Formation Of Serrations Research Articles

Crystal Orientation Dependence of the Portevin–Le Chatelier Effect in Instrumented Indentation: A Case Study in Twinning-Induced Plasticity Steels

Instrumented indentation can be effectively used to investigate the Portevin–Le Chatelier (PLC) effect at small scales. It has been shown that the PLC effect in single crystals may depend on the crystal orientation, yet the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, the orientation dependence of the PLC effect was systematically studied by conducting instrumented indentation tests in the [001]-, [101]- and [111]-oriented grains of a polycrystalline twinning-induced plasticity steel. It is found that the crystal orientation does not affect the PLC effect at relatively high indentation strain rates. In contrast, there is a strong orientation dependence at lower rates, with enhanced difficulty in the formation of serrations in the order of the [001], [111] and [101] orientations. This finding contradicts the previous proposals of the orientation effects, which are associated with the dislocation waiting time. On the basis of both the orientation and rate effects observed here, we proposed that the crystal orientation influences the occurrence of serrations in instrumented indentation by affecting the number of activated slip systems and, therefore, the probability of finding sufficient dislocation sources to accommodate the plastic avalanche.

TCP5 controls leaf margin development by regulating KNOX and BEL-like transcription factors in Arabidopsis.

Development of leaf margins is an important process in leaf morphogenesis. CIN-clade TCP (TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PCF) transcription factors are known to have redundant roles in specifying leaf margins, but the specific mechanisms through which individual TCP genes function remain elusive. In this study, we report that the CIN-TCP gene TCP5 is involved in repressing the initiation and outgrowth of leaf serrations by activating two key regulators of margin development, the Class II KNOX factor KNAT3 and BEL-like SAW1. Specifically, TCP5 directly promotes the transcription of KNAT3 and indirectly activates the expression of SAW1. We also show that TCP5 regulates KNAT3 and SAW1 in a temporal- and spatial- specific manner that is largely in accordance with the progress of formation of serrations. This regulation might serve as a key mechanism in patterning margin morphogenesis and in sculpting the final form of the leaf.

Investigation on the formation of grain boundary serrations in additively manufactured superalloy Haynes 230

Solid-solution and carbide-strengthened superalloys such as Haynes 230 are the materials of choice for the hot-section components of gas turbines, e.g., combustion cans and transition ducts. Under severe thermal conditions, to which those parts are exposed, creep strength is a crucial property of the related materials during their lifetime. Recently, the introduction of serrated grain boundaries in Haynes 230 has been intensively studied [J. G. Yoon, H. W. Jeong, Y. S. Yoo, and H. U. Hong, “Influence of initial microstructure on creep deformation behaviors and fracture characteristics of Haynes 230 superalloy at 900 °C,” Mater. Charact. 101, 49–57 (2015); L. Jiang, R. Hu, H. Kou, J. Li, G. Bai, and H. Fu, “The effect of M23C6 carbides on the formation of grain boundary serrations in a wrought Ni-based superalloy,” Mater. Sci. Eng. A 536, 37–44 (2012)], and nearly a triplication of the time to creep failure at high temperature and low stress conditions has been observed [J. G. Yoon, H. W. Jeong, Y. S. Yoo, and H. U. Hong, “Influence of initial microstructure on creep deformation behaviors and fracture characteristics of Haynes 230 superalloy at 900 °C,” Mater. Charact. 101, 49–57 (2015)]. The aim of this paper is to achieve serrated grain boundaries in Haynes 230 through an appropriate thermal process chain including the intrinsic heat treatments of the laser metal deposition (LMD) process, subsequent hot isostatic pressing and suitable heat treatments. The formation of serrations is a relatively new technique for Haynes 230 (i.e., first paper in 2012), and similar alloys and thus serrations have only been introduced in conventionally cast or wrought alloys so far. Optical and scanning electron microscopies are employed in this work to investigate the created microstructures, whose grain and carbide structure is finer compared to the recently studied conventionally processed alloys. Within the LMD samples, serrations were already found on almost all of the observed grain boundaries even in the as-build condition. This result was rather unexpected, as literature reports slow-cooling to be responsible for the formation of serrations, while fast-cooling is prevalent in LMD. Some authors associated the formation of serrations to the precipitation of M23C6-carbides at the grain boundaries during slow cooling conditions [L. Jiang, R. Hu, H. Kou, J. Li, G. Bai, and H. Fu, “The effect of M23C6 carbides on the formation of grain boundary serrations in a wrought Ni-based superalloy,” Mater. Sci. Eng. A 536, 37–44 (2012)]. The lower density of carbides along grain boundaries in the as-build state, however, makes this mechanism seem unlikely. Other authors attributed the emergence of serrations to a phenomenon similar to the faceting mechanism [J. G. Yoon, H. W. Jeong, Y. S. Yoo, and H. U. Hong, “Influence of initial microstructure on creep deformation behaviors and fracture characteristics of Haynes 230 superalloy at 900 °C,” Mater. Charact. 101, 49–57 (2015)]. It can be said that no uniform theory for the emergence of grain boundary serrations exists as of now. The electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) investigations performed in this work indicated a correlation between serrated grain boundary segments, the {111}-directions of the crystal lattice, and possibly segregations along dendritic subgrain boundaries for a two-dimensional case. Serial sectioning in combination with EBSD analysis confirmed an agreement between the three-dimensional orientation of serrated grain boundary segments and the {111}-direction of adjacent grains. Hence, a mechanism different from the ones described in previous works is proposed for the formation of grain boundary serrations in the additively manufactured Haynes 230 alloy.

Excellent irradiation tolerance and mechanical behaviors in high-entropy metallic glasses

This study investigated ion-irradiation performance and mechanical behavior of high-entropy metallic glasses (HE-MGs) irradiated at room temperature. The critical fluence for blister formation in ZrTiHfCuBeNi HE-MGs was higher than ZrTiHfCuBe HE-MGs because of the larger mixing entropy and negative mixing enthalpy. The ZrTiHfCuBeNi HE-MGs maintained a more moderate hardness value than ZrTiHfCuBe HE-MGs at a fluence of 1.0 × 1018 ions/cm2, implying a better irradiation tolerance and capacity of helium atoms. There was not a serrated flow or pop-in event that occurred in the HE-MGs after ion irradiation, which indicated that the formation of serrations was restricted. The total displacement and peak intensity in the creep relaxation spectrum increased as the ion fluence increased. The ZrTiHfCuBeNi HE-MGs exhibited a lesser change in peak intensity and relaxation time. This study demonstrated that HE-MGs may exhibit a favorable response to high levels of helium implantation, which exhibits potential uses under extreme irradiation conditions.

Temporal Control of Leaf Complexity by miRNA-Regulated Licensing of Protein Complexes

The tremendous diversity of leaf shapes has caught the attention of naturalists for centuries. In addition to interspecific and intraspecific differences, leaf morphologies may differ in single plants according to age, a phenomenon known as heteroblasty. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the progression from the juvenile to the adult phase is characterized by increased leaf serration. A similar trend is seen in species with more complex leaves, such as the A. thaliana relative Cardamine hirsuta, in which the number of leaflets per leaf increases with age. Although the genetic changes that led to the overall simpler leaf architecture in A. thaliana are increasingly well understood, less is known about the events underlying age-dependent changes within single plants, in either A. thaliana or C. hirsuta. Here, we describe a conserved miRNA transcription factor regulon responsible for an age-dependent increase in leaf complexity. In early leaves, miR319-targeted TCP transcription factors interfere with the function of miR164-dependent and miR164-independent CUC proteins, preventing the formation of serrations in A. thaliana and of leaflets in C. hirsuta. As plants age, accumulation of miR156-regulated SPLs acts as a timing cue that destabilizes TCP-CUC interactions. The destabilization licenses activation of CUC protein complexes and thereby the gradual increase of leaf complexity in the newly formed organs. These findings point to posttranslational interaction between unrelated miRNA-targeted transcription factors as a core feature of these regulatory circuits.

Tensile Deformation of a Nickel-base Alloy at Elevated Temperatures

The results of tensile testing involving Waspaloy indicate that the failure strain was gradually reduced at temperatures ranging between ambient and 300 °C. Further, serrations were observed in the engineering stress versus strain diagrams in the temperature range of 300-600 °C. The reduced failure strain and the formation of serrations in these temperature regimes could be the result of dynamic strain aging of this alloy. The extent of work hardening due to plastic deformation was reduced at temperatures above 300 °C. A combination of ductile and intergranular brittle failures was seen at temperatures above 600 °C. γ′ was detected at all tested temperatures.

Dynamic strain ageing of an austenitic superalloy—Temperature and strain rate effects

The tensile data involving austenitic Alloy C-276 suggest that this alloy is capable of maintaining appreciable structural strength at temperatures relevant to the sulfuric acid decomposition process related to the nuclear hydrogen initiative. Reduced failure strain and formation of serrations, characteristics of dynamic strain ageing (DSA), were noted within susceptible temperature regimes. An average activation energy of 55 kJ/mol, and work hardening index ranging from 0.68 to 0.75 were determined as functions of different testing temperature and strain rates. The occurrence of DSA was also associated with enhanced dislocation density. Depending on the testing temperature, a combination of ductile and intergranular brittle failures was observed with the tested specimens.

Formation and application of grain boundary serrations

Serrations develop in the grain boundaries (GB) of many metals and alloys as a result of local migrations to absorb dislocation walls. The serrations form only under deformation conditions where the subgrains reach about 2–10 μm in diameter; the conditions of temperature and strain rate depend on the metal and the effects of alloying on dynamic recovery. The small serrations evidently diminish GB sliding, making lattice deformation rate controlling. If the conditions are changed to produce lower strain rates, then initial serrations increase the creep life. In alloys with limited dynamic recovery, the serrations are also related to initiation of dynamic recrystallization, which is very important in preventing progression of GB cracking, and thus increasing the ductility in hot-forming operations. The formation of serrations or of a necklace of fine recrystallized grains along the GB of large grains (with good creep resistance) are noted for improving fatigue resistance.

A study 0f serrated plastic flow behavior in an aluminum-lithium binary alloy

The serrated plastic flow behavior of an Al-2.73wt%Li alloy at various aging conditions is investigated. The stress-strain curve of the alloy is examined using an Instron machine. The microstructure of the alloy before and after deformation is observed using a transmission electron microscope. It has been shown that the stress-strain curve in the alloy is serrated and both time and/or temperature of aging affect the formation of serrations. The 6′ phase (Al 3Li) which is induced by plastic déformation precipitates along dislocations. The formation mechanism of the serrated stress-strain curve in the Al-Li binary alloy is discussed.