Texture transition in Al–Mg alloys: effect of magnesium

ABSTRACT

The evolution of deformation texture and microstructure in commercially pure Al (cp-Al) and two Al–Mg alloys (Al–4Mg and Al–6Mg) during cold rolling to a very large strain (true strain ε_t? ≈?3.9) was investigated. The development of deformation texture in cp-Al, after rolling, can be considered as pure metal or Copper-type, which is characterised mainly by the presence of Cu {112}<111>, Bs {110}<112> and S {123}<634> components. The deformation microstructure clearly indicates that deformation mechanism in this case remains slip dominated throughout the deformation range. In the Al–4Mg alloy, the initial slip mode of deformation is finally taken over by mechanism involving both slip and Copper-type shear bands, at higher deformation levels. In contrast, in the Al–6Mg alloy, the slip and twin mode of deformation in the initial stage is replaced by slip and Brass-type shear bands at higher deformation levels. Although a Copper-type deformation texture forms in the two Al–Mg alloys at the initial stage of deformation, there is a significant increase in the intensity of the Bs component and a noticeable decrease in the intensity of the Cu component at higher levels of deformation, particularly in the Al–6Mg alloy. This phenomenon indicates the possibility of transition of the deformation texture from Cu-type to Bs-type, which is concurrent with the addition of Mg. Using visco-plastic self-consistent modelling, the evolution of deformation texture could be simulated for all three materials.     

Examination of the distribution of the tensile deformation systems in tension and tension-creep of Ti-6Al-4V (wt.%) at 296 K and 728 K

The deformation behaviour of an α + β Ti–6Al–4V (wt.%) alloy was investigated during in situ deformation inside a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tensile experiments were performed at 296 and 728 K (~0.4Tm), while a tensile-creep experiment was performed at 728 K and 310 MPa (σ/σ_ys = 0.74). The active deformation systems were identified using electron backscattered diffraction-based slip-trace analysis and SEM images of the specimen surface. The distribution of the active deformation systems varied as a function of temperature. Basal slip deformation played a major role in the tensile deformation behaviour, and the relative activity of basal slip increased with increasing temperature. For the 296 K tension deformation, basal slip was less active than prismatic slip, whereas this was reversed at 728 K. Twinning was observed in both the 296 and 728 K tension experiments; however, no more than 4% of the total deformation systems observed was twins. The tension-creep experiment revealed no slip traces, however grain boundary ledge formation was observed, suggesting that grain boundary sliding was an active deformation mechanism. The results of this work were compared with those from previous studies on commercially pure Ti, Ti–5Al–2.5Sn (wt.%) and Ti–8Al–1Mo–1V (wt.%), and the effects of alloying on the deformation behaviour are discussed. The relative amount of basal slip activity increased with increasing Al content.     

Crystallographic texture and microstructure evolution during hot compression of Ti–6Al–4V–0.1B alloy in the (α + β)-regime

Microstructure and texture are known to undergo drastic modifications due to trace hypoeutectic boron addition (~0.1 wt.%) for various titanium alloys e.g. Ti–6Al–4V. The deformation behaviour of such an alloy Ti–6Al–4V–0.1B is investigated in the (α?+?β) phase field and compared against that of the base alloy Ti–6Al–4V studied under selfsame conditions. The deformation microstructures for the two alloys display bending and kinking of α lamellae in near α and softening via globularization of α lamella in near β phase regimes, respectively. The transition temperature at which pure slip based deformation changes to softening is lower for the boron added alloy. The presence of TiB particles is largely held attributable for the early softening of Ti–6Al–4V–0.1B alloy. The compression texture of both the alloys carry signature of pure α phase defamation at lower temperature and α→β→α phase transformation near the β transus temperature. Texture is influenced by a complex interplay of the deformation and transformation processes in the intermediate temperature range. The contribution from phase transformation is prominent for Ti–6Al–4V–0.1B alloy at comparatively lower temperature.     

Compositional dependence of the deformation behaviour of ultrahigh-purity Ti–Al alloys

The present study is concerned with the effect of the O and Al concentrations on the deformation behaviour of ultrahigh-purity (UHP) Ti–(48,?50,?52)?at.%?Al alloys using UHP Ti with 30?wt?ppm?O. It has been shown that yield strength increases with increasing O content. Stoichiometric Ti–50?at.%?Al alloys had the lowest yield strength and the highest ductility when the O content was sufficiently low. It is suggested that the deformation mechanism of UHP binary Ti–Al is strongly related to the Al concentration. The deformation substructure of UHP Ti–48?at.%?Al is shown to be dominated by ordinary dislocation as well as deformation twinning and a small portion of superdislocations. The deformation substructure of UHP Ti–50?at.%?Al alloy was similar to that of Ti–48?at.%?Al, but deformation twinning was not observed. Most of dislocation structures of UHP Ti–52?at.%?Al alloy consisted of faulted dipoles. The major deformation mode of UHP Ti–48?at.%?Al and UHP Ti–50?at.%?Al alloys was ordinary dislocation in deformation orientation, which takes advantage of ordinary dislocation slip. However, the major deformation mode in this orientation for UHP Ti–52?at.%?Al alloys was superdislocation slip.     

Comparison of the deformation behaviour of commercially pure titanium and Ti–5Al–2.5Sn(wt.%) at 296 and 728 K

The tension and tensile-creep deformation behaviours of a fully-α phase commercially pure (CP) Ti and a near-α Ti–5Al–2.5Sn(wt.%) alloy deformed in situ inside a scanning electron microscope were compared. Tensile tests were performed at 296 and 728?K, while tensile-creep tests were performed at 728?K. The yield stress of CP Ti decreased dramatically with increasing temperature. In contrast, temperature had much smaller effect on the yield stress of Ti–5Al–2.5Sn(wt.%). Electron backscattered diffraction was performed both before and after the deformation, and slip trace analysis was used to determine the active slip and twinning systems, as well as the associated global stress state Schmid factors. In tension tests of CP Ti, prismatic slip was the most likely slip system to be activated when the Schmid factor exceeded 0.4. Prismatic slip was observed over the largest Schmid factor range, indicating that the local stress tensor varies significantly from the global stress state of uniaxial tension. The basal slip activity in Ti–5Al–2.5Sn(wt.%) was observed in a larger faction of grains than in CP Ti. Pyramidal ?c?+?a? slip was more prevalent in CP Ti. Although twinning was an active deformation mode in tension tests of the CP Ti, it was rare in Ti–5Al–2.5Sn(wt.%). During creep, dislocation slip was the primary apparent deformation mechanism in CP Ti, while evidence for dislocation slip was much less apparent in Ti–5Al–2.5Sn(wt.%), where grain boundary sliding was dominant. A robust statistical analysis was carried out to assess the significance of the comparative activity of the different slip systems under the variety of experimental conditions examined.     

Mechanical and tribological properties of Ni/Al multilayers—A molecular dynamics study

Mechanical and tribological properties of multilayers with nanometer thickness are strongly affected by interfaces formed due to mismatch of lattice parameters. In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of nanoindentation and following nanoscratching processes are performed to investigate the mechanical and tribological properties of Ni/Al multilayers with semi-coherent interface. The results show that the indentation hardness of Ni/Al multilayers is larger than pure Ni thin film, and the significant strength of Ni/Al multilayers is caused by the semi-coherent interface which acts as a barrier to glide of dislocations during nanoindentation process. The confinement of plastic deformation by the interface during nanoscratching on Ni/Al multilayers leads to smaller friction coefficient than pure Ni thin film. Dislocation evolution, interaction between gliding dislocations and interface, variations of indentation hardness and friction coefficient are studied.     

Precipitation imaging of deformation structure of age-hardened alloys

Ageing of supersaturated solid solution of Al 20 wt % Zn alloy after cyclic deformation results in a preferential precipitation of Zn in regions of higher dislocation density. Characteristic inhomogeneities of the deformation structure revealed by this precipitation image correspond well to the surface relief observed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The posibility of using the method of precipitation imaging to study spatial arrangement of high and low dislocation density regions in deformed age-hardened alloys is discussed.     

Al纳米线不同晶向力学行为和变形机制的模拟

采用分子动力学模拟计算方法,考察具有较高层错能的Al纳米线沿不同晶向的力学行为和变形机制。在相同计算条件下与具有较低层错能的Ni、Cu、Au和Ag等FCC金属纳米线进行比较。结果表明：在力学行为方面,Al纳米线的弹性模量呈现明显的结构各向异性,满足E_[111] > E_[110] > E_[100]的关系,这一关系在FCC金属纳米线中普遍成立;Al纳米线的屈服应力随晶向呈现σ_y[100] > σ_y[111] > σ_y[110]的关系,这一关系在具有较低层错能的FCC金属纳米线中不具有普遍性,这与体系中位错形成机制密切相关。根据拉伸变形过程微观结构的演变规律,阐明Al纳米线不同晶向的变形机制,并与具有较低层错能的Ni、Cu、Au和Ag等FCC金属纳米线的变形机制进行比较。结果表明,对于尺度较小的高层错能Al纳米线,Schmid因子和广义层错能均难以准确预测其变形机制。     

Closed and open-ended stacking fault tetrahedra formation along the interfaces of Cu–Al nanolayered metals

Stacking fault tetrahedra (SFTs) are volume defects that typically form by the clustering of vacancies in face-centred cubic (FCC) metals. Here, we report a dislocation-based mechanism of SFT formation initiated from the semi-coherent interfaces of Cu–Al nanoscale multilayered metals subjected to out-of-plane tension. Our molecular dynamics simulations show that Shockley partials are first emitted into the Cu interlayers from the dissociated misfit dislocations along the Cu–Al interface and interact to form SFTs above the triangular intrinsic stacking faults along the interface. Under further deformation, Shockley partials are also emitted into the Al interlayers and interact to form SFTs above the triangular FCC planes along the interface. The resulting dislocation structure comprises closed SFTs within the Cu interlayers which are tied across the Cu–Al interfaces to open-ended SFTs within the Al interlayers. This unique plastic deformation mechanism results in considerable strain hardening of the Cu–Al nanolayered metal, which achieves its highest tensile strength at a critical interlayer thickness of ~4 nm corresponding to the highest possible density of complete SFTs within the nanolayer structure.     

Lüders deformation and superplastic flow of metals extruded by KOBO method

The work brings the results of the study on mechanical properties of some metallic materials subjected to very large plastic deformation by KOBO extrusion. The unexpected features of the KOBO products like Lüders deformation in pure metals and superplastic flow in coarse grain materials are discussed in terms of micro- and nano-scale elements of their structure. The choice to the experiment materials having different crystallographic and phase structure (commercial purity aluminium, multiphase aluminium 7075 alloy, pure zinc and multiphase magnesium AZ91 alloy) and different history (extrusion, casting) allowed to identify the common nano-size elements of the structure generated during the KOBO deformation which seems to be responsible for the mechanical behaviour of these materials. In particular, clusters of point defects (self-interstitials) formed under the KOBO extrusion conditions (cyclic change in the deformation path, high hydrostatic pressure) were found in these materials regardless of grain size and material early history. They correlate with appearance of unstable Lüders-like or even Portevin–LeChatelier deformation at ambient and superplastic flow at elevated temperatures.     

New deformation twinning mechanism generates zero macroscopic strain in nanocrystalline metals

Macroscopic strain was hitherto considered a necessary corollary of deformation twinning in coarse-grained metals. Recently, twinning has been found to be a preeminent deformation mechanism in nanocrystalline face-centered-cubic (fcc) metals with medium-to-high stacking fault energies. Here we report a surprising discovery that the vast majority of deformation twins in nanocrystalline Al, Ni, and Cu, contrary to popular belief, yield zero net macroscopic strain. We propose a new twinning mechanism, random activation of partials, to explain this unusual phenomenon. The random activation of partials mechanism appears to be the most plausible mechanism and may be unique to nanocrystalline fcc metals with implications for their deformation behavior and mechanical properties.     

Strong magnetization by antiphase-boundary tubes in a cyclically deformed Fe-35 at.% Al alloy

Strong magnetization was observed in a cyclically deformed Fe-35 at.% Al alloy by introduction of a high density of antiphase-boundary (APB) tubes. In order to introduce a large plastic deformation without changing the specimen dimension, compressive deformation was given repeatedly along mutually orthogonal stress axes under a constraint imposed across the stress axes. Clear evidence was obtained in attributing the major origin of the large magnetization to the production of a high density of APB tubes. The contribution of the APB tubes to the strong magnetization and to the work hardening is discussed on the basis of quantitative analyses of the microstructures introduced by cyclic deformation.     

Effect of iodine doping on the electrical transport mechanism in plasma polymerized 2,6-diethylaniline thin films

The current density–voltage characteristics of pure and iodine doped plasma polymerized 2,6-diethylaniline (PPDEA) thin films of different thicknesses ranging from 150 to 450 nm with aluminum (Al)/PPDEA/Al structure have been investigated at room temperature. The direct current electrical conductivity has showed a higher value due to iodine doping of PPDEA thin film. In contrast to pure PPDEA thin films where the most probable conduction mechanism is electrode limited Schottky type, Poole–Frenkel (PF) conduction mechanism is found to be operative in iodine doped PPDEA thin films. The PF conduction mechanism in iodine doped PPDEA thin films may have generated due to the charge transfer complex formation through donor type monomer and acceptor type iodine. The presence of charge transfer complex is confirmed by a new absorption shoulder/peak in ultraviolet–visible spectrum of iodine doped PPDEA thin film.     

Effects of vacancy and deformation on an Al atom adsorbed on graphene

First-principles calculations based on density functional theory are carried out to study the adsorption energy of monovacancy and deformation on an Al atom adsorbed on graphene. The bond length and Mulliken charge of an Al atom adsorbed on intrinsic and defected graphene systems are also analyzed. We find that an Al atom, sitting above the H site of intrinsic graphene, is in the most stable location. And the adsorption energy increases with increasing graphene coverage. In 1/32 Al/VC-gra and 1/8 Al/VC-gra Al—C covalent bonds are formed, and the Al—C ionic bonds are enhanced by the vacancy. For our calculations, vacancy and deformation both enhance the adsorption energy of an Al atom adsorbed on a graphene system, but vacancy is more effective. In a tensile system, a geometric distortion is induced in the adsorption structure when the tensile deformation is greater than 15%; in a compression system, the adsorption structure begins to distort from 5%. When the tensile and compressive deformations are greater than 10%, the compressive deformation is more effective than the tension deformation on an Al atom adsorbed on the graphene system. Especially, when the deformation is relatively small, a vacancy has a greater effect on the adsorption energy of an Al atom adsorbed on graphene.     

Deformation mechanisms of ultra-thin Al layers in Al/SiC nanolaminates as a function of thickness and temperature

The mechanical properties of Al/SiC nanolaminates with layer thicknesses between 10 and 100 nm were studied by nanoindentation in the temperature range 25 to 100 °C. The strength of the Al layers as a function of the layer thickness and temperature was obtained from the hardness of the nanolaminates by an inverse methodology based on the numerical simulation of the nanoindentation tests by means of the finite element method. The room temperature yield stress of the Al layers showed a large ‘the thinner, the stronger’ effect, which depended not only on the layer thickness but also on the microstructure, which changed with the Al layer thickness. The yield stress of the Al layers at ambient temperature was compatible with a deformation mechanism controlled by the interaction of dislocations with grain boundaries for the thicker layers (>50 nm), while confined layer slip appeared to be dominant for layers below 50 nm. There was a dramatic reduction in the Al yield stress with temperature, which increased as the Al layer thickness decreased, and led to an inverse size effect at 100 °C. This behavior was compatible with plastic deformation mechanisms controlled by grain boundary and interface diffusion at 100 °C, which limit the strength of the ultra-thin Al layers.     

Cyclic deformation and fatigue cracking behaviour of polycrystalline Cu,Cu–10 wt% Zn and Cu–32 wt% Zn

The cyclic deformation behaviour of polycrystalline Cu, Cu–10 wt% Zn and Cu–32 wt% Zn was systematically investigated in the plastic strain amplitude range of 1 × 10^?4–4 × 10^?3. The differences in the cyclic stress–strain (CSS) responses and fatigue cracking behaviour between Cu, Cu–10 wt% Zn and Cu–32 wt% Zn were compared. It was found that the occurrence of a cyclic saturation for Cu–10 wt% Zn and Cu–32 wt% Zn strongly depends on the applied strain amplitude, whereas polycrystalline Cu always displays cyclic saturation. Surface deformation morphologies were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). One of the major features observed is that the slip bands become increasingly homogenous with Zn addition. The fatigue cracks were found to frequently nucleate along the annealing twin boundaries (TBs) in Cu–10 wt% Zn and Cu–32 wt% Zn, but not in polycrystalline Cu. Based on these experimental results, the cyclic deformation response and fatigue cracking behaviour are discussed, and a developed TB cracking mechanism is proposed to explain the difference in fatigue cracking mechanisms in Cu, Cu–10 wt% Zn and Cu–32 wt% Zn.     

Contributions of different mechanisms of self-diffusion in face-centered cubic metals under equilibrium conditions

The contributions of different mechanisms of self-diffusion in face-centered cubic metals Ni, Cu, and Al at thermodynamic equilibrium have been analyzed using the molecular dynamics method. The vacancy, divacancy, and cyclic mechanisms of self-diffusion, as well as the mechanisms involving the vacancy migration to the second coordination sphere and the formation and recombination of Frenkel pairs, have been considered. It has been shown that the second in contribution to the self-diffusion after the vacancy mechanism in the metals under consideration is the migration of divacancies. The third is the mechanism involving the formation and recombination of dynamic Frenkel pairs. The cyclic mechanisms (with simultaneous atomic displacements) and the vacancy migration directly to the second coordination sphere in face-centered cubic metals are unlikely.     

Role of Al atom on structural and magnetic properties of β-SiC:Cr

The electronic structure, magnetic properties and also the bonding mechanism of the pure SiC and compounds SiC:Cr and SiC:Cr:Al have been studied using the Quantum SPRESSO Software within the density-functional theory (DFT). β-SiC, which is a nonmagnetic semiconductor, has more applications in industry. For the magnetic property, it is alloyed with transition metal. One of the transition metal is chromium. The calculations showed that its alloy at both Si site and C site (SiC:Cr) changes the physical properties of the host material and contributes in the molecular bond. It is seen that if the Al atom was doped in the compounds, SiC:Cr will produce hole carriers and the magnetic properties will thus increase to the considerable values due to the mediation effect. The magnetic property will create the up and down spin band gap to filter carriers. The charge density distribution illustrates that the Al atom has the atomic behavior in the compounds Sic:Cr:Al and does not contribute in the molecular bond. For comparison, the calculations were performed for the pure β-SiC.     

Shock-wave and conventional deformation of Al and dispersion-hardened Al alloy containing different concentrations of alumina particles

Summary The structure and substructure changes in Al and dispersion-hardened Al alloy are studied after rapid deformation by explosion and slow conventional deformation (cross-rolling and compression) using X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Shock wave deformation generates a small dislocation density which does not produce any significant change in the microstructure as well as in the texture of Al and Al alloy containing a different concentration of Al₂O₃ particles (4 and 7%). After slow conventional deformation, in particular after cross-rolling, significant variations are observed due to the nonuniformly distributed high dislocation densities.     

Factors affecting the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-Al3Ti core-shell-structured particle-reinforced Al matrix composites

This work studied the effects of matrix powder and sintering temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of in situ formed Ti–Al₃Ti core–shell-structured particle-reinforced pure Al-based composites. It has been shown that both factors have significant effects on the morphology of the reinforcements and densification behaviour of the composites. Due to the strong interfacial bonding and the limitation of the crack propagation in the intermetallic shell during deformation by soft Al matrix and Ti core, the composite fabricated using fine spherical-shaped Al powder and sintered at 570 °C for 5 h has the optimal combination of the overall mechanical properties. The study provides a direction for the optimum combination of high strength and ductility of the composites by adjusting the fabrication parameters.