Influence of different solution methods on microstructure, precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of Al-Mg-Si alloy

The effects of different solution methods on microstructure, mechanical properties and precipitation behavior of Al-Mg-Si alloy were investigated by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, tensile test, and differential scanning calorimetry. The results revealed that the recrystallized grains of the alloy after the solution treatment with hot air became smaller and more uniform, compared with solution treatment with electrical resistance. The texture of the alloy after two solution treatment methods was different. More rotated cube components were formed through solution treatment with electrical resistance, which was better for improving the drawability of the alloy. The strength of the alloy under the solution treatment with hot air was higher before stamping, because of the small uniform grains and many clusters in the matrix. The alloy solution treated with hot air also possessed good bake hardenability, because the transformation occurred on more clusters in the matrix.

Precipitation Kinetics of Cr_2N in High Nitrogen Austenitic Stainless Steel

The precipitation behavior of Cr2 N during isothermal aging in the temperature range from 700 ℃ to 950 ℃ in Fe-18Cr-12Mn-0.48N （in mass percent） high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel, including morphology and content of precipitate, was investigated using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The isothermal precipitation kinetics curve of Cr2 N and the corresponding precipitation activation energy were obtained. The results show that Cr2N phase precipitates in a cellular way and its morphology is transformed from initial granular precipitates to lamellar ones in the cell with increasing aging time. The nose temperature of Cr2 N precipitation is about 800 ℃, with a corresponding incubation period of 30 min, and the ceiling temperature of Cr2N precipitation is 950℃. The diffusionactivation energy of Cr2 N precipitation is 296 kJ/mol.

Plasma perturbations in the coexisting environment of VLF transmitter emission, lightning strokes and seismic activity

We analyzed plasma perturbations occurring in the coexisting environment of powerful VLF transmitter emission, intense lightning strokes and strong seismic activity during pregnant period. The results suggest that anomalous electron bursts with energy dispersion in the range of ~100–350 keV, forming the "wisp" signature, are due to cyclotron resonance of electrons with monochromatic waves from the powerful NWC VLF transmitters during nighttime. The intense broad band VLF emissions (up-going 0+ whistlers) are observed while the DEMETER satellite goes through the region of intense thunderstorm activities at mid-latitudes. However, the effects of intense lightning activity and pregnant earthquake have little impact on this kind of stable energy-dispersed electron structures, despite the fact that they are presumably two primary reasons for the particle precipitation in the ionosphere. The case studied here provides us a valuable opportunity to address the various sources triggering the anomalous plasma perturbations in the ionosphere.