Fine Microstructure Research Articles

Effect of heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-6Gd-3Y-0.5Zr alloy fabricated by wire arc additive manufacturing

Heat treatment is necessary for GW63K (Mg-6Gd-3Y-0.5Zr, wt%) alloy fabricated by wire are additive manufacturing (WAAM) to improve the mechanical properties before final applications. Considering the unique solidification process and microstructure of WAAMed GW63K alloys, the heat treatment parameters must be different from the cast or forged ones. Thus, the present paper investigated the influence of solution temperature and time on the microstructure and mechanical properties of WAAMed GW63K, as well as the aging temperature and time. It was found that the as-deposited alloy exhibited fine equiaxed α-Mg grains with an average size of 13 μm and few eutectic phase Mg24(Gd, Y)5 around the grains. The proper temperature of solution treatment was 480℃ and the proper time was 0.5 h, lower and shorter than cast ones. After solution treatment, the average size of α-Mg grains almost remained the same and nearly all of the eutectic phase dissolved. To exert precipitation strengthening to a larger extent, we conduct aging treatment at 175°C, 200°C, and 225°C and draw their age-hardening curves. Besides, a superior strength /ductility trade-off was obtained peak aging at 200°C for 80 h, with the ultimate tensile strength of 337±8 MPa, yielding strength of 231±2 MPa, and elongation of 8.9±1.0%. This outstanding strength can be accounted for by the refinement strengthening of fine microstructure inherited from as-deposited GW63K alloy and precipitation strengthening from dense β′ precipitates with a remarkable plate aspect ratio. Besides, suitable β′ precipitates could support a favorable work hardening effect and compatible deformation capability.

Heterogeneous precipitate microstructure design in β-Ti alloys by regulating the cooling rate

Cooling after solutionizing or aging plays a crucial role in heat treatment and can greatly influence the final precipitate microstructure and mechanical properties of titanium (Ti) alloys. In this study, we employ phase field simulations to strategically engineer heterogeneous precipitate microstructures in near β-Ti alloys by manipulating the cooling rate, which leads to different phase transition mechanisms. By varying the cooling rate within the temperature range of 900 ∘C to 500∘C, we identify four distinct microstructures: uniformly distributed fine congruent αc plates and fine α precipitates, heterogeneous and hierarchical α precipitates, and uniformly distributed coarse α precipitates. Further analysis reveals that these diverse precipitate microstructures originate from three distinct phase transition mechanisms, i.e., congruent transition, pseudospinodal decomposition, and classical nucleation and growth, each activated at different temperatures during continuous cooling. Utilizing the insights from the simulations, we successfully produce microstructures in Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-3Cr-1Zr (Ti55531) with heterogeneous α precipitates by applying intermediate cooling rates (∼0.01∘C/s), which activate classical nucleation and growth as well as pseudospinodal decomposition. These samples exhibit exceptional comprehensive mechanical properties, including an ultimate strength of approximately 1260 MPa and a total elongation of around 14 %. This investigation provides valuable guidance for designing novel heterogeneous precipitate microstructures by simply controlling the cooling rate, leading to significant enhancements in the mechanical properties of β-Ti alloys.

Microstructure, wear and corrosion resistances of Ni–ZrO2–CeO2 nanocoatings

This study focused on the fabrication of Ni, Ni–ZrO2 and Ni–ZrO2–CeO2 nanocoatings using ultrasonic pulse electrodeposition. The research delved into examining the surface morphology, microhardness, abrasion, and corrosion resistance of these coatings. The results indicated that the Ni coatings displayed coarse grains and an irregular structure. Among the three, the Ni–ZrO2–CeO2 nanocoatings exhibited the most dense, flat and fine microstructure among all three coatings, and the average diameters of Ni grains, ZrO2 and CeO2 nanoparticles were 68.6 nm, 21.1 nm and 23.4 nm, respectively. The Ni, Ni–ZrO2, and Ni–ZrO2–CeO2 nanocoatings displayed high micro-hardness values, measuring an average of 363.1 Hv, 421.6 Hv, and 543.8 Hv, respectively. Moreover, the friction coefficient of Ni–ZrO2–CeO2 nanocoatings was approximately 0.31. When exposed to a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution at room temperature, the Ni–ZrO2–CeO2 nanocoatings displayed minimal corrosion damage, exhibiting the lowest corrosion rate of 0.06 mm/year compared to the other coatings. The incorporation of ZrO2 and CeO2 nanoparticles in the Ni–ZrO2–CeO2 coating led to grain size reduction and a more uniform, compact microstructure, contributing to enhanced corrosion resistance when compared to both Ni and Ni–ZrO2 coatings.

Determination of fan height based on FDM nozzle temperature field analysis—an example of babbitt alloys

In this paper, the phenomenon of nozzle clogging or drooling droplets in the process of FDM metal 3D printing of tin-based Babbitt alloys was evaluated by simulation to assess the effects of different heights of cooling fans on the printer’s nozzle cooling module, and the optimal height of the fans was determined. Based on the thermal analysis results, a thermodynamic coupling analysis was carried out to analyze the thermodynamic changes of the nozzle at a given temperature. Finally, the printing trials of tin-based Babbitt alloy were carried out using self-developed forming equipment to verify the accuracy of the theory. The results show that the print quality can be effectively improved by controlling the heat dissipation module of the printer nozzle. The printed material exhibited a uniform and fine microstructure in the 3D printing trials of tin-based Babbitt alloy.

Coupling of surface and volume behaviors to understand the generation of TTS in pure magnesium proceeded by HPT

This study analyzes the formation of tribologically transformed structures (TTS) in pure magnesium (Mg) using high-pressure torsion (HPT) processing. Generally, studies conducted in such conditions do not focus on surface behaviors. The correlation between the friction and wear phenomena at the surface and the microstructural changes was investigated to supplement the knowledge on TTS formation during the first stage of rotation. An RHEOS apparatus was used to test the samples with an average grain size of 70 μm under a mean pressure of 1 GPa and a rotation speed of 0.5 rpm. The samples were conducted in an unconstrained setup at room temperature. Surface and microstructure changes were examined using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the focused ion beam (FIB). Observation of surfaces shows that friction between the anvils and the surfaces of the sample was set to satisfy the sticking condition. Three different zones in surface contact are identified: the centre zone, the adhesion/sliding zones, and the edge zone, which generate consequently different behaviors. It was found that 0.5 turns of HPT produced a significant refinement in the grain size of the processed Mg. The TTS were considered a zone with a fine microstructure, where the initial grain size was reduced to the range of 300 nm to 1000 nm. The results show that TTS produced in these conditions are not homogenous. The deformation occurs differently, so the TTS were less or more refined. According to the different observations, a scenario of surface degradation was established. The accommodation mechanisms considered are the rupture and shear modes, which occurred, respectively, in the first material and the third body.

Determination of interfacial heat transfer coefficient at the frozen sand mold casting process of ZL101 alloy

Compared to the resin sand mold casting process, frozen casting is more environmentally friendly, providing a better working environment and enhanced supercooling degree. The interfacial heat transfer coefficient (IHTC) between frozen sand mold and metal is an important parameter that significantly influences the final mechanical properties and microstructure of the castings. This paper solved the inverse heat conduction problem using the finite difference method (FDM). In addition, the conjugate gradient method (CGM) was adopted to calculate the temperature distribution and heat flux in the molten metal. At the same time, the particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO) was used in temperature distribution determination in frozen sand mold. The interfacial heat transfer coefficient (IHTC) was estimated during the solidification of ZL101. The results showed a good agreement between calculated and experimental data, obtaining accurate casting interface temperature Tm, frozen sand mold interface temperature Ts, heat flux q, and IHTC. The analysis of the IHTC variation revealed a water content value within the range of 4 wt.% to 5 wt.% resulted in IHTC in two types of interpretation, called ‘fluctuation type’ and ‘turning type’.

Crystalline Microstructure, Microsegregations, and Mechanical Properties of Inconel 718 Alloy Samples Processed in Electromagnetic Levitation Facility

The solidification of Inconel 718 alloy (IN718) from undercooled liquid is studied. The solidification kinetics is evaluated in melted and undercooled droplets processed using the electromagnetic levitation (EML) technique by the temperature–time profiles and solid/liquid (S/L) interface movement during recalescence. The kinetics is monitored in real time by special pyrometrical measurements and high-speed digital camera. It is shown that the growth velocity of γ-phase (the primary phase in IN718), the final crystalline microstructure (dendritic and grained), and the mechanical properties (microhardness) are strongly dependent on the initial undercooling ΔT at which the samples started to solidify with the originating γ-phase. Particularly, with the increase in undercooling, the secondary dendrite arm spacing decreases from 28 μm to 5 μm. At small and intermediate ranges of undercooling, the solidified droplets have a dendritic crystalline microstructure. At higher undercooling values reached in the experiment, ΔT>160 K (namely, for samples solidified with ΔT=170 K and ΔT=263 K), fine crystalline grains are observed instead of the dendritic structure of solidified drops. Such change in the crystalline morphology is qualitatively consistent with the behavior of crystal growth kinetics which exhibits the change from the power law to linear law at ΔT≈160 K in the velocity–undercooling relationship (measured by the advancement of the recalescence front in solidifying droplets). Study of the local mechanical properties shows that the microhardness increases with the increase in the γ″-phase within interdendritic spacing. The obtained data are the basis for testing the theoretical and computational of multicomponent alloy samples.

Effect of cryorolling on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of spray deposited Cu-Fe alloy

In order to solve or suppress the problem of macro segregation of Fe phase of Cu-Fe alloy in the traditional casting process, we successfully prepared Cu-10Fe alloy prefabricated slabs with homogeneous and fine microstructure by spray deposition and achieved high strength Cu-10Fe alloy thin strips by subsequent cryorolling. Cryorolling was carried out at different reductions to investigate the relationship between microstructure evolution and mechanical properties. The results show that the spray deposited alloys have good plasticity and low temperature workability. As the reduction increased, the Fe phase becomes more fibrous and the average grain size of the alloy is refined to 0.35 μm. The {112}<111> texture was gradually transformed into a stabilized {110}<112> texture during cryorolling suggested that the low temperature suppressed cross-slip and improved the strength of the alloy. The mechanical properties of the alloys improved significantly after cryorolling is mainly attributed to the significant grain refinement, dislocation accumulation and the presence of ultrafine grains during the cryorolling process. The successful development of thin strips of Cu-Fe alloy with uniform distribution of Fe phase and high strength provides a new idea for the preparation of thin strips of immiscible alloys such as Cu-Fe alloy.

Effect of Er2O3/MgO ratio on mechanical and thermal properties of Si3N4 ceramics

AbstractSi3N4 ceramics with high mechanical properties and thermal conductivity, exhibiting fine and bimodal microstructure, were prepared by adjusting the Er2O3/MgO ratio and hot‐pressing sintering at 1800°C for 4 h. The microstructure, grain distribution, lattice oxygen content, mechanical properties, and crack propagation process of the sintered bulk samples were systematically investigated. It was found that a low Er2O3/MgO ratio contributed to the densification of Si3N4 ceramics, whereas a high Er2O3/MgO ratio favored the grain growth of Si3N4 ceramics. In this research, the grain size distribution and average diameters as well as their impact on mechanical properties were examined. When the ratio of Er2O3/MgO was 3:1, Si3N4 had a larger average diameter and higher thermal conductivity, but the mechanical properties were somewhat reduced. When the ratio of Er2O3/MgO was 2:2, the sample displayed enhanced mechanical performance, which can be explained by the formation of a bimodal structure. The research indicates that it is feasible to control the microstructure and optimize the mechanical properties of Si3N4 ceramics by tailoring the sintering additives.

Effect of sintering temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti2AlNb-based composites

Ti2AlNb-based composites are a great choice for achieving high-temperature properties by introducing reinforcement to meet engineering application requirements. In this study, Ti–22Al–25Nb (at.%) alloys and nano-Al2O3/Ti–22Al–25Nb composites were prepared by mechanical alloying (MA) and hot pressing (HP). The effects of sintering temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti–22Al–25Nb alloys and Ti2AlNb-based composites were investigated. The sintering temperature effectively regulated the morphology and size of the primary O phase. The addition of Al2O3 particles refined the grain size of the matrix and precipitates, and it induced the phase transformation. When the sintering temperature reached 1350 °C, Ti–22Al–25Nb alloys and Ti2AlNb-based composites obtained a fine and uniform equiaxed microstructure. The hardness and ultimate compressive strength of the composite first increased and then decreased with increasing sintering temperature. Since the addition of Al2O3 particles promoted the precipitation of the ultrafine acicular O phase from the B2 phase, the composite sintered at 1350 °C had the optimal mechanical properties. The hardness of the Ti–22Al–25Nb alloy and Ti2AlNb-based composite was 4.12 GPa and 5.1 GPa, respectively. The ultimate compressive strength of the composite at room temperature (RT) and 650 °C was 2642.3 MPa and 2462.5 MPa, which was 25.8% and 9.6% higher than that of the Ti2AlNb alloy. The strengthening mechanism of the composites mainly includes dispersion strengthening and Orowan strengthening of the nano-Al2O3 particles, as well as precipitation strengthening of the acicular O phase. This study provides a theoretical guidance for designing Ti2AlNb-based composites with excellent high-temperature properties.

Enhancing joint performance in friction stir welding through tailored double-butt-lap geometry

The study investigates the effectiveness of a novel joint configuration, the double-butt-lap (DBL), in friction stir welding (FSW) to join 6-mm-thick AA 6061-T6 plates. Four welds, including a simple square butt (SSB) configuration and three DBL variations (with UB to LB ratios of 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1), were executed. Using consistent parameters, the investigation evaluates the force distribution, macrostructure, and mechanical properties of the joints. Results show varied force profiles; spindle torque and Z-force decrease notably in DBL configurations compared to SSB, while X-force decreases overall for all DBL variations. Macrostructural analysis indicates increased weld area and finer microstructures in DBL joints. A correlation between peak temperature, grain size, and hardness highlights larger grain sizes at higher temperatures, influencing joint hardness. The DBL configuration with a 2:1 ratio exhibits the highest joint efficiency (83.76%). Fractographic analysis indicates ductile failure in all samples. Bend testing reveals increased flexural strength and bend angles in two DBL-configured joints compared to SSB. The results indicate that using a 2:1 ratio for joining 6-mm AA6061-T6 plates through FSW is viable, providing valuable insights into enhancing mechanical properties by optimizing joint geometry.

Delving into the intrinsic co-relation between microstructure and mechanical behaviour of fine-/ultrafine-grained TWIP steels via TEM and in-situ EBSD observation

To illustrate the microstructural factors of grain refinement for enhancing mechanical properties, the fine-/ultrafine-grained TWIP steels with a product of strength and elongation of ∼71 GPa·% were first prepared by combining rolling and stress relief annealing. Subsequently, the evolution of dislocations, stacking faults, and associated substructures of the fine-/ultrafine-grained TWIP steels was analysed by using in-situ EBSD tensile tests and TEM characterisation of the interrupted strain experiments. The results reveal that the excellent mechanical properties of the TWIP steels are attributed to dislocations and associated dislocation cells, dislocation walls, dislocation tangles, stacking faults and associated Lomer-Cottrell locks (LCs), nano-twins, primary and secondary twins and their interactions during plastic deformation. The density of geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs) was evaluated based on the modified Ashby's model and compared with experimental results, indicating that grain size heterogeneity can promote the accumulation of GNDs, which facilitates the generation of subgrains and new boundaries to reduce the mean free path (MFP) of dislocations, thus enhancing strain hardening. Meanwhile, the interaction of lamellar primary and secondary twins in fine grains and the generation of stacking faults and nano-twins in ultrafine grains at higher strains can further promote strain hardening to elevate strength. Furthermore, the effects of grain orientation and grain size on the activation and evolution of dislocations and twins were elucidated. In ultrafine grains, twinning is strongly inhibited due to the elevated critical shear stress for twinning, resulting in more stacking faults and nano-twins, but fewer dislocation cells. The present work contributes to an in-depth understanding of the mechanical properties of fine-/ultrafine-grained materials to exploit their potential for industrial applications.

Hot Deformation Behavior of a Hot-Isostatically Pressed Ti-6Al-4V Alloy from Recycled Powder.

In this work, a new use of mixed Ti-6Al-4V powder, consisting of the retained powder after screening for additive manufacturing and the recycled powder after multiple printing, has been exploited. The powder mixture has been hot-isostatically-pressed (HIPed) at 930 °C/120 MPa for 3 h to reach full density. The hot deformation behavior of the as-HIPed powder compacts were investigated through isothermal compression tests, kinetic analyses, and hot processing maps. Finally, the optimized hot working parameters were validated using upsetting tests. The results show that the as-HIPed Ti-6Al-4V alloy has a fine and homogeneous microstructure. The activation energies were calculated to be 359 kJ/mol in the α + β phase regime and 463 kJ/mol in the β phase regime, respectively. The optimal hot working parameters are a deformation temperature above 950 °C and strain rate higher than 0.1 s-1. The hot workability of as-HIPed powder compacts is better than the as-cast billets. The deformed microstructure can be finer than that of as-HIPed state, and the mechanical performance can be further improved by the optimal thermo-mechanical processing treatment.

New Nano-Crystalline Hydroxyapatite-Polycarboxy/Sulfo Betaine Hybrid Materials: Synthesis and Characterization.

Hybrid materials based on calcium phosphates and synthetic polymers can potentially be used for caries protection due to their similarity to hard tissues in terms of composition, structure and a number of properties. This study is focused on the biomimetic synthesis of hybrid materials consisting of hydroxiapatite and the zwitterionic polymers polysulfobetaine (PSB) and polycarboxybetaine (PCB) using controlled media conditions with a constant pH of 8.0-8.2 and Ca/P = 1.67. The results show that pH control is a dominant factor in the crystal phase formation, so nano-crystalline hydroxyapatite with a Ca/P ratio of 1.63-1.71 was observed as the mineral phase in all the materials prepared. The final polymer content measured for the synthesized hybrid materials was 48-52%. The polymer type affects the final microstructure, and the mineral particle size is thinner and smaller in the synthesis performed using PCB than using PSB. The final intermolecular interaction of the nano-crystallized hydroxyapatite was demonstrated to be stronger with PCB than with PSB as shown by our IR and Raman spectroscopy analyses. The higher remineralization potential of the PCB-containing synthesized material was demonstrated by in vitro testing using artificial saliva.

Tannic acid and zinc ion coordination of nanase for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease by promoting mucosal repair and removing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species

Colon mucosal overexpression of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) accelerates the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and destroys the mucosa and its barrier. IBD can be alleviated by removing RONS from the inflamed colon. The preparation of strong and efficient nanoantioxidants remains a challenge despite the development of numerous nanoantioxidants. In this paper, Zn-TA nanoparticles with fine hollow microstructure (HZn-TA) were successfully prepared and could be effectively used to treat IBD. In the first step, ZIF-8 nanoparticles were synthesized by a one-pot method. On this basis, HZn-TA nanoparticles were etched by TA, and a multifunctional nanase was developed for the treatment of IBD. RONS, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), can be eliminated to increase cell survival following Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) stimulation, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In a model for preventing and delaying acute colitis, clearance of RONS has been shown to reduce intestinal inflammation in mice by reducing colon damage, proinflammatory cytokine levels, the spleen index, and body weight. Intestinal mucosal healing can be promoted by HZn-TA nanoparticles, which can upregulate zonula occludens protein 1 (ZO-1) and claudin-1 expression. Based on the results of this study, HZn-TA nanoparticles were able to effectively treat IBD with minimal adverse effects by being biocompatible, multienzyme active, and capable of scavenging RONS. Therefore, we pioneered the application of HZn-TA nanoparticles for the treatment of IBD, which are capable of clearing RONS without significant adverse effects. Statement of significance➢ HZn-TA nanoparticles were successfully prepared and could be effectively used to treat IBD.➢ Intestinal mucosal healing can be promoted by HZn-TA nanoparticles, which can upregulate ZO-1 and claudin-1 expression.➢ HZn-TA nanoparticles were able to effectively treat IBD with minimal adverse effects by being biocompatible, multienzyme active, and capable of scavenging RONS.

Large-scale NiFe2O4-based cermets prepared by composite extrusion modelling: From high-qualified composite feedstock to dense sintered microstructure

Combining with the advantages from mature technologies of fused deposition modelling and powder injection molding, 3D NiFe2O4-based cermet with weight over 1.3 kg and relative density of 95.8 % were fabricated by composite extrusion modelling using polyoxymethylene-based feedstock. Microstructure and rheological properties of the feedstock, roles of printing parameters on the morphology green samples and related catalytic debinding, sintering properties of cermets were investigated in detail. Uniformly dispersed cermet powders in feedstock were confirmed, due to the good wettability between the powders and binders. The feedstock with high solid loading of 58 vol% exhibited shear-thinning behavior and contained high storage modulus for reliable shape retention. With optimized printing parameters, a high compression ratio (layer height/nozzle diameter) over 2.5 tended to shrink the size of stacking pores, resulting in dense green samples. Catalytic debinding was proved to be defect-free and efficient debinding route, which was successfully used to deal with dense cubic samples with thickness of 30 mm. Sintered samples showed uniform microstructure with interconnected FeCuNi and Ni(Fe)Fe2O4 phases. Except for partial stacking pores in the fracture section, polished cermets exhibited mirror-like surfaces, indicating the good controlling of the final microstructure and performance of 3D cermets.

Ultrastrong and ductile steel welds achieved by fine interlocking microstructures with film-like retained austenite

The degradation of mechanical properties caused by grain coarsening or the formation of brittle phases during welding reduces the longevity of products. Here, we report advances in the weld quality of ultra-high strength steels by utilizing Nb and Cr instead of Ni. Sole addition of Cr, as an alternative to Ni, has limitations in developing fine weld microstructure, while it is revealed that the coupling effects of Nb and Cr additions make a finer interlocking weld microstructures with a higher fraction of retained austenite due to the decrease in austenite to acicular ferrite and bainite transformation temperature and carbon activity. As a result, an alloying design with Nb and Cr creates ultrastrong and ductile steel welds with enhanced tensile properties, impact toughness, and fatigue strength, at 45% lower material costs and lower environmental impact by removing Ni.

Yellow-white emitting phosphor-in-glass with LuAG:Ce and embedded CdS quantum dots

One-step sintering process was introduced to fabricate phosphor-in-glass (PiG) composite. Commercial cerium doped lutetium aluminum garnet (LuAG:Ce, Lu3Al5O12:Ce3+) phosphor was subjected to high-energy ball milling in a planetary ball mill. By controlling the milling time and velocity, the LuAG:Ce phosphors with average diameters from 0.5 to 10 μm was prepared. The effect of phosphor particle size on densification, final microstructure, thermal and optical properties of PiG was discussed. The results showed that the as-sintered PiG sample had amorphous phase and the LuAG:Ce phosphor particles uniformly distributed in glass matrix. LuAG:Ce particles were well preserved in silica glass matrix without any decomposition reaction. As the ball-milling process proceeded, the luminescent efficiency of phosphor was degraded owing to the low crystallinity of the surface of the LuAG:Ce particles. However, the sintering of LuAG:Ce with the glass and CdS QDs led to healing of the luminescence efficacy up to 23 % and shifting of chromaticity coordinates from green to yellow region. The improved value of correlated color temperature and the color rendering index of prepared PiG was achieved around 3100 K′ and 95, respectively. Moreover, the PiG with milled LuAG:Ce performs good laser output and can resist higher laser power owing to the effective heat dissipation.

Modeling finer microstructure of random heterogeneous porous materials by fusing 2D high- and 3D low- resolution images

Modeling the finer microstructure is crucial for studying the microscopic and macroscopic characteristics of random heterogeneous porous materials. Multi-scale reconstruction is a feasible way to model finer microstructures. However, most of the traditional methods focus on reconstructing a single type of low-level features, while the neural network-based methods are heavily dependent on the dataset. This paper proposes a novel multi-scale reconstruction framework based on Neural Network-based Transform Mapping (NNTM) to modeling the finer microstructure. The number of network layer and input noise scale are determined by the pixel-size ratio between LRI and HRI. This allows the network to fit the corresponding transformation sub-mapping at different feature scales, thus effectively and accurately fusing the multi-scale information of 2D HRI and 3D LRI. More notably, without the training on a large dataset, and providing only a 2D HRI and a 3D LRI of the same sample, NNTM enables the modeling of high-resolution finer microstructure. Experiments were conducted on rock materials with different pore morphologies, and the morphological characteristics and physical properties were compared to the original high-resolution structure. The qualitative and quantitative evaluation criteria indicate a high consistency between the reconstructed finer microstructure and the original structure.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ti-6Al-4V Welds Produced with Different Processes.

The effect of defects and microstructure on the mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V welds produced by tungsten inert gas welding; plasma arc welding; electron beam welding; and laser beam welding was studied in the present work. The mechanical properties of different weld types were evaluated with respect to micro hardness; yield strength; ultimate tensile strength; ductility; and fatigue at room temperature and at elevated temperatures (200 °C and 250 °C). Metallographic investigation was carried out to characterize the microstructures of different weld types, and fractographic investigation was conducted to relate the effect of defects on fatigue performance. Electron and laser beam welding produced welds with finer microstructure, higher tensile ductility, and better fatigue performance than tungsten inert gas welding and plasma arc welding. Large pores, and pores located close to the specimen surface, were found to be most detrimental to fatigue life.