Microstructure evolution during remelting of high solid fraction ZL101 alloy

This work deals with the reheating process for semi-solid thixoforming of ZL101 (AlSi7Mg) alloy. The semi-solid state can decrease the viscosity and the resistance while sheared because of the evolutional behavior, which is characterized by a solid-like behavior at rest and a liquid flow during shearing. The microstructure evolution of ZL101 alloy at different temperatures from 540 to 580 °C has been studied. Results show that the eutectic temperature can affect the transformation speed of semi-solid structure. Semi-solid microstructures with high solid fraction can be obtained by controlling the reheating time in less than 20min, while at the temperature lower than the eutectic temperature it needs more than one hour. Another character of semi-solid ZL101 alloy is the segregation of microstructures in semi-solid state, in which the liquid phase between the solid phases can flow freely and lead to the shrinkage of the sample during the heating process. As the holding time goes on, more shrinkage holes appear and change the surface of the specimen. These shrinkage holes are replenished by the liquid phase during compression deformation, resulting in the segregation of the components.     

Evolving mechanism of eutectic carbide in as-cast AISI M2 high-speed steel at elevated temperature

AbstractThe evolution in type,size and shape of carbides in as-cast American Iron and Steel Institute(AISI) M2 high-speed steel before and after annealing were investigated.The micromechanism which was responsible for those changes was also analyzed and discussed.At the initial stage of reheating,metastable M2C-type carbide decomposed continuously.M6C-type carbide nucleated at the interface of M2C/γfirstly and grow from surface to center.Then MC-type carbide nucleated at both surface of M6C/M6C and inner of M6C.With the increasing decomposition of the metastable M2C-type carbide,the rod-shaped construction of eutectic carbide began necking,fracturing and spheroidizing gradually.Held enough time or reheated at higher temperature,particle-shaped product aggregated and grew up apparently,while secondary carbide precipitated in cell and grew up less sig- nificantly than the former.Based on the above microstructural observation,the thermodynamic mechanism for decomposition of M2C carbide,for spheroidization of products,and for the growth of particles were analyzed.The rate equations of carbides evolution were derived,too.It shows that the evolving rate is controlled by diffusion coefficients of alloy atoms,morphology of eutectic carbides and heating temperature.