Effect of Sc on Al_(3)Fe phase and mechanical properties of as-cast AA5052 aluminum alloy

The AA5052 aluminum alloy is widely used in automobile and aerospace manufacturing,and with the development of light-weight alloys,it is required that these materials exhibit better mechanical properties.Previous studies have demonstrated that the addition of Sc to aluminum alloys can improve both the microstructure and properties of the alloys.In this study,the effect of Sc on the Fe-rich phase and properties of the AA5052 aluminum alloy was studied by adding 0%,0.05%,0.2%,and 0.3%Sc.The results show that with the increase of Sc,the coarse needle-like Fe-rich phase gradually transforms into Chinese-script and then nearly spherical particles,reduce the size of Fe-rich phase,and refine the grain with increase of high angle grain boundaries(HAGBs).These microstructure changes enhance the strength of the AA5052 alloy through Sc addition.The ductility of the alloy is obviously improved because the addition of a lower amount of Sc changes the morphology of Fe-rich phase from needle-like into a Chinese-script,and it is subsequently reduced as a result of significant increase in HAGBs with increasing Sc content.

Effect of temperature and time on the precipitation ofκ-carbides in Fe-28Mn-10Al-0.8C low-density steels:Aging mechanism and its impact on material properties

In low-density steel,κ-carbides primarily precipitate in the form of nanoscale particles within austenite grains.However,their precipitation within ferrite matrix grains has not been comprehensively explored,and the second-phase evolution mechanism during aging remains unclear.In this study,the crystallographic characteristics and morphological evolution ofκ-carbides in Fe-28Mn-10Al-0.8C(wt%)low-density steel at different aging temperatures and times and the impacts of these changes on the steels’microhardness and properties were comprehensively analyzed.Under different heat treatment conditions,intragranularκ-carbides exhibited various morpho-logical and crystallographic characteristics,such as acicular,spherical,and short rod-like shapes.At the initial stage of aging,acicularκ-carbides primarily precipitated,accompanied by a few spherical carbides.κ-Carbides grew and coarsened with aging time,the spherical carbides were considerably reduced,and rod-like carbides coarsened.Vickers hardness testing demonstrated that the material’s hardness was affected by the volume fraction,morphology,and size ofκ-carbides.Extended aging at higher temperatures led to an increase in carbide size and volume fraction,resulting in a gradual rise in hardness.During deformation,the primary mechanisms for strengthening were dislocation strengthening and second-phase strengthening.Based on these findings,potential strategies for improving material strength are proposed.

Microstructure and properties of LZQT600-3 HCCDIBs for plunger pump cylinder

It is important to improve the comprehensive performance of the ductile iron bars(DIBs)for the cylinder block of the extra high pressure hydraulic plunger pump and accelerate the industrial application.In this work,the LZQT600-3 DIBs with the diameter of 145 mm were prepared by the horizontal continuous casting(HCC)process,that is,LZQT600-3 HCCDIBs.The microstructure and room temperature tensile properties of different sections[left-edge(surface layer),left-1/2R(left half of the radius),and the center of the HCCDIBs]were studied.The results show that the spheroidization of LZQT600-3 HCCDIBs matrix from the left-edge,left-1/2R to the center is at nodulizing grade II and above.As the cooling rate gradually decreases from surface to the center of the HCCIBs,the number of spheroidized graphite is gradually reduced,the size is gradually increased,the shape factor is decreased,and the pearlite content and lamellate spacing are increased.Along the horizontal direction of the section,the hardness of the material is distributed symmetrically around the center of the HCCDIBs.In the vertical direction,the hardness distribution in the center of the HCCDIBs is asymmetrical due to the gravity during the solidification process.Therefore,the microstructure in the lower part of the section solidifies relatively quickly.The left-edge has the best tensile mechanical properties,and the ultimate tensile strength,yield tensile strength and elongation are 597.3 MPa,418.5 MPa and 9.6%,respectively.The tensile fracture belongs to the ductile-brittle hybrid fracture.The comprehensive performances of LZQT600-3 HCCDIBs meet the actual application requirements of ultra-high pressure hydraulic plunger pump cylinder.

Hybrid machine learning and microstructure-based approach for modeling relationship between microstructure and hardness of AA2099 Al−Li alloy

A hybrid approach combining machine learning and microstructure analysis was proposed to investigate the relationship between microstructure and hardness of AA2099 Al−Li alloy through nano-indentation,X-ray diffraction(XRD)and electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD)technologies.Random forest regression(RFR)model was employed to predict hardness based on microstructural features and uncover influential factors and their rankings.The results show that the increased hardness correlates with a smaller distance from indentation to grain boundary(D_(dis))or a shorter minimum grain axis(D_(min)),a lower Schmidt factor in friction stir weld direction(SF_(FD)),and higher sine values of the angle between{111}slip plane and surface(sinθ_(min)).D_(dis) and D_(min) emerge as pivotal determinants in hardness prediction.High-angle grain boundaries imped dislocation slip,thereby increasing hardness.Crystallographic orientation also significantly influences hardness,especially in the presence of T_(1) phases along{111}Al habit planes.This effect is attributable to the variation in encountered T_(1) variants during indenter loading.Consequently,the importance ranking of microstructural features shifts depending on T_(1) phase abundance:in samples with limited T_(1) phases,D_(dis) or D_(min)>SF_(FD)>sinθ_(min),while in samples with abundant T_(1) phases,D_(dis) or D_(min)>sinθ_(min)>SF_(FD).

Coaxial Wet Spinning of Boron Nitride Nanosheet‑Based Composite Fibers with Enhanced Thermal Conductivity and Mechanical Strength

Hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets(BNNSs)exhibit remarkable thermal and dielectric properties.However,their self-assembly and alignment in macroscopic forms remain challenging due to the chemical inertness of boron nitride,thereby limiting their performance in applications such as thermal management.In this study,we present a coaxial wet spinning approach for the fabrication of BNNSs/polymer composite fibers with high nanosheet orientation.The composite fibers were prepared using a superacid-based solvent system and showed a layered structure comprising an aramid core and an aramid/BNNSs sheath.Notably,the coaxial fibers exhibited significantly higher BNNSs alignment compared to uniaxial aramid/BNNSs fibers,primarily due to the additional compressive forces exerted at the core-sheath interface during the hot drawing process.With a BNNSs loading of 60 wt%,the resulting coaxial fibers showed exceptional properties,including an ultrahigh Herman orientation parameter of 0.81,thermal conductivity of 17.2 W m^(-1)K^(-1),and tensile strength of 192.5 MPa.These results surpassed those of uniaxial fibers and previously reported BNNSs composite fibers,making them highly suitable for applications such as wearable thermal management textiles.Our findings present a promising strategy for fabricating high-performance composite fibers based on BNNSs.

Effect of ultrasonic stirring on temperature distribution and grain refinement in Al-1.65%Si alloy melt

A series of experiments were conducted for Al-1.65%Si (mass fraction) alloy melt to study the formation of grain refining structure with ultrasonic stirring. The cooling curves of ingots with ultrasonic were measured and compared with those without ultrasonic. At the same time, the effect of the time of ultrasonic stirring on solidification structure of ingots was investigated. The influence of ultrasonic on the grain-refining efficiency of ingots was analyzed. In order to well understand the melts behavior under ultrasonic, by using ammonium chloride solution, the simulation experiment was carried out and the temperature distribution in ingot with or without ultrasonic was compared. The results indicate that the ultrasonic reduces the temperature inhomogeneity of melt, i.e. the ultrasonic helps to homogenize the melt temperature. The effect of stirring and heat generation in ingot start to occur with increasing the time of ultrasonic stirring.

Diffusion bonding of Al 7075 and Mg AZ31 alloys:Process parameters, microstructural analysis and mechanical properties

Al 7075 and Mg AZ31 alloys were joined by diffusion bonding method. Joining process was performed in pressure range of 10-35 MPa at temperatures of 430-450 ℃ for 60 min under a vacuum of 13.3 MPa. The microstructure evaluation, phase analysis and distribution of elements at the interface were done using scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy （EDS） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The pressure of 25 MPa was determined as the optimum pressure in which the minimum amount of plastic deformation takes place at the joint. Different reaction layers containing intermetallic compounds, such as Al12Mg17, Al3Mg2 andα（Al） solid solution, were observed, in interfacial transition zone （ITZ）. Thickness of layers was increased with increasing the operating temperature. According to the results, diffusion of aluminum atoms into magnesium alloy was more and the interface movement towards the Al alloy was observed. The maximum bond strength of 38 MPa was achieved at the temperature of 440 ℃ and pressure of 25 MPa. Fractography studies indicated that the brittle fracture originated from Al3Mg2 phase.

Effects of compocasting process parameters on microstructural characteristics and tensile properties of A356-SiC_p composites

The effects of compocasting process parameters on some structural and tensile characteristics of the A356-10% SiCp (volume fraction) composites were studied. Semisolid stirring was carried out at temperatures of 590, 600 and 610 °C with stirring speeds of 200, 400 and 600 r/min for 10, 20 and 30 min. The distribution of the SiC particles within the matrix, porosity content and tensile properties of the obtained samples were examined. The structural evaluations show that by increasing the stirring time and decreasing the stirring temperature, the uniformity in the particle distribution is improved;however, by increasing the stirring speed the homogeneity firstly increases and then declines. It is also found that by increasing all of the processing parameters, the porosity content is enhanced. From the tensile characteristics viewpoint, the optimum values of the speed, temperature and time are found to be 400 r/min, 590 °C and 30 min, respectively. The contribution of the reinforcement distribution uniformity prevails over that of the porosity level to the tensile properties.

Electrochemical behaviour of Ti alloys containing Mo and Ta as β-stabilizer elements for dental application

Corrosion behaviour of the studied Ti12Mo and Ti60Ta alloys with the same Mo equivalent values （12%, mass fraction） together with the currently used metallic biomaterials Cp-Ti were investigated for dental applications. The electrochemical properties of the samples were examined using electrochemical techniques： such as open-circuit potential, potentiodynamic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS）, in two electrochemical media of artificial saliva and fluoridated artificial saliva （0.1%fluoride ions, F-） at 37 °C. Fluoride is commonly included in toothpastes, odontological gels and dental rinses to prevent dental caries and relieve dental sensitivity. The passive behaviour for all the titanium samples is observed for both solutions. The Ti60Ta alloy appears to possess superior corrosion resistance than the Ti12Mo and Cp-Ti in both electrochemical media.

Microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of Al-2024 alloy processed via a rheocasting route

This article reports the effects of stirring speed and T6 heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-2024 alloy synthesized by a rheocasting process. There was a decrease in grain size ofα-Al particles corresponding to an increase in stirring speed. By increasing the stirring speed, however, the globularity of matrix particles first increased and then declined. It was also found that the hardness, compressive strength, and compressive strain increased with the increase of stirring speed. Microstructural studies revealed the presence of nonsoluble Al15（CuFeMn）3Si2 phase in the vicinity of CuAl2 in the rheocast samples. The required time for the solution treatment stage was also influenced by stirring speed;the solution treatment time decreased with the increase in stirring speed. Furthermore, the rheo-cast samples required a longer homogenization period compared to conventionally wrought alloys. Improvements in hardness and compres-sive properties were observed after T6 heat treatment.

Influence of Adding Ti Powder in Preform on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al_2O_3p/Steel Composites by Squeeze Casting

To improve the mechanical properties of alumina particulates reinforced steel matrix composite, Ti powder was added into the alumina preform, a 5140 steel matrix composite was fabricated by squeeze casting, and the influences of Ti powder on the microstructure, hardness and bending strength of the composite were investigated, compared with the composite without adding Ti powder. Applied Ti powder and alumina particulates were 10-25 μm and 100-180 μm in size, respectively. Both composites were successfully fabricated, however Ti powder addition increased the infiltration thickness of the composite. In the Ti contained composite, a TiC film in micron scale is formed on the surface of alumina particles, many TiC aggregates are dispersed in the steel matrix without obvious remaining Ti powder. The hardness and the three-point bending strength of the composite reach 49.5 HRC and 1 018 MPa, respectively, which are 17.9% and 52.4% higher than those of the composite in the absence of Ti addition. Fracture morphology shows that the debonding of alumina particulates is eliminated for the composite in the presence of Ti addition. Sessile drop test shows the average wetting angle between 5140 steel and that of Ti coated Al2O3 is about 82.15°, much lower than the wetting angle 150° between steel and pure Al2O3. Therefore, the increase in the mechanical properties of the composite is attributed to the improvement of Al2O3 p/steel interface wetting and bonding by adding Ti powder in the preform.

Evaluation on the corrosion resistance, antibacterial property and osteogenic activity of biodegradable Mg-Ca and Mg-Ca-Zn-Ag alloys

The rapid degradation of magnesium(Mg)-based implants in physiological environment limits its clinical applications, and alloying treatment is an effective way to regulate the degradation rate of Mg-based materials. In the present study, three Mg alloys, including Mg-0.8Ca(denoted as ZQ), Mg-0.8Ca-5Zn-1.5Ag(denoted as ZQ71) and Mg-0.8Ca-5Zn-2.5Ag(denoted as ZQ63), were fabricated by alloying with calcium(Ca), zinc(Zn) and silver(Ag). The results obtained from electrochemical corrosion tests and in vitro degradation evaluation demonstrated that the three Mg alloys exhibited distinct corrosion resistance, and ZQ71 exhibited the lowest degradation rate in vitro among them. After addition of Zn and Ag, the antibacterial potential of Mg alloys was also enhanced. The in vitro cell experiments showed that all the three Mg alloys had good biocompatibility. After implantation in a rat femoral defect, ZQ71 showed significantly higher osteogenic activity and bone substitution rate than ZQ63 and ZQ, due to its higher corrosion resistance as well as the stimulatory effects of the released metallic ions. In addition, the average daily degradation rate of each Mg alloy in vivo was significantly higher than that in vitro, as could be due to the implantation site located in the highly vascularized trabecular region. Importantly, the correlations between the in vitro and in vivo degradation parameters of the Mg alloys were systematically analyzed to find out the potential predictors of the in vivo degradation performance of the materials. The current work not only evaluated the clinical potential of the three biodegradable Mg alloys as bone grafts but also provided a feasible approach for predicting the in vivo degradation behavior of biodegradable materials.

Microstructure and corrosion resistance of a duplex structured Mg–7.5Li–3Al–1Zn

This study describes the corrosion resistance of extruded,and extruded with post-processing annealing,Mg–7.5 Li–3 Al–1 Zn alloys.The results demonstrate that extrusion at 350°C with an extrusion speed 0.5 s^(-1) does not lead to the full recrystallization of the alloy,and the material still exhibits a dendritic microstructure.The post-processing annealing triggers the microstructure transformation,and the relative composition of the alloy changes.The ratio ofβ(Li)toα(Mg)in the extruded alloy was 29–71%;after annealing amount ofβ(Li)increased,and the ratio ofβ(Li)toα(Mg)in the annealed alloy was 35–65%.Corrosion testing shows that in 3.5 wt%Na Cl the extruded alloys immediately undergo strong dissolution.As a result of the subsequent annealing,an improvement of corrosion resistance is observed.The higher amount ofβ(Li)in the annealed alloy reduces the area ratio of cathodic to anodic sites of corrosion,and this makes the annealed alloy more resistive under the analyzed conditions.

Fluidized bed coating efficiency and morphology of coatings for producing Al-based nanocomposite hollow spheres

Abstract： We performed fluidized bed coating ofAl-based nanoeomposite powder-binder suspensions onto polymer substrates. The effects of the type and amount of the binder and nanoparticle additive on the coating process efficiency and coating characteristics were investigated. The efficiency decreased from 52% to 49% as the processing time increased from 15 to 20 min. However, the amount and thickness of the coating also increased as the processing time and amount of the binder were increased. The addition of nanoparticles to the system decreased the thickness of the coating from 222 to 207 μm when polyvinyl alcohol （PVA） was used as a binder. The suspension containing 3wt% R-4410 binder exhibited the greatest efficiency of 60%.

Fabrication method and microstructural characteristics of coal-tar-pitchbased 2D carbon/carbon composites

The lignin-cellulosic texture of wood was used to produce two-dimensional （2D） carbon/carbon （C/C） composites using coal tar pitch. Ash content tests were conducted to select two samples among the different kinds of woods present in lran, including walnut, white poplar, cherry, willow, buttonwood, apricots, berry, and blue wood. Walnut and white poplar with ash contents of 1.994wt% and 0.35 lwt%, respectively, were selected. The behavior of these woods during pyrolysis was investigated by differential thermal analysis （DTA） and thermo gravimetric （TG） analysis. The bulk density and open porosity were measured after carbonization and densification. The mierostruc- tural characteristics of samples were investigated by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, and Fourier-transform infrared （FT-IR） spectroscopy. The results indicate that the density of both the walnut and white poplar is increased, and the open porosity is decreased with the increasing number of carbonization cycles. The XRD patterns of the wood charcoal change gradually with increasing py- rolysis temperature, possibly as a result of the ultra-structural changes in the charcoal or the presence of carbonized coal tar pitch in the composite＇s body.

A Comparative Investigation of Single Crystal and Polycrystalline Ni-Rich NCMs as Cathodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Nickel-rich LiNi_(1-x-y)Co_(x)Mn_(y)O_(2)(NCM,1-x-y≥0.6)is known as a promising cathode material for lithium-ion batteries since its superiority of high voltage and large capacity.However,polycrystalline Ni-rich NCMs suffer from poor cycle stability,limiting its further application.Herein,single crystal and polycrystalline LiNi_(0.84)Co_(0.07)Mn_(0.09)O_(2)cathode materials are compared to figure out the relation of the morphology and the electrochemical storage performance.According to the Li^(+)diffusion coefficient,the lower capacity of single crystal samples is mainly ascribed to the limited Li+diffusion in the large bulk.In situ XRD illustrates that the polycrystalline and single crystal NCMs show a virtually identical manner and magnitude in lattice contraction and expansion during cycling.Also,the electrochemically active surface area(ECSA)measurement is employed in lithium-ion battery study for the first time,and these two cathodes show huge discrepancy in the ECSA after the initial cycle.These results suggest that the single crystal sample exhibits reduced cracking,surface side reaction,and Ni/Li mixing but suffers the lower Li^(+)diffusion kinetics.This work offers a view of how the morphology of Ni-rich NCM effects the electrochemical performance,which is instructive for developing a promising strategy to achieve good rate performance and excellent cycling stability.

Effect of Cr elimination on flow behavior and processing map of newly developed ECO-7175 aluminum alloy during hot compression

ECO-Al alloys are introduced as a game-changer for the aluminum industry and it is of utmost importance to determine the role of alloying elements in their processing characteristics.In this study,the effects of Cr on the hot deformation behavior of newly-developed ECO-7175 alloy were investigated.ECO-7175 samples with and without Cr were hot-compressed using a Gleeble simulator(temperature range of 350−500℃ and strain rates of 0.001−1 s^(−1)).The results were used to study the constitutive equations,the processing maps,and the microstructural evolution of the alloys.In Cr-containing alloy,the analysis of the deformation activation energy reveals that the rate-controlling mechanisms of the deformation change gradually from self-diffusion of Al(or diffusion of Mg in Al)to diffusion of Cr in Al by decreasing the Zener−Hollomon parameter.The analysis of the processing maps of Cr-containing alloy shows that the dynamic recrystallization(DRX)zone is limited to the deformation at high temperatures and low strain rates and expands with increasing applied strain.On the other hand,it is found that the self-diffusion of Al(or Mg in Al)is the only rate-controlling mechanism during hot deformation of Cr-free alloy in all processing conditions and its DRX zone is independent of the plastic strain.

Friction stir welding of pure magnesium and polypropylene in a lap-joint configuration: Microstructure and mechanical properties

A hybrid joint with a satisfactory mixture of pure magnesium and polypropylene(PP)was achieved via friction stir joining(FSW)in a lap-joint configuration.The tool rotational and travel speeds used in this work were 500–700 r/min and 50–100 mm/min,respectively.The mechanical properties and microstructural analysis of the resultant hybrid Mg/PP joint were examined.The results show that the maximum tensile shear strength(22.5 MPa)of the joint was attained at 700 r/min and 75 mm/min due to the optimum percentage fraction of mechanical interlocking(48%)and the presence of magnesium oxide.The interfacial joint center exhibits the maximum microhardness values because of the presence of refined and intertwined Mg fragments and density dislocations in the matrix of the PP.The joint failed via two different modes:interfacial line and weld zone fractures,respectively.

Construction of all-organic low dielectric polyimide hybrids via synergistic effect between covalent organic framework and cross-linking structure

Polyimide(PI)is a promising electronic packaging material,but it remains challenging to obtain an all-organic PI hybrid film with decreased dielectric constant and loss without modifying the monomer.Herein,a series of allorganic PI hybrid films were successfully prepared by introducing the covalent organic framework(COF),which could induce the formation of the cross-linking structure in the PI matrix.Due to the synergistic effects of the COF fillers and the cross-linking structure,the PI/COF hybrid film containing 2 wt%COF exhibited the lowest dielectric constant of 2.72 and the lowest dielectric loss(tanδ)of 0.0077 at 1 MHz.It is attributed to the intrinsic low dielectric constant of COF and a large number of mesopores within the PI.Besides,the cross-linking network of PI prevents the molecular chains from stacking and improves the fraction of free volume(FFV).The molecular dynamics simulation results are well consistent with the dielectric properties data.Furthermore,the PI/COF hybrid film with 5 wt%COF showed a significant enhancement in breakdown strength,which increased to 412.8 kV/mm as compared with pure PI.In addition,the PI/COF hybrid film achieve to reduce the dielectric constant and thermal expansion coefficient(CTE).It also exhibited excellent thermal,hydrophobicity,and mechanical performance.The all-organic PI/COF hybrid films have great commercial potential as next-generation electronic packaging materials.

Role of Cain hot compression behavior and microstructural stability of AlMg5 alloy during homogenization

Effects of a minor Ca addition on microstructural stability and dynamic restoration behavior of AlMg5 during hot deformation were investigated.They were studied using scanning electron microscopy(SEM),differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD) analyses and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).JMatPro package was used for simulation of the solidification path of the alloys.The results show that the addition of Ca does not affect the microstructure and hot compression behavior of the as-cast samples.However,it prevents the drastic grain growth during homogenization.It is found that coarse grains of Ca-free alloy promote the dynamic recovery and slow down the dynamic recrystallization during hot compression.Also,the particle stimulated nucleation is suggested as the main nucleation mechanism of new recrystallized grains for hot compressed Ca-free alloy On the other hand,the microstructure of the hot compressed Ca-added alloy is greatly affected by the presence of Al4Ca intermetallics.The formation of Al4Ca phase is predicted by JMatPro and revealed by DSC,SEM and TEM studies.Finally,it is found that the presence of Al4Ca precipitates on the grain boundaries of Ca-added alloy prevents the growth of a(Al) by Zener pinning effect and results in the stability of microstructure during homogenization.