Leszek Tarkowski

Microstructure and texture of Mg-based AZ alloys after heavy deformation under cyclic strain path change conditions

The effects associated with the change of the deformation path - such as the replacement of homogeneous multi-slip by heterogeneous deformation and a decrease of global strain hardening - have been utilised in the metal forming operation termed KOBO technology. In the case of extrusion it consists in reversible, cyclic twisting of a billet under the extrusion force. The technology enables extrusion of metals with very large deformation in one operation at low temperature. A complex scheme of straining, large cumulated deformation and low temperature of the process results in a fine grained microstructure of the extruded material (product). The new technology requires detailed studies of the mechanism of the plastic deformation with the specific geometry of the zone of metal flow during extrusion. Essential in these studies is the information on the texture and microstructure in the deformation zone. The aim of this work is therefore to disclose the deformation mechanisms on the basis of the observations of microstructure and texture evolution in the zone of plastic flow of the extrudate. Coarse grained polycrystalline billets of magnesium alloys AZ31 were extruded by KOBO at room temperature and also by a conventional method at about 400°C. Methods of texture topography as well as optical observations reveal the specific microstructure and texture in mezzo and micro scale of heavily deformed material after extrusion. It is worth mentioning that the KOBO process leads to compact and rather homogeneous extrudates even in the case of AZ alloys. These hexagonal metals cannot be cold-formed to a high reduction with conventional techniques.

X-ray diffraction grazing-incidence methods applied for gradient-free residual stress profile measurements in electrodeposited Ni coatings

The present work investigates the possibility of bias introduced in grazing-incidence-angle X-ray diffraction techniques applied to residual stress measurements. In these studies, monotextured nanocrystalline nickel coatings obtained by electrodeposition were examined as the model reference samples. Selected Ni coatings exhibited well developed and simple gradient-free residual stress states that were visible using conventional sin2ψ measurements with varying X-ray penetration depths. These results were verified against the stress state picture obtained by two variants of grazing-incidence X-ray methods: multi-reflection (different hkl) and constant angle of incidence (single hkl). The outcome of both grazing techniques consistently excluded stress gradients in the samples, which agreed with conventional sin2ψ measurement results. However, only the results of the constant angle of incidence technique agreed with those obtained by the sin2ψ method in terms of calculated residual stress level, suggesting this approach could be applied in further studies of graded material coatings. All analysed coatings yielded uniformly distributed tensile residual stress related to gradual structure development in electrodeposited Ni coatings studied by electron microscopy techniques.

Microstructure and Deposition Relations in Alumina Particle Strengthened Ni-W Matrix Composites

The nanostructured Ni-W/Al2O3 composite coatings were prepared by electrodeposition technique on ferritic steel substrates from aqueous electrolyte solutions containing ultrafine alumina particles in suspension. The effects of plating parameters like current density, inert particle concentration in plating bath and ultrasonic field frequency on the incorporation of α-Al2O3 particles (TM-DAR Taimicron) into an Ni-W matrix were investigated. The MMC coatings microstructure, phase and chemical composition were studied by means of scanning (E-SEM FEI XL-30) and transmission (TECNAI G2 SuperTWIN) electron microscopies, as well as XRD measurements (Bruker D8 Discover). SEM and TEM observations of composite cross-section microstructure showed that the presence of ultrasounds considerably reduces the particles agglomeration and enables a uniform distribution of particles in the Ni-W matrix. The electron diffraction pattern analysis revealed that the composite metallic matrix consists of an α-Ni(W) solid solution. The matrix was characterized by quasifibrous, nanocrystalline grains of an average size about 10 nm.

Optimization of X-Ray Pole Figure Measurement

The traditionally applied registration method of the back-reflection pole figure is based on the equiangular measurement lattice. It determines also the equiangular character of presentation of measurement results in form of stereographic projection, termed as the pole figure. The mentioned registration mode is characterized by an unequal density of the measurement points on the pole figure. It is the evident disadvantage of the traditional registration mode. In order to eliminate the drawback, and to increase the efficiency of the measurement procedure, an optimization of the registration method was made. The optimization consists in dividing a reference sphere of the stereographical projection into uniform regions, so called equal solid angles (ESA). As a result of the applied optimization, over 40% reduction in number of the measurement points and in the registration time at preserved pole figure quality was obtained. For verification of the new solution, a set of experimental pole figures of cold rolled copper by the traditional mode as well as the introduced ESA one was recorded. Comparison of the results of texture analysis based on the orientation distribution function was carried out. The results of measurements performed by the ESA method confirm the efficiency of the introduced optimization.

Irregularities of crystallographic orientation and residual stresses in the crossed-lamellar shell as a natural functionally graded material

The microstructures of different groups of molluscs are characterized by preferential orientations of crystallites (texture), leading to a significant anisotropy of the physical properties of the shells. A complementary characteristic, usually neglected, is the distribution of the residual stresses existing within the shell wall. By means of X-ray diffraction, we study the distribution of stresses with thickness in the shell wall of the gastropod Conus marmoreus, which has a microstructure of the crossed-lamellar type. The results revealed an extraordinary texture inhomogeneity and the existence of tensional residual stresses along the shell thickness, the origins of which are unknown. Some of the observed changes in textural parameters and stresses coincide with the transitions between shell layers, although other features are of unknown origin. Our results provide insight into the microstructural regularities that govern the mesoscale construction of shells, such as that of C. marmoreus.

Texture/stress characteristics of microstructure used in interpreting deformation effects of Ti subjected to ECAP process

The common feature of the technologies, such as the equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) is the use of a changeable deformation path, which changes the configuration (value and direction) of the acting forces that impose various directions of plastic flow. The changes destabilize a temporary dislocation structure as well as the spatial distribution of the areas with elevated elastic energy cumulated in deformed lattice. The application of that technique results in a potentially large deformation (up to several hundred percent) and plasticity of materials considered to be brittle at ambient temperature. The microstructure effects accompanied with intensive and large deformation are reflected in the space orientation of grains (crystallographic texture) as well as in the configuration of the residual stresses existing in deformed material. The presented results based on experimental data registered by X-ray diffraction and TEM techniques are helpful in interpreting deformation mechanisms operating in the bend-zone of the ECAP tool during processing Ti-ingot by the mentioned method of severe plastic deformation.

Application of Göbel Mirror for Stress Measurement Using Grazing Incidence Geometry

The Göbel mirror allows parallelization of the divergent X-ray beam leading to its higher intensity. Perfectly collimated (parallel) beam radically decreases errors of determined peak position in diffraction experiments. In the present work the Göbel mirror was applied for stress measurements using grazing incidence geometry.

Angular Extrusion of Double-Metal Ingot

Relatively high mechanical strength and simultaneously good plasticity of a crystalline material are determined by the state of its internal structure, preferably nano- or ultra-fine grained one. To achieve the above combination of properties, various manners of plastic deformation and heat treatment are applied in practice. One of the most effective processes in this field is severely plastic deformation, e.g. by the method of equal angular channel pressing (ECAP). During the ECAP, favourable effects of grain fragmentation and the formation of specific orientation relations can be attenuated by the process of structure recovery, especially, when the real temperature of angular extrusion is elevated for physical or technological reasons. An attempt to modify the ECAP technology was considered, to avoid the unfavourable temperature effects and to increase at the same time the efficiency of manufacturing the ultra-fine structure of material. Extrusion of dual-material (AZ31 + Al) ingot was performed at room temperature. As it seems, the well known difficulties with plastic deformation of materials with hexagonal lattice symmetry, like AZ31 alloy, have been decreased. Both experimental and methodological aspects of the angular extrusion of the dual-material ingot and chosen microstructure characteristics (texture, stress, morphology) are presented. On the basis of the suggested modification, the text discusses an explanation of physical origins of the microstructure evolution in the investigated material revealed by experiments.