Hauke Springer

Interstitial atoms enable joint twinning and transformation induced plasticity in strong and ductile high-entropy alloys

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) consisting of multiple principle elements provide an avenue for realizing exceptional mechanical, physical and chemical properties. We report a novel strategy for designing a new class of HEAs incorporating the additional interstitial element carbon. This results in joint activation of twinning- and transformation-induced plasticity (TWIP and TRIP) by tuning the matrix phase’s instability in a metastable TRIP-assisted dual-phase HEA. Besides TWIP and TRIP, such alloys benefit from massive substitutional and interstitial solid solution strengthening as well as from the composite effect associated with its dual-phase structure. Nanosize particle formation and grain size reduction are also utilized. The new interstitial TWIP-TRIP-HEA thus unifies all metallic strengthening mechanisms in one material, leading to twice the tensile strength compared to a single-phase HEA with similar composition, yet, at identical ductility.

Stiff, light, strong and ductile: nano-structured High Modulus Steel

Structural material development for lightweight applications aims at improving the key parameters strength, stiffness and ductility at low density, but these properties are typically mutually exclusive. Here we present how we overcome this trade-off with a new class of nano-structured steel – TiB2 composites synthesised in-situ via bulk metallurgical spray-forming. Owing to the nano-sized dispersion of the TiB2 particles of extreme stiffness and low density – obtained by the in-situ formation with rapid solidification kinetics – the new material has the mechanical performance of advanced high strength steels, and a 25% higher stiffness/density ratio than any of the currently used high strength steels, aluminium, magnesium and titanium alloys. This renders this High Modulus Steel the first density-reduced, high stiffness, high strength and yet ductile material which can be produced on an industrial scale. Also ideally suited for 3D printing technology, this material addresses all key requirements for high performance and cost effective lightweight design.

A novel roll-bonding methodology for the cross-scale analysis of phase properties and interactions in multiphase structural materials

Abstract We introduce a new thermo-mechanical approach for producing layered bulk samples built-up from the constituent phases of structural materials for the analysis of multiphase co-deformation phenomena. Following a thermo-mechanically controlled roll-bonding procedure, the intrinsic properties of the microstructural components as well as their mutual mechanical interaction and interfacial phenomena can be systematically investigated in highly controlled model microstructures of reduced complexity. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated on two examples where austenite or martensite layers, respectively, are introduced in a bulk ferritic matrix, representing in either case components of high strength steels. Special emphasis is laid on how the plasticity of martensite within ferrite, as a key parameter required for understanding and optimising dual phase steels, can be investigated following the proposed approach.

Properties of particle phases for metal-matrix-composite design

Successful metallurgical design of metal-matrix-composites relies on the knowledge of the intrinsic property profiles of the metal matrix and especially the compounds employed for particles, whiskers or fibres. In this work we compiled the key properties melting point, bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young׳s modulus, density, hardness, Poisson׳s ratio and structure/space group from the widespread literature data for the most relevant compound types, i.e. borides, carbo-borides, carbides, oxides, nitrides and intermetallic phases.

1 billion tons of nanostructure – segregation engineering enables confined transformation effects at lattice defects in steels

The microstructure of complex steels can be manipulated by utilising the interaction between the local mechanical distortions associated with lattice defects, such as dislocations and grain boundaries, and solute components that segregate to them. Phenomenologically these phenomena can be interpreted in terms of the classical Gibbs adsorption isotherm, which states that the total system energy can be reduced by removing solute atoms from the bulk and segregating them at lattice defects. Here we show how this principle can be utilised through appropriate heat treatments not only to enrich lattice defects by solute atoms, but also to further change these decorated regions into confined ordered structural states or even to trigger localized decomposition and phase transformations. This principle, which is based on the interplay between the structure and mechanics of lattice defects on the one hand and the chemistry of the alloys solute components on the other hand, is referred to as segregation engineering. In this concept solute decoration to specific microstructural traps, viz. lattice defects, is not taken as an undesired effect, but instead seen as a tool for manipulating specific lattice defect structures, compositions and properties that lead to beneficial material behavior. Owing to the fairly well established underlying thermodynamic and kinetic principles, such local decoration and transformation effects can be tuned to proceed in a self-organised manner by adjusting (i) the heat treatment temperatures for matching the desired trapping, transformation or reversion regimes, and (ii) the corresponding timescales for sufficient solute diffusion to the targeted defects. Here we show how this segregation engineering principle can be applied to design self-organized nano- and microstructures in complex steels for improving their mechanical properties.