Showing papers on "Tensile testing published in 2008"

Correlation of Yield Strength and Tensile Strength with Hardness for Steels

Abstract: Hardness values as well as yield and tensile strength values were compiled for over 150 nonaustenitic, hypoeutectoid steels having a wide range of compositions and a variety of microstructures. The microstructures include ferrite, pearlite, martensite, bainite, and complex multiphase structures. The yield strength of the steels ranged from approximately 300 MPa to over 1700 MPa. Tensile strength varied over the range of 450-2350 MPa. Regression analysis was used to determine the correlation of the yield strength and the tensile strength to the diamond pyramid hardness values for these steels. Both the yield strength and tensile strength of the steels exhibited a linear correlation with the hardness over the entire range of strength values. Empirical relationships are provided that enable the estimation of strength from a bulk hardness measurement. A weak effect of strain-hardening potential on the hardness-yield strength relationship was also observed.

Starch-based nanocomposites reinforced with flax cellulose nanocrystals

Abstract: In this study, the cellulose crystals, prepared by acid hydrolysis of flax fiber, consisted of slender rods with lengths ranging from 100 to 500 nm and diameters ranging from 10 to 30 nm, respectively After mixing the suspension of flax cellulose nanocrystals (FCNs) and plasticized starch (PS), the nanocomposite films were obtained by the casting method The effects of FCNs loading on the morphology, thermal behaviour, mechanical properties and water sensitivity of the films were investigated by means of wide-angle X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, tensile testing, and water absorption testing Scanning electron microscopy photographs of the failure surfaces clearly demonstrated a homogeneous dispersion of FCNs within the PS matrix and strong interfacial adherence between matrix and fillers, which led to an increase of glass transition temperature ascribed to the starch molecular chains in the starch-rich phase In particular, these nanocomposite films exhibited a significant increase in tensile strength and Young’s modulus from 39 to 119 MPa and from 319 to 4982 MPa, respectively, with increasing FCNs content from 0 to 30 wt% Also, with a loading of FCNs, the resulting nanocomposite films showed a higher water resistance Therefore, FCNs played an important role in improving the mechanical properties and water resistance of the starch-based materials

Microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V friction stir welds

Abstract: Friction stir welding (FSW) was applied to 3 mm-thick Ti–6Al–4V plates under different rotational speeds. Defect-free welds were successfully produced at rotational speeds of 400 and 500 rpm. The base material (BM) had a deformed α/β lamellar microstructure. FSW produced a full lamellar structure with refined prior β grains in the SZ, while the HAZ contained a bimodal microstructure consisting of the equiaxed primary α and α/β lamellar structure within the prior β structure. An increase in rotational speed increased the sizes of α colonies and prior β grains. The SZ exhibited higher hardness than the BM, with the lowest hardness found in the HAZ. Results of the transverse tensile test showed that all welds fractured in the HAZ and that they exhibited lower strength and elongation than the BM. The tensile test for only the SZ showed it to be characterized by higher strength and elongation than the BM.

Enhancement of tensile ductility and stretch formability of magnesium by addition of 0.2 wt%(0.035 at%)Ce

Abstract: Mg–0.2 wt%(0.035 at.%)Ce alloy was hot-rolled and its mechanical properties were investigated by conducting tensile and Erichsen tests at room temperature and 433 K. The rolled Mg–Ce alloy exhibited greater elongation to failure and higher stretch formability than the rolled pure Mg. This was attributed to a reduction in basal texture intensity and the splitting of the basal plane by the addition of a small amount of Ce (0.2 wt%). Also, the small amount of Ce strongly affected the recrystallization behavior during hot rolling. Microstructural observation revealed that the prismatic slip was activated in the Mg–Ce alloy. The enhancement of the non-basal slip by the addition of Ce was not attributed to a reduction in the c/a ratio. An increase in stacking fault energy due to the addition of Ce is suggested to play a vital role in the activation of the non-basal slip.

Fabrication and characterization of TiO2–epoxy nanocomposite

Abstract: A systematic study has been conducted to investigate the matrix properties by introducing nanosize TiO2 (5–40 nm, 0.5–2% by weight) fillers into an epoxy resin. Ultrasonic mixing process, via sonic cavitations, was employed to disperse the particles into the resin system. The thermal, mechanical, morphology and the viscoelastic properties of the nanocomposite and the neat resin were measured with TGA, DMA, TEM and Instron. The nano-particles are dispersed evenly throughout the entire volume of the resin. The nanofiller infusion improves the thermal, mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the epoxy resin. The nanocomposite shows increase in storage modulus, glass transition temperature, tensile modulus, flexural modulus and short beam shear strength from neat epoxy resin. The mechanical performance and thermal stability of the epoxy nanocomposites are depending on with the dispersion state of the TiO2 in the epoxy matrix and are correlated with loading (0.0015–0.006% by volume). In addition, the nanocomposite shows enhanced flexural strength. Several reasons to explain these effects in terms of reinforcing mechanisms were discussed.

Investigations on the thermal effect caused by laser cutting with respect to static strength of CFRP

Abstract: To increase production volume and efficiency in the area of CFRP (carbon fiber-reinforced plastics) component production, fast, flexible and cost-efficient technologies are needed. One process that is necessary during CFRP component production is trimming and cutting. Although laser cutting in principle meets these requirements, it is often not used for component trimming and contour cutting, due to insufficient knowledge about the influences of thermal machining on the material behavior. It is a common argument that lasers, as a thermally acting tool, may damage the CFRP, thus reducing its strength properties. This, however, has never been proven or disproven. Therefore, this paper presents investigations on the influence of laser cutting on the static strength of a CFRP laminate. The material is cut using three different high-power laser sources: a pulsed Nd:YAG laser, a disk laser and a CO2 laser. Appropriate cutting parameters have been found, and the results in cut quality and heat-affected zone are discussed. With these parameter sets, specimens for tensile strength and bending tests have been prepared. These specimens have been tested under static tensile and bending conditions, and the results have been compared to conventional milling as well as abrasive water-jet cut samples. Though a clear dependency of the static strength values on the heat-affected zone was detected, all strengths were found to be far above the material values given by the producer of the laminate.

Green composites reinforced with hemp nanocrystals in plasticized starch

Abstract: New nanocomposite films were prepared from a mixed suspension of hemp cellulose nanocrystals (HCNs) and thermoplastic starch, or plasticized starch (PS), by the casting and evaporating method. The morphology, thermal behavior, mechanical properties, and water sensitivity of the films were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, tensile testing, contact angle measurements, and water absorption. The results indicate that the cellulose nanocrystals dispersed in the PS matrix homogeneously and resulted in an increase in the glass-transition temperature ascribed to the fact that the flexibility of the starch molecular chains in the starch-rich phase was reduced because of the strong intermolecular interactions between the starch and stiff HCNs. The films exhibited significant increases in the tensile strength and Young's modulus, from 3.9 to 11.5 MPa and from 31.9 to 823.9 MPa, respectively, with increasing HCN content from 0 to 30 wt %. In addition to the improvement in mechanical properties, the incorporation of HCNs into the PS matrix also led to a decrease in the water sensitivity of the final composite materials. Therefore, the HCNs played an important role in improving the mechanical properties and water resistance of the starch-based material. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008

Fabrication of Ti-6Al-4V Scaffolds by Direct Metal Deposition

Abstract: Direct metal deposition (DMD) is a rapid laser-aided deposition method that can be used to manufacture near-net-shape components from their computer aided design (CAD) files. The method can be used to produce fully dense or porous metallic parts. The Ti-6Al-4V alloy is widely used as an implantable material mainly in the application of orthopedic prostheses because of its high strength, low elastic modulus, excellent corrosion resistance, and good biocompatibility. In the present study, Ti-6Al-4V scaffold has been fabricated by DMD technology for patient specific bone tissue engineering. Good geometry control and surface finish have been achieved. The structure and properties of the scaffolds were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and tension test. The microstructures of laser-deposited Ti-6Al-4V scaffolds are fine Widmanstatten in nature. The tensile and yield strengths of the as-deposited Ti-6Al-4V were 1163 ± 22 and 1105 ± 19 MPa, respectively, which are quite higher than the ASTM limits (896 and 827 MPa) for Ti-6Al-4V implants. However, the ductility of the as-deposited sample was very low (∼4 pct), which is well below the ASTM limit (10 pct). After an additional heat treatment (sample annealed at 950 °C followed by furnace cooling), both strength (UTS ∼ 1045 ± 16, and YS ∼ 959 ± 12 MPa) and ductility (∼10.5 ± 1 pct) become higher than ASTM limits for medical implants.

Developing grain refinement and superplasticity in a magnesium alloy processed by high-pressure torsion

Abstract: Experiments were conducted on a Mg–9% Al alloy to evaluate the microstructural characteristics and the tensile properties at elevated temperatures after processing by high-pressure torsion (HPT) at room temperature and at 423 K. Ultrafine grain sizes were achieved by processing samples in both an extruded and a cast condition. The results demonstrate the viability of using HPT as a processing technique for achieving significant grain refinement in magnesium alloys which are not processed easily by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP). Superplastic ductilities were achieved in tensile testing at a temperature of 473 K with a maximum measured elongation of 810%. In general, higher superplastic elongations were achieved after processing by HPT at 423 K because of the development of some limited internal cracking when processing at room temperature.

Production of aluminum-matrix carbon nanotube composite using high pressure torsion

Abstract: In this study, an Al-based composite containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was fabricated using a process of severe plastic deformation through high pressure torsion (HPT). Neither heating nor sintering was required with the HPT process so that an in situ consolidation was successfully achieved at ambient temperature with 98% of the theoretical density. A significant increase in hardness was recorded through straining by the HPT process. When the composite was pulled in tension, the tensile strength of more than 200 MPa was attained with reasonable ductility. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the grain size was reduced to ∼100 nm and this was much smaller than the grain size without CNTs and the grain size reported on a bulk sample. High resolution electron microscopy revealed that CNTs were present at grain boundaries. It was considered that the significant reduction in grain size is attributed to the presence of CNTs hindering the dislocation absorption and annihilation at grain boundaries.

Microstructure, local and global mechanical properties of friction stir welds in aluminium alloy 6005A-T6

Abstract: The effect of the welding speed on the microstructure, local and overall mechanical properties of friction stir welded joints has been investigated in the aluminium alloy 6005A-T6. The fine hardening precipitation within the heat-affected zone has been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Post-welding heat treatments have been applied to obtain indications on the level of solid solution supersaturation in the as welded state. The local mechanical behaviour was determined using thin specimens extracted from various regions of the weld. The overall properties were measured on samples cut perpendicular to the weld. Specific attention was devoted to the relationship between the local microstructure and local hardening properties in the weakest region, which govern the overall strength and ductility of the welds.