Development of inclusions in 3104 alloy melt during heating and holding treatments

Developments in the contents of different typical inclusions in 3104 alloy melt were described during heating and holding processing. The settling process of inclusion particles was investigated by measuring the contents of inclusions in the surface, center, and bottom layers of the molten metal. In the results, main inclusions observed and determined by Prefil and PoD FA methods are MgO, Al2O3, spinel（MgAl2O4）, and TiB2 particles or thin films. It is found that some small particles of Al2O3 and MgO are transformed into spinel particles, and the formation rate increases as the temperature and the holding period of melt increase. The content of inclusions increases from 3.37 mm^2×kg^-1 to 7.54 mm^2×kg^-1 and then decreases to 3.08 mm^2×kg^-1 after holding for 90 min. This is attributed to a settling phenomenon and a significant increase in settling velocity after holding for 60 min. The content of inclusion particles decreases by means of settlement and flotation in liquid aluminum with an increase in holding time. The theoretical analysis and experiment results are in essential agreement with those from industrial production.

Effects of composite scale on high temperature oxidation resistance of Fe-Cr-Ni heat resistant alloy

Fe-Cr-Ni heat resistant alloys with aluminum and silicon addition, alone and in combination, were melted using an intermediate frequency induction furnace with a non-oxidation method. By the oxidation weight gain method, the oxidation resistances of the test alloys were determined at 1,200 ℃ for 500 hours. According to the oxidation weight gains, the oxidation kinetic curves were plotted and the functions were regressed by the least squares method. The results show that the oxidation kinetic curves follow the power function of y = ax^b （a〉0, 0〈b〈1）. The effects of scale compositions on oxidation resistance were studied further by analyses using X-ray diffraction （XRD） and scanning electron microscope （SEM）. It is found that the composite scale compounds of Cr203, a-Al2O3, SiO2 and FeCr2O4, with compact structure and tiny grains, shows complete oxidation resistance at 1,200℃. When the composite scale lacks a-Al2O3 or SiO2, it becomes weak in oxidation resistance with a loose structure. By the criterion of standard Gibbs formation free energy, the model of the nucleation and growth of the composite scale is established. The forming of the composite scale is the result of the competition of being oxidized and reduced between aluminum, silicon and the matrix metal elements of iron, chromium and nickel. The protection of the composite scale is analyzed essentially by electrical conductivity and strength properties.

DENDRITE REFINING AND EUTECTIC TRANSFORMATION BEHAVIOR OF NICKEL-BASE SINGLE CRYSTAL (NBSC) SUPERALLOY

ＤＥＮＤＲＩＴＥＲＥＦＩＮＩＮＧＡＮＤＥＵＴＥＣＴＩＣＴＲＡＮＳＦＯＲＭＡＴＩＯＮＢＥＨＡＶＩＯＲＯＦＮＩＣＫＥＬ┐ＢＡＳＥＳＩＮＧＬＥＣＲＹＳＴＡＬ（ＮＢＳＣ）ＳＵＰＥＲＡＬＬＯＹＤｕＷｅｉ（杜炜），ＬｉＪｉｎｓｈａｎ（李金山），ＬｉＪｉａｎｇｕｏ...

Integrated Behavior of Carbon and Copper Alloy Heat Sink Under Different Heat Loads and Cooling Conditions

An actively water-cooled limiter has been designed for the long pulse operation of an HT-7 device, by adopting an integrated structure-doped graphite and a copper alloy heat sink with a super carbon sheet serving as a compliant layer between them. The behaviors of the integrated structure were evaluated in an electron beam facility under different heat loads and cooling conditions. The surface temperature and bulk temperature distribution were carefully measured by optical pyrometers and thermocouples under a steady state heat flux of 1 to 5 MW/m^2 and a water flow rate of 3 m^3/h, 4.5 m^3/h and 6 m^3/h, respectively. It was found that the surface temperature increased rapidly with the heat flux rising, but decreased only slightly with the water flow rate rising. The surface temperature reached approximately 1200℃ at 5 MW/m^2 of heat flux and 6 m^3/h of water flow. The primary experimental results indicate that the integrated design meets the requirements for the heat expelling capacity of the HT-7 device. A set of numerical simulations was also completed, whose outcome was in good accord with the experimental results.

EFFECT OF HEAT TREATMENT ON INTERMEDIATE TEMPERATURE STRESS RUPTURE PROPERTIES OF ALLOY K403

The standard heat treatment of cast nickel base superalloy K403 is the solid solution treatment of 1210℃/4h, air cooling. It is very difficult to meet the requirements of Aviation Standard HB5155, in which the stress rupture life at 750℃ and 645MPa is longer than 50h. The results showed that the intermediate temperature stress rupture properties impaired by treatment of 1210℃/4h were due to precipitation of too small γ′ phase(<0.2μm) in grains and absence of the secondary carbides at grain boundaries. Microstructure containing the intergranular M6C carbides with envelope of γ′ and the residual coarse γ′ was obtained by means of 1180℃/4h treatment, therefore the stress rupture life was obviously increased to meet the demand of HB5155. The effect of γ′ size was also discussed from the view point of deformation mechanism in this paper.

Effects of Sm addition on microstructural evolution of Mg-6Zn-0.4Zr alloy during semi-solid isothermal heat treatment

The application of segmental semi-solid thixoforming of magnesium alloys is confined due to the dimensional distinction existing in solid particles of the alloy billet from edge to center zones. In the present study, the effects of Sm addition on the microstructural evolution of Mg-6Zn-0.4Zr and Mg-6Zn-4Sm-0.4Zr alloys by semi-solid isothermal heat treatment were investigated, to obtain optimum semi-solid microstructures for the subsequently thixoforming. The results indicate that the grains of the Sm-bearing alloy are evidently refined and gradually evolve from dendritic to globular and elliptic particles. In addition, the distinctly dimensional effect of the Mg-6Zn-0.4Zr alloy is eliminated with 4% Sm addition; the particle sizes in all zones from center to the edge of the billet are almost identical. With the increment of isothermal heat treatment temperature, the dendritic microstructures completely disappear, and meanwhile, the irregular and globular particles gradually form. The size, morphology and the distribution of solid particles mainly depend on the formation and permeation of the liquid phase in the process of isothermal heat treatment. As the isothermal temperature increases from 570 °C to 610 °C, the average size and shape factor of solid particles of both the alloys with and without Sm addition gradually decrease while the liquid fraction gradually increases.

Directional solidification and physical properties measurements of the zinc-aluminum eutectic alloy

Zn-5wt% Al eutectic alloy was directionally solidified with different growth rates （5.32-250.0μm/s） at a constant temperature gradient of 8.50 K/mm using a Bridgman-type growth apparatus.The values of eutectic spacing were measured from transverse sections of the samples.The dependences of the eutectic spacing and undercooling on growth rate are determined as λ=9.21V-0.53 and ΔT=0.0245V0.53,respectively.The results obtained in this work were compared with the Jackson-Hunt eutectic theory and the similar experimental results in the literature.Microhardness of directionally solidified samples was also measured by using a microhardness test device.The dependency of the microhardness on growth rate is found as Hv=115.64V0.13.Afterwards,the electrical resistivity （r） of the casting alloy changes from 40×10-9 to 108×10-9 Ω·m with the temperature rising in the range of 300-630 K.The enthalpy of fusion （ΔH） and specific heat （Cp） for the Zn-Al eutectic alloy are calculated to be 113.37 J/g and 0.309 J/（g·K）,respectively by means of differential scanning calorimetry （DSC） from heating trace during the transformation from liquid to solid.

Effect of Post-weld Heat Treatment on Mechanical Characteristics of AZ31 Magnesium Alloy Welded Joints

Tungsten inert gas（TIG） welding was performed on 2.7 mm thick commercial extruded AZ31 B magnesium alloy plates. We investigated the effect of post-weld heat treatment（PWHT） on the microstructure, mechanical properties and precipitated phase of the weld joints. The results showed that during the annealing treatment（200 ℃-1 h, 250 ℃-1 h, 300 ℃-1 h, 350 ℃-1 h, 400 ℃-1 h, and 450 ℃-1 h）, the average grain size in the weld seam was the minimum after annealing at 400 ℃ for 1 hour, and then abnormally grew up after annealing at 450 ℃ for 1 hour. The mechanical properties enhanced when the joints were processed from 200 ℃-1 h to 400 ℃-1 h but sharply decreased with increasing annealing temperature. In contrast to the annealing treatment, solution treatment（250 ℃-10 h, 300 ℃-10 h, 350 ℃-10 h, 400 ℃-10 h, and 450 ℃-10 h） exhibited a better ductility but a slight deterioration in tensile strength. Especially speaking, no eutectic compounds（such as Mg17 Al12） were observed in the weld seam. The supersaturated Al atoms were precipitated in a coarse spherical shape dispersed in the weld seam. The precipitated Al atoms dissolved in the matrix substances at the condition（400 ℃-1 h） or（250 ℃-10 h）. The solution treatment caused grain coarsening and precipitated Al atoms dissolved in the weld seam substantially, which resulted in a drop in micro-hardness at the weld seam compared to the area of the annealed joints.

Synergistic effects of composition and heat treatment on microstructure and properties of vacuum die cast Al-Si-Mg-Mn alloys

The purpose of this study was to prepare high-quality Al-Si-Mg-Mn alloy with a good combination of strength and ductility employing the vacuum-assisted high-pressure die cast process. An orthogonal study of heat treatments was conducted to design an optimized T6 heat treatment process for both Al-10%Si-0.3%Mg-Mn and Al-11%Si-0.6%Mg-Mn alloys. The results demonstrate that no obvious blisters and warpage were observed in these two alloys with solid solution treatment. After the optimal T6 heat treatment of 530°C×3 h + 165°C×6 h, Al-11%Si-0.6%Mg-Mn alloy has better mechanical properties, of which tensile strength, yield strength and elongation reached 377.3 MPa, 307.8 MPa and 9%, respectively. The improvement of mechanical properties can be attributed to the high density of needle-like β″(Mg_5Si_6) precipitation after aging treatment and the fine and spherical eutectic Si particles uniformly distributed in the α-Al matrix.

Behavior of Zr-Rich Phase in a Cast NiAl-33.5Cr-0.5Zr Alloy during Heat Treatment

There are many Zr particles in as-cast NiAl-33.5Cr-0.5Zr (at. pct) alloy, which usually exist at the edge of eutectic of beta -NiAl and cx-Cr. After air and furnace cooling solution treatments, far 1400 degreesC, 2 h and 1450 degreesC, 1 h, pure Zr phase remains in the furnace cooling (F.C.) state alloys and Ni2AlZr phase forms in the air cooling (A.C.) state alloys. During solution treatment at 1450 degreesC, bulk and 'fish bone' shape Zr-rich phases form respectively in F.C. and A.C. state alloys. A 'river' shape Ni2AlZr phase forms after 1450 C for 1h F.C. and 850 degreesC for 12 h, F.C.. The alloy has less pure Zr and Ni2AlZr phase after 1400 degreesC with both air and furnace cooling followed by 850 C and 950 C for 12 h, F.C. aging treatments, respectively. Additionally, there is a ternary eutectic of NiAlZr and a phase enriched Zr and Cr forms at the edge of the eutectic of beta -NiAl and alpha -Cr in the alloy treated at 1400 degreesC, 2 h, F.C. and 950 degreesC, 12 h, F.C.

GRAIN STRUCTURE CONTROL OF NICKEL－BASE SUPERALLOYS IN CASTING PROCESS： EFFECT OF MELT ADDITIONS

Grain structure, dendrite morphologies and shape of MC type carbides ina nickel-base superalloy IN 738 LC are investigated with the addition of carbides,boride, nitride and intermetallic compounds. The results show that the grain size of theingots can be refined extensively to the order of ASTM M11～12 by combination of anintermetallic compound NixAly, addition together with lowering melt homogeneoustreatment temperature during the melting and casting process. In addition, the processcould restrain the formation of script-type carbides. The new process does not changethe phase constitution, freezing characteristics and sub-structure stability. Therefore, itis considered as an effective and practical method of grain refinement for superalloys.

GRAIN STRUCTURE CONTROL OF NICKEL－BASE SUPERALLOYS IN CASTING PROCESS：EFFECT OF FOUNDRY VARIABLES

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THERMAL ANALYSIS STUDY OF Fe-Cr-Mn HEAT RESISTANT ALLOY

Thermal analysis has been adopted to determine the liquidus and eutectic temperature of Fe-20%Cr-Mn alloy over range of Mn and C contents.Using regression analysis,the par- tial quasi-binary phase diagrams of Fe-Mn alloy(solidification range)have been con- structed.And the effect of Mn content on liquidus and eutectic temperature was discussed.

EFFECT OF SOLIDIFICATION RATE ON MICRO－STRUCTURES OF DIRECTIONALLYSOLIDIFIED SUPERALLOY DZ22

The effect of solidification rate on the microstructures of directionallysolidified superalloy DZ22 was studied with the help of a ZMLMC directionalsolidification apparatus which has a superhigh temperature gradient. The results showthat the size and shapes of Y', (Y+Y') and MC change seriously with the increase in cool-ing rate. When the cooling rate is equal to 54.2K . s-1, Y' particles distnbute evenly;eutectic (Y+Y') in group block and MC in block are distributed in the interdendriticzone.

LONG-TERM CREEP AND RUPTURE PROPERTIES OF HEATRESISTING STEELS AND ALLOYS

The present status of NRIM Creep Data Sheet Project and the recent activities of long-term creep and rupture studies on heat resisting steels are described. The project has been continued to produce long-term data such as 100 000h-creep rupture strength for 47 kinds of principal heat resisting steels and alloys, including welded joints. The long-term creep deformation behavior and microstructural evolution during creep have been shown to be complicated.

A study of microstructure and properties of cast Fe-10Cr-1.5B alloy

In the present study, the microstructure and mechanical properties of cast Fe-10Cr-1.5B（FCB） alloy after different heat treatments were studied. The results showed that the as-cast microstructure of FCB alloy consists of α-Fe, M（M=Cr, Fe, Mn）2（B, C） and M（M=Cr, Fe, Mn）7（C, B）3 type borocarbides, and small amounts of pearlite and austenite. After oil quenching treatment, metal matrix transformed into the martensite from the mixture of martensite, pearlite and austenite. There are many M（M=Cr,Fe,Mn）23（C,B）6 type borocarbide precipitates in the metal matrix, and eutectic borocarbide appears with an apparent disconnection and isolated phenomenon. When the quenching temperature reaches 1,050℃, the hardness of FCB alloy is the highest, but the change of quenching temperature has no obvious effect on impact toughness of FCB alloy. After tempering, the eutectic microstructure of FCB alloy appears with a ＂two links＂ trend. With the increase of tempering temperature, the hardness of FCB alloy decreases gradually and impact toughness increases gradually. Cast FCB alloy oil-quenched from 1,050℃ and tempered from 200℃ has excellent combined properties; its hardness and impact toughness are 61.5 HRC and 8.8 J·cm^-2 respectively.

A Calorimetric Study Assisted with First Principle Calculations of Specific Heat for Si-Ge Alloys within a Broad Temperature Range

Calorimetric measurements are performed to determine the specific heat of Si-xat.% Ge(where x = 0, 10, 30,50, 70, 90 and 100) alloys within a broad temperature range from 123 to 823 K. The measured specific heat increases dramatically at low temperatures, and the composition dependence of specific heat is evaluated from the experimental results. Meanwhile, the specific heat at constant volume, the thermal expansion, and the bulk modulus of Si and Ge are investigated by the first principle calculations combined with the quasiharmonic approximation. The negative thermal expansion is observed for both Si and Ge. Furthermore, the isobaric specific heat of Si and Ge is calculated correspondingly from OK to their melting points, which is verified by the measured results and accounts for the temperature dependence in a still boarder range.

Effect of Heat Treatment on the Corrosion Characteristics of Al-Li Alloys

Experiments were conducted to study the general room temperature corrosion characteristics of heat-treated and non-heat-treated Al-Li alloys with different Li compositions. Corrosion rate was measured using both the polarisation method and the weight-loss method. It was observed that the samples with higher Li content had lower corrosion resistance than those with lower Li content. Moreover, for all the specimens tested, it was fOund that heat treatment at 180℃ for 2 h (for the purpose of precipitation hardening) severely reduced the corrosion resistance,whereas heat treatment at 180℃ for 6 h significantly increased the corrosion resistance.

Analysis of Metallographic Characteristics of Aluminum Alloy for Turbocharged Impellers

In this paper, the composition, two-dimensional and three-dimensional microstructure of heat-resistant wrought aluminum alloy with strong oxidation resistance, heat resistance and easy processing are analyzed by using direct reading spectrometer, metallographic microscope and scanning electron microscope. The main alloy elements of heat-resistant forging aluminum alloy include Cu, Mg, Si, Ni and Fe. The α solid solution of each element in aluminum consists of S phase (Al2CuMg), Mg2Si phase, bright gray Al2CuNi phase and dark brown Al9FeNi phase. The distribution of each phase in the aluminum alloy is determined by the three-dimensional energy spectrum analysis of the microstructure, and the distribution of each phase in the crystal position is analyzed. The mechanism of heat resistance, easy processing type and wear resistance is obtained, which provides the theoretical basis for the development and use of heat-resistant forged aluminum alloy.

Effect of Post Weld Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Fracture Toughness of Friction Welded Joint

The effect of post weld heat treatment on the microstructure and fracture toughness of friction welded joints of Ti-6.5Al-1Mo-1V-2Zr alloy was studied. The experimental results show that equiaxial grains were formed at the center of the weld metal while highly deformed grains were observed in the thermomechanically affected zone. The fracture toughness of the weld metal was lower than that of the thermomechanically affected zone under as-weld and post weld heat treatment conditions. With increasing temperature of post weld heat treatment, the fracture toughness of weld center and thermomechanically affected zone increased. The fractographic observation revealed that the friction welded joints fractured in a ductile mode.