Evolution of Microstructure, Mechanical Properties and Residual Stress of a Cold Rolled Invar Sheet Due to Heat Treatment

Invar alloy possesses a uniquely low coefficient of thermal expansion, making it an ideal material for fine metal masks. To manufacture fine metal masks, Invar alloys are often cold-rolled, during which residual stress develops. Heat treatment is an effective means to control residual stress that develops within Invar sheets after cold rolling, but the treatment should be carried out with care. In this article, a comprehensive study on the effect of heat treatment on the residual stress, microstructure, and mechanical properties of a cold-rolled Invar sheet is reported. We show that while both recovery and recrystallization are effective means of reducing residual stress, substantial microstructural changes and, therefore, notable changes in mechanical properties and residual stress, occur after recrystallization. Moreover, residual stress release due to recrystallization can be affected by microstructure and texture prior to heat treatment as these factors play a significant role in recrystallization.

Conditions for the Violation of Concentrational Homogeneity of Fe–Ni Invar Alloys

Conditions for the formation of microconcentration inhomogeneities in Fe–Ni alloys, which can decrease their invar characteristics, are determined. The nickel separation can be reached in the course of short-term annealing as a result of deformation-induced nickel segregation, nickel redistribution between martensite and austenite and between ferrite and austenite as well.

Effect of Mo doping on the microstructure and properties of an Fe36Ni Invar alloy

The effects of doping with different Mo contents on the microstructure and properties of Fe36Ni Invar alloys were investigated. The results show that when 0.9 wt.% Mo and 1.8 wt.% Mo were added to Fe36Ni, the tensile strengths of the hot rolled alloys were 46 and 61 MPa higher than that of the 0 wt.% Mo sample, respectively. With an increase in Mo content from 0.9 to 1.8 wt.%, the solution temperature of the highest hardness after heat treatment increased from 800[Formula: see text]C to 850[Formula: see text]C, respectively. The addition of 0.9 wt.% Mo refined the average grain size from 37 to 15 [Formula: see text]m, and an excessive amount of Mo (1.8 wt.%) did not refine the grains further. After Mo was added, the precipitates on the original grain boundaries changed into nanoprecipitates dispersed in the grain boundaries and inside the grains. Mo was present in the alloy in the form of a carbide and in solid solution, which affected the magnetic lattice effect and increased the thermal expansion coefficient of the alloy. However, upon comparing the samples doped with 0 wt.% Mo, 0.9 wt.% Mo and 1.8 wt.% Mo, it was found that the addition of 0.9 wt.% Mo not only refined the grain size and improved the mechanical properties of the alloy but also led to a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) over the range from 20[Formula: see text]C to 300[Formula: see text]C.