High-Temperature (1023 K to 1273 K 750 degrees C to 1000 degrees C]) Plastic Deformation Behavior of B-Modified Ti-6Al-4V Alloys: Temperature and Strain Rate Effects

A minor addition of B to the Ti-6Al-4V alloy, by similar to 0.1 wt pct, reduces its as-cast prior beta grain size by an order of magnitude, whereas higher B content leads to the presence of in situ formed TiB needles in significant amounts. An experimental investigation into the role played by these microstructural modifications on the high-temperature deformation behavior of Ti-6Al-4V-xB alloys, with x varying between 0 wt pct and 0.55 wt pct, was conducted. Uniaxial compression tests were performed in the temperature range of 1023 K to 1273 K (750 degrees C to 1000 degrees C) and in the strain rate range of 10(-3) to 10(+1) s(-1). True stress-true strain responses of all alloys exhibit flow softening at lower strain rates and oscillations at higher strain rates. The flow softening is aided by the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization through lath globularization in high temperature (1173 K to 1273 K 900 degrees C to 1000 degrees C]) and a lower strain rate (10(-2) to 10(-3) s(-1)) regime. The grain size refinement with the B addition to Ti64, despite being marked, had no significant effect on this. Oscillations in the flow curve at a higher strain rate (10(0) to 10(+1) s(-1)), however, are associated with microstructural instabilities such as bending of laths, breaking of lath boundaries, generation of cavities, and breakage of TiB needles. The presence of TiB needles affected the instability regime. Microstructural evidence suggests that the matrix cavitation is aided by the easy fracture of TiB needles.

Evaluation of Erosion Resistance of Metallic Materials and the Role of Material Properties in Correlations

A study of the correlations between material properties and normalized erosion resistance (inverse of erosion rates) of various materials tested in the rotating disk and the flow venturi at various intensities indicates that different individual properties influence different stages of erosion. At high and low intensities of erosion, energy properties predominate the phenomenon, whereas at intermediate intensities strength and acoustic properties become more significant. However, both strength and energy properties are significant in the correlations for the entire spectrum of erosion when extensive cavitation and liquid impingement data from several laboratories involving different intensities and hydrodynamic conditions are considered. The use of true material properties improved the statistical parameters by 3 to 37%, depending on the intensity of erosion. It is possible to evaluate qualitatively the erosion resistances of materials based on the true stress-true strain curves.

Erosion and cavity characteristics in rotating components

An investigation of the initiation and growth of erosion and of the effect of velocity and pressure on erosion in a rotating disk is presented. Also, the role of an intervening noncavitating period on erosion is studied. The results indicate that at high intensities the peak rate of erosion decreases with increases in pressure. The erosion rate/time curves obtained for metallic materials are explained by the eroded particle distribution and the cavity size. The average size of the eroded particles decreased when pressure and tensile strength of the material were increased. The erosion rate peaked after an intervening noncavitating period. The use of the rate of erosion, defined as an average over the entire test duration, in the equation governing the theory of erosion resulted in reasonably good correlations. The correlations reveal that it is possible to predict the length, width, and area of a cavity when the cavitation parameter σ is known. The normalized width of a cavity may be estimated if its normalized length is known.

Influence of grain size on high temperature fracture in a Mg AZ31 alloy

Tensile experiments at 673 K and grain sizes from similar to 8 to 17 mu m revealed large ductility at a low strain rate and a reduced ductility at a high strain rate, corresponding to a change from a high to a low value for the strain rate sensitivity. High strain rate deformation led to fracture by flow localization, whereas low strain rate deformation involved fracture by cavity nucleation and growth. Analysis revealed that grain boundary migration can assist significantly in reducing the stress concentrations caused by grain boundary sliding, thereby retarding cavity nucleation. Calculations demonstrate that the interlinkage of voids parallel and perpendicular to the tensile axis occurs significantly, so that it is not always possible to use the cavity shapes to distinguish between diffusion and plasticity controlled growth. Cavitation damage evolves slowly in materials with a coarser grain size because of reduced nucleation related to a reduction in the strain rate sensitivity and associated grain boundary sliding. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Modelling of a batch sonochemical reactor

Ultrasonication of aqueous KI solution is known to yield I2 due to reaction of iodide ions with hydroxyl radicals, which in turn are generated due to cavitation. Based on this conceptual framework, a model has been developed to predict the rate of iodine formation for KI solutions of various concentrations under different gas atmospheres. The model follows the growth and collapse of a gas—vapour cavity using the Rayleigh—Plesset bubble dynamics equation. The bubble is assumed to behave isothermally during its growth phase and a part of the collapse phase. Thereafter it is assumed to collapse adiabatically, yielding high temperatures and pressures. Thermodynamic equilibrium is assumed in the bubble at the end of collapse phase. The contents of the bubble are assumed to mix with the liquid, and the reactor contents are assumed to be well stirred. The model has been verified by conducting experiments with KI solutions of different concentrations and using different gas atmospheres. The model not only explains these results but also the existence of a maximum when Ar---O2 mixtures of different compositions are employed.

Hot deformation characteristics of INCONEL alloy MA 754 and development of a processing map

The characteristics of hot deformation of INCONEL alloy MA 754 have been studied processing maps obtained on the basis of flow stress data generated in compression in the temperature range 700-degrees-C to 1150-degrees-C and strain rate range 0.001 to 100 s-1. The map exhibited three domains. (1) A domain of dynamic recovery occurs in the temperature range 800-degrees-C to 1075-degrees-C and strain rate range 0.02 to 2 s-1, with a peak efficiency of 18 pct occurring at 950-degrees-C and 0.1 s-1. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) micrographs revealed stable subgrain structure in this domain with the subgrain size increasing exponentially with an increase in temperature. (2) A domain exhibiting grain boundary cracking occurs at temperatures lower than 800-degrees-C and strain rates lower than 0.01 s-1. (3) A domain exhibiting intense grain boundary cavitation occurs at temperatures higher than 1075-degrees-C. The material did not exhibit a dynamic recrystallization (DRX) domain, unlike other superalloys. At strain rates higher than about 1 s-1, the material exhibits flow instabilities manifesting as kinking of the elongated grains and adiabatic shear bands. The material may be safely worked in the domain of dynamic recovery but can only be statically recrystallized.

Modelling of a batch sonochemical reactor

Ultrasonication of aqueous KI solution is known to yield I2 due to reaction of iodide ions with hydroxyl radicals, which in turn are generated due to cavitation. Based on this conceptual framework, a model has been developed to predict the rate of iodine formation for KI solutions of various concentrations under different gas atmospheres. The model follows the growth and collapse of a gas-vapour cavity using the Rayleigh-Plesset bubble dynamics equation. The bubble is assumed to behave isothermally during its growth phase and a part of the collapse phase. Thereafter it is assumed to collapse adiabatically, yielding high temperatures and pressures. Thermodynamic equilibrium is assumed in the bubble at the end of collapse phase. The contents of the bubble are assumed to mix with the liquid, and the reactor contents are assumed to be well stirred. The model has been verified by conducting experiments with KI solutions of different concentrations and using different gas atmospheres. The model not only explains these results but also the existence of a maximum when Ar-O2 mixtures of different compositions are employed.

Sonochemical reaction engineering

Ultrasound has been widely used by chemists to enhance yields as well as rates of homogeneous as well as heterogeneous chemical reactions. The effect of ultrasound on the course of chemical reactions is mediated through cavitation bubbles it generates. High temperatures and pressures are attained inside the cavitating bubbles when they collapse. The extreme conditions so generated lead to the formation of reactive intermediates, e.g., free radiacls, inside the bubbles, which cause chemical reactions to occur when they enter the surrounding liquid. This is the mechanism through which ultrasound influences the path of homogeneous reactions. The cavitation bubbles collapse asymmetrically in the vicinity of solids, e.g., catalyst particles. Asymmetric collapse lead to formation of high speed microjets. The microjets can enhance transport rates, the increase surface area through pitting as well as particle fragmentation through collisions. Both can alter the rates of heterogeneous reaction rates. It however appears that these effects do not exhaust the scope of the influence of ultrasound on heterogeneous reactions. Modelling and quantitative prediction of the effect of ultrasound on chemical reactions is however at a stage of infancy as the phenomena are complex. Only a few examples of modelling exist in literature. Apart from this, reactor design and scaleup pose significant problems. Thus sonochemical reaction engineering offers large scope for research and development efforts.

Characterization of cast irons for optimum performance by overall rating method

An experimental investigation was carried out to Characterise the performance of four types of cast iron under adhesive wear, erosive wear, cavitation erosion and low frequency thermal cycling. Results indicate that vermicular graphite iron has the best rating among the cast irons investigate,based on the overall performance as well as cost consideration.

Finite element simulations of ductile rupture in a constrained metal foil

A numerical study of the ductile rupture in a metal foil constrained between two stiff ceramic blocks is performed. The finite element analysis is carried out under the conditions of mode I, plane strain, small-scale yielding. The rate-independent version of the Gurson model that accounts for the ductile failure mechanisms of microvoid nucleation, growth and coalescence is employed to represent the behavior of the metal foil. Different distributions of void nucleating sites in the metal foil are considered for triggering the initiation of discrete voids. The results clearly show that far-field triaxiality-induced cavitation is the dominant failure mode when the spacing of the void nucleating sites is large. On the contrary, void coalescence near the notch tip is found to be the operative failure mechanism when closely spaced void nucleating sites are considered.

Microstructural stability and superplasticity in an electrodeposited nanocrystalline Ni-P alloy

Stabilization of nanocrystalline grain sizes by second phase particles can facilitate superplasticity at high strain rates and/or low temperatures. A metastable single phase nano-Ni-P alloy prepared by electrodeposition, with a grain size of similar to 6 nm, transforms to a nanoduplex structure at T> 673 K, with similar to 4 vol.% Ni3P particles at triple junctions and within Ni grains. The nanoduplex microstructure is reasonably stable up to 777 K, and the growth of Ni grains occurs in a coupled manner with the growth of Ni3P particles such that the ratio of the two mean sizes (Z) is essentially constant. High temperature tests for a grain size of 290 nm reveal superplastic behavior with an optimum elongation to failure of 810% at a strain rate of 7 x 10(-4) s(-1) and a relatively low temperature of 777 K. Superplastic deformation enhances both grain growth and the ratio Z, implying that grain boundary sliding (GBS) significantly influences the microstructural dynamics. Analysis of the deformation processes suggests that superplasticity is associated with GBS controlled by the overcoming of intragranular particles by dislocations, so that deformation is independent of the grain size. The nano-Ni-P alloy exhibits lower ductility than nano-Ni due to concurrent cavitation caused by higher stresses. (C) 2011 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The influence of temperature and strain rate on the deformation response and microstructural evolution during hot compression of a titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B

Hot deformation behavior of a hypoeutectic Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B alloy in (alpha + beta) phase field is investigated in the present study with special reference to flow response, kinetics and microstructural evolution. For a comparison, the base alloy Ti-6Al-4V was also studied under identical conditions. Dynamic recovery of alpha phase occurs at low temperatures while softening due to globularization and/or dynamic recrystallization dominates at high temperatures irrespective of boron addition. Microstructural features for both the alloys display bending and kinking of alpha lamellae for near alpha test temperatures. Unlike Ti-6Al-4V, no sign of instability formation was observed in Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B for any deformation condition except for cavitation around TiB particles, due to deformation incompatibility and strain accumulation at the particle-matrix interface. The absence of macroscopic instabilities and early initiation of softening mechanisms as a result of boron addition has been attributed to microstructural features (e.g. refined prior beta grain and alpha colony size, absence of grain boundary alpha layer, presence of TiB particles at prior beta boundaries, etc.) of the respective alloys prior to deformation. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Interface capturing simulations of acoustically driven bubble dynamics in and near tissue

Tissue injury during therapeutic ultrasound or lithotripsy is thought, in cases, to be due to the action of cavitation bubbles. Assessing this and mitigating it is challenging since bubble dynamics in the complex confinement of tissues or in small blood vessels are challenging to predict. Simulations tools require specialized algorithms to simultaneously represent strong acoustic waves and shocks, topologically complex liquid‐vapor phase boundaries, and the complex viscoelastic material dynamics of tissue. We discuss advances in a simulation tool for such situations. A single‐mesh Eulerian solver is used to solve the governing equations. Special sharpening terms maintain the liquid‐vapor interface in face of the finite numerical dissipation included in the scheme to accurately capture shocks. A recent enhancement to this formulation has significantly improved this interface capturing procedure, which is demonstrated for simulation of the Rayleigh collapse of a bubble. The solver also transports elastic stresses and can thus be used to assess the effects of elastic properties on bubble dynamics. A shock‐induced bubble collapse adjacent to a model elastic tissue is used to demonstrate this and draw some conclusions regarding the injury suppressing role that tissue elasticity might play.

Deformation mechanisms during superplastic testing of Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B alloy

Superplastic tensile tests on warm rolled and optimally annealed boron modified alloy Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B at a temperature of 850 degrees C and initial strain rate of 3 x 10(-4) s(-1) results in a higher elongation (similar to 500%) compared to the base alloy Ti-6Al-4V (similar to 400%). The improvement in superplasticity has been attributed to enhanced contribution from interfacial boundary sliding to the overall deformation for the boron modified alloy. The boundary sliding was facilitated by the starting microstructure which predominantly contains small equiaxed primary a grains with narrow size distribution. Dynamic processes such as coarsening and globularization of primary a phase occur under the test condition but do not significantly contribute to the observed difference in superplasticity between the two alloys. In spite of cavitation takes place around the TiB particles during deformation, they do not cause macroscopic cracking and early fracture by virtue of the cavities being extremely localized. Localized cavitation is found to correlate with increased material transfer due to faster diffusion.

Enhancing the high temperature plasticity of a Cu-containing austenitic stainless steel through grain boundary strengthening

The addition of 3 wt% Cu to heat-resistant SUS 304H austenitic steel enhances its high temperature mechanical properties. To further improve the properties, particularly the creep resistance and ductility at high temperatures, a post-solutionizing heat-treatment method that involves an intermediated annealing either at 700 or 800 degrees C after solutionizing for durations up to 180 min was employed. The purpose this heat-treatment is to precipitate planar Cr23C6 at the grain boundaries, which results in the boundaries getting serrated. Detailed microstructural analyses of these `grain boundary engineered' alloys was conducted and their mechanical performance, both at room temperature and at 750 degrees C, was evaluated. While the grain size and texture are unaffected due to the high temperature hold, the volume fraction of Sigma 3 twin boundaries was found to increase significantly. While the strength enhancement was only marginal, the ductility was found to increase significantly, especially at high temperature. A marked increase in the creep resistance was also noted, which is attributed to the reduction of the grain boundary sliding by the grain boundary serrations and the suppression of grain boundary cavitation through the optimization of the volume fraction and spacing of the Cr23C6 precipitates. The special heat-treatment performed with holding time of 3 h at 700 degrees C resulted in the optimum combination of strength, ductility and creep resistance at high temperature. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.