Dynamic Recrystallization Process Research Articles

Microstructure evolution after hot working and heat treatment in 6082 aluminum alloy manufactured by horizontal continuous casting

In this paper, 6082 aluminum alloy manufactured by horizontal continuous casting was subjected to high-temperature plastic deformation under 20–70 % deformation levels with following T6 heat treatment process. Microstructural and phase changes were investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy together with energy dispersive spectroscopy, while grain, grain boundary, dislocation and texture evolution was studied by electron-backscattered diffraction. The results are showing that continuous dynamic recrystallization processes are active during the hot working while influence of static recrystallization is significant only for highest deformation degrees. The abnormally coarse-grained microstructure does locally occur in the subsurface layer after the 70 % deformation and T6 heat treatment. Crystallographic texture components are gradually evolving from the various types (Goss, Brass, D) for the low deformations (up to 40 %) into fiber-type textures (α-fiber, γ-fiber or C2-fiber) for high deformations due to the inhomogeneity of plastic deformation. The formation of AlMnSi dispersoids, CSL-boundaries Σ25b and an increase in fraction of GND, MgSi and Fe-based intermetallic particles was observed during the phase transformation which promotes ongoing nucleation of recrystallization processes.

Effects of extrusion temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of low-alloyed Mg-Bi-Ca-Mn alloy

A new rare earth-free low-alloyed Mg-0.5Bi-0.8Ca-0.8Mn (wt.%) alloy was prepared at three extrusion temperatures (225, 250 and 275 °C). The effects of low-temperature extrusion on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloy were studied. Experimental results show that the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) grains are significantly refined by low-temperature extrusion, and the dynamic recrystallization process is further delayed by the Mn precipitate phase, resulting in a bimodal structure composed of ultrafine DRXed grains and coarse undynamic recrystallized (unDRXed) regions. At an extrusion temperature of 225 °C, the grain size was significantly refined, with an average DRXed grain size of 0.84 μm and a tensile yield strength of 418 MPa. Compared with other extruded magnesium alloys, the ultra-fine DRXed grains, strong basal fiber texture, high Schmid Factors of pyramidal <c + a> slip in the unDRXed regions, and along with a certain amount of second phase (Mg2Ca) distributed along the grain boundaries and nano-Mn particles uniformly distributed in the matrix, are the main reasons for the strength enhancement of low-temperature extruded magnesium alloys. The orientation of the DRXed grains in the alloy after extrusion at 250 °C is more random, which improves ductility. In addition, when the extrusion temperature reaches 275 °C, the alloy shows a fully recrystallized structure and exhibits rare earth (RE)-texture, obtaining high ductility but decreasing strength. This study provides a new idea for the development of high-strength Mg-Bi-based magnesium alloys by adjusting the extrusion temperature and alloying elements. This new high-strength and low-alloyed Mg-Bi-based alloy will help to enrich the series of high-performance, rare-earth free, low-cost extruded Mg alloy with certain application prospects.

A polycrystal plasticity-cellular automaton integrated modeling method for continuous dynamic recrystallization and its application to AA2196 alloy

Continuous dynamic recrystallization usually dominates the microstructural evolution in hot working of aluminum alloys, in which the high-angle grain boundaries of new grains mainly originate from the gradual increase in subgrain misorientation angles. In this work, an integrated computational method is proposed to simulate continuous dynamic recrystallization process of aluminum alloys by coupling three-dimensional cellular automaton and visco-plastic self-consistent models. The stress response, dislocation accumulation and recovery, and evolution of crystal orientations are computed in the context of polycrystal plasticity; the formation and rotation of subgrains, followed by stored energy and curvature-driven boundary migration, are captured and visualized by cellular automaton. The non-octahedral slip mode {110}<110> is additionally introduced to capture the 〈001〉 texture during hot compression. A universal cell topology deformation method is adopted to achieve an effective track of grain morphology evolution during plastic deformation. The proposed simulation framework is validated through simulating the isothermal uniaxial compression process of AA2196 alloy under different temperatures and strain rates. The orientation dependence of CDRX during compression is numerically reproduced by correlating the subgrain formation and rotation process with the activation state of slip systems. The simulated macroscopic flow stress, 3D microstructure and inherent microstructural characteristics such as subgrain size, subgrain boundaries and textures are in good agreement with the experimental results. The proposed method provides an effective and efficient tool for multi-scale simulation of hot forming process of aluminum alloys.

Dynamic Recrystallization of Olivine During Simple Shear: Evolution of Microstructure and Crystallographic Preferred Orientation From Full‐Field Numerical Simulations

AbstractUpper mantle deformation is mainly controlled by the mechanical behavior of olivine. Crystallographic preferred orientations (CPOs) develop in olivine due to crystal‐plastic deformation during mantle flow, where the a‐axes of olivine polycrystalline aggregates are aligned with the flow direction. Therefore, the observed CPO in olivine‐rich rocks is used as an indicator of the mantle flow direction. Experimental data show that olivine rheology is strongly controlled by the microstructure. While the influence of plastic deformation is in general well characterized, the role of dynamic recrystallization during deformation is not totally understood, limiting our ability to interpret the deformation history of naturally deformed rocks. This contribution presents microdynamic numerical simulations of olivine polycrystalline aggregates with different iron content (i.e., fayalite content) with the aim of exploring the CPO and grain size response to dynamic recrystallization. We use a full‐field approach with an explicit simulation of viscoplastic deformation and dynamic recrystallization processes under simple shear boundary conditions up to high strain. The simulations show that the CPOs are similar and practically reach the same maximum regardless of the iron content. CPOs are characterized by a single cluster of a‐axis and two‐clusters of b‐axis, reveling a joint activity of the easy glide [100](010) and the moderate strength [100](010) slip systems. High‐strain domains of our models are consistent with experimental results, showing an A‐type fabric with double maxima, and where the CPO is aligned with the shear direction. The model provides a deeper understanding of the dynamic recrystallization influence on olivine CPOs resulting from plastic deformation.

A Visualized Microstructure Evolution Model Integrating an Analytical Cutting Model with a Cellular Automaton Method during NiTi Smart Alloy Machining

In this study, a visualized microstructure evolution model for the primary shear zone during NiTi smart alloy machining was established by integrating an analytical cutting model with a cellular automaton method. Experimental verification was conducted using an invented electromagnet rotation-type quick-stop device. The flow stress curve during the dynamic recrystallization of the NiTi smart alloy, the influence of relevant parameters on the dynamic recrystallization process, and the distribution of dynamic recrystallization in the primary shear zone were studied via the model. The simulation results showed that strain rate and deformation temperature significantly affect the relevant parameters during the dynamic recrystallization process. Three typical shear planes were selected for a comparison between simulation results and experimental results, with a minimum error of 3.76% and a maximum error of 11.26%, demonstrating that the model accurately simulates the microstructure evolution of the NiTi smart alloy during the cutting process. These results contribute theoretical and experimental insights into understanding the cutting mechanism of the NiTi smart alloy.

Revealing the mechanism of superimposing ultrasonic vibration on microstructure evolution in friction stir welding by multi-physical multi-scale simulation

Ultrasonic vibration-enhanced friction stir welding (UVeFSW) is a promising joining method for aluminum‑lithium (Al-Li) alloy. However, directly observing the microstructural evolution in UVeFSW only by experimental methods is still a challenge. The mechanism of ultrasonic vibration (UV) on the microstructure evolution during FSW of Al-Li alloy remains unrevealed. In this study, a multi-physical multi-scale model was developed by coupling the finite element (FE) method and the Monte Carlo (MC) method to quantitatively study the impact of superimposing UV on the microstructure evolution in FSW. The preheating effect, acoustoplastic effect and residual hardening effect of UV were all considered in the model. Welding thermal processes, microstructure evolution of the material on the advancing side (AS) and in the center of the weld were quantitatively analyzed. And dislocation density and grain size in UVeFSW and FSW of Al-Li alloy were compared. Temperature field simulation results show that superimposing UV on FSW has a certain preheating effect in front of the tool. Microstructure simulation results show that the main effect of UV on microstructure evolution is the dynamic recrystallisation (DRX) process, where the maximum dislocation density in the weld nugget zone (WNZ) increases from 2.49 × 1013 m−2 to 3.49 × 1013 m−2 after superimposing UV, leading to an increase in the plastic deformation stored energy. Thereby, the driving force for nucleation and DRX increases, resulting in more nuclei in the WNZ, together with an increase in the width of the WNZ. Superimposing ultrasonic vibration in FSW can significantly refine the grain size by enhancing the activity and multiplication of dislocation in the UVeFSW of Al-Li alloy. The model is validated by the experimental results.

High-temperature tensile properties of Cu-modified AlSi10Mg alloy fabricated by selective laser melting

In this study, an AlSi10Cu4Mg alloy was prepared by selective laser melting (SLM) using a mixture of pre-alloyed AlSi10Mg and elemental Cu powders, followed by aging at 180 ℃ for 2 h. The high-temperature tensile properties of both the SLMed and SLM-aged samples were tested in the temperature range of 200–400 ℃, and the microstructure changes during deformation were compared. At the temperature of 200 ℃, the SLMed sample exhibits outstanding tensile properties with an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 327±2 MPa and an elongation (EL) of 25.5±0.5 %. This is mainly related to the strain hardening that caused by the accumulation of anomalous dislocations near the high-volume fraction of Si nano-particles within the grains. For the SLM-aged sample, the aging treatment is found to further increase the strength, yielding a UTS of 381±3 MPa. The metastable transition of the Al2Cu phase indirectly promotes the precipitation of the nano-sized Si phase during the aging process. As the testing temperature increases, the strength increment of the SLM-aged sample gradually diminishes, while the elongation increment increases. Due to the limited intrinsic thermal stability of Si nano-particles and θ′ phase, the coarsening of the precipitates can weaken the strengthening effect. The dynamic recrystallization process can be accelerated by the aging treatment, thereby helping to improve the elongation.

A study on the collaborative deformation mechanisms of continuous and discontinuous dynamic recrystallization under low strain rates for the Ti6455x alloy with a low activation energy

To reveal the collaborative dynamic recrystallization mechanisms occurring only at low strain rates, the Ti6455x titanium alloy was designed and prepared by hot deformation. The microstructure, activation energy, and the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) process under different strain rates and temperatures were investigated, with a corresponding mechanism revealed for the first time. Results show that at low strain rates of 0.01 and 0.001 s-1, as temperature from 1173 to 1223 K, the grain size decreases, jagged bumps appear at the grain boundaries and new small grains are produced. The activation energy of Ti6455x titanium alloy is 128.63 kJ/mol. Quantitative calculations revealed that the thermal deformation mechanisms depend on the dissipation efficiency factor, η. With an increasing value of η, the dynamic softening mechanism changes from dynamic reversion (DRV) to DRV and continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX). While with a high η value, CDRX and discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX) occur at a temperature of 1223 K, and a strain rate of 0.001 s-1. The collaborative deformation process proceeds because: low activation energy titanium alloys facilitate the rotation of sub-grain boundaries, while dislocations can easily migrate. This condition enables CDRX to occur, leading to the refinement of grains and producing jagged grain boundaries. Then, CDRX provides nucleation sites for DDRX, promoting grain boundary migration and breaking down grains. This mechanism can significantly refine the grain size and improve mechanical properties. It is shown that both the design of low activation energy alloys and controlling hot processing conditions are effective in the development of high-strength titanium alloys.

Investigation on hot deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of superaustenitic stainless steel S31254 during elevated temperature compression testing

The study thoroughly investigated the hot deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of superaustenitic stainless steel S31254. Hot compression tests were conducted at temperatures ranging from 950 °C to 1200 °C and strain rates of 0.01–10 s−1. The flow behavior of S31254 is influenced by adiabatic heating, particularly at high strain rates. The critical conditions of dynamic recrystallization for various deformation conditions were calculated based on the “double differential method.” An rise in deformation temperature or a reduction in strain rate reduces critical stress. Using the Arrhenius equation and Zener-Hollomon parameter to represent the deformation parameters, a linear connection between peak stress and dynamic recrystallization critical conditions was determined. Electron backscattering diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the microstructure under various deformation conditions. The dynamic softening of superaustenitic stainless steel is mainly achieved through dynamic recrystallization. The recrystallized grains are driven by distorted energy to nucleate preferentially at high-angle grain boundaries and grow towards high misorientations. Discontinuous dynamic recrystallization characterized by grain boundary bowing out is the main recrystallization mechanism in S31254. However, at high temperatures and low strain rates (1200 °C, 0.01 s−1), the dynamic recrystallization process shifts from discontinuous to continuous, with subgrain coalescence serving as the nucleating mode.

On Dynamic Recrystallization during the Friction Stir Processing of Commercially Pure Ti and Its Influence on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties

Friction stir processing (FSP), a severe plastic deformation process, was applied on commercially pure Ti to obtain an improved microstructure. The process yielded a refined microstructure and higher mechanical properties at room temperature (RT). Yet the microstructure was found to contain bright bands demonstrating high hardness values of about 500 HV. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) as well as electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) analysis indicated that these bands were composed of extra-fine equiaxed α-Ti grains with an average radius of 1–2 microns. In addition, a retained β phase was detected at the boundaries of these α-Ti grains, together with a small quantity of separate β grains. The results of a fractography study conducted on broken tensile specimens showed that the material that underwent FSP was free of defects and that the fracture started at these bands. It is proposed that these bright bands are due to excessive deformation occurring during the processing stage, leading to an accelerated dynamic recrystallization (DRX) process. In turn, these heavy deformation regions act as a strengthening constituent, making the material superior to the parent material as far as its mechanical RT properties are concerned. Consequently, this means that the FSP of CP-Ti has the potential to serve as an industrial means of improving the mechanical properties of the material.

A novel strategy to enhance the interfacial bonding quality of CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloy joints produced by vacuum hot-compression bonding

The strain history of strain rate transient changes was introduced into the vacuum hot-compression bonding (VHCB) process of CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloy, which rapidly improved the interfacial bonding quality of the joint. The results of interfacial microstructure characterization indicated that the high-density dislocations generated in the interfacial region during the initial high strain rate stage not only promoted the nucleation of the interfacial recrystallized grains but also induced the transformation of the sub-boundaries and the interfacial grain boundaries (IGBs) to the high mobility twin boundaries (TBs). The accelerated discontinuous dynamic recrystallization process, the growth of TB-type continuous dynamic recrystallization grains, and the interfacial TB migration during the transient VHCB dramatically enhance the IGB migration level of the joints. This study provides an effective strategy for the interfacial regulation of high-quality VHCB joints.

Dissolution studies during the mechanical alloying of Inconel-718 superalloy based elemental powders

Inconel-718 superalloy with a nominal composition of Ni-19.47Fe-18Cr-0.5Al-1Ti-5 Nb-3Mo-0.02Co-0.003B was synthesized by mechanical alloying of elemental powders. Mechanical alloying was carried out in a high energy Simoloyer attritor ball mill. A sufficient quantity of powder was removed at milling intervals of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 h for characterization by XRD, SEM, and TEM. The dissolution time of different alloying elements have been discussed in view of their atomic scattering factors and Hume-Rothery principle with the help of XRD and TEM (SAED) analysis. Complete dissolution of Fe took place at 6 h of milling, Nb at 10 h, Cr at 18 h while Mo took 22 h. A complete single-phase solid solution of γ(FCC) matrix was obtained at 22 h of milling. Crystallite size was found to decrease while the lattice parameter increased with milling time. Lattice-strain and dislocation density increased initially and later decreased due to the dynamic recrystallization process taking place within the powder particles during milling. SEM analysis indicated flattening of powder particles during the initial (0 h–4 h) stages of milling followed by heavy cold-welding at the intermediate stages (6 h–12 h). In the final stages of milling (18 h–22 h), an equilibrium between cold welding and fracturing was reached.

Study of the Dynamic Recrystallization Behavior of Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr Alloy Based on Experiments and Cellular Automaton Simulation

The exploration of the relationship between process parameters and grain evolution during the thermal deformation of rare-earth magnesium alloys using simulation software has significant implications for enhancing research and development efficiency and advancing the large-scale engineering application of high-performance rare-earth magnesium alloys. Through single-pass hot compression experiments, this study obtained high-temperature flow stress curves for rare-earth magnesium alloys, analyzing the variation patterns of these curves and the softening mechanism of the materials. Drawing on physical metallurgical theories, such as the evolution of dislocation density during dynamic recrystallization, recrystallization nucleation, and grain growth, the authors of this paper establish a cellular automaton model to simulate the dynamic recrystallization process by tracking the sole internal variable—the evolution of dislocation density within cells. This model was developed through the secondary development of the DEFORM-3D finite element software. The results indicate that the model established in this study accurately simulates the evolution process of grain growth during heat treatment and the dynamic recrystallization microstructure during the thermal deformation of rare-earth magnesium alloys. The simulated results align well with relevant theories and metallographic experimental results, enabling the simulation of the dynamic recrystallization microstructure and grain size prediction during the deformation process of rare-earth magnesium alloys.

A high-strength binary Mg-1.2Ce alloy with ultra-fine grains achieved by conventional one-step extrusion during 300–400 °C

Ultra-fine grained magnesium alloys are usually prepared by severe deformation and medium-low temperature deformation. In this work, it has been found that the binary Mg-1.2Ce alloy with the uniform distributed Mg12Ce precipitates smaller than 3 μm is a good candidate to obtain ultra-fine grains by conventional one-step extrusion at high temperatures. All the three Mg-1.2Ce samples extruded at 300 °C, 350 °C and 400 °C show a bimodal microstructure with high-density dislocations, whose average grain sizes are 1.19 ± 0.92 μm, 1.32 ± 1.30 μm, and 1.44 ± 1.33 μm, respectively. A linear relation of ln(d) = -0.05ln(Z)+1.27 was determined relating the average grain size (d) to the Zener-Hollomon parameter (Z). The alloy extruded at 300 °C exhibits an exceptionally high ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 412.3 ± 5.3 MPa and yield strength (TYS) of 387.6 ± 3.2 MPa, but a low elongation after fracture (El) of 4.9 ± 0.8 %. With the extrusion temperature increasing, the tensile strength gradually decreases. For the 1.2E-400 sample, the TYS and the UTS drop to 347.2 ± 2.1 MPa and 349.4 ± 2.8 MPa, while the El increases to a more acceptable value of 12.6 ± 1.4 %. The microstructure analysis reveals that Ce atoms segregate along grain boundaries and dislocations in the Mg-1.2Ce alloy, which can limit the gliding of GBs or the slipping and climbing of dislocations. Additionally, dislocations can be pinned by Mg12Ce precipitates, thereby also restricting dislocation and grain boundary mobility. Consequently, the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) process is delayed, leading to the formation of a bimodal microstructure.

Effects of micro-alloying Ag on microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of extruded Mg-2Zn-0.2Ca-xAg alloys

The present work investigates effects of micro-alloying Ag on the microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of as-extruded Mg-2Zn-0.2Ca alloys. The addition of Ag, up to 0.5 wt%, induce limited difference on microstructural characteristics such as slightly coarser microstructures due to the enhanced dynamic recrystallization process and the presence of refined precipitates. The tensile properties of the alloy were not significantly changed by Ag addition, i.e., all the alloys exhibited exceptional elongation of ∼30%, moderate tensile yield strength and ultimate strength of ∼140 MPa and ∼240 MPa, respectively. The corrosion performance of the alloys was progressively deteriorated with increasing Ag content i.e., the corrosion rate increased from 0.40 ± 0.23 mm/y for Mg-2Zn-0.2Ca alloy to 3.27 ± 0.24 mm/y for the Mg-2Zn-0.2Ca-0.5Ag alloy. The compromised corrosion performance was attributed to a large electrode potential difference between the nobler Ca2Mg6Zn3 phase and the α-Mg matrix as well as a less protective corrosion film, by increasing Ag addition.

Dehydration‐driven deformation of eclogite: Interplay between fluid discharge and rheology

AbstractAqueous fluids released during dehydration of a subducting slab have a large effect on the rheology of the subduction interface. While high‐pressure experiments and natural‐case studies link deformation with critical dehydration reactions during eclogitization, the exact interplay between these processes remains ambiguous. To investigate fluid–rock interaction and associated deformation at high‐pressure, we studied a suite of eclogites from the Tsäkkok Lens of the Scandinavian Caledonides that record prograde metamorphism within an Early Palaeozoic cold subduction zone. Our results show that in‐situ dehydration during the blueschist to eclogite facies transition produces fluid fluxes leading to rheological weakening and densification, consequently promoting ductile‐brittle deformation. Petrographic evidence, supported by thermodynamic modelling and thermobarometry, attest to a prograde passage from lawsonite‐blueschist to peak eclogite facies of ~2.5 GPa and ~620°C. Phengite‐bearing eclogites imply interaction with an externally‐derived fluid, whereas rare phengite‐free, kyanite‐eclogites only record internally‐derived fluid production. Models predict that prograde breakdown of chlorite, lawsonite and amphibole between 500 and 610°C lead to progressive dehydration and release of up to 4.6 wt.% of aqueous fluid. Microstructural data reveal elongated shapes of highly strained omphacite porphyroblasts, displaying minor yet gradual changes in misorientation towards the grain boundaries. Occasionally, these intragranular structures form subgrain cells that have similar sizes to those of neoblasts in the rock matrix. These observations point to the potential onset of dynamic recrystallization processes via dislocation creep. Moreover, the omphacite neoblasts and rutile show non‐random crystallographic preferred orientations (CPOs), which are characterized by the subparallel alignment of point‐like maxima in rutile [001] and [100] axes to those of [001] and (010) of omphacite neoblasts, respectively. Additionally, the [001] axes of these minerals are also subparallel to the weak stretching mineral lineation, and the (100) of rutile and the (010) of omphacite neoblasts are distributed in the plane of the foliation. This suggests that the development of their CPOs was coeval and structurally controlled. Garnet microfractures normal to the foliation are dilated and sealed predominantly by omphacite. The lack of obliquity between CPO and foliation plane, as well as the systematic orientation of garnet microfracture orientations, are consistent with coaxial deformation at peak‐pressure conditions. Unlike other studies, we show that neither an external fluid source nor channelized fluid flow is needed to facilitate a ductile‐brittle deformation of eclogite in a subduction setting.

Effect of Si addition on microstructure and performance of a biomedical Ti-Nb-Zr-Ta alloy prepared via powder hot extrusion

In this study, TNZT-xSi ((Ti53Nb35Zr7Ta5)100-xSix, x=0, 1.4, 2.3, wt.%) alloys are prepared by powder hot extrusion. The effect of Si addition on microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and in vitro apatite formation ability of TNZT-xSi alloys is investigated. The as-extruded TNZT alloy mainly consists of elongated BCC grains. The addition of Si leads to the precipitation of fine (Ti, Zr)2Si (S2) particles from the BCC matrix. With the increase of Si content, the volume fraction of recrystallized grains rises significantly, and the microstructure of extruded alloys tends to transform from elongated to equiaxed grains. It’s indicated that the introduction of S2 particles activates the dynamic recrystallization process during hot extrusion and results in an obvious reduction in the overall grain size. Compared with the TNZT-0Si base alloy, the tensile strength of TNZT-2.3Si alloy is improved from 726MPa to 983MPa, with the elongation declining from 28.0% to 9.5%. The TNZT-xSi alloys exhibit higher corrosion potential (Ecorr) and lower corrosion current density (Icorr) than Ti-6Al-4V alloy in simulated body fluid, due to the formation of more stable oxides such as Nb2O5, ZrO2 and Ta2O5. Furthermore, TNZT-xSi alloys have apatite formation ability superior to Ti-6Al-4V. These results suggest that TNZT-xSi alloys may have the potential as a biomaterial for implant applications.

Grain refinement and strengthening mechanism of AZ31 magnesium alloy formed by pre-upsetting alternating forward extrusion

The pre-upsetting deformation process was added before the alternating forward extrusion forming, which can significantly refine the grains and improve the mechanical properties while reducing the load. The effects of 14%, 25%, 36% pre-upsetting deformation on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AZ31 magnesium alloy were investigated. The results show that the pre-upsetting alternating forward extrusion (UAFE) process can achieve significant grain refinement from 31.1 µm to 2.9–3.5 µm. With the increase of pre-upsetting deformation, the elongation at break tends to decrease and the tensile strength tends to increase. The comprehensive mechanical properties of U2AFE are the best, the yield strength and tensile strength are 203.1 MPa and 299.0 MPa respectively, and the elongation at break is 12.5%. The enhancement of the pre-upsetting deformation process not only makes the basal plane of grains in the billet randomly distributed and weakens the basal plane texture, but also stores a large amount of strain energy and dislocation inside the billet, which accelerates the subsequent continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) process of alternating extrusion. This provides scientific guidance and technical support for the research of high-performance magnesium alloy extrusion forming technology.

Special aspects of the microstructure evolution at the temperature-speed deformation of a medical purpose magnesium alloy of the Mg–Zn–Y alloying system

Biocompatibility makes magnesium alloys attractive functional materials in terms of their use as biodegradable implants. However, the technologies for manufacturing semi-finished products carry a possible diversity of the local strain rate and temperature within a rather wide range, which affects the processed material structure and properties. The purpose of the study is to determine the range of temperatures and resistance to deformation, at which there is no negative effect on the main structural characteristics of the processed material, using the example of a medical purposes alloy of the Mg–Zn–Y alloying system. The authors carried out mechanical tests of a biodegradable Mg–1Zn–2.9Y magnesium alloy at various temperatures and strain rates. The influence of temperatures in the range of 20...400 °C on the structure and properties of the Mg–Zn–Y system alloy is disclosed. Starting from a temperature of 350 °C, the process of dynamic recrystallization is accompanied both by the complete restoration (return) of the original microstructure and by coarsening of the grain size, which can adversely affect the material functional characteristics. The high thermal stability of the biodegradable Mg–1Zn–2.9Y magnesium alloy is revealed, which probably results from the presence of the LPSO phase in it. The study shows that the deformation process is accompanied by twinning. At a strain rate of 2∙10−2 s−1 over the entire temperature range, the grain size distribution slightly narrows and shifts towards smaller diameters. The application of the obtained results in technological processes for manufacturing medical semi-finished products will help to solve the issue of microstructure instability at the stage of transition from a semi-finished product to a finished product during subsequent thermomechanical treatments.

Shift of dynamic recrystallization kinetics in thermal compression induced by prior cold deformation treatment at Ni80A superalloy

To achieve the uniform and fine-grained microstructures during thermal deformation of nickel-based superalloys, a novel two-stage deformation approach was employed, involving prior cold deformation treatment (PCDT) and subsequent thermal deformation. Experimental investigations concerning this two-stage deformation method were carried out on Ni80A superalloy, encompassing various combinations of cold and thermal compression parameters. The analysis of microstructures revealed that PCDT significantly enhances dynamic recrystallization (DRX) process, resulting in fine-grained microstructures during thermal compression and expanding the processing-parameter domains for grain refinement. To clarify the shift of DRX kinetics in thermal compression induced by PCDT, the DRX kinetics models considering this pre-treatment were derived. These models demonstrated a linear inverse correlation between the activation energy within DRX kinetics models and prior stored energy from PCDT. This suggested that PCDT promotes the DRX process by reducing the activation energy during thermal compression. Following, the kinetics curves depicting DRX volume fraction during thermal deformation were drawn. Results indicated that under an identical thermal compression condition, the kinetics curve shifts towards decreasing strain with increasing of prior cold deformation. Under various thermal compression conditions, these kinetics curves for Ni80A superalloy processed with PCDT get shifted to the direction of decreasing strain when compared to the alloy without PCDT. These shifts underscore a pronounced acceleration of DRX process induced by PCDT. Finally, a finite element model incorporating DRX kinetics models was developed to further illustrate the influence of PCDT on the shift of DRX in an upsetting process, which shows a promising potential for theoretical calculations.