Multi-directional Forging of Large-Scale Mg-9Gd-3Y-2Zn-0.5Zr Alloy Guided By 3D Processing Maps And Finite Element Analysis

The three-dimensional (3D) processing maps of cast Mg-9.0Gd-3.0Y-2.0Zn-0.5Zr alloy were established based on isothermal compression tests and dynamic material model (DMM). The stable and power efficient forming domains were determined by considering both the instability and power dissipation efficiency maps. Multi-directional forging (MDF) was then simulated by employing finite element (FE) analysis in the Deform-3D software, using the 3D power dissipation efficiency maps as input. The optimal forging parameters were thus obtained for a large-scale ingot with 430 mm in diameter and 440 mm in height, i.e. a forging temperature of 450 ℃ and forging speed of 10 mm/s. Finally, a Mg-9.0Gd-3.0Y-2.0Zn-0.5Zr cake-shaped forged part with 900 mm in diameter and 100 mm in height was produced. After T6-heat treatment, the edge and center of the forged part exhibit homogeneous microstructure and relatively consistent properties, with the tensile strength, yield strength and elongation being about 400 MPa, 320 MPa and 14.0% respectively. Using transmission electron microscopy, the main strengthening phases were revealed to be the dense nano-scale β' phases that are uniformly distributed inside the material.

Hot Deformation Behaviour and Processing Map of Cast Alloy 825

Alloy 825 is a nickel-based alloy that is commonly used in applications where both high strength and corrosion resistance are required, such as tanks in the chemical, food and petrochemical industries and oil and gas pipelines. Components made from Alloy 825 are often manufactured using hot deformation. However, there is no systematic study to optimise the processing conditions reported in literature. In this study, a processing map for as-cast Alloy 825 is established to maximise the power dissipation efficiency of hot deformation in the temperature range of 950 to 1250 °C at an interval of 50 °C and strain rate range of $$0.01\, {\text{s}}^{ - 1}$$ 0.01 s - 1 to $$10.0\, {\text{s}}^{ - 1}$$ 10.0 s - 1 to a true strain of $$0.7$$ 0.7 using a Gleeble-3500 thermomechanical simulator. The processing conditions are also correlated to the Vickers hardness of the final material, which is also characterised using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, including electron backscattered diffraction. The true stress-true strain curves exhibit peak stresses followed by softening due to occurrence of dynamic recrystallization. The activation energy for plastic flow in the temperature range tested is approximately $$450\,{\text{ kJ mol}}^{ - 1}$$ 450 kJ mol - 1 , and the value of the stress exponent in the (hyperbolic sine-based) constitutive equation, $$n = 5.0$$ n = 5.0 , suggests that the rate-limiting mechanism of deformation is dislocation climb. Increasing deformation temperature led to a lower Vickers hardness in the deformed material, due to increased dynamic recrystallization. Raising the strain rate led to an increase in Vickers hardness in the deformed material due to increased work hardening. The maximum power dissipation efficiency is over $$35\%$$ 35 % , obtained for deformation in the temperature range 1100-1250 °C and a strain rate of $$0.01\, {\text{s}}^{ - 1}$$ 0.01 s - 1 -$$0.1\, {\text{s}}^{ - 1}$$ 0.1 s - 1 . These are the optimum conditions for hot working.

Flow Stress Modelling and 3D Processing Maps of Al4.5Zn4.5Mg1Cu0.12Zr Alloy with Different Scandium Contents

The hot deformation behaviour of an Al4.5Zn4.5Mg1Cu0.12Zr based alloy with 0.05, 0.1 and 0.15% Sc was investigated at temperatures between 300–450 °C and a strain rate of 0.1–15 s−1. The materials constants of a flow stress model based on the Zener-Hollomon parameter were determined (AARE was 5.8%). Three-dimensional processing maps were established by combining power dissipation efficiency and flow stability diagrams. Based on processing maps analysis and microstructures investigations, the optimal deformation parameters were determined as a temperature range of 350–400 °C and strain rates of 0.1–1 s−1 for the alloys with 0.05% and 0.1% Sc, and 0.1 s−1 for the alloy with 0.15% Sc.

Microstructure Evolution and Hot Deformation Behavior of a CuNiSn Alloy

The hot deformation behavior of Cu-20.0Ni-5.0Sn-0.25Zn-0.22Mn was investigated using a Gleeble-3500 thermal simulator with a temperature range from 720 °C to 880 °C and a strain rate range from 0.001 s−1 to 1 s−1. The results show that the flow stress increased with the increase of the strain rate and the decrease of the temperature. The constitutive equation of the alloy was established based on the peak flow stress. Figures of the power dissipation efficiency and flow instability with the variable of the true strain from 0.2 to 0.8 displayed the dynamic change of power dissipation efficiency and the instability area. The domain of 730–770 °C and 0.001–0.01 s−1 possessed a power dissipation efficiency over 40% throughout the whole deformation. The flow instability always appeared at a high strain rate from 0.1 s−1 to 1 s−1 during the whole deformation process. The nucleation site of the dynamic recrystallization generally appeared along the grain boundaries, indicating the discontinuous dynamic recrystallization mechanism. The appropriate conditions for deformation with a true strain of 0.9 is in a safe domain (820–860 °C with a strain rate of 0.001–0.01 s−1). There were four kinds of variation tendencies of the power dissipation efficiency with the increase of the true strain under various conditions, suggesting a changing situation for the main softening mechanisms.

Predicting Workability of a Low-Cost Powder Metallurgical Ti–5Al–2Fe–3Mo Alloy Using Constitutive Modeling and Processing Map

A low-cost titanium alloy (Ti–5Al–2Fe–3Mo wt.%) was designed and fabricated by blended elemental powder metallurgy (BEPM) process. The high-temperature deformation behavior of the powder metallurgical Ti–5Al–2Fe–3Mo wt.% (PM-TiAlFeMo) alloy was investigated by hot compression tests at temperatures ranging from 700 to 1000 °C and strain rates ranging from 0.001 to 10 s−1. The flow curves were employed to develop the Arrhenius-type constitutive model in consideration of effects of deformation temperature, strain rate, and flow stress. The value of activation energy (Q) was determined as 413.25 kJ/mol. In order to describe the workability and predict the optimum hot processing parameters of the PM-TiAlFeMo alloy, the processing map has been established based on the true stress–true strain curves and power dissipation efficiency map. Moreover, microstructure observations match well with the analyses about deformation mechanisms, revealing that dynamic recovery and dynamic recrystallization are dominant softening mechanisms at relatively high temperatures. However, the kinking and breaking of microstructure prefer to occur at relatively low temperatures.

Insight into the Role and Mechanism of Nano MgO on the Hot Compressive Deformation Behavior of Mg-Zn-Ca Alloys

Aiming to investigate the role and mechanism of nano MgO on the hot compressive deformation behavior of Mg alloys, the Mg-3Zn-0.2Ca alloy (MZC, in wt%) and the 0.2MgO/Mg-3Zn-0.2Ca alloy (MZCM, in wt%) were investigated systematically in the temperature range of 523–673 K and the strain rate range of 0.001–1 s−1. MZCM shows finer grains and second phase because of the refinement effects of added MgO. Flow behavior analysis shows that the addition of nano MgO promotes the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) of MZC. The flow stress of MZCM is lower than that of MZC during deformation at 523–623 K but exhibits a reverse trend at 673 K and 0.1–1 s−1. The constitutive analysis indicates that dislocation climb is the dominant deformation mechanism for MZC and MZCM. The addition of nano MgO particles decreases the stress sensitivity and deformation resistance for thermal deformation and improves the plasticity of the MZC. Besides, according to the processing map constructed at strains of 0.7 and corresponding microstructure evolution, MZCM exhibits higher power dissipation efficiency and smaller instability regions than MZC, and the optimum hot working condition for MZCM was determined to be at 623–653 K and 0.01–0.001 s−1.

Correlation among the Power Dissipation Efficiency, Flow Stress Course, and Activation Energy Evolution in Cr-Mo Low-Alloyed Steel

In the presented research, conventional hot processing maps superimposed over the flow stress maps or activation energy maps are utilized to study a correlation among the efficiency of power dissipation, flow stress, and activation energy evolution in the case of Cr-Mo low-alloyed steel. All maps have been assembled on the basis of two flow curve datasets. The experimental one is the result of series of uniaxial hot compression tests. The predicted one has been calculated on the basis of the subsequent approximation procedure via a well-adapted artificial neural network. It was found that both flow stress and activation energy evolution are capable of expressing changes in the studied steel caused by the hot compression deformation. A direct association with the course of power dissipation efficiency is then evident in the case of both. The connection of the presence of instability districts to the activation energy evolution, flow stress course, and power dissipation efficiency was discussed further. Based on the obtained findings it can be stated that the activation energy processing maps represent another tool for the finding of appropriate forming conditions and can be utilized as a support feature for the conventionally-used processing maps to extend their informative ability.

Processing Maps of the Ti-6Al-4V Alloy in a Forging Process Design

The paper presents the results of a complex study of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy, conducted with the application of the dynamic material modelling (DMM) method, in a wide range of temperatures, strain rates and strains. A compression test was carried out in a wide range of temperatures (800 – 1100°C) and strain rates (0.01 – 100 s-1), up to the constant final true strain value of 0.9. The obtained stress-strain curves were a basis for determining deformation activation energy with the use of an Arrhenius plot and a correlation between the Zener-Hollomon parameter and flow stress, for which the constitutive equation proposed by Sellars was used. The power dissipation efficiency parameter was calculated. The maps of power dissipation as the function of temperature and strain rate were plotted in the form of the isoclines of the power dissipation efficiency parameter expressed in %. The processing maps exhibited the range of occurrence and recrystallization of the primary α phase, the degree of the β phase recrystallization progress against the background of the process deformation windows and instability flow domain. An analysis of the influence of process parameters up on the microstructure and hardness changes was conducted.