Non-ferrous Materials Research Articles

A comparative study of friction stir welding and friction stir scribe technique for dissimilar metal joining

Abstract Friction stir welding (FSW) has emerged as a novel method for joining similar and dissimilar ferrous and non-ferrous materials. This solid-state welding process utilizes frictional heat generated between a tool shoulder and the base material. The stirring action facilitates the movement and consolidation of the material, resulting in localized fusion and the formation of a joint. This review examines their effectiveness in joining various material combinations, with particular focus on automotive and aerospace applications. FSW utilizes frictional heat and stirring action to create localized plasticity and material flow, while FSS incorporates a cutting feature to mechanically interlock dissimilar materials. The review paper shows comparison of various experimental investigations considering variables such as tool geometry, welding parameters, and material combinations. FSW has some significant parameters to enhance weld quality such as traverse speed, plunge depth, and tool design. These techniques show promising applications for multi-material integration, offering advantages over conventional fusion welding methods. Future research directions include expanding material combinations, developing automated systems, and exploring hybrid joining approaches.

Effect of Machining Parameters on the Surface Roughness of Hot Die Steel

H13 tool steel is frequently used in hot work dies, hot forging, hot extrusion, and mold materials for casting ferrous and nonferrous materials. Surface roughness is of key importance in case of dies and moulds, as it insures the finish of the final product. After studying the work done by the researchers in field of machining and its impact over surface roughness, it was found that machining behaviour of H13 steel at the annealed state is not being studied. The surface finish obtained during turning of H13 steel are not studied on a greater scale, so the present study includes the analysis of finish (surface roughness) generated. Turning operation is carried out on the CNC machine at dry condition with an aim to find systematically the effect on surface roughness by distinct machining variables like feed rate, depth of cut and speed. RSM model using Box Behnken design is used to predict the roughness developed during turning of annealed H13 steel using carbide tool. It was found that feed rate and the depth of cut have a direct relation with the surface finish and the value of surface roughness increases with increase in these parameters. On the other side, cutting speed has a less impact over the surface roughness & is inversely related.

Review of Metal Screw Extrusion: State of the Art and Beyond

Metal screw extrusion (MSE) is a continuous, solid-state forming method utilizing an inherently high degree of deformation to consolidate fragmented input materials into a solid bulk by breaking their oxide skins. Severe plastic deformation with equivalent strain in the range of 10–20 can be achieved depending on set process parameters. Rigorous mixing can be employed to form sophisticated materials like bulk composites, nanocomposites, particle-reinforced metals, and fine-grained materials. Furthermore, the inherent solid-state processing is well suited for recovery of difficult-to-recycle materials. A range of non-ferrous materials has been manufactured by MSE and further characterized in terms of microstructural evolution and mechanical and functional properties. Furthermore, MSE has been studied in terms of flow, accumulated strain, and environmental impact. The following review aims to critically highlight the existing work performed on MSE, compare it to existing and emerging technologies as well as explore future development and possible applications. MSE has the potential to be utilized for numerous commercial applications. To realize industrial use of MSE, key aspects of the process and the influence of processing parameters on the resulting product must be understood.

Preparation and electrochemistry study of a new Ti-based PbO2 electrode with Ta-Ti-Sn(Ru)Ox interlayer in Cu electrowinning

Copper (Cu) is a crucial non-ferrous material, and in this research, a new composite layered anode, Ti/Ta-Ti-Sn(Ru)Ox/PbO2, was developed for the hydrometallurgical process. The anode was created using thermal decomposition and subsequent electrodeposition, with Ti serving as the matrix and Ta-Ti-Sn(Ru)Ox as the interlayer. The study identified that the optimal molar ratio of Ta:Ti was 4:1, the ideal number of coating layers was 3, and the preparation temperature was 550 °C. The addition of Sn element improved the bonding force of the coating, preventing it from detaching even if it fails, while the inclusion of Ru enhanced the electrode’s service life. Moreover, the deposited PbO2 layer demonstrated a rich porous structure. In a long-cycle copper electrodeposition application, anodes with optimal preparation parameters showed higher current efficiencies and reduced energy consumptions compared to the Ti/Sn-SbOx/PbO2 baseline electrode, energy consumption reduced by 220.8 kWh per ton of copper product. This research presents a valuable strategy for designing and constructing high-performance electrodes for nonferrous electrolysis and other similar applications.

Ensuring durability and reliability of contact rings of current collection devices when working in elastic-plastic state

The reliability of ring current-collecting devices during a given service life plays a decisive role in the opera- tion of power supply systems of various equipment and largely depends on the strength and reliability of all its components, in particular, contact rings. One of the most important characteristics of ring current collectors is the contact resistance, which is reduced by using non-ferrous and precious materials with low resistance, while increasing the downforce between the rings of the current collector. With an increase in the compression force F of the contact ring, the resistance of the contacts decreases to a certain minimum value and practically does not decrease with further growth of the force. The dependence of the contact resistance on the compression force has the form of a power function, the coefficients of which are determined experimentally. However, the operability of the contact rings in such severe conditions can be ensured in the case of low speeds and a small number of loading cycles by using the low-cycle fatigue area on the Weller curve. Having determined the coefficients of the equation of the inclined section on the Weller curve in the area of low-cycle fatigue, it is possible to determine the number of permissible loading cycles at a given stress level or solve the inverse problem of determining the permissible stress level if the number of loading cycles is known. To substantiate the correctness of the selected compressive force and the corresponding stresses, methods for calculating the fatigue margin coefficient, as well as a method for calculating the reliability of the ring material, are proposed. Reliability is estimated by the Gauss curve and is numerically expressed in the form of the probability of failure-free operation and the probability of failure, for which the corre- sponding theoretical dependencies are obtained. According to the proposed methods, calculations of the rings of the current-collection device used in EX- PRESS-type spacecraft were performed, which showed the operability of the methods and allowed to ensure the required service life of the contact rings and their reliability. A very simple analytical formulation of the methods allows us to solve both verification and design calculations of rings, depending on the task at hand.

Optimization of insert roughness and pouring conditions to maximize bond strength of (Cp)Al-SS304 bimetallic castings using RSM-GA coupled technique

The integration of ferrous and non-ferrous materials represents a breakthrough in materials technology, enabling the fabrication of functionally graded lightweight components with enhanced properties. In this study, a Box-Behnken design of experiments was employed to investigate the effects of pouring temperature, insert temperature, insert thickness, and surface roughness on the bond strength of bimetallic components. Shear punch tests were conducted to assess the maximum loads before fracture, with the highest bond strength of 17.04 MPa achieved under specific processing conditions. The presence of intermetallic compounds, including Fe2Al5, FeAl2, and Fe4Al13, contributed to the observed increase in reaction layer thickness. Response surface methodology revealed concentric responses for pouring temperature and surface roughness with an optimal predicted bond strength of 18.02 MPa. Further optimization using Genetic Algorithm resulted in a maximum bond strength of 19.20 MPa. These findings demonstrate the potential for producing high-performance bimetallic components tailored for applications in various industries.

Effect of double-pass friction stir welding and base materials position on the microstructural and mechanical behaviors of the dissimilar aluminum welded joints of AA6061 and AA2017

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a method of joining solid materials, where the parent metal’s melting temperature is below the point of amalgamation. FSW is a successful method for combining various ferrous and non-ferrous matrix materials. Many researchers’ studies suggested that FSW is suitable for both soft and high melting-point materials by changing the conditional attributes. A defect-free dissimilar weld joint of the alloys AA2017 and AA6061 was fabricated for the current investigation, and the effect of multi-pass friction stir welding (MPFSW) on the development of mechanical and different microstructural behaviors has been investigated. Welding conditions were a constant 1600 rpm weld tool rotational speed, a transverse speed is 32 mm min−1, and a tilt angle of 0°. As a consequence of the pinning effect, the results showed that increasing the number of welding passes in FSW from single to double improved the particle dispersion, which in turn improved the tensile strength, and micro-hardness of the FSWed joint. The primary objectives of this study investigate the strength that was improved because of the rise in the number of passes as well as the effective bonding of the materials’ weld interface, which gives tailor-welded blanks (TWBs) a considerably stronger joint. The findings revealed that the TWB joints’ metallurgical and mechanical properties are extremely varied from single-pass to double-pass, and the position of the base materials can significantly affect the joint properties that are produced.

Processing, microstructural characterization, and mechanical properties of deep cryogenically treated steels and alloys – overview

Abstract Deep cryogenic treatment (DCT), a technique of deep subzero processing, is utilized after quenching and well preceding tempering. In DCT, the materials are subjected to a soaking period of typically 24 h at a temperature of −196 °C. The optimal soaking period varies depending on the material to be cryotreated. The microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of ferrous and nonferrous materials are significantly enhanced using DCT resulting in improved durability and functional performance of the mechanical components. The DCT is generally performed on tool steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloys, and magnesium alloys to improve its mechanical properties. The complete transition of residual austenite to martensite and finer secondary carbide precipitation correlates with an increase in the mechanical properties of tool steel. The nonferrous materials such as aluminum and magnesium alloys showed improved mechanical properties owing to the precipitation of finer second phases in the matrix. The main objective of this review paper is to provide an overview on the history and theories of DCT, important processing parameters, and the effect of DCT on microstructure and mechanical properties of tool steel, aluminum alloys, and magnesium alloys.

The Nonferrous Metals Society of China

Notice of 2023 (the third) International Conference of Non-Ferrous Materials (ICNFM)To: All related unitsThe “International Conference of Non-Ferrous Materials” is an important academic conference in the field of non-ferrous metals materials sponsored by the Non-ferrous Metals Society of China and co-organized by a number of universities, research institutes and enterprises engaged in the non-ferrous metals industry. It is held once a year, and the 2023 one will be the third conference. There are more than 10 academicians and more than 400 talents participating in the conference. The conference adopts various forms of exchange and discussion such as conference reports, branch reports, wall poster exchanges and exhibitions.List of Conference Introduction, Organization, Parallel Sessions Setting, Registration are available in this Pdf.

Physio-Mechanical Properties and Microstructural Characteristics of Friction Stir Welded Aluminium and Copper Plates Using Conical Unthreaded Tool

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a type of welding used to join materials for high strength applications. FSW is a well-liked solid-state welding technique for joining aluminum alloys and other non-ferrous materials in the aerospace, automotive, and marine industries. Pure copper and aluminum from the 6082 series were welded together using a specially designed milling machine. Tests for hardness, flexural rigidity, and impact are performed to assess the welding strength. Material flow and weld defects have been investigated by analyzing the microstructure of the weld junction. The modified vertical milling machine has been used to execute FSW of pure copper and aluminum plates. The aim is to explore the produced welded joints and to comprehend the difficulties encountered while utilizing milling machines as a FSW equipment. Similarly, to optimize the welding parameters in order to accomplish sound welding. FSW can be carried out on a milling machine because the flexural strength of a conical unthread thread tool is 108.58N/mm2 and 92.16N/mm2, respectively, at rotational speeds of 500 rpm and 1000 rpm with welding feed rates of 16 mm/min and 50 mm/min.

Development of Surface Composite by Modification of Microstructure and In-Situ Growth of Hard Particles in the Matrix of Ferrous and Non-ferrous Metallic Materials by TIG Arcing

Development of Surface Composite by Modification of Microstructure and In-Situ Growth of Hard Particles in the Matrix of Ferrous and Non-ferrous Metallic Materials by TIG Arcing

Model development for numerical analysis of the bonding strength for friction welded lightweight structures

The rotary friction welding (RFW) is a robust, precise, productive and economical joining process that is used in many areas of mechanical engineering to produce lightweight structures consisting of combinations of ferrous and non-ferrous materials, for instance aluminium alloy and steel. Crucial for the design of such lightweight structures is the knowledge about the bonding strength. The bonding strength is the result of the bond formation depending on the present transient kinematic, kinetic and thermal states during the welding process being directly determined by the welding process parameters. Despite several years of empirical research, no reliable numerical modelling approach exists for the RFW process to analyse the bonding strength based on these transient state variables. For this reason, an improvement of the bond formation and therefore an increase in the bonding strength can only be tested experimentally. The main motivation of this paper is to develop an appropriate modelling approach for the estimation of the bonding strength for friction welded lightweight structures manufactured of an aluminium alloy and a structural steel. Therefore, a couple of aluminium alloy and steel welding experiments with different process parameters were performed and subsequently analysed concerning to the resulting bonding strength. Moreover, all the welding experiments were simulated in regard to the corresponding welding process in order to determine the present kinematic, kinetic and thermal state variables, like the strain rate, the stress and the temperature. Thus, a model for the characterization of the bond formation can be developed, which allows a correlation between the bond formation and the resulting bond strength based on the chosen welding process parameters. Finally, the model will be examined and discussed in terms of its plausibility and applicability.

Critical Review on Magnetically Impelled Arc Butt Welding: Challenges, Perspectives and Industrial Applications.

Magnetically Impelled Arc Butt (MIAB) welding is a cutting-edge joining method that replaces the conventional welding procedures such as resistance, friction, flash and butt welding. It is a solid-state process that uses a rotating arc to heat up the butt ends of tubes, being followed by a forging process that completes the joining of the workpieces The magnetic flux density and the current interact to develop the Lorentz force that impels the arc along the faying surfaces. This process is found to produce high tensile strength and defect-free welds in ferrous materials and for this reason, it is predominantly employed in automobile applications for joining metallic tubes. Also, this joining procedure can be applied in the fabrication of boilers, heat exchangers, furnace piping in petrochemical industry and other safety-critical high-pressure machinery parts. The MIAB method has several advantages such as a shorter welding cycle, lower input energy requirement and lower loss of material. Compared to other solid-state welding processes, the MIAB welding has an important advantage in terms of cost-efficient welds with better control and reliability. Moreover, there are researchers who have investigated the joining of non-ferrous dissimilar materials using this welding procedure. The studies have been focused on process parametric analysis that involves optimizing and forecasting the magnetic field and thermal profile distribution. This review article provides competitive insights into various design features, computational methods, tests and material characterization, technical issues and workarounds, as well as automation aspects related to the MIAB-welding process. This work will prove to be a quick reference for researchers, useful to identify the research gaps and conflicting ideas that can be further explored for advancements in joining the similar and dissimilar materials.

Polycrystalline diamond obtained in the diamond-Mo system with enhanced thermal stability sintered by HPHT

This study provides thermoanalytical data on polycrystalline diamond (PCD) sintered in the diamond-Mo system at high pressure-high temperatures (HPHT). PCD is a key material for the abrasive tool industry, given its unprecedented hardness and wear resistance, as well as its excellent thermal conductivity. These characteristics make it highly effective in drilling into rock formations and machining non-ferrous materials, such as titanium alloys. A critical issue in the performance and lifetime of polycrystalline diamond, however, is its low thermal stability, which limits its potential applications. Accordingly, PCD with enhanced thermostability was obtained in the diamond-Mo system, with resistance graphitization and oxidation around 200 °C higher than conventional PCD. The superior thermal performance seen for PCD-Mo may be due to the formation of in situ carbides (MoC and Mo2C), which inhibit the evolution of graphitization and oxidative processes.

Unravelling the analysis of electrical discharge machining process parameters, microstructural morphology, surface integrity, recast layer formation, and material properties: A comparative study of aluminum, brass, and Inconel 617 materials

Inadequate research regarding how material characteristics affect vital yield parameters in EDM, particularly for aluminium, brass, and Inconel 617. An limited study has examined how EDM process parameters like peak current (Ip), gap voltage, and pulse on time (Ton) affect recast layer thickness, tool wear rate, surface roughness, crack density, globule formation, material removal rate, and crater formation. The interaction between thermal conductivity, microcracks, and recast layers in EDM is uncertain. Material characteristics' implications on XRD patterns and globule formation during EDM machining were not extensively investigated. EDM process parameters and their impacts on response variables such tool wear rate (TWR), material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness, and globule formation for diverse materials have received minimal analysis. In addition, non-ferrous workpiece materials are integral to the electrical discharge machining process. This study delves into how the physical properties of materials influence key yield parameters, including tool wear rate, surface roughness, crack density, globules, material removal rate, and crater formation. The investigation covers Inconel 617, brass, and aluminum, revealing peak current (Ip) as the most influential factor for highly thermally conductive materials when compared to gap voltage and pulse on time (Ton). Notably, Inconel 617 exhibits longer cracks, while aluminum displays smaller ones, and deeper cracks are found on the surface of aluminum, contrasting with the broader craters observed on Inconel 617. Recast layer thickness varies, ranging from 8.3 μm for brass to 13.8 μm for aluminum. The study validates response values extensively against experimental data and highlights brass's superior surface finish. It further uncovers that plasma-generated craters are predominantly semispherical, with the plasma's diameter expanding faster than the crater's size. Sub-surface re-solidification emerges as a source of stress and micro-cracks, which diminish material's fatigue strength. Notably, aluminum exhibits a greater number of elegant microcracks on the machined surface, while brass and Inconel 617 have fewer. Recast layer thickness measurements indicate approximately 13.8 μm for aluminum, 8.3 μm for brass, and 9 μm for Inconel 617. Additionally, the thermal erosion process enhances the microhardness of the machining zone's subsurface due to the formation of oxides and carbides and the re-solidification of particles. Different material characteristics are revealed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, while globules, small and spherical, weakly adhere to the machining zone's subsurface. In particular, aluminum machined surfaces feature fewer globules, while brass surfaces exhibit a higher quantity, attributed to their varying thermal conductivity.

Experimental and Numerical Investigations on Strains of Metal Sheet Parts Processed by Electromagnetic Forming

Electromagnetic forming is applied to form metal sheet parts from both non-ferrous and ferrous materials. In this paper, the electromagnetic forming behavior of aluminum alloy, copper and steel sheets was investigated through experiments. The disk-shaped specimens were electromagnetically free bulged with increasing deformation energies and parts with different deformation depths were obtained. The deformation was done with and without clamping the movement of the specimens’ edges. The specimens were printed with a mesh of diametrical lines and concentric circles with a predetermined pitch. The mesh served to determine the displacements in the mesh nodes after the deformation of the specimens, with which the axial, radial and circumferential strains were then calculated. The experimental data obtained was subjected to statistical correlation and regression analyses, and the mathematical models for the three main strains in each material were established. The strains of AlMn0.5Mg0.5 and Cu-OF parts are maximum in the center and have a similar variation, while the FeP04 parts have the maximum strains in an intermediate zone between the center and the edge.

Evaluation of Laser Lap Weldability between the Titanium Alloy Ti-6Al-4V and Aluminum Alloy 6060-T6

This work investigates laser weldability between non-ferrous dissimilar metallic materials, specifically the aluminum 6060-T6 alloy and titanium Ti-6Al-4V. These materials are used in several engineering applications, including aerospace. In a simple lap joint configuration, these were welded with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser, with direct incidence on the titanium piece. Preheating and post-weld heating were introduced to mitigate cracking issues. Based on the primary experiments, the main variables were the peak laser power, which varied between 60 and 70%, and the number of beads (a single bead and double beads). The quality of the welds was assessed via uniaxial tensile tests, subjecting the joint to shear loading. Additionally, SEM micrographs were obtained to analyze the quality of the fusion between the dissimilar alloys. The higher strength of the welded samples achieved was 90 MPa, which is close to the reported value for the aluminum base material. A fracture occurred near the weld bead in the heat-affected zone (HAZ). The observed microporosities and cracks explain the lower value as compared to the base material. Although these were mitigated through the thermal cycle strategy employed and the shielding gas, they were not entirely avoided.

Study on Microstructure Evolution Mechanism of Gradient Structure Surface of AA7075 Aluminum Alloy by Ultrasonic Surface Rolling Treatment.

The materials with grain size gradient variation on the surface, which were prepared with mechanical-induced severe plastic deformation, always show high resistance to high and low cycle fatigue and frictional wear because of their good strength-ductility synergy. The ultrasonic surface rolling treatment (USRT) has the advantages of high processing efficiency, good surface quality, and large residual compressive stress introduced to the surface after treatment. The USRT was used to prepare aluminum alloy (AA7075) samples with a surface gradient structure; meanwhile, the microstructural evolution mechanism of the deformation layers on the gradient structure was studied with XRD, SEM, and TEM. The microstructure with gradient distribution of grain size and dislocation density formed on the surface of AA7075 aluminum alloy after USRT. The surface layer consists of nanocrystals with random orientation distribution, and high-density dislocation cells and subgrains formed in some grains in the subsurface layer, while the center of the material is an undeformed coarse-grained matrix. The results show that the dislocation slip dominates the grain refinement process, following the continuous cutting and refinement of dislocation cells, subgrains, and fragmentation of the second precipitates. This study systematically clarified the mechanism of grain refinement and nanocrystallization on the surface of high-strength aluminum alloys and laid a theoretical foundation for further research on mechanical behavior and surface friction and wear properties of high-strength non-ferrous materials with gradient structure.

The effect of tool wear on the damaged layer thickness and tool wear rate in ultra-precision turning of quartz glass

Quartz glasses have been extensively used for many fields, such as semiconductor technology, optical instruments, inertial navigation and others. Ultra-precision turning with diamond tools can achieve high surface accuracy when processing non-ferrous materials. In recent years, ultra-precision turning has also been tried to be applied to process brittle materials, but there are constraints including small removal amount and tool wear. When diamond tools are used to cut quartz glass, tool wear occurs under the combined action of thermal effect and mechanical friction, which will affect the damaged layer thickness of the processed quartz glass. In this paper, the tool wear factor is led into the calculation of the extrusion volume, and the damaged layer thickness is calculated by the extrusion volume. Combined with the results of quartz glass turning experiments and the calculated results by simulation, the effect of tool wear factor on the damaged layer thickness and the tool wear rate is analyzed. The analysis shows that tool wear will lead to chip fracture thickness decrease and extrusion volume increase. Combined action of these two aspects, the damage layer thickness keeps unchanged at first and then rises with the increase of tool wear. In addition, the experimental results show that the tool wear rate rises with the increase of tool wear.

Evaluation of nickel shot peening process on strength of friction stir welded AA2014-T6 aluminum alloy joints

Abstract The best aluminum alloys for construction are those that incorporate copper. However, welding engineers find it difficult to join aluminium and its alloys as a result of cracking. One of the popular methods for joining nonferrous materials, especially aluminum alloys, is friction stir welding (FSW). A tensile strength of 75 % to 85 % of the basic material strength is produced by FSW joints. The majority of studies have documented a reduction in strength as a result of incomplete melting, creating a soft region at the boundary between the thermo – mechanically influenced zone and the stir zone. The current effort has focused on using the shot peening method to reduce the softness at the interface. According to the test findings, the nickel shot-peened joint produced a stronger joint than the traditional FSW joint. The shot-peened joint has gained 7 % additional strength compared to untreated joint.