Effect of Thermomechanical Treatment of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu with Minor Amount of Sc and Zr on the Mechanical Properties

In this study, the mechanical and microstructural properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr cast alloy with 0.1% Sc under homogeneous, dissolution, and T6 and thermomechanical treatments with the aim of increasing the volume fraction of MgZn2. Al3(Sc,Zr) reinforcing precipitates were examined by hardness, microscopic examinations, tensile tests and software analysis. The results showed that, firstly, the hardness results are well proportional to the results of the tensile properties of alloys and, secondly, the strength of the alloy with thermomechanical treatments compared to T6 treatments increased from 492 MPa to 620 MPa and the elongation increased from 8% to 17% and was 100% upgraded. Microstructural and fracture cross section investigations showed that Al3(Sc,Zr) nanosize dispersoids were evenly distributed among MgZn2 dispersoids and the alloy fracture was of semi-ductile type and nanosize dispersoids less than 10 nm were observed at the end of the dimples in the fracture section. The volume fraction of nanosize dispersoids in the whole microstructure of thermomechanical treatment samples was also much higher than that of T6 heat treated samples, so that the percentage of Al3(Sc,Zr) precipitates arrived from less than 1% in T6 operation to 8.28% in the quench-controlled thermomechanical operation (with 50% deformation). The quality index (QI) in thermomechanical treatment samples is 19% higher than T6 samples, so that this index has increased from 641 in T6 operation to 760 in samples under thermomechanical treatment due to precipitate morphology, volume fraction of precipitates, their uniform distribution in the matrix, and nano sized precipitates in samples under thermomechanical treatment.

4D evolution of Cr23C6 precipitates in neutron-irradiated and annealed HT-UPS steel observed via synchrotron micro-computed tomography

High-temperature-ultrafine precipitate strengthened (HT-UPS) steel is a potential structural material for advanced nuclear reactors; however, its irradiation response is not well understood. This research provides insight into irradiation-induced effects, such as precipitate evolution mechanisms and four-dimensional morphological evolution, in HT-UPS steel using synchrotron micro-computed tomography. Identical specimens were characterized pre-irradiation and post-irradiation following neutron exposure up to 0.3 displacements per atom at 600 °C. Irradiation effects were also differentiated from the annealing response of precipitates. Following neutron irradiation, the average Cr23C6 precipitate size reduced, affected by the synergy of nucleation and growth, ballistic dissolution, and inverse coarsening, which was observed at fluences an order of magnitude lower than previously observed. Annealing at 600 °C for 32 h increased the average Cr23C6 precipitate size and decreased the phase fraction, attributed to precipitate coarsening. The precipitate morphology evolution and resultant mechanisms can be utilized to parameterize and validate microstructural models simulating radiation damage or annealing. Graphical abstract

Modeling Precipitation Hardening and Yield Strength in Cast Al-Si-Mg-Mn Alloys

An integrated precipitation and strengthening model, incorporating the effect of precipitate morphology on precipitation kinetics and yield strength, is developed based on a modified Kampmann–Wagner numerical (KWN) framework with a precipitate shape factor. The optimized model was used to predict the yield strength of Al-Si-Mg-Mn casting alloys produced by vacuum high pressure die casting at various aged (T6) conditions. The solid solution strengthening contribution of Mn, which is a common alloying element to avoid die soldering, was included in the model to increase the prediction accuracy. The experimental results and simulations show good agreement and the model is capable of reliably predicting yield strength of aluminum die castings after T6 heat treatment, providing a useful tool to tailor heat treatment for a variety of applications.

Impact of Precipitate Morphology on the Dissolution and Grain-Coarsening Behavior of a Ti-Nb Microalloyed Linepipe Steel

The relationship between precipitate morphology and dissolution on grain coarsening behavior was studied in two Ti-Nb microalloyed Linepipe (LP) Steels. The developed understanding highlights the importance of the complex relationship between precipitate constitutive make-up, dissolution mechanism and grain boundary (GB) pinning force. Equilibrium-based empirical solubility products were used to calculate precipitate volume fractions and compared to experimental measurements. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) and Electron Probe Micro-Analysis (EPMA) were conducted on bulk samples. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)-based techniques were used on C-replica extractions and thin-foils. A retardation in the grain-coarsening temperature compared to the predicted coarsening temperature based on equilibrium calculations was noticed. In addition, a consistent NbC epitaxial formation over pre-existing TiN was observed. The resulting reduction in total precipitate/matrix interface area and the low energy of the TiN/NbC interface are pointed to as responsible mechanisms for the retardation in the kinetics of precipitates’ dissolution. This dissolution retardation mechanism suggests that a lower Nb content might be effective in controlling the grain coarsening behavior of austenite.