Effect of Electromagnetic Frequency on Microstructures of Continuous Casting Aluminum Alloys

The relationship between electromagnetic frequency and microstructures of continuous casting aluminum alloys was studied. 7075 aluminum alloy ingot of 100 mm in diameter was produced by electromagnetic continuous casting process, the microstructures of as-cast ingot was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The results showed that electromagnetic frequency greatly influenced segregation and microstructures of as-cast ingot, and product quality can be guaranteed by the application of a proper frequency. Electromagnetic frequency plays a significant role in solute redistribution; low frequency is more efficient for promoting solution of alloying elements.

VOLUMETRIC MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENT BETWEEN SLAG AND METAL IN COMBINED BLOWING CONVERTER

The effects of operation parameters of combined blowing converter on the volumetric mass transfer coefficient between slag and steel are studied with a cold model with water simulating steel, oil simulating slag and benzoic acid as the transferred substance between water and oil. The results show that, with lance level of 2.1m and the top blowing rate of 25000Nm3/h, the volumetric mass transfer coefficient changes most significantly when the bottom blowing rate ranges from 384 to 540Nm3/h. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient reaches its maximum when the lance level is 2.1m, the top blowing rates is 30000Nm3/h, and the bottom blowing rate is 384Nm3/h with tuyeres located symmetrically at 0.66D of the converter bottom.

STUDY OF TCP PHASE PRECIPITATING IN GH4199 SUPERALLOY

The precipitating regulation and mechanism of TCP phase (μ phase and σ phase) are studied, using electron hole number (EHN) theory, phase analysis technology and TEM observation. The results indicate that the EHN in studied alloy is 2.311-2.348 which is higher than that of critical EHN of μ phase precipitate (2.30), so μ phase could precipitate if there is enough thermo-exposition. In contrast, the calculated EHN is less than that of critical EHN of σ phase precipitate (2.52). However the σ phase is also observed by TEM. Enrich of Cr and Mo around γ phase after γ′phase precipitated leads to σ phase precipitated.

INFLUENCE OF TIN ON THE HOT DUCTILITY OF A LOW-CARBON STEEL

The influence of tin on the hot ductility of a 0.15wt%C steel is investigated using a continuous-casting thermal simulator with three cooling rates. Tin can apparently deteriorate the hot ductility of the steel. Non-equilibrium grain boundary segregation of tin occurs during cooling and plays an important role in reducing the hot ductility of the steel. There is a critical cooling rate for the Sn segregation being between 5 and 20K/s.

Application of Computational Fluid Dynamics to analysis of metallurgical process for continuous casting tundishes

A series of simulations by mathematical and physical modeling on fluid flow,mass and heat transfer in continuous casting tundishes have been carried out. It was found bycomputational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation that in most cases tundish flow must be treated as anon-isothermal reactor due to the existence of temperature difference between the transport ladleand the tundish. The critical conditions when the non-isothermal flow in the tundish can not beneglected have been found by CFD simulation and water modeling. A direct measurement in a 40 ttundish has confirmed the simulation results.

FORMATION OF GRADIENT COATING OF Fe-BASED ALLOY WITH RARE EARTHS BY PLASMA SURFACING

A gradient coating of Fe-based alloy was manufactured with rare earths (RE) by plasma surfacing on Q235 steel substrate. The coatings were studied by using X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscope(SEM), differential thermal analyzer(DTA), and electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA). The results show that the phases of the two kinds of coatings(with and without RE) both include α-Fe, Fe7C3, Fe3C, Cr2B, Fe2B and FeB. The microstructure of F314 coating is mainly hypereutectic, the pro-phases Cr7C3 and Cr2B are loose, crassi, spiculate and contain microcracks. The brittleness of the coating is high, and the average hardness is 787 HV. When 0.8wt% RE was added into the F314 alloy, the microstructure varied from hypoeutectic to hypereutectic continuously, The hardness appears as gradient distribution with the highest value of 773 HV, meanwhile, the brittleness decreases significantly. The formation of gradient structure depends on the fallowing factors: (i) the conversion of RE. The addition of RE lowers the elements point and Fe-C eutectic temperature, thus the base metal melting acutely. (ii) the heating of plasma arc. Graded temperature results in directional solidification, thus the gradient structure forms easily. The main reasons for the hardness decrease with RE addition in the alloy are the ratio of hard phase lowering and the hardness of the hard phase decreasing.

Through Thickness Variation of Cross Shear Rolling Texture in Grain Oriented Silicon Steel

The texture inhomogeneity in cross shear rolled grain oriented Si steel was investigated by means of the through thickness texture analysis. For the chosen rolling reductions (55%, 66.5%) and mismatch speed ratios (1.0, 1.1, 1.3), the deformation textures in various thickness layers consist of three major components, i.e. strong γ-fiber, medium α-fiber and weak η-fiber, and they show an asymmetrical distribution throughout the thickness. The effect of reduction on the texture gradient is found to be more significant at and near the center layer; however, the effect of mismatch speed ratio is less important. In most cases, a strong {111}<112> texture component appears in the subsurface layers, that may favour the formation of a sharp Goss texture during the subsequent annealing.

A Coprecipitation Coating Synthesis of SiC/YAG Composites

The α-SiC in 0.5μm size powders were coated with Al_2O_3 and Y_2O_3 by a coprecipitation coating (CPC) method forfabrication of SiC/YAG composites. The same powder preparation was carried out by conventional mechanical mixing(MM) method for comparison. Two kinds of SiC/YAG composites were manufactured by pressureless sintering usingthe different powders, named CPC composite and MM composite thereafter respectively. It is shown that the CPCcomposite has the advantages of homogeneous distribution of YAG phase and of being sintered to high density ata low temperature, 100℃ lower than that of MM composite. The strength (573 MPa) and hardness (23.3 GPa) ofthe CPC composite are significantly higher than those (323 MPa and 13.5 GPa) of the MM composite, respectively.

Determination of Neutron Irradiation-Induced Phosphorus Segregation on Grain Boundaries in a P-doped 2.25Cr1Mo Steel

Irradiation-induced impurity segregation to grain boundaries is one of the important radiation effects on materials. For this reason, phosphorus segregation to prior austenite grain boundaries in a P-doped 2.25Cr1Mo steel subjected to neutron irradiation is examined using field emission gun scanning transmission electron microscopy (FEGSTEM) with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX). The steel samples are irradiated around 270 and 400℃, respectively. The irradiation dose rate and dose are -1.05×10-8 dpa/s and -0.042 dpa respectively for 270℃ irradiation, and 1.7×10-8 dpa/s and 0.13 dpa respectively for 400℃ irradiation. The FEGSTEM results indicate that there is no apparent phosphorus segregation during 270℃ irradiation but there is some during 400℃ irradiation.

Preparation of DyFe_2 and TbFe_2 by Reduction-Diffusion Process

The pure intermetallic compounds (Tb1-x;Dyx)Fe2 are super-magnetostriction materials, which were produced from DyFe2 and TbFe2 in this paper. The thermodynamic possibility and kinetic feasible conditions for DyFe2 and TbFe2 preparation by reduction-diffusion in Ca-Dy2O3-Fe and Ca-Tb4O7-Fe systems were analyzed and the products of DyFe2 and TbFe2 were confirmed by XRD. The contracting core model was applied to describe the reduction-diffusion process in which the diffusion is a rate-controlled step. The apparent activation energies of DyFe2 and TbFe2 processes are 45 and 39 kJ/mol respectively.

GRAIN-BOUNDARY PRECIPITATION UNDER IRRADIATION IN DILUTE BINARY ALLOYS

Irradiation-induced grain boundary segregation of solute atoms frequently bring about grain boundary precipitation of a second phase because of its making the solubility limit of the solute surpassed at grain boundaries. Until now the kinetic models for irradiation-induced grain boundary precipitation have been sparse. For this reason, we have theoretically treated grain boundary precipitation under irradiation in dilute binary alloys. Predictions of γ' -Ni3Si precipitation at grain boundaries are made for a dilute Ni-Si alloy subjected to irradiation. It is demonstrated that grain boundary silicon segregation under irradiation may lead to grain boundary γ'-Ni3Si precipitation over a certain temperature range.