The deformation behaviour of intermetallic superlattice compounds

Combining in an additive or synergetic manner the most potent strengthening mechanisms available in an alloy is the art of the metallurgist. The various models proposed in the literature in order to interpret the Hall-Petch relation are critically reviewed by comparison with experimental data. The pile-up models and the work hardening theories must include the inner structure of the grain in the case of alloys hardened by a second phase. Similarly, the properties and structure of the grain boundaries are influenced by impurities or the presence of particles. Ultra-fine grain sizes can provide ductility to high strength materials when surface preparation eliminates microcracks. In steady-state creep equations, introducing the influence of grain size in complex alloys by incorporating the Hall-Petch stress as one component of the internal stress helps in rationalizing the existence of an optimal grain size where creep resistance is maximized. Slower crack growth rates can be obtained by controlling the grain boundary structure as well as grain size. Fatigue tests at room temperature clearly point out the interest of small grain sizes for reducing crack initiation, usually associated, however, with lower propagation threshold and somewhat faster growth rates.

Influence of grain size on the mechanical behaviour of some high strength materials

The physical and mechanical metallurgy of Ni3Al and its alloys is reviewed Emphasis is on developments within the past five years, a period of extremely rapid growth in research on the behaviour of this unusually interesting intermetallic compound This review is particularly concerned with solute effects on properties such as diffusion rates, ductility, fatigue resistance, and environmental stability, subjects that only recently have received much attention Novel processing techniques, including rapid solidification and powder processing, are shown to have played a key role in providing Ni3Al-base alloys with improved properties An assessment of needed areas of research to hasten commercial applications of Ni3Al alloys concludes the review

Physical and mechanical metallurgy of Ni3Al and its alloys

Many ordered intermetallic alloys have attractive high-temperature properties; however, low ductility and brittle fracture limit their use for structural applications. The embrittlement in these alloys is mainly caused by an insufficient number of slip systems (bulk brittleness) and poor grain-boundary cohesion. Recent studies have shown that the ductility and fabricability of ordered intermetallics can be substantially improved by alloying processes and control of microstructural features through rapid solidification and thermomechanical treatments. These results demonstrate that the brittleness problem associated with ordered intermetallics can be overcome by using physical metallurgical principles. Application of these principles will be illustrated by results on Ni(3)Al and Ni(3)V-Co(3)V-Fe(3)V. The potential for developing these alloys as a new class of high-temperature structural materials is discussed.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/226/4675/636.full.pdf

Ductile ordered intermetallic alloys

The order-disorder transformation in Ni3Al and Ni3AlFe alloys—I. Determination of the transition temperatures and their relation to ductility

Ductile Ll2-type y′ compounds with rather high strengths and large elongations have been found in rapidly quenched Ni-Al-X (X = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, or Si) ternary systems. The y′ compounds consist of a metastable phase which contains numerous APD with a size as small as about 50 to 75 nm. Further, the ductile y′ wires with circular cross section have been manufactured directly from the liquid state by an in-rotating-water spinning method. The wire diameter is in the range of 85 to 190 µm and the average grain size is about 2 to 5 µam. The Hv, σy, σf, and eρ of the y′ wires are about 240 to 400 DPN, 390 to 590 MPa, 580 to 910 MPa, and 4 to 10 pct, respectively, for Ni-Al- (Cr, Fe, Co, or Si) systems and about 220 DPN, 260 MPa, 440 MPa, and 27 pct, respectively, for the Ni-Al-Mn system. A cold drawing causes a significant increase in σy and σf and the attained values are about 2450 MPa and 2480 MPa, respectively, for Ni-20Al-10Cr wire drawn to about 90 pct reduction in area. Around the temperatures where the APB disappear on annealing, the Hv, σy, σf, and egr of the y′ wires decrease significantly accompanied with a drastic change in fracture surface morphology from a transgranular type to an intergranular type. It has been therefore inferred that the high strengths and good ductility of the melt-quenched y′ compounds are due to the structural changes to a low degree of ordered state containing a high density of APB and the suppression of grain boundary segregation.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of rapidly quenched L11 alloys in Ni-Al-X systems

Metastable fcc phase with highly ductile nature has been found in melt-quenched Mn-Al-C alloys instead of extremely brittle equilibrium phases. This formation range is limited to about 9 to 22 at. pct Al and about 3.0 to 6.5 at. pct C. Further, the fee phase wires with circular cross section have been manufactured by an in-rotating-water spinning method. The wire diameter is in the range of 70 to 150 μm diameter and the average grain size is about 3 μm. The Vickers hardness, yield strength, and tensile strength of the wires increase with aluminum and carbon content and reach about 285 DPN, 560 MPa, and 960 MPa, respectively, for Mn74.5Al20.5C5-Elongation increases with decrease in aluminum and carbon, and the highest value is about 28 pct for Mn-13.5 pct Al-4 pct C alloy. The cold-drawing to about 60 pct reduction in area results in a very significant increase of tensile strength from 260 to 1460 MPa, through a remarkable work-hardening effect. Thus, the use of the in-rotating-water spinning method, being a new type of rapid quenching technique, is very useful to endow the manganese-base alloy wires exhibiting high strength combined with good ductility.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of metastable fcc phase wires in Mn-Al-C system manufactured by in-rotating-water spinning method

Nonequilibrium austenite, γ, or duplex austenite + lath martensite,γ+ α′L, phase wires with high strengths and large elongation have been produced in Fe-Ni-Cr-Al-C alloy system by the in-rotating-water spinning method in which a melt stream is ejected into a rotating water layer. These wires have a circular cross section and a white luster, and the wire diameter is in the range of 80 to 180 µm. The γ phase has a grain size as small as about 1 to 4 µm. The yield strength, Σy, tensile fracture strength, ay, and elongation, ep, are about 340 to 655 MPa, 440 to 975 MPa, and 12 to 22 pct for the γ single phase wires and about 465 to 865 MPa, 640 to 1350 MPa, and 2 to 18 pct for the α′L+γ duplex phase wires. A cold drawing causes significant increases in Σy and Σf, and the attained values are about 3200 MPa and 4030 MPa for Fe-8Ni-12.5Cr-2.5Al-3C wire drawn to about 95 pct reduction in area owing to the formation of a strain-induced α′L phase and a remarkable work-hardening ability of γ and α′L phases. On the subsequent low-temperature annealing around 673 K, the Σy and Σf increase further to 4000 MPa and 4240 MPa, respectively, probably because of the enhancement of the interaction between dislocations and interstitial carbon atoms. Around the temperature (≃800 K) where the γ phase decomposes into a stable mixed structure of α + ordered bec compound + M7C3 on annealing, the ep decreases drastically and the fracture surface morphology changes from a dimple pattern to a cleavage pattern. It has been therefore inferred that the high strengths and good ductility of the melt-quenched y and γ + α′L wires are due to the suppression of the phase transformation of y to a mixed structure of γ + ordered bec compound + M7C3 carbide by the melt-quenching technique.

H. Tomioka

Papers

Microstructure and mechanical properties of rapidly quenched L11 alloys in Ni-Al-X systems

Microstructure and mechanical properties of metastable fcc phase wires in Mn-Al-C system manufactured by in-rotating-water spinning method

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Fe-Ni-Cr-Al steel wires produced by in-rotating-water spinning method