Hardening (metallurgy)

About: Hardening (metallurgy) is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 25584 publications have been published within this topic receiving 376012 citations.

Micro structure and hardening of Al-based nanophase composites

Abstract: Part amorphous-part crystalline Al-Ni-Y alloys can be produced by devitrification of melt-spun fully amorphous alloys. These materials have a novel structure of nanometre-sized crystals of α-A1 in an amorphous matrix and can be regarded as nanophase composites. Devitrified microstructures are studied by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The significant hardening accompanying devitrification is characterised for various heat treatments, and is mainly attributed to the solute enrichment of the remaining amorphous phase. The hardening kinetics are, however, also influenced by the composition uniformity of amorphous matrix.

Uniaxial and non-proportionally multiaxial ratcheting of ss304 stainless steel at room temperature: experiments and simulations

Abstract: The uniaxial and non-proportionally multiaxial ratcheting behaviors of SS304 stainless steel at room temperature were initially researched by experiment and then were theoretically described by a cyclic constitutive model in the framework of unified visco-plasticity. The effects of cyclic stress amplitude, mean stress, and their histories on the ratcheting were experimentally investigated under uniaxial and different multiaxial loading paths. The shapes of non-proportional loading paths were linear, circular, elliptical and rhombic, respectively. In the constitutive model, the rate-dependent behavior of the material was reflected by a viscous term; the cyclic flow and cyclic hardening behaviors of the material under asymmetrical stress-controlled cycling were reflected by the evolution rules of kinematic hardening back stress and isotropic deforming resistance, respectively. The effect of loading history on the ratcheting was also considered by introducing two fading memorization functions for maximum inelastic strain amplitude and isotropic deformation resistance, respectively, into the constitutive model. The effect of multiaxial loading path on the ratcheting was reflected by a non-proportional factor defined in this work. The predicting ability of the developed model was proved to be good by comparing the simulations with corresponding experiments.

Contribution of Mg2Si precipitates to the strength of direct metal laser sintered AlSi10Mg

Abstract: Microstructure of deformed DMLS-AlSi10Mg under quasi-static loading was studied using TEM to elaborate the strengthening mechanisms. In addition to Orowan (due to presence of Si precipitates), Hall-Petch (due to eutectic Si walls), and dislocation hardening (due to pre-existing entangled dislocations) mechanisms, Mg2Si precipitates (colonies) contributed to the strength of alloy by impeding dislocation motion. The level of this contribution was evaluated as ~13 MPa by comparing the modeled and measured yield strength.

High-temperature properties and microstructural stability of hot-work tool steels

Abstract: Indexable insert tools for machining operations are in service exposed to high temperatures and cyclic mechanical loads. Secondary hardening steels such as hot-work steels are commonly used for tools subjected to thermal exposure. However, these steels, highly alloyed with strong carbide forming elements as Cr, V and Mo, are generally difficult to machine and machining represents a large fraction of the production cost of a tool. Thus, the present study concerns the development of a new steel with improved machinability and meeting the requirements for high-temperature properties. Softening resistance of the THG2000 and QRO90 tool steels, commonly used in hot-work applications, and a newly developed tool steel MCG2006 with lower alloying content of carbide forming elements, was investigated by tempering and isothermal fatigue testing. Mechanisms of high-temperature softening of the tested tool steels were discussed with respect to their microstructure and high-temperature mechanical properties. Carbide morphology and precipitation as well as dislocation structure were determined using transmission electron microscopy and X-ray line broadening analysis. No difference in softening behaviour was found among the QRO90 and MCG2006 regarding hot hardness measurements. The THG2000 indicated some stabilization of the hardness between 450 and 550 °C and a considerable hardness decrease at higher temperatures. The short-time cyclic softening in isothermal fatigue was controlled by dislocation rearrangement and annihilation. The alloying composition of the steels presently tested had no influence on the dislocation density decrease. The long-time softening was affected by the material's temper resistance and strongly depended on the carbide morphology and their over-ageing resistance. The QRO90 with greater molybdenum and lower chromium contents than in the THG2000 show the best resistance to softening among the tested grades at all temperatures. The MCG2006, leaner alloyed with the carbide forming elements and alloyed with 4 wt% nickel, has better temper resistance than THG2000 at higher temperatures and longer tempering times.