Ana Velia Druker

Design, construction, and performance of a device for directional recrystallization of metallic alloys

A device was designed to apply the directional recrystallization method to Fe-based alloys in order to obtain bamboo-like microstructures. This microstructure is suitable for improving creep properties and resistance to fatigue in some alloys and for enhancing pseudoelastic properties in shape memory alloys. The design and construction of a flat coil are described in detail. In addition, we developed an electromechanical system to control the movement of a wire within the flat coil. The construction details and system performance are presented. Furthermore, metallographic studies taken from the directionally recrystallized low-carbon steel samples are shown. Nearly monocrystalline and bamboo-like microstructures were achieved in the steel wires.

The Shape Memory Effect in Melt Spun Fe-15Mn-5Si-9Cr-5Ni Alloys

At room temperature, Fe-15Mn-5Si-9Cr-5Ni alloys are usually austenitic and the application of a stress induces a reversible martensitic transformation leading to a shape memory effect (SME). However, when a ribbon of this material is obtained by melt-spinning, the rapid solidification stabilizes a high-temperature ferritic phase. The goals of this work were to find the appropriate heat treatment in order to recover the equilibrium austenitic phase, characterize the ribbon form of this material and evaluate its shape memory behaviour. We found that annealing at 1050°C for 60 min, under a protective argon atmosphere, followed by a water quenching stabilizes the austenite to room temperature. The yield stress, measured by tensile tests, is 250 MPa. Shape-memory tests show that a strain recovery of 55% can be obtained, which is enough for certain applications.