Nonmechanical criteria proposed for prediction of hot tearing sensitivity in 2024 aluminum alloy

Two theoretical criteria represented by Katgerman, and Clyne and Davies for prognosticating hot tearing sensitivity were compared. Both unrefined and grain-refined samples of Al2024 alloy were solidified at various cooling rates ranging from 0.4 to 17.5 °C/s. Thermal analysis was used to detect dendrite coherency point and temperature of eutectic reaction. Curves of solid and liquid fractions were plotted based on Newtonian method to determine hot tearing susceptible areas. The experimental results show that the most susceptible zone in which hot tearing can occur in Al2024 is where Al_2CuMg intermetallic compound forms as a eutectic phase at last stage of mushy-state interval. Also, both criteria are in a good agreement with each other at high cooling rates used in direct-chill casting process while Clyne and Davies＇ model is more acceptable to determine hot tearing tendency from low to medium cooling rates.

Simulated and experimental investigation of stretch sheet forming of commercial AA1200 aluminum alloy

The simulation and experimental results obtained from stretching test of a commercial sheet of AA1200 aluminum alloy were compared and evaluated. Uniaxial tensile tests were carried out to obtain the required input parameters for simulation. Finite element analysis of the forming process was carried out using Abaqus/Explicit by considering von Mises and Hill-1948 yield criteria. Simulation results including punch force and strain distribution were compared and validated with the experimental results. The results reveal that using anisotropic yield criteria for simulation has a better match in both cases with the experiments.

Effect of various melt and heat treatment conditions on impact toughness of A356 aluminum alloy

The microstructure and impact behavior of A356 aluminum alloy were studied after melt treatment processes of grain refinement and modification under both non-heat treated and T6 heat treated conditions. The modification and grain refinement were done with the addition of Al-10%Sr and Al-5Ti-1B master alloys, respectively. All casting parameters were kept constant in order to focus on the influence of mentioned treatments. The results indicate that the eutectic silicon morphology is the main parameter to control the impact behavior of alloy. Consequently, the individual grain refinement of as-cast alloy does not improve the impact toughness as the modification does. While, simultaneous grain refinement and modification provide higher impact toughness in comparison with individual treatments. T6 heat treatment of the alloy improves the impact toughness under all melt-treated conditions. This is related to the further modification of eutectic silicon particles. To verify the results and clarify the mechanisms, three-point bending test and fractography were used to interpret the improvement of impact toughness of the alloy.

Effect of superheat and solidified layer on achieving good metallic bond between A390/A356 alloys fabricated by cast-decant-cast process

The cast-decant-cast is a new method for the preparation of the functionally graded components that has been developed in recent years. The functionally graded cylindrical shape component with a radial gradient, e.g. the first alloy （A390） with high wear resistance on the surface of the piece and toughness and the second alloy （A356） of low machining costs in the core of the piece can be produced via this melt process. The effect of the second alloy superheat at temperatures of 750, 820 and 860 ℃ as well as the effect of the first alloy solidified layer at 25, 35 and 45 s decanting time on achieving the perfect interface between the two alloys was investigated. The characterization of the interface was carded out by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and its width was measured by the microhardness test. The results showed that the best interface was obtained at 860 ℃ and 35 s decanting time with a width of 500 ~tm. Also, the wear resistance test was performed to measure and compare the surface wear resistance to the core.

Preparation of in-situ Cu/NbC nanocomposite and its functionally graded behavior for electrical contact applications

Cu–15%NbC (volume fraction) powder was synthesized using the starting powders of Cu, Nb and graphite in a high energy vibratory disc mill for 7 h of milling under argon atmosphere. A composite sample and a Cu/NbC functionally graded material (FGM) sample were produced by using the two-step press and sintering at 900 °C for 1 h under vacuum. The microstructure and physical and mechanical properties of the specimens were investigated. The field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the synthesis of the nanostructure matrix of 18–27 nm with the nanoparticles reinforcement of 42 nm after sintering, verifying the thermal stability of this composite at high temperature. The hardness of Cu–15%NbC was five times greater than that of the pure Cu specimen. The volume reduction of the sample after the wear test decreased in comparison with the pure Cu specimen. The electrical conductivity of the composite specimen decreased to 36.68% IACS. The FGM specimen exhibited high electrical conductivity corresponding to 75.83% IACS with the same hardness and wear properties as those of the composite sample on the composite surface. Thus, Cu/NbC FGM with good mechanical and electrical properties can be a good candidate for electrical contact applications.

Zr-Co(Cu)-Al bulk metallic glasses with optimal glass-forming ability and their compressive properties

The formation of bulk metallic glasses（BMGs） in the ternary Zr（56） Co（28-x）Al（16） and quaternary Zr（56） Co（28-x）CuxAl16（x=2, 4, 5, 6, 7, mole fraction, %） glassy alloys was investigated via the copper mold suction casting method. The main purpose of this work was to locate the optimal BMG-forming composition for the quaternary Zr Co（Cu）Al alloys and to improve the plasticity of the parent alloy. The X-ray diffractometry（XRD）, transmission electron microscopy（TEM） and differential scanning calorimetry（DSC） were used to investigate the glassy alloys structure and their glass forming ability（GFA）. In addition, the compression test, microhardness, nano-indentation and scanning electron microscopy（SEM） were utilized to discuss the possible mechanisms involved in the enhanced plasticity achievement. The highest GFA among Cu-containing alloys was found for the Zr（56） Co（22） Cu6 Al（16） alloy, which was similar to that of the base alloy. Furthermore, the plasticity of the base alloy increased significantly from 3.3% to 6% for the Zr（56） Co（22） Cu）6 Al（16） BMG. The variations in the plasticity and GFA of the alloys were discussed by considering the positive heat of mixing within Cu and Co elements.

Diffusion mechanism in molten salt baths during the production of carbide coatings via thermal reactive diffusion

The diffusion mechanism of carbide-forming elements from a molten salt bath to a substrate surface was studied in this research, with particular focus on the processes occurring in the molten bath at the time of coating. Metal, oxide, and metal-oxide baths were investigated, and the coating process was performed on H13 steel substrates. Scanning electron microscopy and electron-probe microanalysis were used to study the coated samples and the quenched salt bath. The thickness of the carbide coating layer was 6.5 ± 0.5, 5.2 ± 0.5, or 5.7 ± 0.5 μm depending on whether it was deposited in a metal, oxide, or metal-oxide bath, respectively. The phase distribution of vanadium-rich regions was 63%, 57%, and 74% of the total coating deposited in metal, oxide, and metal-oxide baths, respectively. The results obtained using the metal bath indicated that undissolved suspended metal particles deposited onto the substrate surface. Then, carbon subsequently diffused to the substrate surface and reacted with the metal particles to form the carbides. In the oxide bath, oxide powders dissolved in the bath with or without binding to the oxidative structure(Na_2O) of borax; they were then reduced by aluminum and converted into metal particles. We concluded that, in the metal and oxide baths, the deposition of metal particles onto the sample surface is an important step in the formation of the coating.

Effect of Ablation Casting on Microstructure and Casting Properties of A356 Aluminium Casting Alloy

Recently the Ablation Casting Technology was invented as a new casting process to improve foundry products quality. In this study, the effects of processing variables on the porosity content, rnicrostructure and feedability of A356 casting alloy were investigated. Secondary dendrite arm spacing （SDAS） and eutectic silicon mor-phologies were studied to evaluate the influence of Ablation Casting on the rnicrostructure. Casting density was measured in order to identify porosity content and feedability of ablated and non-ablated specimens. In addition, solidification behavior of the samples was investigated by using thermal analysis technique. The cooling curves and the first derivative curves were plotted and compared with each other. Results showed the ablation process could increase solidification rate significantly. In addition, the microstructural evidences revealed that Ablation Casting process results in more fine and homogeneous structure compared to the non-ablated casting. The feedability improved, SDAS reduced to 35% and porosity content decreased to 3.84 vol.% by implementing this process. It concluded the Ablation Casting is an effective process to gain higher quality in aluminum foundry.

Effect of ECAP consolidation temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-Cu-Ti metallic glass reinforced aluminum matrix composite

Al;Cu;Ti;metallic glass（AMG） reinforced Al matrix composites were consolidated by equal channel angular pressing（ECAP） process. The effects of ECAP consolidation temperature ranging from room temperature to just below the first crystallization temperature of metallic glass on the consolidation of composites were investigated in terms of the relative densities, structural evolutions and mechanical properties of composites. Some intermetallic compounds included Al;CuTi;, Al;Ti and Al;Cu;precipitated from metallic glass particles at consolidation temperature of 300?C. Consolidation temperature did not affect the matrix grains size of the composite. Quantitative analysis revealed that the distribution of reinforcing particles was considerably dependent on consolidation temperature. Density of the composite was increased by increasing the consolidation temperature to 250?C. The composite consolidated at250?C through ECAP process, exhibited the best combination of yield strength and ductility of 184 MPa and 48%, respectively.