Giuseppe Silva

Bio: Giuseppe Silva is an academic researcher from Polytechnic University of Milan. The author has contributed to research in topics: Fracture toughness & Microstructure. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 49 publications receiving 297 citations.

Study of the SCC Behavior of 7075 Aluminum Alloy After One-Step Aging at 163 °C

Abstract: For the past many years, 7075 aluminum alloys have been widely used especially in those applications for which high mechanical performances are required. It is well known that the alloy in the T6 condition is characterized by the highest ultimate and yield strengths, but, at the same time, by poor stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance. For this reason, in the aeronautic applications, new heat treatments have been introduced to produce T7X conditions, which are characterized by lower mechanical strength, but very good SCC behavior, when compared with the T6 condition. The aim of this study is to study the tensile properties and the SCC behavior of 7075 thick plates when submitted to a single-step aging by varying the aging times. The tests were carried out according to the standards and the data obtained from the SCC tests were analyzed quantitatively using an image analysis software. The results show that, when compared with the T7X conditions, the single-step aging performed in the laboratory can produce acceptable tensile and SCC properties.

Relationships between tensile and fracture mechanics properties and fatigue properties of large plastic mould steel blocks

Abstract: Moulds for plastic automotive components such as bumpers and dashboards are usually machined from large pre-hardened steel blocks. Due to their dimensions, the heat treatment produces mixed microstructures, continuously varying with the distance from the quenched surface, at which fracture toughness and fatigue properties are not well known and generally lower than those corresponding to a fully quenched and tempered condition. The response of the mould to defects (for example, microcracks due to improper weld bed deposition) and stresses during service depends on steel properties, that in turn depend upon the heat treatment and the microstructure. A pointwise determination of the tensile, Charpy V-notched, fracture toughness and rotating bending fatigue properties was carried out in a large block. High cycle fatigue was investigated by the stair-case method. The samples were obtained from different depths of the blooms. The relationship between mechanical properties, fracture surfaces morphology and microstructure was also investigated.

The Influence of Notch Root Radius and Austenitizing Temperature on Fracture Appearance of As-Quenched Charpy-V Type AISI4340 Steel Specimens

Abstract: Charpy-V type samples either step-quenched from 1200 °C or directly quenched from the usual 870 °C temperature, fractured by a slow bend test procedure, have been fractographically examined. Their notch root radius,ρ, ranged from almost zero (fatigue precrack) up to 2.0 mm. The fracture initiation process at the notch differs according to root radius and heat treatment. Conventionally austenitized samples withρ values larger than 0.07 mm approximately (ρ eff) always display a continuous shear lip formation along the notch surface, whereas specimens with smaller notches do not exhibit a similar feature. Moreover, shear lip width in specimens withρ >ρ eff is linearly related to the applied J-integral at fracture. In high temperature austenitized samples similar shear lips are almost nonexistent. The above findings, as well as overall fractographic features, are combined to explain why blunt notch AISI 4340 steel specimens display a better fracture resistance if they are conventionally heat treated, whereas fatigue precracked samples show a superior fracture toughness when they are step-quenched from 1200 °C. Variations of fracture morphologies with the notch root radius and heat treating procedures are associated with a shift toward higher Charpy transition temperatures under the combined influence of decreasing root radii and coarsening of the prior austenitic grain size at high austenitizing temperatures.

Microstructural and mechanical characterisation of some sinter hardening alloys and comparisons with heat treated PM steels

Abstract: Four grades of sinter hardening materials have been compared, using industrial equipment. Three powder types were completely prealloyed; the last one was a hybrid, combining prealloying and diffusion bonding. Different amounts of Cu have been added by mixing. The lubricated mixes, containing 0.6% graphite, have been compacted at different pressures, to form gears at green densities ≥7.0 g cm−3 ; the compacts have been sintered at 1120°C, under endogas from methane and fast cooled (at least 7 K s−1 within the range 850–400°C). The final step has been stress relieving, at 180°C, for 1 h. Material properties have been investigated, focusing on porosity, pore shape, hardness, microhardness, microstructure, local chemical composition and mechanical properties. For comparison, other gears, compacted in the same tool and at the same density level, but manufactured according to a more conventional cycle, i.e. starting from less alloyed powders and adding carbonitriding, quenching and stress relieving, ha...

Effect of heat treatment on some mechanical properties of 7075 aluminium alloy

Abstract: This paper reports the effects of annealing and age hardening heat treatments on the microstructural morphology and mechanical properties of 7075 Al alloy. The material was cast in the form of round cylindrical rods inside green sand mould from where some samples were rapidly cooled by early knockout and others gradually cooled to room temperature. From the samples that were gradually cooled some were annealed while others were age hardened. Both the as-cast in each category and heat treated samples were subjected to some mechanical tests and the morphology of the resulting microstructures were characterised by optical microscopy. From the results obtained there is formation of microsegregations of MgZn

Surface integrity in metal machining - Part I: Fundamentals of surface characteristics and formation mechanisms

Abstract: The surface integrity of machined metal components is critical to their in-service functionality, longevity and overall performance. Surface defects induced by machining operations vary from the nano to macro scale, which cause microstructural, mechanical and chemical effects. Hence, they require advanced evaluation and post processing techniques. While surface integrity varies significantly across the range of machining processes, this paper explores the state-of-the-art of surface integrity research with an emphasis on their governing mechanisms and emerging evaluation approaches. In this review, removal mechanisms are grouped by their primary energy transfer mechanisms; mechanical, thermal and chemical based. Accordingly, the resultant multi-scale phenomena associated with metal machining are analyzed. The contribution of these material removal mechanisms to the workpiece surfaces/subsurface characteristics is reviewed. Post-processing options for the mitigation of induced surface defects are also discussed.