Effect of Ce-rich rare earth on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-10Zn-5Al-0.1Sb magnesium alloy

To improve the comprehensive mechanical properties of Mg-10Zn-5Al-0.1Sb magnesium alloy, different amount of Ce-rich rare earth （RE） was added to the alloy, and the effect of RE addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-10Zn-5Al-0.1Sb alloy was investigated by means of Brinell hardness measurement, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, energy dispersive spectroscope （EDS） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The results show that an appropriate amount of Ce-rich rare earth addition can make the AI4Ce phase particles and CeSb phase disperse more evenly in the alloy. These phases refine the alloy＇s matrix and make the secondary phases [τ-Mg32（AI,Zn）49 phase and φ-Al2MgsZn2 phase] finer and more dispersive, therefore significantly improve the mechanical properties of the Mg-10Zn-5AI-0,1Sb alloy. When the RE addition is 1.0 wt.%, the tensile strengths of the alloy both at room temperature and 150℃ reach the maximum values while the impact toughness is slightly lower than that of the matrix alloy. The hardness increases with the increase of RE addition.

Effect of rare earth addition on microstructural,mechanical and electrical characteristics of Cu-6% Fe microcomposites

Cu-6%Fe（mass fraction） microcomposites containing（0-0.30）% rare earth elements were prepared by cold drawing and intermediate heat treatments.Microstructure was observed, and mechanical properties and electrical conductivity were measured for alloys at various drawing strain levels.Adding rare earth elements could reduce the size of primary Fe and Cu dendrites of Cu-6%Fe.Ultimate tensile strength increased but electrical conductivity decreased with the increase of drawing strain.Rare earth additions in Cu-6%Fe slightly increased the strength at low strain and effectively improved the conductivity at high strain.Both strain hardening rate and conductivity loss of Cu-6%Fe containing rare earths were reduced at lower strain than Cu-6%Fe.

Effects of Rare Earth on Structure and Mechanical Properties of Clean BNbRE Steel

The mechanisms of RE in clean BNbRE steel were studied by means of experimental measurement, microstructural observation and theoretical analysis. For BNbRE steel, the state and the content of RE were measured, and the effects and the mechanisms of RE on sulfide inclusions, microstructure and properties of steel were determined. On the condition of increasing the cleanliness of steel, the mechanisms of RE in steel were changed to certain degree. Small amount of RE has the effect of cleaning, modifying inclusions and alloying in clean steel, too. With increasing the cleanliness of BNbRE steel, addition of RE should be decreased properly. Under experimental conditions, the optimum addition of RE is -0.01 % （mass fraction） for clean BNbRE steel, while RE can evidently improve plasticity and impact toughness of BNbRE steel.

Effect of rare earth on the microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast Cu-30Ni alloy

Cu-30Ni-xRE （x = 0-0.213） alloys were prepared by a metal mould casting method. The effect of RE on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloys was investigated using optical microscope, scanning electronic microscope with energy-dispersive spectrometer, X-ray diffraction, and mechanical test. The results show that RE has obvious effect on refining dendrite structure and grain size, as well as on purifying the melting of Cu-30Ni alloy. With the increase of RE content, the ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation increase at first and then decrease after adding RE more than 0.095 wt.%. Cu-30Ni-0.095RE alloy possesses preferable mechanical properties, i.e., the ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation are 308 MPa, 125 MPa, and 51.2%, respectively. The microstructure and mechanical properties are worsened with increasing RE content more than 0.095 wt.%. The improvement of mechanical properties of Cu-30Ni-0.095RE alloy is attributed to RE refining microstructure and purifying the matrix.

Effect of rare earths on mechanical properties of plasma nitrocarburized surface layer of 17-4PH steel

The aim of this investigation is to reveal the influence of rare earths(RE) addition on mechanical properties of plasma nitrocarburized 17-4PH steel.The nitrocarburized layers were characterized by optical microscope,scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray analyzer,X-ray diffractometer,microhardness tester and pin-on-disc tribometer.The results showed that RE atoms could diffuse into the surface layer of 17-4PH steel plasma nitrocarburized at 500 °C for 4 h and did not change the ...

Study of rare earth element effect on microstructures and mechanical properties of an Al-Cu-Mg-Si cast alloy

The improvements of microstructures and properties of a high strength aluminum cast alloy were studied. The effects of rare earth elements on the microstructures and mechanical properties of the high strength cast alloy Al-Cu-Mg-Si were investigated. The result shows that the addition of rare earth elements can change the microstructures in refining the grain size of the alloy and making the needle-like and laminar eutectic Si to a granular Si. With the increase of the rare earth, the tensile strength and elongation of the alloy increase first and then fall down. The mechanical properties of the alloy will reach the highest value when the content of rare earth elements is about 0.7%.

Influences of Molybdenum and Rare Earth on Mechanical Properties of ZG30Cr

Alloying is an important method to improve properties of casts. The influences of Mo and RE on the mechanical properties of ZG30Cr were investigated in this work. A good comprehensive mechanical properties of the alloy with 0.3% Mo and 0.1% RE were obtained. The elongation, tensile strength, impact toughness and hardness of the alloy reaches 7. 21%, 577.49 MPa, 91.7 J·cm-2 and HRC 24.6, respectively.

Effect of rare earth La_2O_3 on the microstructure and mechanical properties of TiC/W composites

In this study, La2O3 was investigated as an additive to TiC/W composites. The composites were prepared by vacuum hot pressing, and the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. Experimental results show that the grain size of the TiC/W composites is reduced by TiC particles. When 0.5 wt.% La2O3 is added to the composites, the grain size is reduced further. According to TEM analysis, La2O3 can alleviate the aggregation of TiC particles. With La2O3 addition, the relative density of the TiC/W composites can be improved from 95.1% to 96.5%. The hardness and elastic modulus of the TiC/W ＋ 0.5 wt.% La2O3 composite are little improved, but the flexural strength and the fracture toughness increase to 796 MPa and 10.07 MPa·m^1/2 respectively, which are higher than those of the TiC/W composites.

Room-Temperature Mechanical Properties of Rare Earths Reinforced MoSi_2 Material

MoSi 2 and rare earths/MoSi 2 materials were prepared by mechanical alloying, IP and high temperature sintering techniques. Their room temperature properties such as bending strength, fracture toughness and electric conductivity were measured. The results show that rare earths have better strengthening and toughening effects on the MoSi 2 matrix than SiC does. The room temperature bending strength and fracture toughness of 0 9% rare earths/MoSi 2 material are 419 41 MPa and 5 81 MPa·m 1/2 , which have increased by 46% and 81% than the matrix, respectively. The strengthening mechanisms of rare earths/MoSi 2 are fine grain and dispersion strengthening. The toughening mechanisms are fine grain toughening, crack deflection and bowing toughening. Moreover, the effect of rare earths on the electric conductivity of MoSi 2 is much weaker than that of SiC whiskers. With the addition of 0 9% rare earths, the resistivity of MoSi 2 is only raised by about 13 9%.

Influence of Rare Earth on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 5Cr21Mn9Ni4N Steel

The influence of different rare earth amounts on microstructure and mechanical properties of 5Cr21Mn9Ni4N steel was studied. The microstructure and composition and shape of inclusions under as-cast, as well as hot rolling state of 5Cr21Mn9Ni4N steel were observed under metallographic microscope and SEM. The results indicate that dendrite of as-cast condition is refined obviously, the extent of segregation is lightened, dimension of inclusions is lessened, and the shape of inclusions is changed from polygon to ellipse when appropriate amount of mixed rare earth is added. Appropriate rare earth also can lighten the extent of hot rolling texture and improve distribution of carbide under hot rolling state. The results of room temperature and 500 ℃ tensile test show that room temperature tensile strength is firstly improved and then appreciably descended. The elongation percentage decreased with the increase of rare earth amount. Appropriate rare earth amount can improve the high temperature tensile strength and ductility of 5Cr21Mn9Ni4N. Fracture surface observation and energy spectrum analysis indicate that complicated rare earth inclusions appear in the fracture surface when 0.10% (mass fraction) rare earth is added in experimental steels, and tough nests of fracture surface become fine without big hole.

Composition,Processing Technology and Property of Ceramic Die Materials Containing Rare Earth Additives

Development and application of new ceramic die materials is one of the important topics in the field of die research. The composition, processing technology, mechanical property and engineering performance of the ceramic materials such as cermet, ZTA, TZP, TZP/Al2O3, TZP/TiC/Al2O3, PSZ and Sialon, etc., with rare earth yttrium, lanthanum and cerium, and so on working as additives, were investigated and analyzed in the present study. Problems existed in the research and application of rare earth ceramic die materials were discussed. Rare earth additives can effectively improve the mechanical property and engineering performance of ceramic die materials. Thus, it will have further perspectives of wider application. More attention should be paid in the future to the toughening and strengthening of the ceramic die materials, the adding forms and kinds of rare earth elements and acting mechanisms of rare earth additives in ceramic die materials.

Effect of Rare Earths on Mechanical Properties and Microstructures of Si_3N_4-based Ceramics

The effects of Y2O3d, La2O3 and Nd2O3 on the mechanical properties and microstructures of Si3N4-hased ceramics were studied. It shows that a significant improvement in mechanical properties can be obtained by adding rare earths oxides in Si3N4. The fracture toughness and the fie-cural strength of Si3N4 added with both Y2O3 and La2O3 are 7. 8 MPa.m1/2 and 962 MPa, respectively. The main reason is that adding rare earths in Si3N4 can improve the microstructure of the material and increase the aspect ratio of β-Si3N4 grain.

Influence of Heating Temperature on Property of Low Chromium Wear Resistant Cast Iron Containing Rare Earth

The influence of heating temperature on mechanical properties of low chromium wear resistant cast iron containing rare earth elements was studied by means of metallographic examination, scanning electron microscopic examination and mechanical property test. The experimental results show that heating temperature has great effect on impact toughness (α_k), bending fatigue (σ_(bb)) and relative toughness (σ_(bb)×f), but little effect on hardness (HRC). When the specimen was held at 960 ℃ for 3 h, it has better comprehensive mechanical properties, and the reason and regularity of the change for mechanical properties of the cast iron were reviewed.

Influence of Rare Earth Elements on Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Resistance of Cu-15Ni Alloy

In order to improve the mechanical property and Cl- ＋ S2- corrosion resistance of B15 copper.nickel alloy, Cu.15Ni-xRE （x： 0-0.1% by weight） alloy was prepared by adding rare earth （RE） in melted Cu-15Ni alloy using metal mould casting method. Optical microscopy（ OM）, electronic tensile testing machine, X-ray diffraction （ XRD ）, scanning electron microscope （ SEM ）, and electrochemical testing system were used to analyze mechanical property, corrosion resistance property, and surface microstructure of different treatment samples. The results of OM and tensile testing show that the RE addition can effectively deoxidize the alloy melt and the microstructura of the alloy changes from coarse dendrite to small equlaxed grain. By addition of 0.05 % RE, the tensile strength and elongation of Cu-15Ni alloys are improved from 294 MPa to 340 MPa, and 8 % to 33.5 % respectively. The results of electrochemical testing show that the corrosion resistance of Cu-15Ni alloy is greatly improved by adding proper amount of RE, whereas excess addition of RE worsens the corrosion resistance. The optimum RE content was about 0.05 % by weight. In comparison with the alloy without RE, the corrosion potential and corrosion current density of Cu-15Ni alloy containing proper RE decreased by about - 0. 28 V and 70 A/cm2, respectively.

Effect of Trace La Addition on the Microstructure and Mechanical Property of As-cast ADC12 Al-Alloy

The effects of addition of La on the microstructure of as-cast ADC12 A1-Alloy were investigated by using optical microscope （OM）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscope （SEM）, and energy disperse spectroscopy （EDS）. The experimental results showed that the a-A1 and eutectic Si crystals were modified with the addition of 0.3 wt% La. The eutectic Si crystals showed a granular distribution. At the same time, the alloy possessed the best mechanical property. When more than 0.3 wt% La was added to ADC12 aluminum alloy, the microstructure of as-cast alloy was coarsening gradually with the increase of the content of La and the mechanical property decreased. The effect of rare earth La which was added in ADC 12 A1-Alloy for up to 0.9 wt% had been investigated in this study. The dendrites ofADC12 Al-alloy was refined obviously and the morphology of Si crystals showed a particle structure when the addition of La reached 0,3 wt%. Besides, the acicular La-rich intermetallics in the alloy deteriorated the mechanical property of alloy： To avoid this unwanted phase, the amount of added rare earth La must be less than 0.6 wt%.

Effects of Rare Earths on Toughness of 31Mn2SiRE Wear- Resistance Cast Steel

The toughness of 31Mn2SiRE wear-resistance cast steel were increased by means of RE compound modification and high temperature austenitizing. The results show that the microstructures can be refined, needle and network ferrite are eliminated, the dislocation density and the quantity of dislocated martensite are increased remarkably, and the shape and distribution of inclusions are improved by the addition of RE. Therefore, the mechanical properties of the modified steel can be greatly increased, especially the toughness (αK) by 44%, yield strength (σs) by 10%, and elongation (δ5) by 42%.

Synthesis, Characterization and Vulcanizing Properties of Rare Earth Complexes with 2-Mercaptobenthiazole

Eight complexes of rare earth with 2 mercaptobenthiazole, RELCl 2·RE(OH) 3· x H 2O (L=2 mercaptobenthiazole, RE= La～Gd, Y, except for Pm, x =0, 2～4), were synthesized in unhydrous ethanol and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra and thermal analyses. The results show that the ligand is coordinated to the RE ion through both the exocyclic sulfur and the thiazole nitrogen. The vulcanizing properties of the La complex as accelerator were studied in the traditional tire rubber, which indicate that the cross linked rubber accelerated by the rare earth complex has good physical and dynamic mechanical properties by comparison.

Improvement of Ductility of Powder Metallurgy Titanium Alloys by Addition of Rare Earth Element

Ti-4.5Al-6.0Mo-1.5Fe, Ti-6Al-1Mo-1Fe and Ti-6Al-4V alloys were prepared by blended elemental powder metallurgy （PM） process, and the effects of Nd on the microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. It was found out that the addition of Nd increased the density of sintered titanium alloys slightly by a maximum increment of 1% because small amount of liquid phase occurred during sintering. The addition of Nd shows little effect on the improvement of tensile strength, while the elongation is significantly improved. For example, the elongation of Ti-4.SAl-6.0Mo-1.5Fe can be increased from 1% without addition of Nd to 13% at a Nd content of 1.2 wt pct.

Effect of Rare Earth Elements on Anisotropy and Microstructure of Al-Li Alloy 2195 Sheets

For the purpose of decreasing the applied limitation resulting from the anisotropic mechanical property of Al-Li alloy 2195, this study employed a complex heat treatment process, involving the pre-tension, thermo-infiltration of the rare earth element Ce, solution treatment, and artificial aging technology. The results indicate that the infiltration of rare earth element Ce benefits the abatement of anisotropy of Al-Li alloy 2195 sheet, in contrast with that of the normal heat treatment process. The gradient of the Vickers-hardness decreases at least 50% through the thickness, and the tensile strength in the rolling direction also increases significantly. If Ce was infiltrated into the alloy under the optimum pre-deformation, the yield strength （σ0.2） increased by 30 MPa while the tensile strength （σb） enhanced by 25 MPa compared to the rare earth free samples. Meanwhile, the fractography illustrated that the fracture surface of the sample became more desirable.

Effect of Rare Earth on Microstructure and Properties of Pure Copper

Metallograph and scanning electron microscope studies of the distribution and function of rare earth metals in copper show that RE can reduce the oxygen content, fine the grain cells of copper, and enhance the mechanical and electrical properties. Excess RE in copper will lead to the formation of some RE compounds like Fe-Cu-RE and FECu6.