilicide heating elements. A low-grade coal was used as the reductant. Experimental results showed that the recovery of Fe, Cr, Ni, Mn and Si within the alloy increased from 34.22, 60.27, 57.14, 25.42 and 13.02% to 69.91, 99.26, 86.02, 60.8 and 34.21%, respectively, when the temperature was increased from 1550 to 1600 ℃. There was a general increase in the total recoveries of Fe, Cr, and Ni in the alloy with CaO addition increasing from 0.4 g up to 1.2 g. However, the recoveries of Mn and Si vividly decreased as the CaO contents were increased. In general, the recoveries of the metal contents of the crude alloy increase with the increase in the amount of manganese ore. Compared to the recoveries of Fe, Cr, and Ni when CaO was added, the recoveries of Fe, Cr and Ni were lower when manganese ore was used as an additive.

Manufacturing of Long Products Made of Innovative Lightweight Materials

The processing of innovative lightweight materials to sheet metal components and assemblies with globally or locally defined properties is the object of this work. It takes a load-dependent design of components and assemblies, for example, based on the composition of different construction materials or a targeted setting of component areas with specified characteristics to fully exploit the lightweight potential when substituting conventionally used materials. Different process chains for the manufacturing of roll-formed long products made of magnesium alloys and high-strength steels with locally defined properties will be presented in this paper. Depending on the kind of material to be formed and the desired product characteristics, different temperature managements are needed for capable processes. Due to limited formability at room temperature, magnesium alloys require a heating of the forming zones above 200–225 °C throughout the bending process in order to activate additional gliding planes and to avoid any failures in the radii. The realization of local hardening effects requires at least one process-integrated heat treatment when roll forming manganese–boron steels. For both processes, it is imperative to realize a heating and cooling down or quenching appropriate for the manufacturing of long products with the required quality. Additionally, proper line speeds that allow a continuously operated economical production have to be considered. Research results including design, FEA, realization and experimentation of the mentioned process chains and strategies will be described in detail.