Partial recrystallization in the nugget zone of friction stir welded dual-phase Cu–Zn alloy

For single and quasi-single phase metallic materials, complete dynamic recrystallization has been observed in the nugget zones (NZs) of friction stir welds (FSWs), producing fine and uniform equiaxed grains. In this study, partial dynamic recrystallization was observed in the NZ of 5 mm thick friction stir welded brass plates. Whereas the top and the advancing side of the NZ were characterized by fine completely-recrystallized grains, the remaining region consisted of coarse non-recrystallized deformed grains, annealed recrystallized grains and deformed recrystallized grains. The occurrence of partial recrystallization was attributed to the inhibiting effect of a high volume fraction of fine β′-phase particles. Increasing the FSW passes reduced the fraction and size of non-recrystallized deformed grains, but could not eliminate the partially recrystallized zone completely.     

The role of internal stresses on the plastic deformation of the Al–Mg–Si–Cu alloy AA6111

In this work, we have investigated the internal stress contribution to the flow stress for a commercial 6xxx aluminium alloy (AA6111). In contrast to stresses from forest and precipitation hardening, the internal stress cannot be assessed properly with a uniaxial tensile test. Instead, tension–compression tests have been used to measure the Bauschinger stress and produce a comprehensive study which examines its evolution with (i) the precipitation structure, and (ii) a wide range of applied strain. A large set of ageing conditions was investigated to explore the effect of the precipitation state on the development of internal stress within the material. It is shown that the Bauschinger stress generally increases with the applied strain and critically depends on the average radius of the precipitate and is thus linked to the shearable/non-shearable transition. Further work in the case of non-shearable particles shows that higher strain eventually leads to particle fracture and the Bauschinger stress then rapidly decreases. Following the seminal work of Brown et al. a physically based approach including plastic relaxation and particle fracture is developed to predict the evolution of the internal stress as a function of the applied strain. Knowing the main characteristics of the precipitation structure–such as the average precipitate radius, length and volume fraction–allows one to estimate accurately the internal stress contribution to the flow stress with this model.     

Origin of tweed in Au–Cu–Al alloys

The premartensitic tweed in Au–Cu–Al alloys, contrary to previous thought that resort to defects, is confirmed to be associated with the coherent embryos of an intermediate phase (I phase) embedded in parent phase. The parent?→?I phase transformation temperature was measured by differential scanning calorimeter and dynamic mechanical analysers, which shifts from 82.3 to 557.6?°C depending on the alloy composition. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopes (TEM) results show that the parent?→?I phase transformation is a charge density wave transition that cannot be suppressed even by melt-spun method, which shows obvious compositional inhomogeneity between I phase and parent. The results imply that the parent?→?I phase transition is a fast displacive transformation coupled with diffusion. Moreover, accompanying the parent?→?I phase transformation, alloys demonstrate diversified microstructure revealed by TEM observation, from tweed to chessboard nanowires or twins. These findings provide the experimental evidence for that parent?→?I phase transformation in Au–Cu–Al alloys is originated from pseudospinodal decomposition as theoretically predicted.     

Microstructure dependence of steady state creep in Cd–Sn eutectic alloy

The steady state creep of Sn–33 wt.% Cd alloy was studied under various constant stresses ranging from 25.56 to 30.85 MPa in the temperature range from 353 to 433 K. The stress exponent n was found to change from 6.25 to 4.55 in the above temperature range. The energy activating the steady state creep amounted to 59.3kJ/mol in the temperature range from 353 K to 393 K and to 37 kJ/mol in the temperature range from 413 K to 433 K characterizing the grain boundary diffusion in Cd and in Sn, respectively. Microstructure analysis confirmed that the above mentioned mechanisms took place during steady state creep.     

Microstructure of a Spark Discharge in Air in a Point–Plane Gap

A microchannel structure of a spark discharge initiated in atmospheric-pressure air in a point–plane gap has been discovered by shadow photography. The structure has been observed since the onset of the discharge glow. The evolution of the microstructure over times from several nanoseconds to several tens of nanoseconds has been traced. Specifically, the development of microchannels from the point into the discharge gap, expansion of the microchannels, and their interaction have been observed. A correlation has been found between the microstructure of the spark channel in the discharge gap and its autograph on the surface of the plane electrode.     

63Cu NMR analysis of microstructure evolution in Al–Cu–Mg alloys

⁶³Cu NMR spectroscopy has been used to detect metastable Guinier–Preston–Bagaryatsky (GPB) zones and nanoscale precipitates of equilibrium S-phase (Al₂CuMg) in dilute alloys of aluminium containing copper and magnesium with compositions which lie in the α?+?S phase field. The GPB zones are observed to form rapidly at room temperature with a time development closely related to the Vickers hardness. The final development of S-phase in the alloy has been confirmed by the observation of a line shape in the alloy identical to that observed in a specimen prepared from stoichiometric Al₂CuMg. Analysis of the hyperfine structure of the ⁶³Cu line shape observed for S-phase shows clearly that two Cu sites are present with approximately equal population. This result suggests that possibly two crystallographically distinct Al₂CuMg phases are present. The addition of small amounts of silver to Al–Cu–Mg alloys in the α?+?θ phase field is known to induce the formation of Ω-phase: a slight distortion of tetragonal θ-phase Al₂Cu. A hyperfine-structured ⁶³Cu line shape assigned to Ω-phase, indicating one distinct Cu site, has been observed in two separate Al–1.7?at.%?Cu–0.33?at.%?Mg alloys containing 0.1 and 0.18?at.%?Ag, but not in the same Al–Cu–Mg alloy without Ag.     

Evidence for a metallic–like state in the T=0 K phase diagram of a high temperature superconductor

We examine the effects of a phenomenological pseudogap on the T=0 K phase diagram of a high temperature superconductor within a self-consistent model which exhibits a d-wave pairing symmetry. At the mean-field level the presence of a pseudogap in the normal phase of the high temperature superconductor is proved to be essential for the existence of a metallic–like state in the density versus interaction phase diagram. In the small density limit, at high attractive interaction, bosonic–like degrees of freedom are likely to emerge. Our result should be relevant for underdoped high temperature superconductors, where there is a strong evidence for the presence of a pseudogap in the excitation spectrum of the normal state quasiparticles.     

Abnormal resistivity behavior of Cu–Ni and Cu–Co alloys in undercooled liquid state

The resistivity behavior of undercooled liquid Cu–Ni and Cu–Co alloys had been studied in the contactless method, to probe the structure transition in undercooled melts during the cooling process. Over the entire concentration range, linear behavior of resistivity with temperature was obtained in liquid and undercooled liquid Cu–Ni system. It implied that the formation of icosahedral order might not influence the electron scattering in undercooled liquid Cu–Ni alloys. Similar results were obtained in Cu–Co system in the vicinity of liquidus temperature. A turning point was obvious in temperature coefficient of resistivity for undercooled liquid Cu–Co alloys around the bimodal line, which was interpreted to be responsible for metastable liquid–liquid phase separation. During liquid phase separation process, resistivity decreased and the temperature coefficient of resistivity was larger than that of homogeneous melts. In combination with transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscope studies on the as-solidified microstructure, this was interpreted as the formation of egg-type structure and concentration change in Cu-rich and Co-rich phases. The mechanism controlling the separation and droplets motion was also discussed in undercooled liquid Cu–Co system.     

Equations of state in the Brans–Dicke cosmology

We investigate the Brans–Dicke (BD) theory with the potential as cosmological model to explain the present accelerating universe. In this work, we consider the BD field as a perfect fluid with the energy density and pressure in the Jordan frame. Introducing the power-law potential and the interaction with the cold dark matter, we obtain the phantom divide which is confirmed by the native and effective equation of state. Also we can describe the metric f(R) gravity with an appropriate potential, which shows a future crossing of the phantom divide in viable f(R) gravity models when employing the native and effective equations of state.     

Quantitative description of the T1 formation kinetics in an Al–Cu–Li alloy using differential scanning calorimetry,small-angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy

The object of the present study is to design a methodology to follow the kinetics of T₁ precipitation, in an AA2198 alloy, in terms of precipitate size, morphology (thickness, diameter) and volume fraction, during a two-temperature isothermal heat treatment. We used in situ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) as a way to measure the evolution of the T₁ mean thickness and diameter during the heat treatment. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was then performed in order to calibrate these evolutions. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the volume fraction evolution can be described successfully using a simple analysis of the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms. The latter was calibrated by selected observations in high angular annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). Microstructure evolution during DSC heating ramps was analysed using in situ SAXS: the T₁ phase transformation is found to consist in a two-step thickening process explained by two consecutive diffusion stages. The enthalpy of formation of the T₁ phase is deduced from the DSC measurements.     

HRTEM study of the effect of deformation on the early precipitation behaviour in an AA6060 Al–Mg–Si alloy

The effect of 10% pre-ageing deformation on the early precipitation behaviour in an AA6060 Al–Mg–Si alloy aged 10?min at 190°C was investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) in ?100?Al projections. The precipitate nucleation was heterogeneous since all precipitates were found to grow on dislocation lines. The pre-ageing deformation suppresses growth of Gunier–Preston zones and β″ phase. The resulting precipitates are still largely coherent with the aluminium matrix. They appear with two main morphologies; one consists of independent, small cross-sections arising from needles with disordered β′ and B′ structures. The other morphology is a much more continuous decoration where precipitates have elongated and conjoined cross-sections and where a particular precipitate phase could not be determined. All precipitates in this work were found to contain a common near-hexagonal sub-cell (SC) with projected bases a?=?b?≈?0.4?nm. This strongly indicates that they are built over the same Si network, which recently has been demonstrated to exist in all precipitates in the Al–Mg–Si(–Cu) system. For the discrete morphology type the network has one hexagonal base vector parallel to or very near a ?510?Al direction. For the continuous type, one base vector falls along a ?100?Al direction. This orientation of the network is different from previous studies of ternary Al–Mg–Si alloys and must be a direct consequence of the deformation.     

The influence of microstructure on the martensitic transformation in Cu–Zn–Al melt-spun ribbons

The martensitic transformation was investigated in a set of twin roller melt-spun Cu–Zn–Al shape memory alloys, solidified at tangential wheel speeds between 20 and 40 m/s. The resulting microstructures were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, optical and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The characteristic martensitic transformation temperature, M _S, was determined for each condition by conventional resistometric methods. The ribbons are homogeneous in shape and for each quenching rate they exhibit a quite uniform M _S temperature. By proper thermal treatments, the different factors affecting M _S could be separately examined and from temperature measurements, the contribution of L2₁ antiphase boundaries evaluated. A calculation of this contribution using pair interchange energies is in good agreement with the experimental results.     

Microstructure and thermostability of a W–Cu nanocomposite produced via high-pressure torsion

A coarse-grained W–25% Cu alloy is subjected to high-pressure torsion (HPT) at room temperature to different strains. Evolution of the microstructure during HPT processing is studied using X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It is demonstrated that HPT processing results in fragmentation of the tungsten particles and the formation of a 5–15?nm grain size nanostructure at equivalent strains of ≥256 (saturation). It is shown that the nanostructured W–25% Cu is thermostable up to 500°C, with grain growth up to 50?nm at 720°C. During HPT processing, the lattice parameter of the copper and tungsten was found to increase and decrease, respectively, with increased level of equivalent strain. This is proposed to occur through the interdiffusion of copper atoms into tungsten grains and tungsten atoms into copper grains, as suggested by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis of the individual grains. The formation of a limited solid solution is considered and possible mechanisms for this effect discussed.     

Study of inverse a.c. Josephson effect in Y–Ba–Cu–O and Y–8a–Sr–Cu–O

Microwave induced d.c. voltage due to inverse a.c. Josephson effect has been observed across bulk samples of Y-Ba-Cu-O and Y-Ba-Sr-Cu-O. The d.c. voltage is found to vary with microwave power, frequency and also with small external magnetic fields. Although the resistivity curve of Y-Ba-Cu-O does not show any appreciable resistance drop around 230 K, the microwave induced d.c. voltage due to the inverse a.c. Josephson effect has been found to exist upto 230 K. The resistivity behaviour of Y-Ba-Sr-Cu-O shows a sharp resistivity drop above 230 K. In this sample the inverse Josephson effect is found to exist upto +26 °C, indicating the presence of a phase having a superconducting onset around this temperature.     

A study on the early-stage decomposition in the Al–Mg–Si–Cu alloy AA6111 by electrical resistivity and three-dimensional atom probe

Electrical resistivity measurements and three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP) analysis were employed to investigate early-stage decomposition of the Al alloy AA6111 in the temperature range 60–180°C where electrical resistivity initially increased with ageing time. 3DAP measurements provided information on the shape, number density and solute content of the precipitates, as well as the solute concentration of the matrix, for the ageing conditions corresponding to the resistivity maxima. Using the 3DAP results, the precipitate size distributions for these ageing conditions were determined in terms of the measured number of solute atoms per precipitate. The number density and the Cu content of the precipitates decreased with increasing temperature, whereas the Mg/Si ratio increased. The size distribution of precipitates at the higher ageing temperatures showed the addition of larger size precipitates to the precipitate population. A modification to Matthiessen's law was employed to describe the anomalous resistivity increase by considering the effect of solutes and precipitates on the resistivity evolution. Using the 3DAP results in analysing the resistivity anomaly, it was found that the decrease in the resistivity maxima with increasing temperature was associated with the decrease in the number density of precipitates and not the scattering power of precipitates. The 3DAP results were further used to provide information on the mechanisms of early-stage decomposition and the temperature dependence of the nucleation rate. From this, the nucleation rate appeared to be controlled by the migration of solute atoms, which was assisted by quenched-in vacancies.     

Formation of the structure and physicomechanical properties of a quasicrystalline Al–Cu–Fe alloy upon plasma spraying

Quasicrystalline coatings prepared under various thermal conditions of spraying have been studied. Initial quasicrystalline powders with dispersion of 10–50 μm were prepared in a low-pressure arc discharge plasma. The coatings have been sprayed on copper rings using a swinging plasmatron. It is found that the increase in the quenching rate of melt droplets increases the chemical homogeneity and leads to formation of nanostructured formations. The precipitation of nanostructured grains (d < 100 nm) in the sprayed alloy leads to an increase in the mechanical characteristics (hardness, deformation, and ductility) and can be considered as an additional factor of hardening of the material.