Effect of forging on the microstructure and texture of a high Nb containing γ-TiAl alloy

The effect of forging on the microstructure and texture evolution of a high Nb containing Ti-45Al-7Nb-0.3W(at.%)alloy was investigated by X-ray diffractometer(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).The results show that the as-cast alloy is mainly composed of α_(2)/γ lamellar colonies with a mean size of 70μm,but the hot-forged pancake displays a near duplex microstructure(DP).Kinking and bending of lamellar colonies,deformation twinning and dynamic recrystallization(DRX)occur during hot forging.Meanwhile,dense dislocations in theβphase after forging suggest that the high-temperature β phase with a disordered structure is favorable for improving the hot-workability of the alloy.Unlike the common TiAl casting texture,the solidification process of the investigated as-cast alloy with high Nb content is completely via the β phase region,resulting in the formation of a<110>γ fiber texture where the<110>γ aligns parallel to the heat-flow direction.In comparison,the relatively strong<001>and weak<302>texture components in the as-forged alloy are attributed to the deformation twinning.After annealing,static recrystallization occurs at the twin boundary and intersections,which weakens the deformation texture.

Numerical simulation on forging process of TC4 alloy mounting parts

In order to eliminate forging defects appearing in production,based on the rigid-viscoplastic FEM principle,the DEFORM3D software package was employed to simulate the forming process of TC4 alloy mounting part and to optimize the process parameters.In this simulation,the temperature dependency of the thermal and mechanical properties of material was considered.Based on the simulation,the metal flow and thermomechanical field variables such as stress and damage are obtained.The simulation results show that the forging defects are caused by improper die dimension and the optimized die dimension was proposed.To verify the validity of simulation results,forging experiments were also carried out in a forging plant.The forging experiments show that the optimized die dimension can ensure the quality of forging part,and it can provide reference to improve and optimize die design process.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of TiC nanoparticle-reinforced Mg−Zn−Ca matrix nanocomposites processed by combining multidirectional forging and extrusion

TiC nanoparticle-reinforced Mg−4Zn−0.5Ca matrix nanocomposites were processed by combining multidirectional forging(MDF)and extrusion(EX).The grain size of the nanocomposite after MDF+EX multi-step deformation was significantly decreased compared with that processed only by MDF.The average size of the recrystallized grains gradually increased after EX with increasing the number of MDF passes at 270℃.However,the grain size significantly decreased by MDF processing at 310℃.Both fine and coarse MgZn2 phases appeared in the(MDF+EX)-processed nanocomposites,and their volume fractions gradually increased with increasing the number of MDF passes before EX.Ultrahigh tensile properties(yield strength of^404 MPa,ultimate tensile strength of^450.3 MPa and elongation of^5.2%)were obtained in the nanocomposite after three MDF passes at 310℃ followed by EX.This was attributed to the refinement of the recrystallized grains,together with the improved Orowan strengthening provided by the precipitated MgZn2 particles that were generated by MDF+EX multi-step deformation.

Fabrication and densification enhancement of SiC-particulate-reinforced copper matrix composites prepared via the sinter-forging process

The fabrication of copper （Cu） and copper matrix silicon carbide （Cu/SiCp） particulate composites via the sinter-forging process was investigated. Sintering and sinter-forging processes were performed under an inert Ar atmosphere. The influence of sinter-forging time, temperature, and compressive stress on the relative density and hardness of the prepared samples was systematically investigated and subsequently compared with that of the samples prepared by the conventional sintering process. The relative density and hardness of the composites were enhanced when they were prepared by the sinter-forging process. The relative density values of all Cu/SiCp composite samples were observed to decrease with the increase in SiC content.

Thixo-forging and simulation of complex parts of aluminum alloy AlSi7Mg

In order to investigate the formability of metal material in semisolid state, a series of experiments were carried out by thixo-forging the complex part of aluminum alloy AlSi7Mg. Through changing the upper punch, aluminum parts with different upper-cup dimensions can be successfully produced. The numerical simulation was conducted for investigating the forming limits of AlSi7Mg during thixo-forging. It is found that the simulation result is in good agreement with the experiment one.

STUDY ON THE NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF MULTI-STAGE ROTARY FORGING OF A NON-AXISYMMETRIC PART AND THE CAE ANALYSIS OF THE DIE STRENGTH

Traditionally a rotary forging process is a kind of metal forming method where a conic upper die, whose axis is deviated an angle from the axis of machine, forges a billet continuously and partially to finish the whole deformation. For the rotary forging process simulation, more researches were focused on simulating the simple stage forming process with axisymmetric part geometry. Whereas in this paper, the upper die is not cone-shaped, and the billet is non-axisymmetric. So the movement of the punch is much more complicated than ever. The 3D FEM simulation models for the preforming ＆ final forming processes are set up aider carefully studying the complicated movement pattern. Deform-3D is used to simulate the material flow, and the boundary nodal resisting forces calculated by the final stage process simulation is used to analyze the final forming die strength. The CAE analysis of the die shows that the design of the final forming die is not reasonable with lower pre-stress which is easy to crack at the critical corners. An optimum die design is also provided with higher pre-stress, and verified by CAE analysis.

Japan and India: Forging the “Strategic and Global Partnership”

From August 21 to 23, 2007, Shinzo Abe, then Japanese prime minister, paid a three-day visit to the Republic of

Optimizing Hot Forging Process Parameters of Hollow Parts Using Tubular and Cylindrical Workpiece： Numerical Analysis and Experimental Validation

CAE （computer aided engineering） evaluates the forging process virtually to optimize the industrial production. The numerical and experimental investigations of forging process of a hollow part are important in industrial point of view. This study has been focused on the development of a 3D elastic-plastic FEM （finite element model） of hot forging to evaluate the forming process of hollow parts. The validity of this method was verified through a laboratory experiment using aluminum alloy （AA6351） with medium geometric complexity. The distributions of effective strain, temperature, metal flow and strength were analyzed for two different initial workpieces （tubular and cylindrical）. It was observed that both initial workpieces can be used to produce the final hollow part using the numerical simulation model. The results showed that the numerical analyses predict, filling cavity, calculated strength, work temperature and material flow were in agreement with the experimental results. However, some problems such as air trapping in the die causing incomplete filling could not be predicted and this problem was resolved experimentally by drilling small holes for air release in the dies.

Effect of nitrogen content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of titanium-bearing nonquenched and tempered steel after hot forging

The microstructure and mechanical properties of titanium(Ti)-bearing medium-carbon nonquenched and tempered steel with different nitrogen content before and after hot forging were investigated through smelting,forging,and laboratory tests.The results show that the grain size of nonquenched and tempered steel was gradually refined,and the ferrite content gradually increased with an increase in nitrogen content.The grain size of the material with low nitrogen content increased abnormally,and its impact properties significantly decreased after hot forging.The grain size of nonquenched and tempered steel with higher nitrogen content was slightly larger than that before forging,and the tensile and yield strength increased,but the impact toughness was not significantly reduced.The Ti-bearing nonquenched and tempered steel showed better strength and toughness after hot forging with the addition of 0.010%0.015%nitrogen.

Forging a Dynamic Partnership

With the rapid development of China-Africa relations in recent years, high-level exchange visits be- tween China and African countries have also increased accordingly. Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People＇s Congress （NPC）, traveled to Africa in mid-September in the latest of these exchange visits. In a written interview with ChinAfrica, Fu Ying, Chairwoman of the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee, shared her views on some of the benefits and challenges facing these relations and the role of Chairman Zhang＇s visit in continuing to develop these ties. Excerpts of this interview follow：

Microstructure and mechanical properties of TC21 titanium alloy by near-isothermal forging

Microstructure and tensile properties of TC21 titanium alloy after near-isothermal forging with different parameters plus solution treatment and aging were investigated. It is found that the residual β matrix, which was strengthened by fine secondary α platelets forming during aging, exists in all the samples; while primary equiaxed α phase, bent lamellar α phase and α plates are simultaneously or individually present in one sample. The strength of alloy increases proportionally with increasing the content of residual β matrix, which is the result of increasing α/β interphase boundary. The plasticity of alloy has a downward trend as the content of residual β matrix increases. This attributes to the increase of fine secondary α platelets, which are cut by dislocations during the deformation. Additionally, coarse α plates with long axis parallel to the maximum resolved shear stress（MRSS） also reduce the plasticity of TC21 alloy.

Homogenization on microstructure and mechanical properties of 2A50 aluminum alloy prepared by liquid forging

The homogenization on microstructure and mechanical properties of 2A50 aluminum alloy prepared by liquid forging was investigated.Wheel hubs were produced using direct and compound loading.The results show that the microstructure and mechanical properties are inhomogeneous in direct forged samples.The microstructure of the wall is coarser than that of the base,and the mechanical properties are lower and some defects are detected at the wheel corner.Using compound loading,the microstructure and mechanical properties of the wall are improved evidently.With increasing feeding amount,the microstructure and mechanical properties become more homogeneous.The defects disappear when the feeding amount is 4 mm.The forged wheel hubs could obtain fine and homogeneous microstructure with grain size of 20-30 μm,tensile strength of 355 MPa and elongation of 10% when the feeding amount is 10 mm.The microstructure and mechanical properties of liquid forged workpieces could be controlled and homogenized using compound loading.

Structure uniformity and limits of grain refinement of high purity aluminum during multi-directional forging process at room temperature

The effect of forging passes on the refinement of high purity aluminum during multi-forging was investigated. The attention was focused on the structure uniformity due to deformation uniformity and the grain refinement limitation with very high strains. The results show that the fine grain zone in the center of sample expands gradually with the increase of forging passes. When the forging passes reach 6, an X-shape fine grain zone is initially formed. With a further increase of the passes, this X-shape zone tends to spread the whole sample. Limitation in the structural refinement is observed with increasing strains during multi-forging process at the room temperature. The grains size in the center is refined to a certain size （110 μm as forging passes reach 12, and there is no further grain refinement in the center with increasing the forging passes to 24. However, the size of the coarse grains near the surface is continuously decreased with increasing the forging passes to 24.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of isothermal multi-axial forging formed AZ61 Mg alloy

Microstructure and mechanical properties of AZ61 Mg alloy during isothermal multi-axial forging （MAF） were studied. The mechanisms of grain refinement and relationship between the microstructures and mechanical properties were discussed. The results show that the average grain size decreases with increasing the number of MAF passes. The grains are significantly refined at the 1st and 2nd MAF passes, and gradually refined at higher MAF passes. The initial grain size of 148 lam decreases to about 14 gm after 6 MAF passes. The grain refinement occurs mainly by continuous dynamic recrystallization. With increasing the MAF passes, both the tensile strength and the elongation to failure of the alloy are significantly enhanced.

Influence of forging process on microstructure and mechanical properties of large section Ti-6.5Al-1Mo-1V-2Zr alloy bars

The mechanical properties, microstructure and tensile fracture of Ti-6.5AI-IMo-IV-2Zr large section bars produced by three diffrent forging processes were investigated. The results show that when billet forging and finish forging were conducted by means of fullering at high and low temperature of r-region, respectively; the microstructure of forged bar is coarse Widmanstaten structure; the mechanical properties, especially the reduction of cross-sectional area, are poor, and the room temperature tensile fracture presents a brittle feature. While billet forging was carried out by upset-fullering at high temperature of the r-region, and finish forging was proceeded through fullering at （a＋fl）-region, the microstructure of forged bar was a duplex structure, the bar has better comprehensive mechanical properties, and the room temperature tensile fracture reveals a ductile feature. In order to obtain qualified Ti-6.SAI-IMo-IV-2Zr alloy bar, it is the key that as-cast microstructure should be completely broken during billet forging, and the forging temperature and deformation are also well controlled upon finishing forging.

Numerical simulation and physical analysis for dynamic behaviors of P/M TiAl alloy in hot-packed forging process

The hot forging of large-scale P/M TiAl alloy billet deformation was investigated based on a joint application of Deform-3D-based numerical simulation and physical simulation techniques.The temperature dependence on the thermal and mechanical properties of the billet was considered and the optimum hot working temperature of packed TiAl alloy was 1150-1200 °C.Based on the simulation,the material flow and thermo mechanical field variables,such as stress,strain,and temperature distribution were obtained and the relationships of load—displacement and load—time were figured out.To verify the validity of the simulation results,the experiments were also carried out in a forging plant,and a pancake with diameter of 150 mm was obtained exhibiting a regular shape.

Comparison of microstructures and mechanical properties between forging and rolling processes for commercially pure titanium

In order to reveal the differences caused by forging and rolling process for titanium ingots, hot compression behavior, mechanical properties and the microstructures of forged billets and rolled ones were investigated in detail using Gleeble-1500 thermal mechanical simulator, universal testing machine and optical microscope （OM）. The compression deformation experimental data of commercially pure titanium （CP-Ti） were mapped to be a T vs lg diagram in which data fall into three distinct regions, i.e., three-stage work hardening, two-stage work hardening and flow softening, which can be separated by border lines at 17.5 and 15.4 for lg Z, where Z represents the Zener-Hollomon parameter. The deformation twin is found to have higher Z-value corresponding to the work hardening region. The differences in microstructures and mechanical properties for two kinds of billets indicate that forged billet consists of deformation twins and some twin intersections, and many twins cross the grain boundaries. However, nearly no twins can be seen in the microstructure of billet formed by rolling under optical microscope （OM）, but there are equiaxed and platelike grains. Tensile tests and Vickers hardness test indicate that yield strength, tensile strength and microhardness of the samples after forging are higher than those after rolling.

Tensile properties and microstructure of Ti14 alloy after semi-solid forging

Tensile properties of a new α＋Ti2Cu alloy after solid forging at 950 °C and semi-solid forging at 1 000 °C and 1 050 °C were investigated over the temperature range of 20-600 °C. The results reveal that high strength and low ductility are obtained in all semi-solid forged alloys. Tensile properties decrease as the semi-solid forging temperature increases, and cleavage fractures are observed after semi-solid forging at 1 050 °C. The variations in tensile properties are attributed to the coarse microstructures obtained in the semi-solid alloys. It is found that the elevated semi-solid temperatures lead to more liquid precipitates along the prior grain boundaries, which increases the peritectic precipitation and formation of Ti2Cu precipitation zones during re-solidification. Recrystallization heat treatment leads to fine microstructure of semi-solid forged alloys, resulting in improvement of tensile properties.

基于Simufact Forging高铁轮毂锻压成形工艺仿真

基于Simufact Forging有限元分析软件对高铁轮毂成形过程进行了仿真,着重研究了轮毂辗扩过程中的等效塑性应变、等效应力及材料流动。结果表明:高铁轮毂在辗扩过程中材料整体变形基本一致,可以获得较好的力学性能;随着锻压成形不断的进行,轮毂内圈塑性应变逐渐变大;成形过程中整个轮毂应力分布较为均匀。

Simulation-Based Investigation of Crack Formation in Forged MB15 Magnesium Alloy

In the process of riveting an MB15 forging die,cracks were discovered emerging along the longitudinal direction and near the riveting hole.Through fracture analysis,microscopic observation,energy spectrum analysis,metallographic examination,and hardness test,the properties and causes of the cracks are discussed.The results indicate that the cracking type is intergranular brittle cracking,occurring during the forging stage.Furthermore,the recrystallization at the crack site is found to be incomplete,which is attributed to the low deformation temperature.