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.

Study on anisotropy of microstructure and mechanical properties of AZ31 magnesium alloy fabricated by wire arc additive manufacturing

Based on wire arc additive manufacturing(WAAM)technology,AZ31 magnesium alloy in bulk was successfully fabricated,and its microstructure as well as mechanical properties in different planes were observed and analyzed.The AZ31 magnesium alloy has a similar microstructure in the building direction(Z)and travel direction(X),both of which are equiaxed grains.There are heat-affected zones(HAZs)with coarse grains below the fusion line.The second phase is primarily composed of the Mg17Al12 phase,which is evenly distributed in different directions.In addition,the residual stress varies in different directions.There is no significant difference in the hardness of the AZ31 alloy along the Z and X directions,with the average hardness being 68.4 HV and 67.9 HV,respectively.Even though the specimens’ultimate tensile strength along the travel direction is higher in comparison to that along the building direction,their differences in elongation and yield strength are smaller,indicating that the anisotropy of the mechanical properties of the material is small.

Microstructure and properties of ductile iron bars for plunger pump prepared by horizontal continuous casting process

Ductile iron bars(DIBs) with a diameter of 145 mm, used for plunger pump production, were made by the horizontal continuous casting(HCC). The microstructure of the samples cut at three locations with different distances away from the surface(~20 mm from the surface, half of the radius and the center of the HCCDIBs)were investigated. The mechanical properties were measured by tensile and torsion tests. Results show that after the spheroidization of graphite, the iron matrix incorporates the nodules of Format I, Size 8 close to the surface, Format I, Size 7 at the half of the radius from the surface, and Format II, Size 6 in the centre of the bar,according to the ASTM A247 standard. The content of pearlite in the matrix changes from 55%(~20 mm from the surface) to 70%(half of the radius) and 80%(the center of the HCCDIBs). The strengths in tension are 552, 607 and 486 MPa with the elongations of 12.5%, 10.5% and 5.8% in samples cut at these three locations from the surface to the centre, respectively. The strength in torsion is equal to 558, 551 and 471 MPa at corresponding torsion angles of 418°, 384° and 144° respectively to the same distance from the bar surface. Fracture in tension is manifested via crack propagation through the interface between graphite nodules and matrix(Mode I), while in torsion the fracture is caused by the shear of graphite nodules(Mode II). It is shown that the transition between two fracture modes is also dependent on the size of graphite nodule. Typically, fracture Mode I was observed for nodules of smaller diameter(less than 22.7 μm) and fracture Mode II was seen for nodules of greater diameter(more than 24.8 μm).