Surface Alloying and Improved Property of Nb on TC4 Induced by High Current Pulsed Electron Beam

In this paper, an Nb alloying layer on a TC4 alloy was fabricated by using high-current pulsed electron beam (HCPEB) irradiation to improve surface performance. X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), laser surface microscope (LSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the phase composition and microstructure of the surface layer. The microhardness, wear tests and corrosion resistance were also examined. The results show that after HCPEB alloying, a Nb-alloyed layer was formed with about 3.6 μm in thickness on the surface of the sample, which was mainly composed of α’-Ti martensite, β-Ti equiaxial crystals, and NbTi4 particles. After HCPEB irradiation, the surface hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of Nb alloying layer on TC4 alloy were improved compared to the initial samples.

Investigation of CGHAZ Simulations of Low-Carbon Bainitic Steels

The effect of ten different combinations with various amounts of niobium (0-0.6 wt.%) and chromium (1-4 wt.%) on weldability and mechanical properties of thermomechanically rolled and direct-quenched low-carbon (0.035 wt.%) microalloyed bainitic steel were investigated. Two compositions were alloyed with boron to increase the hardenability, and two with titanium to improve the toughness properties in heat affected zone. The target of the study was to produce steel with 700 MPa yield strength combined with good impact toughness. Coarse grained heat affected zone (CGHAZ) simulations were performed using the Gleeble 3800 thermomechanical simulator to evaluate the weldability of the investigated steels using cooling time from 800 °C to 500 °C (t8/5) of 5 s and 15 s to simulate different heat inputs in actual welding procedure. Microstructures were characterized using light optical microscopy, and hardness profiles of simulated heat affected zones were determined as well as Charpy-V impact toughness at-40 °C and-60 °C. Shorter t8/5 time (5 s) produced generally better impact toughness properties compared to longer t8/5 -time (15 s). Steels with 4 % Cr had the highest impact energies. Generally, more softening occurred with longer t8/5-time (15 s). However, Cr and Nb alloying decreased the amount of softening in the CGHAZ region, especially with longer t8/5 -time. These results indicate that even with higher t8/5 -time, it is possible to achieve strength properties equivalent to the base material in the CGHAZ region by Cr and Nb alloying.

Microstructure, nano-mechanical characterization, and fretting wear behavior of plasma surface Cr-Nb alloying on γ-TiAl

In this study, surface Cr-Nb alloying was realized on γ-TiAl using double glow plasma hollow cathode discharge technique. An inter-diffusion layer was generated under the surface, composed of Cr2Nb intermetallic compounds. After Cr-Nb alloying, the surface nanohardness of γ-TiAl increased from 5.65 to 11.61 GPa. The surface H/E and H3/E2 increased from 3.37 to 5.98 and from 0.64 to 4.15, respectively. Cr-Nb alloying and its effect on fretting wear were investigated. The surface treatment resulted in improved plastic deformation and fretting wear resistance of γ-TiAl. The fretting wear test showed that an average friction coefficient of γ-TiAl against Si3N4 ball was significantly decreased after Cr-Nb alloying. The fluctuation of friction coefficient during running-in stage was significantly improved. The friction behavior of both γ-TiAl before and after Cr-Nb alloying could be divided into distinctive stages including formation of debris, flaking, formation of crack, and delamination. It was observed that the high hardness, resistance to plastic deformation, and fatigue resistance of γ-TiAl after Cr-Nb alloying could inhibit the formation of debris and delamination during friction test. The fretting wear scar area and the maximum wear scar depth were decreased, indicating that the wear resistance of γ-TiAl has been greatly improved after Cr-Nb alloying. The results indicated that plasma surface Cr-Nb alloying is an effective way for improving the fretting wear resistance of γ-TiAl in aviation area.

SURFACE Nb-ALLOYING ON 0.4C–13Cr STAINLESS STEEL: MICROSTRUCTURE AND TRIBOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR

0.4C–13Cr stainless steel was alloyed with niobium using double glow plasma surface alloying and tribological properties of Nb-alloyed steel such as hardness, friction and wear were measured. Effects of the alloying temperature on microstructure and the tribological behavior of the alloyed steel were investigated compared with untreated steel. Formation mechanisms of Nb-alloyed layers and increased wear resistance were also studied. The result shows that after surface Nb-alloying treatment, the 0.4C–13Cr steel exhibits a diffusion adhesion at the alloyed layer/substrate interface and improved tribological property. The friction coefficient of Nb-alloyed steel is decreased by about 0.3–0.45 and the wear rate after Nb-alloying is only 2–5% of untreated steel.