Strengthening mechanisms of reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steels:A review

This review summarizes the strengthening mechanisms of reduced activation ferritic/martensitic(RAFM)steels.High-angle grain boundaries,subgrain boundaries,nano-sized M_(23)C_(6),and MX carbide precipitates effectively hinder dislocation motion and increase high-temperature strength.M23C6 carbides are easily coarsened under high temperatures,thereby weakening their ability to block dislocations.Creep properties are improved through the reduction of M23C6 carbides.Thus,the loss of strength must be compensated by other strengthening mechanisms.This review also outlines the recent progress in the development of RAFM steels.Oxide dispersion-strengthened steels prevent M23C6 precipitation by reducing C content to increase creep life and introduce a high density of nano-sized oxide precipitates to offset the reduced strength.Severe plastic deformation methods can substantially refine subgrains and MX carbides in the steel.The thermal deformation strengthening of RAFM steels mainly relies on thermo-mechanical treatment to increase the MX carbide and subgrain boundaries.This procedure increases the creep life of TMT(thermo-mechanical treatment)9Cr-1W-0.06Ta steel by~20 times compared with those of F82H and Eurofer 97 steels under 550℃/260 MPa.

Oxidation induced ductility enhancement of Zr based metallic glass ribbons in vicinity of glass transition temperature

Zr-based metallic glasses(MGs)possess a wide supercooled liquid region,which gives a wide processing window for superplastic forming to make microdevices with demanding size accuracy and surface finishing.The existence of oxygen may have an influence on the thermoplastic deformation process.Therefore,the effect of oxidation on the mechanical behavior of the MGs in the vicinity of glass transition temperature is of great significance for practical forming of MG components.In the present study,the effect of oxidation on tensile properties of Zr50Cu40Al10 metallic glass was investigated.The tested samples were characterized by XRD and SEM analysis.For the samples tested in air,the strength decreases 187 MPa,61 MPa and 59 MPa and the ductility increases 0.31,0.36,and 0.77 at 420℃,430℃,and 440℃,respectively,compared with those tested in flowing argon.ZrO_(2) preferentially formed during the tensile testing at 420℃,and both ZrO_(2) and Al_(2)O_(3) oxides formed at 430℃.The dilution of Zr elements in the remaining amorphous matrix caused by preferential oxidation on the surface layer attributes to the decrease in strength and enhancement in ductility of the Zr_(50)Cu_(40)Al_(10) metallic glasses.

High strength-superplasticity combination of ultrafine-grained ferritic steel:The significant role of nanoscale carbides

There is currently a gap in our understanding of mechanisms that contribute to high strength and high plasticity in high strength UFG ferritic steel with nano-size Fe3 C carbides in situations that involve combination of various strain rates and high temperature.In this regard,we describe the mechanistic basis of obtaining high strength-high plasticity combination in an ultrafine-grained(UFG)(~500±30 nm)ferritic steel with nano-size carbides,which sustained large plastic deformation,exceeding 100%elongation at a temperature significantly below 0.5 of the absolute melting point(Tm).To address the missing gap in our knowledge,we conducted a series of experiments involving combination of strain rate and temperature effects in conjunction with electron microscopy and atom probe tomography(APT).Strain rate studies were carried out at strain rates in the range of 0.0017-0.17 s^(-1)and at different temperatures from 25℃to 600℃.Dynamic recrystallization occurred at 600℃,resulting in a significant decrease in yield and tensile strength.Nevertheless,the UFG ferritic steels had an advantage in tensile strength(UTS)and elongation-to-failure(εf)at 600℃,especially at strain rate of 0.0017 s^(-1),with high UTSof 510 MPa and excellent low temperature(<0.42 Tm)superplasticity(εf=110%).These mechanical properties are significantly superior compared to similar type of steels at identical temperature.A mechanistic understanding of mechanical behavior of UFG ferritic steels is presented by combining the effect of strain rate,temperature,and nano-size carbides.