Microstructures,corrosion behavior and mechanical properties of as-cast Mg-6Zn-2X(Fe/Cu/Ni)alloys for plugging tool applications

Mg-6Zn-2X(Fe/Cu/Ni)alloys were prepared through semi-continuous casting,with the aim of identifying a degradable magnesium(Mg)alloy suitable for use in fracturing balls.A comparative analysis was conducted to assess the impacts of adding Cu and Ni,which result in finer grains and the formation of galvanic corrosion sites.Scanner electronic microscopy examination revealed that precipitated phases concentrated at grain boundaries,forming a semi-continuous network structure that facilitated corrosion penetration in Mg-6Zn-2Cu and Mg-6Zn-2Ni alloys.Pitting corrosion was observed in Mg-6Zn-2Fe,while galvanic corrosion was identified as the primary mechanism in Mg-6Zn-2Cu and Mg-6Zn-2Ni alloys.Among the tests,the Mg-6Zn-2Ni alloy exhibited the highest corrosion rate(approximately 932.9 mm/a)due to its significant potential difference.Mechanical testing showed that Mg-6Zn-2Ni alloy possessed suitable ultimate compressive strength,making it a potential candidate material for degradable fracturing balls,effectively addressing the challenges of balancing strength and degradation rate in fracturing applications.

Relationship between the unique microstructures and behaviors of high-entropy alloys

High-entropy alloys(HEAs),which were introduced as a pioneering concept in 2004,have captured the keen interest of nu-merous researchers.Entropy,in this context,can be perceived as representing disorder and randomness.By contrast,elemental composi-tions within alloy systems occupy specific structural sites in space,a concept referred to as structure.In accordance with Shannon entropy,structure is analogous to information.Generally,the arrangement of atoms within a material,termed its structure,plays a pivotal role in dictating its properties.In addition to expanding the array of options for alloy composites,HEAs afford ample opportunities for diverse structural designs.The profound influence of distinct structural features on the exceptional behaviors of alloys is underscored by numer-ous examples.These features include remarkably high fracture strength with excellent ductility,antiballistic capability,exceptional radi-ation resistance,and corrosion resistance.In this paper,we delve into various unique material structures and properties while elucidating the intricate relationship between structure and performance.

Finite Element Simulations on Failure Behaviors of Granular Materials with Microstructures Using a Micromechanics-Based Cosserat Elastoplastic Model

This paper presents a micromechanics-based Cosserat continuum model for microstructured granular materials.By utilizing this model,the macroscopic constitutive parameters of granular materials with different microstructures are expressed as sums of microstructural information.The microstructures under consideration can be classified into three categories:a medium-dense microstructure,a dense microstructure consisting of one-sized particles,and a dense microstructure consisting of two-sized particles.Subsequently,the Cosserat elastoplastic model,along with its finite element formulation,is derived using the extended Drucker-Prager yield criteria.To investigate failure behaviors,numerical simulations of granular materials with different microstructures are conducted using the ABAQUS User Element(UEL)interface.It demonstrates the capacity of the proposed model to simulate the phenomena of strain-softening and strain localization.The study investigates the influence of microscopic parameters,including contact stiffness parameters and characteristic length,on the failure behaviors of granularmaterials withmicrostructures.Additionally,the study examines themesh independence of the presented model and establishes its relationship with the characteristic length.A comparison is made between finite element simulations and discrete element simulations for a medium-dense microstructure,revealing a good agreement in results during the elastic stage.Somemacroscopic parameters describing plasticity are shown to be partially related to microscopic factors such as confining pressure and size of the representative volume element.

Tuning microstructures of TC4 ELI to improve explosion resistance

A reasonable heat treatment process for TC4 ELI titanium alloy is crucial to tune microstructures to improve its explosion resistance.However,there is limited investigation on tuning microstructures of TC4 ELI to improve explosion resistance.Moreover,the current challenge is quantifying microstructural changes'effects on explosion resistance and incorporating microstructural changes into finite element models.This work aims to tune microstructures to improve explosion resistance and elucidate their anti-explosion mechanism,and find a suitable method to incorporate microstructural changes into finite element models.In this work,we systematically study the deformation and failure characteristics of TC4 ELI plates with varying microstructures using an air explosion test and LS-DYNA finite element modeling.The Johnson-Cook(JC)constitutive parameters are used to quantify the effects of microstructural changes on explosion resistance and incorporate microstructural changes into finite element models.Because of the heat treatment,one plate has equiaxed microstructure and the other has bimodal microstructure.The convex of the plate after the explosion has a quadratic relationship with the charge mass,and the simulation results demonstrate high reliability,with the error less than 17.5%.Therefore,it is feasible to obtain corresponding JC constitutive parameters based on the differences in microstructures and mechanical properties and characterize the effects of microstructural changes on explosion resistance.The bimodal target exhibits excellent deformation resistance.The response of bimodal microstructure to the shock wave may be more intense under explosive loading.The well-coordinated structure of the bimodal target enhances its resistance to deformation.

Microstructures and micromechanical behaviors of high -entropy alloys investigated by synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques: A review

High-entropy alloys(HEAs)possess outstanding features such as corrosion resistance,irradiation resistance,and good mechan-ical properties.A few HEAs have found applications in the fields of aerospace and defense.Extensive studies on the deformation mech-anisms of HEAs can guide microstructure control and toughness design,which is vital for understanding and studying state-of-the-art structural materials.Synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction are necessary techniques for materials science research,especially for in situ coupling of physical/chemical fields and for resolving macro/microcrystallographic information on materials.Recently,several re-searchers have applied synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction methods to study the deformation mechanisms,phase transformations,stress behaviors,and in situ processes of HEAs,such as variable-temperature,high-pressure,and hydrogenation processes.In this review,the principles and development of synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction are presented,and their applications in the deformation mechanisms of HEAs are discussed.The factors that influence the deformation mechanisms of HEAs are also outlined.This review fo-cuses on the microstructures and micromechanical behaviors during tension/compression or creep/fatigue deformation and the application of synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction methods to the characterization of dislocations,stacking faults,twins,phases,and intergrain/interphase stress changes.Perspectives on future developments of synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction and on research directions on the deformation mechanisms of novel metals are discussed.

Topology Optimization of Metamaterial Microstructures for Negative Poisson’s Ratio under Large Deformation Using a Gradient-Free Method

Negative Poisson’s ratio(NPR)metamaterials are attractive for their unique mechanical behaviors and potential applications in deformation control and energy absorption.However,when subjected to significant stretching,NPR metamaterials designed under small strain assumption may experience a rapid degradation in NPR performance.To address this issue,this study aims to design metamaterials maintaining a targeted NPR under large deformation by taking advantage of the geometry nonlinearity mechanism.A representative periodic unit cell is modeled considering geometry nonlinearity,and its topology is designed using a gradient-free method.The unit cell microstructural topologies are described with the material-field series-expansion(MFSE)method.The MFSE method assumes spatial correlation of the material distribution,which greatly reduces the number of required design variables.To conveniently design metamaterials with desired NPR under large deformation,we propose a two-stage gradient-free metamaterial topology optimization method,which fully takes advantage of the dimension reduction benefits of the MFSE method and the Kriging surrogate model technique.Initially,we use homogenization to find a preliminary NPR design under a small deformation assumption.In the second stage,we begin with this preliminary design and minimize deviations in NPR from a targeted value under large deformation.Using this strategy and solution technique,we successfully obtain a group of NPR metamaterials that can sustain different desired NPRs in the range of[−0.8,−0.1]under uniaxial stretching up to 20% strain.Furthermore,typical microstructure designs are fabricated and tested through experiments.The experimental results show good consistency with our numerical results,demonstrating the effectiveness of the present gradientfree NPR metamaterial design strategy.

Solid polymer electrolytes in all-solid-state lithium metal batteries:From microstructures to properties

All-solid-state lithium(Li)metal batteries(ASSLMBs)are considered one of the most promising secondary batteries due to their high theoretical capacity and high safety performance.However,low room-temperature ionic conductivity and poor interfacial stability are two key factors affecting the practical application of ASSLMBs,and our understanding of the mechanisms behind these key problems from microscopic perspective is still limited.In this review,the mechanisms and advanced characterization techniques of ASSLMBs are summarized to correlate the microstructures and properties.Firstly,we summarize the challenges faced by solid polymer electrolytes(SPEs)in ASSLMBs,such as the low roomtemperature ionic conductivity and the poor interfacial stability.Secondly,several typical improvement methods of polymer ASSLMBs are discussed,including composite SPEs,ultra-thin SPEs,SPEs surface modification and Li anode surface modification.Finally,we conclude the characterizations for correlating the microstructures and the properties of SPEs,with emphasis on the use of emerging advanced techniques(e.g.,cryo-transmission electron microscopy)for in-depth analyzing ASSLMBs.The influence of the microstructures on the properties is very important.Until now,it has been difficult for us to understand the microstructures of batteries.However,some recent studies have demonstrated that we have a better understanding of the microstructures of batteries.Then we suggest that in situ characterization,nondestructive characterization and sub-angstrom resolution are the key technologies to help us further understand the batteries'microstructures and promote the development of batteries.And potential investigations to understand the microstructures evolution and the batteries behaviors are also prospected to expect further reasonable theoretical guidance for the design of ASSLMBs with ideal performance.

Effects of Electric and Magnetic Treatments on Microstructures of Solid Metals: A Review

An external electric or magnetic field can transfer high-intensity energy directly to the electronic scale of materials,and change the spin,energy level arrangement and trajectory of electrons.These changes produce tremendous and profound impacts on the microstructure and mechanical properties of metal materials,which may be impos-sible with traditional technologies.This paper reviews the effects of electric or magnetic field on the microstruc-tures of solid metals including phase transformation,precipitation,recrystallization,dislocations and so on.Based on the existing research results,the mechanisms of these effects have been discussed.Additionally,some typical applications of electric and magnetic treatments on solid metals have been described and the challenges in this field have also been discussed.

The Effects of WC on the Microstructures and Wear Resistance of FeCoCrNiB_(0.2) High Entropy Alloy

To improve the wear resistance of the FeCoCrNiB_(0.2)high entropy alloy(HEA),the FeCoCrNiB_(0.2)(WC_(0))and FeCoCrNiB_(0.2)+20wt%WC(WC_(20))HEA coatings were prepared on Q235 steel by laser cladding(LC).The microstructure,hardness,and tribometer of the HEA coatings were investigated using scanning electron microscopy with spectroscopy(SEM/EDS),X-ray diffraction(XRD),vickers microhardness tester,and pin-on-disc tribometer,respectively.The experimental results show that the WC0HEA coating comprises a simple BCC phase mixed with an M_(2)B phase.Adding 20wt%WC,the WC_(20)HEA coating is composed of a simple BCC phase mixed with the Cr_(23)C_(6)carbide phase.The microstructure of the WC_(20)HEA coating is simple,which consists of equiaxed grain and dendritic.The microhardness also increases from 625.5HV to 806.0HV,and the wear mass loss correspondingly decreases from 30.9 to 14.9 mg.W and C atoms formed by WC dissolution are mainly dissolved in the BCC phase,which leads to the solution strengthening effect.Besides,Cr_(23)C_(6)carbides inhibit the growth of the grains,play the role of fine-grain strengthening,and further improve the hardness and wear resistance of the HEA coating.

Effect of Ti content on microstructures and mechanical properties of cast Al-2Li-2Cu-0.5Mg alloy

Ti is regarded as one of the promising grain refiners in cast Al-Li-Cu alloys,but few research works have been done on its independent role.In this study,the effect of Ti on the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of cast Al-2Li-2Cu-0.5Mg base alloy was investigated.The results revealed that the grains can be prominently refined with the increase of Ti addition.After adding Ti,high density TiB_(2)-Al_(3)Ti composite particles with a low lattice misfit form as heterogeneous nucleation sites for the α-Al matrix.δ’(Al3Li) and T_(1)(Al_(2)CuLi) precipitates that provide enhanced strength are dominated in the alloys after T6 aging treatment.The average size of both δ’ and half-width of δ’-precipitation free zone(PFZ) decreases gradually with the increase of Ti content.This is because the higher binding energy between Ti atoms and vacancies limits the diffusion efficiency of Li atoms,and thus results in a higher ductility.Additionally,no nano-sized Al_(3)Ti or core-shell structure of Al_(3)(Li,Ti) particles are found.The tensile property test results indicate that the Al-2Li-2Cu-0.5Mg alloy achieves optimal properties after aging at 175 °C for 32 h when 0.15wt.% Ti is added.It exhibits a yield strength of 352±5 MPa,an ultimate tensile strength of 423±6 MPa,and an elongation of(3±0.4)%.These findings are expected to offer a reliable theoretical guidance for the industrial composition design of the Al-Li-Cu series cast alloys.

Influences of oxide content and sintering temperature on microstructures and mechanical properties of intragranular-oxide strengthened iron alloys prepared by spark plasma sintering

How to increase strength without sacrificing ductility has been developed as a key goal in the manufacture of high-performance metals or alloys. Herein, the double-nanophase intragranular yttrium oxide dispersion strengthened iron alloy with high strength and appreciable ductility was fabricated by solution combustion route and subsequent spark plasma sintering, and the influences of yttrium oxide content and sintering temperature on microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated. The results show at the same sintering temperature,with the increase of yttrium oxide content, the relative density of the sintered alloy decreases and the strength increases. For Fe–2wt%Y_(2)O_(3)alloy, as the sintering temperature increases gradually, the compressive strength decreases, while the strain-to-failure increases. The Fe–2wt%Y_(2)O_(3)alloy with 15.5 nm Y_(2)O_(3)particles uniformly distributed into the 147.5 nm iron grain interior sintered at 650℃ presents a high ultimate compressive strength of 1.86 GPa and large strain-to-failure of 29%. The grain boundary strengthening and intragranular second-phase particle dispersion strengthening are the main dominant mechanisms to enhance the mechanical properties of the alloy.

Tailor-made microstructures lead to high-performance robust PEO membrane for CO_(2)capture via green fabrication technique

Emerging excessive greenhouse gas emissions pose great threats to the ecosystem,which thus requires efficient CO_(2)capture to mitigate the disastrous issue.In this report,large molecular size bisphenol A ethoxylate diacrylate(BPA)was employed to crosslink poly(ethylene glycol)methyl ether acrylate(PEGMEA)via the green and rapid UV polymerization strategy.The microstructure of such-prepared membrane could be conveniently tailored by tuning the ratio of the two prepolymers,aiming at obtaining the optimized microstructures with suitable mesh size and PEO sol content,which was approved by a novel low-field nuclear magnetic resonance technique.The optimum membrane overcomes the tradeoff challenge:dense microstructures lower the gas permeability while loose microstructures lower high-pressure-resistance capacity,realizing a high CO_(2)permeability of 1711 Barrer and 100-h long-term running stability under 15 atm.The proposed membrane fabrication approach,hence,opens a novel gate for developing high-performance robust membranes for CO_(2)capture.

Wire arc additive manufacturing of a heat-resistant Al-Cu-Ag-Sc alloy:microstructures and high-temperature mechanical properties

With a high energy efficiency,low geometric limitation,and low cracking susceptivity to cracks,wire arc additive manufacturing(WAAM)has become an ideal substitute for casting in the manufacturing of load-bearing high strength aluminum components in aerospace industry.Recently,in scientific researches,the room temperature mechanical performance of additive manufactured high strength aluminum alloys has been continuously broken through,and proves these alloys can achieve comparable or even higher properties than the forged counterpart.Since the aluminum components for aerospace usage experience high-low temperature cycling due to the absence of atmosphere protection,the high temperature performances of additive manufactured high strength aluminum alloys are also important.However,few research focuses on that.A special 2319Ag Sc with 0.4 wt.%Ag and 0.2 wt.%Sc addition designed for high temperature application is deposited successfully via cold metal transfer(CMT)based on WAAM.The microstructures and high temperature tensile properties are investigated.The results show that the as-deposited 2319Ag Sc alloy presents an alternate distribution of columnar grains and equiaxed grains with no significant textures.Main second phases are Al_(2)Cu and Al3Sc,while co-growth of Al_(2)Cu and bulk Al_(3)Sc is found on the grain boundary.During manufacturing,nanoscale Al_(2)Cu can precipitate out from the matrix.Ag and Mg form nano-scaleΩphase on the Al_(2)Cu precipitates.At 260℃,average yield strengths in the horizontal direction and vertical direction are 87 MPa±2 MPa,87 MPa±4 MPa,while average ultimate tensile strengths are 140 MPa±7 MPa,141 MPa±11 MPa,and average elongations are 11.0%±2.5%,13.5%±3.0%.Anisotropy in different directions is weak.

Types and microstructures of pores in shales of the Ordovician Wulalike Formation at the western margin of the Ordos Basin, China

Shale samples from the Ordovician Wulalike Formation at the western margin of the Ordos Basin are studied to define the types, microstructures and connectivity of pores as well as the relationships between the pore structures and gas content of the samples by using experimental techniques such as high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP), low-temperature nitrogen adsorption (LTNA), CO_(2) adsorption, and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM). The results show that the shale has 10 different lithofacies, typical mixed sedimentary characteristics, and poorly developed pores. The reservoir space mainly consists of intercrystalline pores, dissolution pores, intergranular pores, and micro-fissures, with organic pores occasionally visible. The pore size is mostly within 0.4–250 nm range but dominated by micropores and mesopores less than 20 nm, with pore numbers peaking at pore sizes of 0.5 nm, 0.6 nm, 0.82 nm, 3 nm, and 10 nm, respectively. The pores are poorly connected and macropores are rarely seen, which may explain the low porosity and low permeability of the samples. Samples with high content of organic matter and felsic minerals are potential reservoirs for oil and gas with their favorable physical properties and high connectivity. The pores less than 5 nm contribute significantly to the specific surface area and serve as important storage space for adsorbed gas.

Microstructures of Developed Composite Graphite-Resin Electrodes

This paper focuses on the effects of compaction on the microstructure of graphite-resin electrochemical treatment electrodes. This was with a view to understanding the relationships between forming parameters and some performance-limiting structural parameters of the electrode. Graphite resin electrodes were developed from graphite rods reclaimed from primary cells. The rods were crushed to powder of various particle sizes and compressed into the graphite-resin electrodes. The microstructure of the graphite electrode was observed, effects of compaction force and particles sizes distribution on the microstructure of the electrodes were observed. SEM/EDX revealed that there is a lack of homogeneity in the distribution of micro-constituents, with compositional variations differing at the various spots. However, there is a prevalence of carbon and oxygen at almost all the spots. This tends to confirm the even distribution of the elements throughout the material. The pores in the electrodes were noticed to be uniformly sized and permeate throughout the entire structure of the electrode. These pores serve to increase the surface area of these electrodes and promote the adsorption of environmental pollutants.

Wetting-drying effect on the strength and microstructure of cementphosphogypsum stabilized soils

Phosphogypsum has often been used as an effective and environmentally friendly binder for partial replacement of cement,improving the engineering properties of slurries with high water content.However,the influence of phosphogypsum on the physicomechnical properties of stabilized soil subjected to wettingedrying cycles is not well understood to date.In this study,the effect of phosphogypsum on the durability of stabilized soil was studied by conducting a series of laboratory experiments,illustrating the changes in mass loss,pH value and unconfined compressive strength(qu)with wettingdrying cycles.The test results showed that the presence of phosphogypsum significantly restrained the mass loss in the early stage(lower than the 4th cycle),which in turn led to a higher qu of stabilized soil than that without phosphogypsum.After the 4th cycle,a sudden increase in mass loss was observed for stabilized soil with phosphogypsum,resulting in a significant drop in qu to a value lower than those without phosphogypsum at the 6th cycle.In addition,the qu of stabilized soils correlated well with the measured soil pH irrespective of phosphogypsum content for all wettingedrying tests.According to the microstructure observation via scanning electron microscope(SEM)and X-ray diffraction(XRD)tests,the mechanisms relating the sudden loss of qu for the stabilized soils with phosphogypsum after the 4th wetting-drying cycle are summarized as follows:(i)the disappearance of ettringite weakening the cementation bonding effect,(ii)the generation of a larger extent of microcrack,and(iii)a lower pH value,in comparison with the stabilized soil without phosphogypsum.

A novel high-Cr CoNi-based superalloy with superior high-temperature microstructural stability, oxidation resistance and mechanical properties

A novel multicomponent high-Cr CoNi-based superalloy with superior comprehensive performance was prepared,and the evaluation of its high-temperature microstructural stability,oxidation resistance,and mechanical properties was conducted mainly using its cast polycrystalline alloy.The results disclosed that the morphology of theγ′phase remained stable,and the coarsening rate was slow during the long-term aging at 900–1000℃.The activation energy forγ′precipitate coarsening of alloy 9CoNi-Cr was(402±51)kJ/mol,which is higher compared with those of CMSX-4 and some other Ni-based and Co-based superalloys.Importantly,there was no indica-tion of the formation of topologically close-packed phases during this process.All these factors demonstrated the superior microstructural stability of the alloy.The mass gain of alloy 9CoNi-Cr was 0.6 mg/cm^(2) after oxidation at 1000℃ for 100 h,and the oxidation resistance was comparable to advanced Ni-based superalloys CMSX-4,which can be attributed to the formation of a continuous Al_(2)O_(3) protective layer.Moreover,the compressive yield strength of this cast polycrystalline alloy at high temperatures is clearly higher than that of the conventional Ni-based cast superalloy and the compressive minimum creep rate at 950℃ is comparable to that of the conventional Ni-based cast superalloy,demonstrating the alloy’s good mechanical properties at high temperature.This is partially because high Cr is bene-ficial in improving theγandγ′phase strengths of alloy 9CoNi-Cr.

Microstructure design of advanced magnesium-air battery anodes

Metal-air battery is an environmental friendly energy storage system with unique open structure.Magnesium(Mg)and its alloys have been extensively attempted as anodes for air batteries due to high theoretical energy density,low cost,and recyclability.However,the study on Mg-air battery(MAB)is still at the laboratory level currently,mainly owing to the low anodic efficiency caused by the poor corrosion resistance.In order to reduce corrosion losses and achieve optimal utilization efficiency of Mg anode,the design strategies are reviewed from microstructure perspectives.Firstly,the corrosion behaviors have been discussed,especially the negative difference effect derived by hydrogen evolution.Special attention is given to the effect of anode micro-structures on the MAB,which includes grain size,grain orientation,second phases,crystal structure,twins,and dislocations.For further improvement,the discharge performance,long period stacking ordered phase and its enhancing effect are considered.Meanwhile,given the current debates over Mg dendrites,the potential risk,the impact on discharge,and the elimination strategies are discussed.Microstructure control and single crystal would be promising ways for MAB anode.

Microstructure and Properties of AlCoCrFeNiTi High-Entropy Alloy Coatings Prepared by Laser Cladding

21-4N(5Cr21Mn9Ni4N)is extensively employed in the production of engine valves,operating under severe conditions.Apart from withstanding high-temperature gas corrosion,it must also endure the impact of cylinder explosion pressure.The predominant failure mode of 21-4N valves is abrasive wear.Surface coatings serve as an effective approach to prevent such failures.In this investigation,Laser cladding technology was utilized to fabricate AlCoCrFeNiTi high entropy alloy coatings onto the surfaces of 21-4N valves.According to the findings,the cladding zone has a normal dendritic microstructure,a good substrate-to-cladding layer interaction,and no obvious flaws.In terms of hardness,the cladding demonstrates an average hardness of 620 HV.The hardness has increased by 140%compared to the substrate.The average hardness of the cladding remains at approximately 520 HV even at elevated temperatures.Regarding frictional wear performance,between 400℃and 800℃,the cladding layer exhibits an average friction coefficient of 0.4,with the primary wear mechanisms being abrasive wear,adhesive wear,and a minor degree of plastic deformation.

Effect of Co on Solidification Characteristics and Microstructural Transformation of Non-equilibrium Solidified Cu-Ni Alloys

Non-equilibrium solidification structures of Cu55Ni45 and Cu55Ni43Co2 alloys were prepared by the molten glass purification cycle superheating method.The variation of the recalescence phenomenon with the degree of undercooling in the rapid solidification process was investigated using an infrared thermometer.The addition of the Co element affected the evolution of the recalescence phenomenon in Cu-Ni alloys.The images of the solid-liquid interface migration during the rapid solidification of supercooled melts were captured by using a high-speed camera.The solidification rate of Cu-Ni alloys,with the addition of Co elements,was explored.Finally,the grain refinement structure with low supercooling was characterised using electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD).The effect of Co on the microstructural evolution during nonequilibrium solidification of Cu-Ni alloys under conditions of small supercooling is investigated by comparing the microstructures of Cu55Ni45 and Cu55Ni43Co2 alloys.The experimental results show that the addition of a small amount of Co weakens the recalescence behaviour of the Cu55Ni45 alloy and significantly reduces the thermal strain in the rapid solidification phase.In the rapid solidification phase,the thermal strain is greatly reduced,and there is a significant increase in the characteristic undercooling degree.Furthermore,the addition of Co and the reduction of Cu not only result in a lower solidification rate of the alloy,but also contribute to the homogenisation of the grain size.