Microstructure and high-temperature wear and oxidation resistance of laser clad gamma/W2C/TiC composite coatings on gamma-TiAl intermetallic alloy

There are very strong interests in improving the high-temperature wear resistance of the y-TiAl intermetallic alloy, especially when applied as tribological moving components. In this paper, microstructure, high-temperature dry sliding wear at 600 degrees C and isothermal oxidation at 1000 degrees C on ambient air of laser clad gamma/W2C/TiC composite coatings with different constitution of Ni-Cr-W-C precursor mixed powders on TiAl alloy substrates have been investigated. The results show that microstructure of the laser fabricated composite coatings possess non-equilibrium microstructure consisting of the matrix of nickel-base solid solution gamma-NiCrAl and reinforcements of TiC, W2C and M23C6 carbides. Higher wear resistance than the original TiAl alloy is achieved in the composite coatings under high-temperature wear test conditions. However, the oxidation resistance of the laser clad gamma/W2C/TiC composite coatings is deceased. The corresponding mechanisms resulting in the above behaviors of the laser clad composite coatings are discussed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Diffusion dominated process for the crystal growth of a binary alloy

The pure diffusion process has been often used to study the crystal growth of a binary alloy in the microgravity environment. In the present paper, a geometric parameter, the ratio of the maximum deviation distance of curved solidification and melting interfaces from the plane to the radius of the crystal rod, was adopted as a small parameter, and the analytical solution was obtained based on the perturbation theory. The radial segregation of a diffusion dominated process was obtained for cases of arbitrary Peclet number in a region of finite extension with both a curved solidification interface and a curved melting interface. Two types of boundary conditions at the melting interface were analyzed. Some special cases such as infinite extension in the longitudinal direction and special range of Peclet number were reduced from the general solution and discussed in detail.

Embryo-damage induced nucleation of microcracks in an aluminum-alloy under impact loading

The nucleation of microdamage under dynamic loading was investigated through planar impact experiments accomplished with a light gas gun. The microscopic observation of recovered and sectioned specimens showed that microcracks were nucleated only by cracking of brittle particles inside material. However, for comparison the in situ static tensile tests on the same material conducted with a scanning electron microscope showed that the microcracks were nucleated by many forms those were fracture of ductile matrix, debonding particles from matrix and cracking of brittle particles. The quantitative metallographic observations of the specimens subjected to impact loading showed that most of the cracked particles were situated on grain boundaries of the aluminium matrix. These facts suggested the concept of critical size and incubation time of submicroscopic cavities in the dynamic case and the mechanism of embryo-damage induced nucleation by fracture of brittle particles in the aluminium alloy under impact loading was proposed.

Spall damage in aluminum-alloy

A void growth relations for ductile porous materials under intense dynamic general loading condition is presented. The mathematical model includes the influence of inertial effects, material rate sensitivity, as well as the contribution of void surface energy and material work-hardening. Numerical analysis shows that inertia appears to resist the growth of voids. The inertial effects increase quickly with the loading rates. The theoretical analysis suggests that the inertial effects cannot be neglected at high loading rates. Plate-impact tests of aluminum alloy are performed with light gas gun. The processes of dynamic damage in aluminum alloy are successfully simulated with a finite-difference dynamic code in which the theoretical model presented in this paper is incorporated.

Characteristics and microstructure in the evolution of shear localization in ti-6al-4v alloy

A new interrupting method was proposed and the split Hopkinson torsional bar (SHTB) was modified in order to eliminate the effect of loading reverberation on post-mortem observations. This makes the comparative study of macro- and microscopic observations on tested materials and relevant transient measurement of tau - gamma curve possible. The experimental results of the evolution of shear localization in in Ti-6Al-4V alloy studied with the modified SHTB are reported in the paper. The collapse of shear stress seems to be closely related to the appearance of a certain critical coalescence of microcracks. The voids may form within the localized shear zone at a quite early stage. Finally, void coalescence results in elongated cavities and their extension leads to fracture along the shear band.

Microstructures of explosively consolidated rapidly solidified aluminum and Al-Li alloy powders

The microstructures and the characteristics of water-atomized, nitrogen gas-atomized Al powders and ultrasonic argon gas-atomized Al-Li alloy powder were investigated by means of metallography, SEM, Auger electron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. Rapidly solidified powders were explosively consolidated into different sized cylinders under various explosive parameters. The explosively consolidated compacts have been tested and analysed for density microhardness, retention of rapidly solidified microstructures, interparticle bonding, fractography and lattice distortion. It is shown that the explosive consolidation technique is an effective method for compacting rapidly solidified powders. The characteristics of surface layers play a very important role in determining the effectiveness of the joints sintered, and the Al-Li alloy explosive compacts present an abnormal softening appearance compared to the original powder.

Experimental-study on the criteria and mechanism of spallation in an aluminum-alloy

In this paper, a damage function defined by the residual strength of spalled specimens of an aluminium alloy is given to characterize the spallation of the material. Based on this function a simple method for continuously describing the spallation may be developed. Stress wave profiles showing the signal of spallation were successfully obtained with carbon gauges. Microscopic observations of the spalled aluminium alloy specimens reveal that the nucleation of spallation initiates from cracking of the second phase particles. Spallation is a process of crack nucleation, growth and coalescence to final, complete disintegration.

BONDING OF ALUMINA AND METAL USING BULK METALLIC GLASS FORMING ALLOY

Metal-alumina joints have found various practical applications in electronic devices and high technology industry. However, making of sound metal ceramic brazed couple is still a challenge in terms of its direct application in the industry. In this work we successfully braze copper with Al2O3 ceramic using Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5 bulk metallic glass forming alloy as filler alloy. The shear strength of the joints can reach 140 MPa, and the microstructrural analysis confirms a reliable chemical boning of the interface. The results show that the bulk metallic glass forming alloys with high concentration of active elements are prospective for using as filler alloy in metal-ceramic bonding.

Bonding Of Alumina And Metal Using Bulk Metallic Glass Forming Alloy

Metal-alumina joints have found various practical applications in electronic devices and high technology industry. However, making of sound metal ceramic brazed couple is still a challenge in terms of its direct application in the industry. In this work we successfully braze copper with Al2O3 ceramic using Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5 bulk metallic glass forming alloy as filler alloy. The shear strength of the joints can reach 140 MPa, and the microstructrural analysis confirms a reliable chemical boning of the interface. The results show that the bulk metallic glass forming alloys with high concentration of active elements are prospective for using as filler alloy in metal-ceramic bonding.

Development And Characterization Of Composite Ni-Cr-C-Caf2 Laser Cladding On Gamma-Tial Intermetallic Alloy

A process of laser cladding Ni-CF-C-CaF2 mixed powders to form a multifunctional composite coatingd on gamma-TiAl substrate was carried out. The microstructure of the coating was examined using XRD, SEM and EDS. The coating has a unique microstructure consisting of primary dendrite or short-stick TiC and block Al4C3 carbides reinforcement as well as fine isolated spherical CaF2 solid lubrication particles uniformly dispersed in the NiCrAlTi (gamma) matrix. The average microhardness of the composite coatings is approximately HV 650 and it is 2-factor greater than that of the TiAl substrate. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.