Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ultrafine Quaternary Al-Cu-Si-Mg Eutectic Alloy

The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of quaternary Al-Cu-Si-Mg eutectic alloy prepared via arc melting and suction casting were studied. This alloy exhibits a single endothermic DSC peak with a melting temperature of 509 °C upon heating, suggesting a eutectic reaction. The cast alloy microstructure consisted of four phases, α-Al, Al2Cu (), Si and Al4Cu2Mg8Si7 (Q), in the eutectic cells and also in the nano-scale anomalous eutectic in the intercellular regions. The eutectic cells show different morphologies in different parts of the sample. Well-defined orientation relationships between the α-Al, Al2Cu, and Q phases were found in the eutectic cell centres, while decoupled growth of Q phase occurred at the cell boundaries. The bimodal microstructure exhibits excellent compressive mechanical properties, including a yield strength of 835 ± 35 MPa, a fracture strength of ~1 GPa and a compressive fracture strain of 4.7 ± 1.1%. The high strength is attributed to a combination of a refined eutectic structure and strengthening from multiple hard phases.

Improved in-vitro biocompatibility of LZ91 Mg–Li alloy by formation of nanostructured Ti coating through surface mechanical nano-alloying treatment

Surface mechanical nano-alloying treatment (SMNAT) was employed to fabricate a nanostructured Ti coating on LZ91 Mg–Li alloy. Microstructure, surface hardness and in-vitro biocompatibility of the Ti-coated sample were investigated in comparison with those of an untreated sample. Experimental results showed that a nanostructured Ti coating with a thickness of 35 to 60 μm was formed after SMNAT for 2 h. The average grain size in the top surface of the Ti coating was about 30 nm. The surface of the Ti coating is rougher than that of the untreated LZ91 sample, in which the values of Ra, Rq and Rz were 7.83, 9.57 and 14.85 μm, respectively. The hardness of the Ti coating top surface was about 483 HV. Cell proliferation and differentiation on Ti coated samples were enhanced relative to those on the untreated samples.

Diffusion Bonding of FGH 98 and CoCrNi-Based Medium-Entropy Alloy: Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Tests

The superalloy FGH98 was successfully diffusion bonded (DB) with medium-entropy alloy (MEA) Al3Ti3(CrCoNi)94 using pure Ni as the interlayer at a temperature range of 1050–1170 °C for 1 h under 5 MPa. The microstructure and mechanical properties of joints were investigated. The diffusion bonding seam was composed of an interlayer zone (IZ) and two diffusion-affected zones (DAZ). The IZ and DAZ beside the FGH98 consisted of cubic Ni3(TiAl)-type γ′ phases due to the diffusion of Ti and Al atoms. Meanwhile, the DAZ adjacent to the MEA consisted of spherical γ′ phases. Both of the γ′ phases with different morphology kept the coherent relationship with the matrix. Moreover, increase of bonding temperature led to the morphology of interlayer γ′ phase to transform from sphere to cube. Due to the strengthening effect of a mass of γ′ phase distributed evenly in IZ and the DAZ beside the FGH98, the microhardness and Young’s modulus of these two zones were higher than that of DAZ near the MEA. The maximum shear strength of DB joint, 592 MPa, was achieved in the joint bonded by 1150 °C, which was the typical ductile fracture feature confirmed by the shear dimples.

Numerical Simulation of Three-Dimensional Dendrite Movement Based on the CA–LBM Method

At present, the calculation of three-dimensional (3D) dendrite motion using the cellular automata (CA) method is still in its infancy. In this paper, a 3D dendrite motion model is constructed. The heat, mass, and momentum transfer process in the solidification process of the alloy melt are calculated using a 3D Lattice–Boltzmann method (LBM). The growth process for the alloy microstructure is calculated using the CA method. The interactions between dendrites and the melt are assessed using the Ladd method. The solid–liquid boundary of the solute field in the movement process is assessed using the solute extrapolation method. The translational velocity of the equiaxed crystals in motion is calculated using the classical mechanical law. The rationality of the model is verified and the movement of single and multiple 3D equiaxed crystals is simulated. Additionally, the difference between 3D dendrite movement and two-dimensional (2D) dendrite movement is analyzed. The results demonstrate that the growth of moving dendrites is asymmetric. The growth velocity and falling velocity of the dendrite in the 3D model are faster than that in 2D model, while the simulation result is more realistic than that of the 2D model. When multiple dendrites move, the movement direction of the dendrites will change due to the merging of flow fields and other factors.