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.     

Plastic deformation modeling of backward extrusion process for Nd–Fe–B ring magnets

3D finite element-based software (3D DEFORM) was used to simulate the thermal extrusion process of nanocrystalline magnetic ring. The effective stresses and effective strains for a ring magnet at different stages of the extrusion process were determined by simulation. The effective strains at different stages are displayed. The effective stresses on the cross section are determined by simulation. The test results of magnetic properties were of good validation of the three-dimensional finite element analysis for nanocrystalline backward extruded ring. 3D finite element-based plastic deformation simulation is proved to be an effective way to analyze the hot extrusion process of nanocrystalline magnetic ring, and to provide guiding for the mold design of thermal extrusion.     

Correlation between interfacial interactions and mechanical properties of PA-6 doped with surface-capped nano-silica

The polyamide-6 pellets were mixed with nano-SiO₂ particles surface-capped by 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) via a melt blending route. PA-6 composites doped with surface-capped nano-SiO₂ (designated as PAMNS, where AMNS refers to APS surface-capped nano-SiO₂). AMNS and the silica samples (designated as EAMNS) extracted by acid etching from various PAMNS samples containing different concentration of amino functional groups on surface-capped nano-silica surfaces were characterized by means of Fourier transformation infrared spectrometry (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). This aims at revealing the interfacial interaction between AMNS and PA-6 matrix and its effect on the mechanical properties of the filled PA-6 composites. The chemical features and microstructures of the PAMNS composites were analyzed by means of FTIR and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively, while their mechanical properties were evaluated using standardized test rigs. Results demonstrate that the surface-modified nano-SiO₂ particles were uniformly dispersed in PA-6 matrix. The residue silica extracted from various PAMNS samples showed characteristic FTIR absorbance peak of PA-6 and had larger weight losses than AMNS, implying that the polymeric matrix was chemically bonded with the nanofiller particles. The interfacial interactions are closely related to the concentration of functional groups in AMNS, and there might exist a critical concentration at which the strongest interfacial interactions could be reached. Beyond the critical concentration of the functional groups in AMNS, the mechanical properties of the filled PA-6 composites tended to decrease to some extent.     

Study of Metallocene-Catalyzed Linear Low-Density Polyethylene Solid-State Extrusion: Processing and Mechanical Properties

The effect of extrusion temperature and extrusion drawing ratio (EDR) on the die swell ratio (DSR) and mechanical properties of metallocene-catalyzed linear low-density polyethylene (m-LLDPE) was examined with the application of solid-state extrusion (SSE). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to characterize the microstructure and morphology of the extrudates. Extruded from a convergence-divergence die, compared with samples obtained by melt-state extrusion (MSE), the DSR decreases for SSE samples prepared at low extrusion temperature and high EDR. Mechanically strong SSE samples were also obtained at low extrusion temperatures and high EDR. Mechanically strong SSE samples were also obtained at low extrusion temperatures and high EDR. SEM indicates that the microstructures of the MSE samples consist primarily of ring-banded spherulites; the microstructure of the SSE samples was microfibers oriented along the direction of extrusion. The highly oriented microfibers contribute to the improved mechanical strength of the SSE samples.     

Hot deformation in nanocrystalline Ndben Feben B backward extruded rings

Radially oriented Nd-Fe-B rings are prepared by backward extrusion of fine grained melt-spun powder. Melt-spun powder with the nominal composition of Nd_30.5Fe_bal.Co_6.0Ga_0.6Al_0.2B_0.9 (wt%) is used as starting material. The effects of process variables, such as deformation temperature (T_d), strain rate (ε) and height reduction (Δh%), on the magnetic properties of the rings are investigated. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy spectrum device is used to study the metallograph and microfracture of the extruded rings. The B_r and (BH)_max reach the optimum values at T_d=800℃, ε =0.01 mm/s, and Δh% =70%. It is found by SEM observations that the particle boundaries, which seemingly correspond to the interfaces of the starting melt-spun powders, emerge after the corrosion of metallography specimens. This is helpful for studying the effects of powder-powder interface on the local deformation and deformation homogeneity in the rings. For different spatial positions of the extruded rings, there are characteristic metallographies and microfractures. The upper end of the rings has the least deformation and worst texture, and therefore the worst magnetic properties. The magnetic properties in the radial direction increase slightly along the axis from the bottom to the middle, then steeply decrease at the upper end of the ring. The deformation and the formation-of-texturing processes are discussed. The deformation and the texturing formation of melt-spun Nd-Fe-B alloys probably involve grain boundary sliding and grain rotation, the solution-precipitation process and preferential growth of Nd₂Fe₁₄B nanograins along the easy growth a-axis.     

Study on Properties and Structure of Near Melt Point Extruded High‐Density Polyethylene

The effect of extrusion temperature on the mechanical properties of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) was examined using solid‐state extrusion (SSE) and melt‐state extrusion (MSE) techniques. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations were employed to provide evidence for explaining the relationship between mechanical properties and morphology of extrusion moldings. Extruded from a convergence‐divergence die, compared with samples obtained by MSE, the yield strength of samples obtained by SSE was enhanced in both longitudinal and transverse directions with a ductile failure. The yield strength decreased sharply with increasing extrusion temperature. The maximum longitudinal yield strength of samples extruded at 112°C was 181 MPa with an 87% elongation at break; the corresponding values were 28 MPa and 800% for samples extruded at 140°C (MSE); in the transverse direction the yield strength was 27 MPa with a 101% elongation at break for samples extruded at 140°C, while the maximum yield strength was 51 MPa with a 45% of elongation at break for samples extruded at 116°C. Compared with sheets extruded at 140°C, DSC data shows a 5.3°C increase in melting point, a 9.5°C decrease in melt point width, and a 7.1% decrease in crystallinity for sheets extruded at 112°C. SEM indicates that spherulites predominate in MSE samples, while a preferred orientation of the lamellae along the extrusion direction were mainly produced by SSE.     

Microstructural Evolution and Its Effect on Mechanical Properties of Isotactic Polypropylene by Shear Plastic Deformation at Elevated Temperatures

Isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was plastically shear deformed by equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) at extrusion temperatures varied from 45 to 125°C (25 mm/min). The evolutions of morphology and crystal orientation were studied by reflected optical microscopy (ROM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction. It was found that the original spherulites were deformed into nearly ellipsoids with their long axis tilted at an angle away from the flow direction. Azimuthal scanning results revealed that two preferred crystal orientations were formed after ECAE. The crystal plasticity was activated by increasing the extrusion temperature, followed by fast rotation of crystallites toward the shear direction. The thermal mechanical analysis (TMA) indicated that low extrusion temperature was favorable to fix the molecular orientation. The iPP samples processed at the investigated temperatures displayed a significant increase in the impact strength, especially for those extruded at 45°C and 65°C. The tensile results revealed a greater elongation at break in the samples deformed at low temperatures (45°C and 65°C) but not in those deformed at high temperatures (85°C or above).     

液晶聚合物小直径光缆挤塑工艺研究

基于液晶聚合物挤塑法,提出一种研制小直径光缆的技术途径。描述了液晶聚合物的基本特性,说明了液晶聚合物是小直径光缆的理想挤塑材料。研究了小直径光缆的挤塑工艺参数并根据液晶聚合物的材料特性给出了挤塑工艺流程。采用挤塑方式研制出外径为0.45mm的液晶聚合物小直径光缆,分析了该光缆的基本性能。试验结果表明：挤塑工艺对光纤几乎不产生附加损耗,在-60℃～＋80℃的温度范围内,光缆的附加损耗几乎为零。     

Improving Melt Flow Behavior via Melt Vibration

A self‐made melt vibration extrusion device was used to study the melt flow behavior in a vibration field. A pulse pressure was superimposed on the flowing melt during extrusion, called vibration assisted extrusion (VAE); conventional extrusion (CE) was studied for comparison. A die (L/D=17.5) was attached to the device to study melt flow behavior of an amorphous polymer (polystyrene) and semi‐crystalline polymers (high density and linear low polyethylene). Results show that the melt vibration technique is an effective processing tool to improve polymer melt flow behavior for both crystalline and amorphous polymers. Increasing with vibration frequency for extrusion at constant vibration pressure amplitude, the viscosity decreases sharply, and also with increasing vibration pressure amplitude at a constant vibration frequency. The effect of vibration field on melt flow behavior depends greatly on the melt temperature, with the largest change in viscosity obtained at low temperature. Increasing with vibration frequency at constant pressure vibration amplitude, the maximum decrease percentages of viscosities are 82.9, 66.7, and 48.9%, for HDPE, LLDPE, and PS, respectively; increasing with pressure vibration amplitude at a constant vibration frequency, the maximum decrease percentage of viscosities are 99.0, 94.3, and 99.0%, for HDPE, LLDPE, and PS, respectively.     

The Effect of Melt Vibration on Polystyrene Melt Flowing Behavior During Extrusion

Vibration extrusion (VE) is achieved by superimposing a mechanical vibration on the flowing melt during extrusion. The effect of melt vibration on the melt flow behavior of polystyrene (PS) was studied. The melt flow behavior during conventional extrusion (CE) was studied for comparison. With the application of the melt vibration technology, the melt flow behavior of PS was greatly improved. The melt viscosity during the VE strongly depends on the vibration frequency and vibration amplitude. Extruded at constant vibration amplitude, the melt viscosity decreases sharply with increasing vibration frequency and also does so for increasing vibration amplitude when extruded at a constant vibration frequency. The improved melt flow property is explained in terms of shear-thinning criteria. The effect of melt vibration on the melt flow behavior is also related to the melt temperature and extrusion pressure; the greatest decease in viscosity is obtained at low temperature and low extrusion pressure.     

Effect of Die Temperature on Morphology and Performance of Polyethylene Pipe Prepared via Mandrel Rotation Extrusion

The effect of die temperature on the mechanical performance and morphology of polyethylene (PE) pipe prepared via mandrel rotation extrusion is described. The experimental results showed that during the rotation extrusion of PE pipe, the hoop flow caused by the mandrel rotation was superimposed on the axial flow to deviate the formed shish-kebab from the axial direction which was favorable to improve the hoop strength of the PE pipe. However, high die temperature caused relaxation of most of the oriented molecular chains and the consequent formation of isotropic crystals in the PE pipe, whereas too low a die temperature led to imperfections in the PE pipe. As a result, there was an optimum temperature range for the enhancement of the hoop strength. When the mandrel rotated at 6 r/min, the hoop strength of the PE pipes prepared at the die temperature of 170°C reached the maximum value, 31.8 MPa, 22% and 29% higher than that at 150°C and 210°C, respectively.     

Melt Elongation Properties of Linear Low-Density Polyethylene

The melt extensional properties of a linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) were measured using melt spinning techniques in a range of temperature varying from 150 to 200°C, and the entry flow method in the capillary extrusion at 170°C was used to investigate the effects of elongation strain rate, temperature, and extrusion velocity in the capillary on the melt elongation stress and viscosity. The melt stretching force at break decreased nonlinearly with a rise of temperature. A low melt elongation viscosity might be beneficial to improve the melt drawability. With the increase of elongation strain rate, the melt elongation stress increased while the melt elongation viscosity decreased nonlinearly. Both melt elongation stress and viscosity decreased with a rise of temperature. Under the experimental conditions, the melt elongation stress and viscosity decreased with an increase of extrusion velocity in the capillary. Moreover, the relationship between the elongation viscosity determined from the entry flow and strain rate was similar to that from the melt spinning flow.     

Price tag in nanomaterials?

Journal of Nanoparticle Research - Functionalised electrospun polyamide-6 (PA-6) nanofibres incorporating gadolinium oxide nanoparticles conjugated to zinc tetracarboxyphenoxy phthalocyanine...     

The evolution of γ-Mg17Al12 intermetallic compound during accumulative back extrusion and subsequent ageing treatment

Accumulative back extrusion (ABE) processing, as a novel severe plastic deformation (SPD) method, has been recently justified to be capable of modifying the microstructural characteristics of alloys. In line to its ongoing researches, the present work has been planned to study the evolution of γ-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ intermetallic phase during ABE and subsequent ageing treatment in a high Al-bearing Mg–Al–Zn alloy. The behaviour of γ intermetallic has been systematically examined as following points of view: (i) strain–temperature-dependent morphology changes, (ii) strain-induced dissolution, and (iii) re-ageing behaviour as a function of time and temperature. Aiming to analyse the morphology of eutectic γ compound with respect to the strain and temperature, 2D projections of effective diameter, shape factor and globularity have been made in strain/temperature graphs. The processing conditions (strain and temperature) corresponding to the desired and undesired morphologies are introduced and microstructurally explained through underlying plasticity mechanisms, i.e., ‘necking-thinning-particle separation’ and ‘brittle fragmentation.’ The former mechanism is suggested to be in relation with partial strain-induced dissolution of eutectic γ phase, leading to generation of a supersaturated solid solution. This has resulted to the observation of ‘off-stoichiometry’ phenomena in Mg₁₇Al₁₂ phase and has been justified through dislocation-assisted deformation mechanism at elevated temperature. Surprisingly, a unique re-ageing behaviour has been found for the obtained solid solutions, where a modified kinetics and morphology of γ phase precipitation were characterized. The altered precipitation behaviour is attributed to the specific defect structure achieved by SPD acting as fast diffusion channel for Al solutes.     

Mechanical Behavior of Bulk Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Subjected to Simple Shear

Abstract

Mechanical behavior of bulk semicrystalline poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) processed through simple shear is investigated. The equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) process was used to achieve the simple shear condition. The PET samples were processed in one and two ECAE passes in the same direction, with the sample rotated 180° about the extrusion axis for the second pass. Microstructural features at the nanometer and micrometer scales were studied by small‐angle x‐ray scattering (SAXS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SAXS results showed that at the nanometer scale, two types of lamellar orientations are induced in both samples, but with different extents of orientation. In the ECAE‐oriented PET structures on the micrometer scale, as revealed by SEM, are well‐defined macrofibrils. However, the fibrillar structures in the sample extruded once are more oriented than those in the sample extruded twice. Fractography investigations suggest that the ECAE‐induced fibrillar structure and stretched amorphous chains are responsible for the change in mechanical properties.     

Microstructure,phase transformations,and properties of a Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>Pd alloy subjected to severe plastic deformation

The structure of a preliminary ordered Cu₃Pd alloy, both with layered and columnar periodic structures, subjected to severe plastic deformation with twist extrusion with subsequent annealing, has been investigated using transmission electron microscopy; X-ray diffraction; and measurements of the resistance, magnetic susceptibility, and microhardness. The purpose of this study is the formation of nano-and submicrocrystalline structures in this alloy in order to improve the strength properties, with conservation of the ordered state determining the high conductivity of the alloy.     

Effects of Ca/Al ratio and extrusion process on Mg–Al–Ca alloys to produce a high toughness in-situ composite

The microstructures and tensile properties of Mg–Al₂Ca–Mg₂Ca in situ composites (Mg–17Al–8Ca, Mg–14Al–11Ca and Mg–12.5Al–12.5Ca) with different Ca/Al ratios have been studied in both as-cast and extruded conditions. The results indicated that by increasing Ca/Al ratio, new Mg₂Ca intermetallic introduces to the Al₂Ca phase in eutectic structure. Computer-aided cooling curve analysis confirmed the formation of these phases during solidification. Extrusion process not only altered the size of large bulk Al₂Ca intermetallic, but also changed the size and morphology of intermetallics in eutectic structure considerably. The results showed that with increasing Ca/Al ratio, tensile properties of cast composites changes slightly, but significant enhancement is observed after extrusion process. The strength and elongation values of Mg–12.5Al–12.5Ca (Ca/Al = 1) alloy improved from 166 MPa and 2% in as-cast condition to 465 MPa and 12% in hot-extruded condition. The reason for the improved toughness may be attributed to the formation of finer and well-dispersed distribution of hard (Al₂Ca) and ductile (Mg₂Ca) phases. It was found that hot extrusion easily deforms ductile Mg₂Ca phase in comparison with Al₂Ca phase. In as-extruded condition, there are more very fine dimples than as-casted condition because extrusion process leads to formation of fragmented tiny particles and more uniformity distribution of Al₂Ca particles.     

Magnetic study of changes in the arranged contribution in polyamide fibres

The arranged contribution of macromolecules, called also the crystalline ratio, in polyamide fibres has not yet been studied by magnetic static methods. i.e. by the magnetic susceptibility perpendicular to the axis of fibres, and by magnetic anisotropy. In the present paper a correlation is shown to exist between the above-mentioned magnetic parameters and the arranged contribution of macromolecules in the fibres of polyamide PA-6. The magnetic susceptibility increases with the increase of the arranged contribution, determined from the density, while the magnetic anisotropy decreases. The ratios of high-frequency (h.f.) rigid and soft components were determined from the recordings of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) by the method of linear anamorphosis. It was found that the coefficient of the h.f. rigidity characterizing the increase of the h.f. rigid component in PA-6 with the increase of the arranged contribution is represented by a line which in the range of 30 to 50% gives a magnetic calibration curve for the determination of the arranged contribution from the magnetic measurements.The authors thanks I. Hympánová for help in the NMR measurements.     

Mechanism of the formation of peripheral coarse grain structure in hot extrusion of Al-4.5Zn-1Mg

Microstructural evolution leading to peripheral coarse grain (PCG) structure in hot extruded Al-4.5Zn-1Mg rods is investigated. The extent of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) in the as-extruded product falls not in line with the basis over which the existing mechanisms for interpretation of PCG formation are built. A new mechanism is therefore proposed based on partial DRX during extrusion and nucleation and abnormal growth of statically recrsystallised grains.     

Effect of plastic deformation on physical properties and structure of the shape memory alloy Ti<Subscript>49.5</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>50.5</Subscript>

The effect of severe plastic deformation by torsion (SPDT) in Bridgman anvils at a high pressure (6 GPa) on the physical properties and crystal structure of the shape memory alloy Ti_49.5Ni_50.5 has been studied. The behavior of the thermal expansion, electrical resistivity, absolute differential thermopower, Hall coefficient, magnetic properties, and optical characteristics of the amorphous/nanocrystalline and submicrocrystalline alloys obtained by the SPDT with subsequent heat treatment at 800 K has been discussed.