Georgy I. Raab

Long-Length Ultrafine-Grained Titanium Rods Produced by ECAP-Conform

A new technique of continuous severe plastic deformation (SPD)-processing, i.e. ECAP (equal channel angular pressing)-Conform is applied for the first time to produce long-length rods of commercial purity Ti with ultrafine-grained structure. The paper reports on the results of investigation of the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti rods processed by ECAPConform and the following wire drawing.

Microstructural Features and Mechanical Properties of the Ti-6Al-4V ELI Alloy Processed by Severe Plastic Deformation

This paper investigates microstructures and mechanical properties of the TI-6AL-4V ELI alloy processed by ECAP and extrusion with various morphology of α and β-phase. Preliminary thermal treatment consisted of quenching and further high-temperature ageing. The present work reveals that the decrease of volume fraction of α-phase globular component in the initial billet results in a more homogeneous structure refinement during SPD, lower internal stress, enhancement of microstructure stability and mechanical properties. An ultimate strength of UTS ≥1350 MPa was obtained in the Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy while maintaining a ductility of δ≥11%.

Influence of equal-channel angular pressing on the structure and mechanical properties of low-carbon steel 10G2FT

Results are presented of the investigation of mechanical properties, microstructure, and phase composition of low-carbon steel 10G2FT (Fe-1.12Mn-0.08V-0.07Ti-0.1C) before and after equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP). It has been established that the ECAP of steel 10G2FT at T = 200°C in the case of the ferritic-pearlitic state and at T = 400°C in the case of the martensitic state leads to the formation of a predominantly submicrocrystalline structure with an average size of structural elements of approximately 0.3 μm, causes an increase in the strength properties, a decrease in the plasticity, and the localization of plastic flow. It has been experimentally shown that the initially martensitic structure after ECAP causes higher strength properties in comparison with the ferritic-pearlitic structure.

Nanostructured titanium alloys: New developments and application prospects

The work presents the results of recent studies of nanostructured titanium and its alloy of the grade VT-6 (Ti-6Al-4V), in which we managed, using the methods of severe plastic deformation (SPD), to obtain ultra-fine-grained (UFG) states and form other nanostructured elements as nanodispersed particles of secondary phases, nonequilibrium grain boundaries, and dislocation substructures. Special attention was paid to equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) and its modifications in combination with thermal and thermomechanical treatments, which enable one to obtain UFG alloys in the form of elongated rods. The peculiarities of grinding the microstructure in titanium and binary alloy VT-6 in dependence on the deformation technological setup have been established. The principles of nanostructuring to enhance strength, plasticity, and fatigue life have been suggested. The results of studies of the mechanical properties of the UFG VT-6 alloy have demonstrated the high efficiency of its application in the manufacture of articles with enhanced service parameters on the example of compressor blades of a gas-turbine engine (GTE). The possibilities of scaling the ECAP process to implement the commercial manufacture of the new material have been examined.

Evolution of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Titanium Grade 4 with the Increase of the ECAP-Conform Passes

This work reports on the results of investigation of microstructure change of commercially pure titanium Grade 4 with the increase of the number of ECAP-Conform passes. There has been investigated influence of continuous equal-channel angular pressing by the scheme “Conform” (ECAP-C) on the structure and properties of commercially pure titanium Grade 4. It has been demonstrated that as a result of first two ECAP-C cycles titanium structure is strongly fragmented and deformation bands are formed. With the further increase of ECAP-C passes to 6 the band structure is transformed into ultrafine-grained (UFG) structure with the grain size of about 250 nm. The strength of titanium regularly grows with the increase of the number of ECAP-C passes, while ductility, which settles after first cycle on the level of 12%, is almost not changed with the further strain degree increase. As a result of the subsequent drawing of titanium after ECAP-C its strength additionally increases to 1300 MPa, with retention of ductility about 11%.

Formation of a nanostructure and properties of titanium rods during equal-channel angular pressing CONFORM followed by drawing

Severe plastic deformation by equal-channel angular pressing according to the Conform schedule (ECAP-Conform) is used for the first time to produce long titanium rods in a nanostructured state. As a result of ECAP-Conform followed by drawing, the ultimate strength of Grade 4 titanium increases to 1350 MPa, and its yield strength increases to 1300 MPa at a high retained plasticity. The high efficiency and output of the ECAP-Conform method allow the development (on its basis) of a commercial technology for the production of high-strength nanostructured titanium, which is a promising material for medical implants.

Influence of Processing Parameters on Texture and Microstructure in Aluminum after ECAP

The influence of strain path during equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) has been evaluated in pure aluminum by orientation imaging microscopy (OIM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The material was examined after four pressing operations by route BC in a 90° die, or eight pressing operations by route BC in a 135° die. The von Mises equivalent strains were essentially the same for these two ECAP procedures. The microtexture data indicate that the distortion during ECAP corresponds to a simple shear in a direction approximately parallel to diechannel exit and on a plane perpendicular to the flow plane. For both procedures the OIM data reveal prominent meso-scale band-like features. Lattice orientations in each band correspond to a texture orientation but the particular combinations of orientations depend upon ECAP die angle. High-angle boundaries in the structure correspond to interfaces between the bands.

Structure, texture, and mechanical properties of an MA2-1hp magnesium alloy after two-stage equal-channel angular pressing and intermediate annealing

The effect of two-stage equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) on the microstructure, the texture, and the mechanical properties of an MA2-1hp magnesium alloy is analyzed. ECAP leads to the formation of a submicrocrystalline structure with an average grain size of 640 nm, which includes Mg17Al12 phase particles with an average grain size of 240 nm and a volume fracture of 5.5%. A scattered tilted basal texture forms after ECAP, and its experimental pole figures are used for calculating orientation distribution functions and determining the volume fractions of the main orientations and the Schmid factors for different deformation systems. An increased activation of basal slip is found after both the first and the second stages of ECAP. As a result of two-stage ECAP, the strength properties of the alloy that correspond to the minimum acceptable values achieved by direct compression are obtained. Ductility is 44 and 18% after the first stage of ECAP plus subsequent annealing and after the second stage, respectively, which is almost four and two times higher than the initial value. The resulting strength mechanical properties of the alloy after the first and the second ECAP stages are analyzed using the Hall-Petch relation.

Effect of high-temperature annealing on the microstructure and mechanical properties of ferritic-pearlitic steel 10G2FT subjected to equal-channel angular pressing

Results are given of the investigation of mechanical properties, microstructure, and phase composition of low-carbon ferritic-pearlitic steel 10G2FT (Fe-1.12Mn-0.08V-0.07Ti-0.1C) after equal-channel angular pressing and subsequent high-temperature annealing at temperatures of 500–700°C. It has been shown that the predominantly submicrocrystalline structure formed during the equal-channel angular pressing possesses high thermostability up to a temperature of 500°C. The contribution of age hardening to the strengthening of steel 10G2FT during the equal-channel angular pressing and to the stabilization of the submicrocrystalline structure to high annealing temperatures is discussed.

Effect of Cold Rolling on Structure and Mechanical Properties of Copper Subjected to Different Numbers of Passes of ECAP

Commercial purity copper was subjected to ECAP and subsequent cold rolling. Structure and mechanical properties were studied using EBSD analysis, TEM and tensile tests. Effect of ECAP number passes on grain size and fraction of high angle boundaries after cold rolling was investigated. Rolling results in grain refinement and HABs fraction increase the more ECAP number passes. UTS increases significantly after rolling. Increase of strength is accompanied by loss of plasticity. Evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties is discussed.