Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of the Hot Torsion Process of the Hardly Deformable 5XXX Series Aluminium Alloy

This work presents the results of the numerical and physical modelling of the hot torsion of a hardly deformable 5XXX series aluminium alloy. Studies were conducted on constrained torsion with the use of the STD 812 torsion plastometer. The main purpose of the numerical tests was to determine the influence of the accuracy of the mathematical model describing the changes in the yield stress of the tested material on the distribution of strain parameters and on the stress intensity. According to the preliminary studies, in the case of numerical modelling of the torsion test, the accuracy of the applied mathematical model describing the changes in the rheological properties of the tested material and the correct definition of the initial and boundary conditions had a particularly significant impact on the correctness of the determination of the strain parameters and the intensity of stresses. As part of the experimental tests, physical modelling of the hot torsion test was conducted. The aim of this part of the work was to determine the influence of the applied strain parameters on the distribution and size of grain as well as the microhardness of the tested aluminium alloy. Metallographic analyses were performed using light microscopy and the electron backscatter diffraction method. Due to the large inhomogeneity of the deformation parameters and the stress intensity in the torsion test, such tests were necessary for the correct determination of the so-called representative area for metallographic analyses. These types of studies are particularly important in the case of the so-called complex deformation patterns. The paper also briefly presents the results of preliminary research and future directions in which it is planned to use complex deformation patterns for physical modelling of selected processes combining various materials.

Thermokinetic Modelling of High-Temperature Evolution of Primary Nb(C,N) in Austenite Applied to Recrystallization of 316Nb Austenitic Stainless Steel

The size evolution of niobium carbonitrides Nb(C,N) and the evolution of the composition of an austenitic matrix in 316Nb stainless steel were simulated using DICTRA software. For the first time, the complete nine-element composition of steel was taken into account during isothermal and even anisothermal heat treatments. A reduced model was then proposed to optimize the calculation time for complex heat treatments. The change in the mean Nb content in austenite due to Nb(C,N) evolution during different heat treatments was studied. It qualitatively agrees with experimental data as obtained by electron probe microanalysis. Furthermore, the model was successfully applied to explain the effect of heat treatments on the recrystallization behavior of 316Nb steel during hot torsion tests. Moreover, the effect of the thermodynamic database and the number of alloying elements chosen was discussed. We showed that taking into account seven or even nine elements greatly improves the accuracy compared to usual simplified compositions. The proposed method can be useful in designing heat treatments promoting or conversely hindering recrystallization for a wide variety of Nb-bearing steels.

United Approach to Modelling of the Hot Deformation Behavior, Fracture, and Microstructure Evolution of Austenitic Stainless AISI 316Ti Steel

Hot deformation is one of the main technological stages of products made from metallic materials. It is strictly required to decrease the costs of developing optimized technologies at this stage without a significant decrease in the products’ quality. The present investigation offers an algorithm to unite three different models to predict the hot deformation behavior, fracture, and microstructure evolution. The hot compression and tension tests of the AISI 316Ti steel were conducted using the thermomechanical simulator Gleeble 3800 for the models’ construction. The strain-compensated constitutive model and the Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kolmogorov (JMAK)-type model of the grain structure evolution show a satisfactory accuracy of 4.38% and 6.9%, respectively. The critical values of the modified Rice and Tracy fracture criteria were determined using the experimental values of the relative cross-section reduction and finite element calculation of the stress triaxiality. The developed models were approved for the stainless AISI 316Ti steel by the hot torsion with tension test.

Effect of a High Mg Solute Content on the Hot Workability of Al–Mg Alloys

The workability of Al–xMg alloys with a high Mg content (Al–6Mg, Al–8Mg, Al–9Mg) was evaluated by investigating the microstructure and processing map. Hot torsion tests were conducted in the range of 350–500 °C between 0.1 and 1 s−1. Constitutive equations were derived from various effective stress–strain curves, and the thermal activation energies for deformation obtained were 171 kJ/mol at Al–6Mg, 195 kJ/mol at Al–8Mg, and 220 kJ/mol at Al–9Mg. In the case of the processing map, the instability region, which widened with increasing Mg content, was due mainly to the influence of the Mg solute, which activated grain boundary cracking and flow localization.

Double twist torsion testing to determine the non recrystallization temperature

A double-twist torsion testing technique has been developed using a 316 stainless steel as an exemplar material to experimentally assess recrystallization behavior and determine the non-recrystallization temperature (Tnr). This new method was compared to the traditional methods of double-hit compression and multi-step hot torsion testing. The double-twist torsion test allows Tnr to be related to the extent of austenite recrystallization through measurements of fractional softening while accommodating multiple deformation and recrystallization steps with a single specimen. The double-twist torsion test resulted in average Tnr values similar to those determined with multi-step hot torsion, and a partially recrystallized microstructure was observed in the vicinity of the calculated Tnr for all three methods. The ability of the double-twist torsion test to relate the experimental Tnr to the evolution of austenite recrystallization via fractional softening measurements while incorporating effects of multiple deformation steps offers an advantage over traditional methods for quantifying changes in austenite recrystallization during thermomechanical processing.

Dynamic Recrystallization Mechanisms of Nickel Niobium Alloys during Hot Working

This present work examines the influence of niobium in solid solution on the microstructural evolution of pure nickel at various deformation conditions. On this purpose, high-purity nickel and six model nickel-niobium alloys (Ni–0.01, 0.1, 1, 2, 5 and 10 wt. % Nb) were subjected to hot torsion test to large strains within the temperature range from 800 to 1000 °C at strain rates of 0.03, 0.1 and 0.3 s–1. Microstructural analyses were carried out using both optical and scanning electron microscopy-based electron back-scattered diffraction technique. The overall results showed the key role played by the Nb amount when coupled with various DRX mechanisms involved, i.e. DDRX, CDRX, and GDRX with respect to the prescribed deformation conditions, in reducing grain size and retarding DRX kinetics from which the microstructures of the examined materials such as Ni 2 and 10 wt. % Nb were seen evolving in different ways. In all these deformed materials, a transition from discontinuous dynamic recrystallization to continuous dynamic recrystallization was observed at low temperature and high strain rate whereas only discontinuous dynamic recrystallization occurred at high temperature.

Effect of Processing Conditions on the Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, and Corrosion Behavior of Two Austenitic Stainless Steels for Bioimplant Applications

Hot torsion tests were carried out to simulate the industrial thermomechanical processing of two austenitic steels for bioimplant applications, namely ISO 5832-9 and ASTM F138. The former has Ti, Nb, and V in the composition, being N-rich. However, the latter is Ni-richer and without extra alloying element additions. Special attention was paid to the effect of interpass times, particularly to the soaking temperature, which was reduced to decrease processing times and costs. Optical and electron microscopy, corrosion tests, and hardness measurements were used to characterize the effect of the above processing parameters on both alloys. No significant increase in processing loads was noticed after the reduction of the reheating temperature. This was explained in terms of the balance between partial particles dissolution and the increment in the solute drag effect provided by the elements put into solution. Such an increment in solid solution favored the dynamic recovery process, delaying the dynamic recrystallization one. However, strain-induced precipitation took place at lower temperatures, by using the extra N and Cr delivered to the matrix, and limiting the recrystallization softening. The rolling schedule promoted abundant grain refinement. The final grain size ranged from 2.5 to 11 µm, depending on reheating temperature, interpass time, presence of alloying elements, and N. In general terms, the corrosion resistance of the ISO steel soaked at the lowest temperature (1200 °C) was better than when reheated to the highest one (1250 °C). On the contrary, the F138 steel had worse corrosion behavior.

Study on Deformation Behavior of Non–Hardenable Austenitic Stainless Steel (Grade X5CrNi18–10) by Hot Torsion Tests

The steel’s deformation resistance, in which high strain rates have an important influence on the mechanism of failure, might be obtained from a suitably instrumented torsion test. Determination of stainless steel deformability by hot torsion test is the only method that allows obtaining large deformations along the length of the test specimen, so it is mainly used to determine the characteristics at large plastic deformations. By this method, the hot deformability of stainless steel is determined by subjecting to hot torsion the cylindrical stainless steel specimens maintained at the deformation temperature in a tubular oven belonging to the Laboratory of Metal Rolling and Plastic Deformation, at the Faculty of Engineering – Hunedoara, University Politehnica Timişoara. For the experimental hot torsion tests, several stainless steel grades were used and included in a large series of studies destined to determining the deformation behavior of steel. Having in view the previous results obtained in the study of deformability characteristics of two stainless steels (hardenable martensitic stainless steel, grade X46Cr13 and non–hardenable ferritic stainless steel, grade X6Cr17), this paper includes the results of the hot torsion tests conducted to find the deformation behavior of the non–hardenable austenitic stainless steel (grade X5CrNi18–10). For analysis of laboratory hot torsion tests results the univariate and multivariate regression analysis was used, estimating the relationships among the hot–testing temperature, torque moment and number of torsions up to the breaking point of the specimens of austenitic stainless steel. Therefore, the optimum range of heating temperatures applied for deforming the studied steels results clearly from the deformability – temperature (plasticity – temperature and deformation resistance – temperature) diagrams. Correlations are useful because they can indicate a predictive relationship that can be exploited in the laboratory or industrial practice.