Rengen Ding

Transmission electron microscopy of deformed Ti–6Al–4 V micro-cantilevers

Single α–β colony micro-cantilevers were machined from a polycrystalline commercial Ti–6Al–4 V sample using a focussed ion beam. Each cantilever contained several alpha lamellae separated by thin fillets of beta. A nanoindenter was used to perform micro-bending tests. The a3 prismatic slip system was selectively activated in the cantilevers by controlling the crystal orientation along the micro-cantilever. Specimens for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were prepared using a dual-beam focussed ion beam from a series of micro-cantilevers deformed to various extents. Bright field scanning transmission electron microscopy (BF-STEM) was used to investigate the processes of slip nucleation, propagation and transmission through the α/β interface. The cantilevers had an equilateral triangular cross-section with the bar at the top and the apex at the bottom. The compressive stresses developed near the apex were thus twice the tensile stresses near the top. Dislocations initiate first from the bottom and then from the top and move toward the neutral line. Even in the sample with a small deflection, i.e. 0.5 µm, dislocations were observed at the bottom of the cantilever, but dislocations were not observed at the top until the deflection reached 3 µm. Pile-ups pushed the dislocations past the neutral line when the micro-cantilevers were deflected to more than 4 µm.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of an as-cast AZ91 magnesium alloy processed by equal channel angular pressing

An as-cast AZ91 magnesium alloy was processed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) at 593K and its microstructure and mechanical properties were studied using electron microscopy and room temperature tensile tests, respectively. It has been found that after the first pass of ECAP, the grain size of the alloy shows a bi-modal distribution, containing fine grains of about 14 μm and large dendrite structure. The dendritic structure completely disappeared after two passes of ECAP. The average grain size of the alloy after six passes of ECAP becomes less than 10 μm. The yield stress of the alloy has significantly increased from 65 MPa of the as-cast alloy to 135 MPa after the first pass of ECAP, but does not show much change with further ECAP. However, the elongation to failure measured from the alloy processed by the first pass of ECAP is similar to that measured from the as-cast alloy. A noticeable increase of the elongation to failure has been observed after the second pass of ECAP, which then remains at the similar level with further ECAP process. The fractography of the tensile tested samples have been studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and focused ion beam (FIB) microscope. The facture surface of the as-cast alloy is predominated by cleavages. Although not predominantly, cleavage has also been frequently observed in the alloy processed by one pass of ECAP. With further ECAP process, the facture surface becomes profuse in dimples, characteristic of ductile facture, consistent with the ductility change observed. FIB observation suggests that the cracking is mainly initiated at the blocky particles.

In situ hydride formation in titanium during focused ion milling

It is well known that titanium and its alloys are sensitive to electrolytes and thus hydrides are commonly observed in electropolished foils. In this study, focused ion beam (FIB) milling was used to prepare thin foils of titanium and its alloys for transmission electron microscopy. The results show the following: (i) titanium hydrides were observed in pure titanium, (ii) the preparation of a bulk sample in water or acid solution resulted in the formation of more hydrides and (iii) FIB milling aids the precipitation of hydrides, but there were never any hydrides in Ti64 and Ti5553.

An FIB-SEM slice-and-view study of three-dimensional beta phase distribution in Ti-6Al-4V.

In the scanning electron microscope, weak secondary electron contrast between the alpha and beta phases of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy can be improved via imaging conditions such as beam voltage and current. Dual beam focussed ion beam-scanning electron microscopes are thereby suited for characterising micron and sub-micron microstructural features of Ti-6Al-4V in three dimensions via serial-sectioning procedures.

Effect of ECAP on microstructure and mechanical properties of cast AZ91 magnesium alloy

An as-cast AZ91 magnesium alloy was processed by Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) at 320°C. The microstructure and mechanical properties were studied. It has been found that ECAP refines both the grains and precipitates, thus modifies the strength and ductility of the processed alloy. After the first pass of ECAP, the yield stress improves significantly from 71 MPa to 140 MPa.

Effect of equal channel angular pressing on the strength and ductility of an AZ80 alloy

Equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) was applied to an extruded AZ80 Mg alloy in order to refine microstructure and enhance mechanical properties. The results show that the initial grain size of 20 μm of the as-extruded samples has been reduced by 75% after the first pass of ECAP, down to about 5 μm. Also as a result of the severe plastic deformation, the intermetallic compound Mg17Al12, which was distributed along grain boundaries and forms networks before the ECAP, has been re-arranged into a more homogeneous distribution and with a more spherical shape after the ECAP. Although no strengthening effect has been observed, the grain refinement and precipitate fragmentation caused by the ECAP has resulted in a 28% increase in the elongation to failure in tensile tests. Fractography observation and texture measurement have also been carried out.

Microstructure and mechanical property of ECAPed ZE41 magnesium alloy

A ZE41 alloy was processed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) at 320°C. The microstructure and tensile properties were investigated. It has been observed that ECAP refines both the grains and precipitates, thus modifies the strength and ductility of the alloy. The sample after 6-passes of ECAP processing has a yield stress of 230MPa and elongation of 20%, compared with 160 MPa and 8% prior to the ECAP. The deformation of the alloy is predominated via dislocation slip with mechanical twinning.

The role of carbide additions in the mechanical properties and microstructure of NbTiAl alloys

The mechanical behaviour of Nb35Ti6Al5Cr8V containing different C contents (0, 1, 10 at.%) has been investigated. The deformation microstructures of samples subjected to conventional constant strain rate compression and compressive creep tests have been examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). At room temperature all three alloys deform primarily by slip, with some mechanical twinning. Deformation at higher temperatures occurs by a combination of dislocation glide and climb processes, giving more homogeneous microstructures. Most of the dislocations in the matrix of these alloys have Burgers vector b=1/2 although some short segments with b= were also observed where two dislocations with b=1/2 interact during high temperature deformation. Deformation of carbide at high temperatures occurs primarily by {111} slip. The presence of extensive carbides resulted in a substantial increase in yield strength at room and high temperatures and improved creep resistance but substantially impaired ductility and toughness.