Gang Han

Bio: Gang Han is an academic researcher from University of Science and Technology Beijing. The author has contributed to research in topics: Annealing (metallurgy) & Austenite. The author has an hindex of 9, co-authored 36 publications receiving 310 citations.

Strengthening of cobalt-free 19Ni3Mo1.5Ti maraging steel through high-density and low lattice misfit nanoscale precipitates

Abstract: The concept of low lattice misfit and high-density of nanoscale precipitates obtained through solution treatment was adopted to obtain ultrahigh strength maraging steel without compromising elongation. An “ultrahigh strength-high toughness” combination was successfully obtained in 19Ni3Mo1.5Ti maraging steel with ultimate strength of ~1858 MPa and static toughness of ~110 MJ m−3. Maraging steel had extremely high density (2.3 × 1024 m−3) of nanoscale precipitates with minimum lattice misfit of less than 1% at the solutionization temperature of 820 °C. Two kinds of nanoscale precipitates, namely, η-Ni3(Ti,Mo) and B2-Ni(Mo,Fe) contributed to ultrahigh strength. The size of nanoscale precipitates governed the movement of dislocations, cutting versus by-passing. Theoretical estimate of ordering and modulus contribution to strengthening suggested that ordering had a dominant influence on strength. The toughness was closely related to the characteristic evolution of nanoscale precipitates such that the high density of nanoscale precipitates contributed to increase of elastic deformation and low lattice misfit contributed to increase of uniform deformation. The nanoscale size and low lattice misfit of precipitates were the underlying reasons for the high-performance of maraging steel. Moreover, the combination of high-density of nanoscale precipitates and low lattice misfit is envisaged to facilitate the futuristic design and development of next generation of structural alloys.

Evolution of nano-size precipitation and mechanical properties in a high strength-ductility low alloy steel through intercritical treatment

Abstract: A two-step intercritical heat treatment was designed to obtain a multi-phase microstructure consisting of intercritical ferrite, tempered martensite/bainite and stable retained austenite in a low carbon and copper alloyed steel, characterized by high strength and high ductility combination. The evolution of copper precipitation during intercritical tempering was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electron microscopy studies indicated that the precipitation of copper during tempering followed the sequence (as a function of time): twinned 9R-Cu (0.5 h) → de-twinned 9R-Cu (1 h) → e-Cu (greater than 3 h), which was accompanied by increase in the size of precipitates from ~ 11 nm to ~ 30 nm. Considering the cutting mechanism of precipitation strengthening, e-Cu precipitation contributed to ~ 248 MPa and ~ 207 MPa toward yield strength for 3 h and 5 h tempering, respectively. The average size of niobium-containing carbides varied marginally from ~ 11–16 nm and had a Baker–Nutting (B-N) orientation relationship with the ferrite matrix. The combination of transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) effect and nano-sized precipitation strengthening contributed to excellent mechanical properties (yield strength > 700 MPa, tensile strength > 800 MPa, the uniform elongation > 16% and the total elongation > 30%).

Simultaneous enhancement of strength and plasticity by nano B2 clusters and nano-γ phase in a low carbon low alloy steel

Abstract: Nano B2 FeCu ordered clusters and multiphase microstructure consisting of intercritical ferrite, tempered martensite and nano-γ phase (reverted austenite) were obtained by two-step heat treatment involving intercritical annealing and intercritical tempering. The experimental steel with nano Cu precipitates and nano-γ phase exhibited high strength and high ductility combination. The yield strength and total elongation of the experimental steel increased from 758 MPa and 16.8% to 984 MPa and 29.5% after the second step intercritical tempering for 5 min. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP) studies provided evidence to support that high density of nano B2 FeCu ordered clusters contributed to high strength. First principle calculations suggested that the feasibility of B2 FeCu nano-ordered clusters, and the stability of B2 structure is related to the coherent stress field at the interface between clusters and the BCC-Fe matrix. The average size of B2 FeCu nano-ordered clusters was 4 nm with a lattice constant of 0.2893 nm and an orientation relationship of (1 1 0)B2//(1 1 0)α and [0 0 1]B2//[0 0 1]α. 9R Cu without twinned structure was discovered at different tempering times. The proportion of Cu in Cu precipitates varied from 24.4 at% to 61.2 at% with change in crystal structure and increase in the size of precipitates. The significant increase in yield strength is discussed in terms of ordered domain strengthening, modulus strengthening and lattice misfit strengthening mechanisms. Bright field TEM image and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern discovered and proved that spindle nano-γ phase was present at phase boundary between tempered martensite and intercritical ferrite. The size of them were among 242–375 nm in length and 52–80 nm in width. The two needle tip ends of nano-γ phase were just at phase boundaries, indicating the preferred growth direction. (1 −1 1)γ plane of nano-γ phase was parallel to (1 −1 0)α plane of the adjacent tempered martensite. The effect of nano-γ phase on enhancing the plasticity was revealed by instantaneous work hardening index curve.

▲Current-induced effective field vector in Ta│CoFeB│MgO

Abstract: Current-induced effective magnetic fields can provide efficient ways of electrically manipulating the magnetization of ultrathin magnetic heterostructures. Two effects, known as the Rashba spin orbit field and the spin Hall spin torque, have been reported to be responsible for the generation of the effective field. However, a quantitative understanding of the effective field, including its direction with respect to the current flow, is lacking. Here we describe vector measurements of the current-induced effective field in Ta|CoFeB|MgO heterostructrures. The effective field exhibits a significant dependence on the Ta and CoFeB layer thicknesses. In particular, a 1 nm thickness variation of the Ta layer can change the magnitude of the effective field by nearly two orders of magnitude. Moreover, its sign changes when the Ta layer thickness is reduced, indicating that there are two competing effects contributing to it. Our results illustrate that the presence of atomically thin metals can profoundly change the landscape for controlling magnetic moments in magnetic heterostructures electrically.

Magnetic properties and colossal magnetoresistance of LaÑCaÖMnO3 materials doped with Fe

Abstract: Author(s): Ahn, KH; Wu, XW; Liu, K; Chien, CL | Abstract: The effect of Fe doping (l20%) on the Mn site in the ferromagnetic ((Formula presented)) and the antiferromagnetic ((Formula presented)) phases of (Formula presented) has been studied. The same ionic radii of (Formula presented) and (Formula presented) cause no structure change in either series, yet conduction and ferromagnetism have been consistently suppressed by Fe doping. Colossal magnetoresistance has been shifted to lower temperatures, and in some cases enhanced by Fe doping. Doping with Fe bypasses the usually dominant lattice effects, but depopulates the hopping electrons and thus weakens the double exchange. © 1996 The American Physical Society.

Tunneling path toward spintronics

Abstract: The phenomenon of quantum tunneling, which was discovered almost a century ago, has led to many subsequent discoveries. One such discovery, spin polarized tunneling, was made 40 years ago by Robert Meservey and Paul Tedrow (Tedrow and Meservey 1971 Phys. Rev. Lett. 26 192), and it has resulted in many fundamental observations and opened up an entirely new field of study. Until the mid-1990s, this field developed at a steady, low rate, after which a huge increase in activity suddenly occurred as a result of the unraveling of successful spin tunneling between two ferromagnets. In the past 15 years, several thousands of papers related to spin polarized tunneling and transport have been published, making this topic one of the hottest areas in condensed matter physics from both fundamental science and applications viewpoints. Many review papers and book chapters have been written in the past decade on this subject. This paper is not exhaustive by any means; rather, the emphases are on recent progress, technological developments and informing the reader about the current direction in which this topic is moving.