Y.L. Chiu

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.

Tensile properties and fracture behaviour of an ultrafine grained Ti–47Al–2Cr (at.%) alloy at room and elevated temperatures

An ultrafine grained (UFG) Ti–47Al–2Cr (at.%) alloy has been synthesized using a combination of high energy mechanical milling and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) of a Ti/Al/Cr composite powder compact. The material produced has been tensile tested at room temperature, 700 and 800xa0°C, respectively, and the microstructure of the as-HIPed material and the microstructure and fracture surfaces of the tensile tested specimens have been examined using X-ray diffractometry, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The alloy shows no ductility during tensile testing at room temperature and 700xa0°C, respectively, but very high ductility (elongation to fracture 70–100%) when tensile tested 800xa0°C, indicating that its brittle to ductile transition temperature (BDTT) falls within the temperature range of 700–800xa0°C. The retaining of ultrafine fine equiaxed grain morphology after the large amount of plastic deformation of the specimens tensile tested at 800xa0°C and the clear morphology of individual grains in the fractured surface indicate that grain boundary sliding is the predominant deformation mechanism of plastic deformation of the UFG TiAl based alloy at 800xa0°C. Cavitation occurs at locations fairly uniformly distributed throughout the gauge length sections of the specimens tensile tested at 800xa0°C, again supporting the postulation that grain boundary sliding is the dominant mechanism of the plastic deformation of the UFG TiAl alloys at temperatures above their BDTT. The high ductility of the UFG alloy at 800xa0°C and its fairly low BDTT indicates that the material a highly favourable precursor for secondary thermomechanical processing.

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.