Microstructure and properties of 6FeNiCoSiCrAlTi high-entropy alloy coating prepared by laser cladding

The content of each constituent element in the newly developed high-entropy alloys (HEAs) is always restricted in equimolar or near-equimolar ratio in order to avoid the formation of complex brittle phases during the solidification process. In this study, a 6FeNiCoSiCrAlTi high-entropy alloy coating with simple BCC solid solution phase has been prepared by laser cladding on a low carbon steel substrate. The microstructure, hardness and magnetic properties have been investigated. The experimental results show that the tendency of component segregation in the conventional solidification microstructure of multi-component alloy is effectively relieved. The microstructure of the coating is mainly composed of equiaxed polygonal grains, discontinuous interdendritic segregation and nano-precipitates. EBSD observation confirms that the polygonal grains and interdendritic segregation have similar BCC structure with lots of low angle grain boundaries at the interface. The microhardness of the coating reaches 780 HV_0.5, which is much higher than most of the HEAs prepared by other methods. In addition, the coating shows excellent soft magnetic properties.     

Microstructure, microhardness, composition, and corrosive properties of stainless steel 304 I. Laser surface alloying with silicon by beam-oscillating method.

Laser surface alloying (LSA) with silicon was conducted on austenitic stainless steel 304. Silicon slurry composed of silicon particle of 5 μm in average diameter was made and a uniform layer was supplied on the substrate stainless steel. The surface was melted with beam-oscillated carbon dioxide laser and then LSA layers of 0.4–1.2 mm in thickness were obtained. When an impinged energy density was adjusted to be equal to or lower than 100 W mm⁻², LSA layers retained rapidly solidified microstructure with dispersed cracks. In these samples, Fe₃Si was detected and the concentration of Si in LSA layer was estimated to be 10.5 wt.% maximum. When the energy density was equal to or greater than 147 W mm⁻², cellular grained structure with no crack was formed. No iron silicate was observed and alpha iron content in LSA layers increased. Si concentration within LSA layers was estimated to be 5 to 9 wt.% on average. Crack-free as-deposited samples exhibited no distinct corrosion resistance. The segregation of Si was confirmed along the grain boundaries and inside the grains. The microstructure of these samples changed with solution-annealing and the corrosion resistance was fairly improved with the time period of solution-annealing. Received: 2 September 1999 / Accepted: 6 September 1999 / Published online: 1 March 2000     

Influence of phosphorus on the development of nickel alloy/h-BN-based self-lubricating composites processed by powder metallurgy

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the influence of phosphorus quantity of the matrix of a nickel alloy on microstructure and hardness of nickel composite with hexagonal boron nitride – h-BN. The work was carried out using two nickel alloys with varying quantities of phosphorus (0.3 and 0.75 wt.%). The quantity of particles of solid lubricant added to the alloy was 10 vol.% of h-BN. The samples were compacted at 600 MPa and sintered at 1150?°C for 60 min in plasma. The results showed that the composite with 0.3 wt.% of phosphorus had hardness of 236 HV 0.025 (±34,25) and the composite with 0.75 wt.% of phosphorus had hardness of 326 HV 0.025 (±38,90), and formation of pellets of h-BN with a size between 50 and 100 μm and low porosity due to the formation of liquid phase of phosphide during sintering which carries the lubricant fine particles of approximately 10 μm dispersed in the microstructure during pore coalescence. As a result, the quantity of phosphorus present may influence the microstructural properties (pore number and size and distribution of particles of solid lubricant) and hardness which are so important for the development of self-lubricating composites, particularly, the nickel alloy/h-BN composites.     

Formation of Three-Component Phases in Silumins Using a Modifying Mixture Based on Refractory Metals

The results are presented from experimental studies of the microstructure and phase composition of AK7ch Al–Si alloy with an iron content of 0.4 wt % before and after introducing a modifying mixture based on ultradisperse powders of metal oxides and cryolite into the melt. The formation of three-component phases α-Al₂FeSi and β-Al₅FeSi is established experimentally. The effect iron has on the crystallization of eutectic mixtures is considered using the phase diagram of the Al–Fe–Si system.     

42CrMo轧辊激光熔覆TiC-VC增强铁基熔覆层性能

采用同步送粉方式,在42CrMo轧辊基材上利用钛铁、钒铁和石墨等通过激光熔覆原位自生反应,制备了成型良好、致密无气孔、无裂纹、与基体呈冶金结合的TiVC2增强铁基熔覆层。利用X射线衍射、电子探针、显微硬度计、电化学工作站研究了熔覆层的显微组织及性能。结果表明,熔覆层中碳化物为TiVC2,TiVC2大小约0.5~2.0 m,呈多角块状均匀分布,碳化物对应两种不同的形核机制:以氧化铝异质形核和碳化物自发形核。随着熔覆合金粉末中TiC-VC数量的增加,熔覆层硬度并不呈简单的线性增加,熔覆层的耐蚀性逐渐变差。     

Fabrication of a compacted aluminum-carbon nanofiber material by hot pressing

The aluminum-carbon nanofiber compacted materials fabricated by hot pressing are studied. The carbon content and the compacting temperature are shown to affect the hardness of the aluminum-carbon nanofiber compacted composite material: the hardness increases from 30 to 57 HB when the carbon nanofiber concentration increases from 0 to 1.5 wt %. The chemical state of the composite components is studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Carbon nanofibers transform into an amorphous modification at a temperature of 980°C, which corresponds to the decrease in the hardness. Aluminum carbide Al₄C₃ is found to form, and its content increases monotonically in the hot pressing temperature range from 720 to 1370°C.     

激光熔覆Al+SiC涂层对镁合金表面耐磨性能的改性

通过脉冲激光器(Nd-YAG)在AZ91D镁合金基底上熔覆Al+SiC粉体。采用扫描电子显微镜、能量色散谱(EDS)和X-射线衍射测定分析熔覆层的显微组织、化学成分和物相组成。研究表明:Al+SiC涂层主要由SiC,β-Mg_(17)Al_(12)及Mg和Al相组成,激光熔覆层与镁合金基底表现出良好的冶金结合。所有样品都具有树枝状结构,且随着SiC质量分数的增大,树枝状和胞状结构的间隔变得更大。熔覆涂层的表面硬度高于基底,并且随着熔覆层中的SiC质量分数的增加而增大,SiC质量分数为40%的熔覆层具有最大的显微硬度,达到180 HV,然而质量分数为10%的熔覆层硬度为136 HV。销盘滑动磨损试验表明,复合涂层中的SiC颗粒和原位合成的Mg_(17)Al_(12)相显著提高了AZ91D镁合金的耐磨损性,其中,SiC质量分数从10%增加到30%过程中磨损体积损失逐渐减少,SiC质量分数在20%~30%时熔覆层具有最好的耐磨性。     

The crack control during laser cladding by adding the stainless steel net in the coating

The generation of crack is one of the key problems which restrict the development of laser cladding technique. The purpose of this study is to control the cracks during laser cladding by adding a plastic phase—an austenitic stainless steel net in the coatings. With Ni-, Co- and Fe-based alloy powders, laser cladding experiments were carried out. The microstructure of the coatings and the stainless steel net was investigated. Experimental results show that the stainless steel net is partly melted and strongly bonded to the cladding powder materials and the substrate. Thus the crack density is significantly reduced. The amount of the reduction increases as the diameter of the stainless steel net increases. Without preheating the substrate, large area coatings which remain free of cracks can be achieved when adding the stainless steel net with appropriate diameter. The characteristics of the coatings were investigated and the results indicate that the hardness fluctuations of the coatings become larger and the wear resistance decreases when adding 316 stainless steel net.     

碳化钨对激光熔覆高熵合金的影响

为了获得高性能的涂层材料,采用激光熔覆的方法,在Q235钢基体上制备了FeSiCrCoMo高熵合金涂层,并研究了WC对高熵合金涂层的组织和性能的影响。通过金相、X射线衍射、扫描电镜、硬度计、磨损试验机分别研究了添加WC前后涂层的微观形貌、相结构、硬度及磨损性能。结果表明:高熵合金FeSiCrCoMo涂层组织为粗大枝状晶,主要由BCC相和金属间化合物构成,添加WC后,涂层中形成了致密细小的胞状晶,同时BCC相增多,金属间化合物明显减少;添加WC后涂层的硬度明显增强,平均硬度提升了23%,涂层表面平均硬度达到了687HV0.2;WC的添加使得涂层的摩擦系数减小,磨损率减小,耐磨性能提高。     

Fabrication of Zr and Zr-N surface alloying layers and hardness improvement of Ti-6Al-4V alloy by plasma surface alloying technique

Titanium alloys are very attractive materials because they have high specific strength, excellent corrosion and erosion resistance in many active environments. However, their low hardness values and poor tribological properties require improvement of their surface properties. The present study is concerned with the fabrication of Zr and Zr-N alloying layers in the surfaces of Ti-6Al-4V substrates by plasma surface alloying technique. The microstructure, chemical composition and hardness of the surface alloying layers were analyzed to understand the mechanisms of surface alloying and hardness improvement. The Zr and Zr-N surface alloying layers formed were homogeneous and compact, in which the surface alloying elements all displayed gradient distributions. The Zr and Zr-N surface alloying layers all enhanced the surface hardness of Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Zr-N surface alloying resulted in greater improvement in hardness and the maximum microhardness of (1.37 ± 0.04) × 10³ HK was obtained at the subsurface, which was much higher than that of the untreated Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The Zr-N surface alloying layer consisted of an outer nitride layer and an inner diffusion zone of Zr and N, and its very high hardness owed to the formation of the nitride layer. The mechanism of hardness improvement of Zr surface alloyed Ti-6Al-4V alloy was solid solution strengthening.     

激光熔覆FeCrNiMnMoxB0.5高熵合金涂层组织与耐蚀性能

为了获得性能优异的涂层材料,采用激光熔覆的方法在Q235钢基体上制备了不同Mo含量的FeCrNiMnMoB0.5系高熵合金涂层,着重探究Mo对高熵合金组织与性能的影响。通过金相、X射线衍射、扫描电镜、硬度计、电化学工作站分别研究了高熵合金涂层的显微组织、相结构、显微硬度及耐蚀性能。结果表明:FeCrNiMnMoB0.5系高熵合金组织为树枝晶,主要由fcc相和少量金属间化合物构成。当添加少量Mo时,涂层的硬度较低,为290 HV,随着Mo的增加,晶格畸变加剧,出现少量金属化合物,涂层硬度最大增加到658 HV。在模拟饱和盐水泥浆溶液中FeCrNiMnMo0.4B0.5表现出较好的耐腐蚀性。     

Surface nitriding of Ti–6Al–4V alloy with a high power CO2 laser

Surface nitriding of a Ti–6Al–4V alloy by laser melting in a flow of nitrogen gas has been investigated, with the aim of increasing surface hardness and hence improving related properties such as wear and erosion resistance. The effect of the scanning speed, nitrogen dilution, and nitrogen flow rate on microstructure, microhardness, and cracking of the nitrided layers was studied. Optical, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to reveal the microstructure and to identify the phases formed. It is shown that smooth, deep, and crack-free nitride layers of a surface hardness ranging between 500 and 800 HV can be obtained by controlling the processing parameters. Cracks are present in the sample processed at slow scanning speed and high laser power. Dilution of the nitrogen gas with argon gas leads to a crack-free nitride layer at the expense of a reduction in surface hardness. Slow scanning speeds lead to the formation of a deep and hard surface layer, and increasing the nitrogen flow rate results in a rough surface with a slight increase in hardness.     

Effects of Ag or Si on precipitation in the alloy Al-2.5 mass% Cu-1.5 mass% Mg

Calorimetric measurements and electron microscopy observations were performed on Al-2.5?mass% Cu-1.5?mass% Mg alloys containing also 0.4, 1 or 2% Ag or 0.5% Si, in order to improve understanding of the relationships between precipitation processes and age hardening. The analogous behaviour of calorimetric and hardness data confirms that the first hardening stage is initiated in all alloys by GPB zone formation which occurs via a nucleation and growth controlled mechanism. The vacancy-trapping effect of Mg is increased by Ag and Si additions and leads to slower precipitation kinetics. Consequently, refined GPB zones sizes are obtained leading to an increase in hardness with respect to the ternary alloy. During the second hardening stage, the formation of the more stable S′ phase increases the total amount of strengthening precipitates in the ternary alloy. Phases typical for binary Al–Cu alloys form additionally in the Si-containing alloy. In the Ag-bearing alloys, precipitation of the hardening X′ phase occurs the earlier the higher the Ag content; it is followed by S′ precipitation. During heating of the ternary alloy, the S′ phase forms after substantial dissolution of GPB zones and of the S′′ phase identified by high resolution electron microscopy; this contradicts the concept of a continuous precipitation sequence.     

Impact and Static Consolidation of Mechanically-Alloyed Mixture of Copper and Graphite Powders

A mixture of copper and carbon powders was mechanically alloyed in a planetary ball mill. The supersaturated solid solubility of carbon in mechanically-alloyed copper is 25 v at% C, as determined from the lattice parameter change. The supersaturated powder consolidated by static compression at 1.4 v GPa, has the relative density of 95%, a Vickers hardness of 121, and a compressive strength of 1.4 v GPa. In contrast, powder consolidated dynamically by a 90.1 g projectile traveling at a velocity of 38.1 m/s and at an estimated impact compression of 2.3 GPa after 0.4 GPa static precompression has a relative density of 96.3% and a Vickers hardness of 200. X-ray diffraction patterns shift to higher angles after impact compression. The supersaturated solid solubility of 18 at% C in Cu+20 at% C mechanically-alloyed powders was reduced to 12.5 at% C by impact compression. Mechanically-alloyed powders can be consolidated by impact and static pressures while retaining the effects of mechanical alloying; for example, supersaturated solid solubility.     

Phase-oriented surface segregation in an aluminium casting alloy

There have been many reports of the surface segregation of minor elements, especially Mg, into surface layers and oxide films on the surface of Al alloys. LM6 casting alloy (Al-12%Si) represents a challenging system to examine such segregation as the alloy features a particularly inhomogeneous phase structure. The very low but mobile Mg content (approximately 0.001 wt.%), and the surface segregation of modifiers such as Na, mean the surface composition responds in a complex manner to thermal treatment conditions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to determine the distribution of these elements within the oxide film. Further investigation by dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry (DSIMS) confirmed a strong alignment of segregated Na and Mg into distinct phases of the structure.     

激光熔覆TiC陶瓷涂层的组织和摩擦磨损性能研究

采用激光熔覆技术在TC4合金表面上制备了TiC陶瓷涂层,分析了熔覆层的微观组织,测试了熔覆层的硬度和摩擦磨损性能。结果表明:TiC激光熔覆层分为熔覆区和稀释区两个区域,熔覆区未受到基底的稀释,由TiC颗粒和TiC树枝晶组成;稀释区受到了基底的稀释,由TiC树枝晶和钛合金组成;TiC激光熔覆层的显微硬度在HV700~1500之间,明显地改善了TC4合金表面的摩擦和磨损性能。     

激光熔敷WC-TiN-SiC-Co高硬质合金及机理初探

叙述了用一台输出功率为2kW的连续CO₂激光器,在碳钢表面实现了激光熔敷WC-TiN-SiC-Co高硬质合金的实验方法,并对激光处理后的样品,从相的组成,显微组织,硬度分布及耐磨性能等方面作了综合分析。结果表明:样品表面的化学成分,显微组织和机械性能都发生了根本性转变和很大的提高,同时对激光熔敷形成高硬质合金的机理作了初步的探讨。 关键词：     

Effects of composition and cooling rate on the microstructure of?Sn–3.7Ag–0.9Zn–Bi solders

The effects of Bi addition, of less than 3 wt.%, and applied cooling rate on the solidified microstructure of the eutectic Sn–3.7Ag–0.9Zn (weight percent, hereafter) solder were investigated. As observed by microstructural analysis, the increase of Bi content favors the separation of the β-Sn and AgZn intermetallic compounds (IMCs) in the eutectic Sn–Ag–Zn solder. And there are some Bi precipitates formed along with the primary β-Sn dendrites as the concentration of Bi exceeds 2%. As the applied cooling rate increases, the microstructure of the Sn–3.7Ag–0.9Zn–Bi solder is refined, and the segregation of Bi is restrained. By increasing the amount of Bi, the microhardness of the solder increases.     

Effect of hardness and composition gradients on Barkhausen emission in case hardened steel

The effect of gradients in hardness, structure and composition in the surface layers on magnetic Barkhausen noise (MBN) was investigated in two widely used low alloy steels. One material was case hardened by induction hardening. The other was case carburised. Similar hardness profiles were produced by the two treatments. It was found that the variation in structure and hardness through the case in the induction-hardened steel had a minor effect on the MBN profile. In contrast, the inhomogeneity in the case-carburised material showed up clearly. This took the form of a broadened or two-peak MBN profile. When the surface layer containing the case was removed by etching, the broadened profile was replaced by a profile with a single peak. It is concluded that the shape and position of the MBN profile is significantly affected when a gradient in microstructure is induced by a gradient in carbon content. On the other hand, a gradient in microstructure induced by heat treatment with a constant carbon level has much less affect on the MBN profile for the induction-hardened steel.     

Structure and strength of Al-Si alloys obtained by the Stepanov method

Al-Si alloy samples with a silicon content from 8 to 15 wt % were obtained by the Stepanov method at solidification rates of 10² and 10³ µm s^?1. Tensile and bending strain diagrams were studied at a strain rate of about 10^?4 s^?1. The microstructure of the samples was investigated. It was found that the silicon content in the eutectic structure of the alloy grows as the solidification rate increases. The yield stress and the tensile strength increase as the silicon content grows.