Thermodynamics Of Aluminum Strontium Alloys

The activity of strontium in liquid Al-Sr alloys (X(Sr) less-than-or-equal-to 0.17) at 1323 K has been determined using the Knudsen effusion-mass loss technique. At higher concentrations (X(Sr) greater-than-or-equal-to 0.28), the activity of strontium has been determined by the pseudoisopiestic technique. Activity of aluminium has been derived by Gibbs-Duhem integration. The concentration - concentration structure factor of Bhatia and Thornton at zero wave vector has been computed from the thermodynamic data. The behaviour of the mean square thermal fluctuation in composition and the thermodynamic mixing functions suggest association tendencies in the liquid state. The associated solution model with Al2Sr as the predominant complex can account for the properties of the liquid alloy. Thermodynamic data for the intermetallic compunds in the Al-Sr system have been derived using the phase diagram and the Gibbs' energy and enthalpy of mixing of liquid alloys. The data indicate the need for redetermination of the phase diagram near the strontium-rich corner.

Fracture behavior of magnesium alloys - Role of tensile twinning

In this work, Mode-I fracture experiments are conducted using notched compact tension specimens machined from a rolled AZ31 Mg alloy plate having near-basal texture with load applied along rolling direction (RD) and transverse direction (TD). Moderately high notched fracture toughness of J(C) similar to 46 N/mm is obtained in both RD and TD specimens. Fracture surface shows crack tunneling at specimen mid-thickness and extensive shear lips near the free surface. Dimples are observed from SEM fractographs suggesting ductile fracture. EBSD analysis shows profuse tensile twinning in the ligament ahead of the notch. It is shown that tensile twinning plays a dual role in enhancing the toughness in the notched fracture specimens with reduced triaxiality. It provides significant dissipation in the background plastic zone and imparts hardening to the material surrounding the fracture process zone via operation of several mechanisms which retards micro-void growth and coalescence. (C) 2015 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Continuum Model for Slip-Twinning Interactions in Magnesium and Magnesium Alloys

Due to their high specific strength and low density, magnesium and magnesium-based alloys have gained great technological importance in recent years. However, their underlying hexagonal crystal structure furnishes Mg and its alloys with a complex mechanical behavior because of their comparably smaller number of energetically favorable slip systems. Besides the commonly studied slip mechanism, another way to accomplish general deformation is through the additional mechanism of deformation-induced twinning. The main aim of this thesis research is to develop an efficient continuum model to understand and ultimately predict the material response resulting from the interaction between these two mechanisms.

The constitutive model we present is based on variational constitutive updates of plastic slips and twin volume fractions and accounts for the related lattice reorientation mechanisms. The model is applied to single- and polycrystalline pure magnesium. We outline the finite-deformation plasticity model combining basal, pyramidal, and prismatic dislocation activity as well as a convexification based approach for deformation twinning. A comparison with experimental data from single-crystal tension-compression experiments validates the model and serves for parameter identification. The extension to polycrystals via both Taylor-type modeling and finite element simulations shows a characteristic stress-strain response that agrees well with experimental observations for polycrystalline magnesium. The presented continuum model does not aim to represent the full details of individual twin-dislocation interactions, yet it is sufficiently efficient to allow for finite element simulations while qualitatively capturing the underlying microstructural deformation mechanisms.

Dry sliding wear behavior of magnesium alloys

Dry sliding tests were performed on as-cast magnesium alloys Mg97Zn1Y2 and AZ91 using a pin-on-disc configuration. Coefficients of friction and wear rates were measured within a load range of 20-380 and 20-240 N at a sliding velocity of 0.785 m/s. X-ray differactometer, scanning electron microscopy, tensile testing machine were used to characterize the microstructures and mechanical properties of Mg97Zn1Y2 alloy and AZ91 alloy. Worn surface morphologies of Mg97Zn1Y2 and AZ91 were examined using scanning electron microscopy.

Extended application of edge-to-edge matching model to HCP/HCP (alpha-Mg/MgZn2) system in magnesium alloys

In the present work, the edge-to-edge matching model has been introduced to predict the orientation relationships (OR) between the MgZn2 phase which has hexagonal close packed (HCP) structure and the HCP a-Mg matrix. Based on the crystal structures and lattice parameters only, the model has predicted the two most preferred ORs and they are: (1) [1 1 2 3](alpha-Mg) vertical bar vertical bar]1 1 2 3](alpha-Mg), (0 0 0 1)(alpha-Mg) 0.27 degrees from (0 0 0 1)(MgZn2), (1 0 1 1)(alpha-Mg) 26.18 degrees from (1 1 2 2)(MgZn2), (2) [1 0 1 0](alpha-Mg),vertical bar vertical bar[1 1 2 0](MgZn2), (0 0 0 1)(alpha-Mg) vertical bar vertical bar(0 0 0 1)(MgZn2), (1 0 1 1)(alpha-Mg) 3.28 degrees from ( 1 1 2 2)(MgZn2). Four experimental ORs have been reported in the alpha-Mg/MgZn2 system, and the most frequently reported one is ideally the OR (2). The other three experimental ORs are near versions of the OR (2). The habit plane of the OR (2) has been predicted and it agrees well with the experimental results.

Twinning and the ductility of magnesium alloys Part II. “Contraction” twins

Magnesium and its alloys do not in general undergo the same extended range of plasticity as their competitor structural metals. The present work presents part II of a study that examines some of the roles deformation twinning might play in the phenomenon. A series of tensile and compression tests results are reported for common wrought alloys: AZ31, ZK60 and ZM20. These data are combined with EBSD analysis and simple flow stress models to argue the following: (i) that “contraction” double twinning (which enables contraction along the c axis) can decrease the uniform elongation, and (ii) that compression double twinning can also account for shear failure at low strains. The last of these is described as a combined consequence of strain softening of the continuum and the local generation of twin sized voids.

Twinning and the ductility of magnesium alloys Part I: “Tension” twins

Magnesium and its alloys do not in general undergo the same extended range of plasticity as their competitor structural metals. The present work is part I of a study that examines some of the roles deformation twinning might play in the phenomenon. A series of tensile test results are reported for the common wrought alloy AZ31. These data are employed in conjunction with a simple constitutive model to argue that View the MathML source twinning (which gives extension along the c-axis) can increase the uniform elongation in tensile tests. This effect appears to be similar to that seen in Ti, Zr and Cu–Si and in the so called TWIP phenomenon in steel.

A criterion for conventional dynamic recrystallization: Application to magnesium alloys

An analytical approximation for the steady state dynamic recrystallized grain size is combined with a simple nucleation criterion to assess the propensity for dynamic recrystallization. In line with observation, the criterion predicts dynamic recrystallization in 99.9995% pure Al but not in material 99.5% pure. It also agrees with the observation that zone refined ferrite can display dynamic recrystallization at high temperatures and low strain rates but not at lower hot working temperatures. The criterion is applied here to common wrought magnesium alloys to argue that conventional dynamic recrystallization is expected under "normal" hot working conditions.

Solidification of cast magnesium alloys

A description of the key solidification steps in the formation of the as-cast microstructure of magnesium alloys is presented. The focus is on the two common magnesium alloy groups: Mg-Al alloys and Mg-Zn-rare earth alloys. The key elements described are: nucleation (including grain refinement), growth of the primary phase and the formation of the eutectic phases. In addition the effect of casting process (e.g. high-pressure diecasting and sand casting) on the outcomes from solidification are discussed. This includes consideration of the formation of banded defects during solidification in the dynamic environment of high pressure die casting.