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Hierarchy Microstructures and Phase Transformations in Metallic Alloys

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A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701). This special issue belongs to the section "Structural Integrity of Metals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2024 | Viewed by 6055

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ziyong Hou

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College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Interests: phase transformation in solid metallic alloys; multical microstructure characterization; thermodynamic and kinetic modelling

Prof. Dr. Wenzhen Xia

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Guest Editor

School of Metallurgical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243032, China
Interests: microstructure characterization; metal processing and mechanical property control; micro-nano mechanics; hydrogen embrittlement; nanotribology; nanolubricants; steels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Huan Zhao

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Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Dusseldorf, Germany
Interests: aluminum alloys; atom probe tomography

Dr. Hung-Wei (Homer) Yen

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Department of Materials Science & Engineering, National Taiwan University (NTU), Taipei 10617, Taiwan
Interests: materials characterizations: scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectrum, atom probe tomography; materials mechanical behaviors; microstructure and defect physics; phase transformation in alloys; empirical methods: thermo-calc or artificial neural network
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Dr. David San-Martin

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CSIC - Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Metalurgicas (CENIM), Madrid, Spain
Interests: metallurgy; steelstitanium; phase transformations

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is dedicated to presenting the current status and progression of knowledge on multi-scale characterization from the atomic to nanoscale dimensions as well as multiscale modelling of processing-microstructure-property/performance relation of metallic alloys such as steels, high entropy alloys, Ni-base alloys, light alloys. To obtain a further understanding of microstructural evaluation and phase transformation during deformation and thermal cyclic, including 3D printing, fast heating, cooling, solidification etc., a great number of scientific researches have been performed on microstructure characterization and modelling to an efficient materials and heat treatments design and optimization. Significant progress has been achieved in both experiments and modellings to describe the evolution of size, distribution, volume fraction, partitioning of alloying elements in the nucleation, growth, coarsening of phase transformation, especially with the help of Large-Scale Facilities (LSF) and high end of computational tools used for pioneering research in materials science.

Nevertheless, there still remain significant challenges that limit the quantitative and predictive capability of multiscale characterization and modelling. Aside from focusing on these challenges, contributions are sought on the advanced development of characterization and modelling the evolution of microstructure and phase transformation during processing and its effect on the structural and functional material properties.

Dr. Ziyong Hou
Prof. Dr. Wenzhen Xia
Dr. Huan Zhao
Dr. Hung-Wei (Homer) Yen
Dr. David San-Martin
Guest Editors

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Keywords

hierarchy microstructure
metallic alloys
advanced characterization
phase transformation
stress-strain

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 10577 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties of V-Containing Medium-Mn Steel Adopting Simple Intercritical Annealing

by Cansheng Yu, Ning Zhao, Yu Mei, Weisen Zheng, Yanlin He, Lin Li and Guo Yuan

Metals 2024, 14(2), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/met14020144 - 24 Jan 2024

Viewed by 689

Abstract

The variations of the microstructure and mechanical properties of medium-Mn steel after vanadium (V) microalloying with different contents were investigated. After a one-step intercritical annealing (IA) at 730 °C, the steel containing 0.04 wt.% of V exhibited excellent comprehensive properties. The steel maintained an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 1000 MPa while also exhibiting a total elongation (TEL) of 37% and a product of strength and plasticity (PSE) of 37.7 GPa%. V-microalloying improved the yield strength (YS) and UTS of the experimental steel by refining ferrite grains and precipitation strengthening, however, it deteriorated its plasticity, which is difficult to compensate for through grain refinement and due to the TRIP effect of retained austenite (RA). The largest amount of RA and the appropriate stability also make a significant contribution to the outstanding UTS of the steel containing 0.04 wt.% of V through the TRIP effect. However, the further increase of V content led to decreased RA content and stability, weakening the TRIP effect and resulting in a weaker strength ductility balance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hierarchy Microstructures and Phase Transformations in Metallic Alloys)

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15 pages, 6339 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microstructure Features and Mechanical Properties of Modified Low-Activation Austenitic Steel in the Temperature Range of 20 to 750 °C

by Igor Litovchenko, Sergey Akkuzin, Nadezhda Polekhina, Kseniya Spiridonova, Valeria Osipova, Anna Kim, Evgeny Moskvichev, Vyacheslav Chernov and Alexey Kuznetsov

Metals 2023, 13(12), 2015; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13122015 - 15 Dec 2023

Viewed by 719

Abstract

A new low-activation austenitic steel with a modified composition and high austenite stability is proposed. The features of its microstructure after solution treatment (ST) and cold rolling (CR) are studied. The mechanical properties and features of the fracture behavior of this steel under tensile tests in the temperature range of 20–750 °C are discussed. After ST, an austenitic structure with stacking faults and dispersed carbide particles of the MC and M₂₃C₆ types is observed in the steel. After CR, the grains are refined, and the average grain size decreases from 41.4 µm (after ST) to 33.9 µm. High-density microtwin packets form in the material, and the dislocation density increases relative to that after ST. As the test temperature increases from 20 to 750 °C, the yield strength of the steel decreases by approximately two times, from ≈300 to 150 MPa (for ST) and from ≈700 to 370 MPa (for CR). In the studied temperature range, the steel demonstrates up to 2.6 times higher values of elongation to failure, ≈40–80% (for ST) and ≈13–27% (for CR), compared to steels of similar compositions and lower manganese content. Mechanical twinning contributes to the high steel ductility up to 300 °C. Signs of discontinuous flow in the tensile curves after ST in the temperature range of 500–600 °C and a decrease in the elongation to failure in the close temperature range indicate dynamic strain aging (DSA). Steel fracture after tension at all test temperatures mainly occurs via a ductile dimple transcrystalline mechanism with elements of ductile intercrystalline fracture. It is shown that cracks nucleate on clusters of dispersed second-phase particles. The mechanisms of plastic deformation, fracture, and strengthening of the proposed modified low-activation austenitic steel are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hierarchy Microstructures and Phase Transformations in Metallic Alloys)

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17 pages, 12828 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microstructure and Texture Evolution of Hot-Rolled Mg-3Gd Alloy during Recrystallization

by Fang Han, Hanxi Wang, Xuan Luo, Ziyong Hou, Guilin Wu and Xiaoxu Huang

Metals 2023, 13(7), 1216; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13071216 - 30 Jun 2023

Viewed by 892

Abstract

An Mg-3Gd (wt.%) sample with gradient rolling strains (ε = 0–0.55) was prepared using a wedge-shaped plate after one-pass hot rolling, allowing a high-throughput characterization of microstructure and texture over a wide strain range within one hot-rolled plate. The microstructure and texture evolutions were characterized as a function of rolling strain for the as-hot-rolled sample and as a function of annealing temperature for the subsequently annealed samples. The deformed microstructure showed a gradual change with increasing rolling strain, i.e., from a deformation twins-dominant structure in the low strain range of 0–0.20, to a shear bands-dominant structure in the higher strain range of 0.20–0.55. The recrystallization behavior during annealing showed a clear correlation between the recrystallization nucleation site and the deformed microstructure. However, a weak recrystallization texture with non-basal texture components was formed over almost the entire strain range. This work demonstrates a high-throughput experimental strategy using a wedge-shaped sample to investigate the effect of various processing parameters, such as strain and annealing temperature, on the evolution of microstructure, texture, and mechanical properties, which could accelerate the optimization of processing parameters and microstructural design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hierarchy Microstructures and Phase Transformations in Metallic Alloys)

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13 pages, 3090 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of B on the Co-Segregation of C-Cr at Grain Boundaries in Austenitic Steels

by Xin Yan, Panpan Xu, Peide Han, Nan Dong, Jian Wang and Caili Zhang

Metals 2023, 13(6), 1044; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13061044 - 30 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 862

Abstract

In austenitic steels, the co-segregation of C and Cr at grain boundaries can result in the formation of Cr₂₃C₆. However, the addition of B to steels can effectively reduce the amount of Cr₂₃C₆ formed and inhibit its ripening in experiments, simultaneously transforming it into Cr₂₃(BC)₆. Therefore, the effect of B on the co-segregation of C and Cr at the Σ5(210), Σ9(221) and Σ11(113) grain boundaries in austenitic steels was investigated using density functional theory. The results indicate that B, C, and Cr all tend to segregate at the three grain boundaries, with B and C showing a stronger segregation tendency. Furthermore, co-segregation of C and Cr with short distances occurs readily at the Σ5(210), Σ9(221) and Σ11(113) grain boundaries. The presence of B at grain boundaries can impede the segregation of Cr, particularly at the Σ9(221) and Σ11(113) grain boundaries. When B is pre-segregating at the Σ5(210) grain boundary, B, C, and Cr tend to co-segregate at the grain boundary. The grain boundary B hinders the accumulation of Cr near it for most grain boundaries, thereby inhibiting the co-segregation of Cr and C, making it difficult for B, C, and Cr to aggregate at most grain boundaries. This is beneficial for controlling the nucleation of Cr₂₃(BC)₆. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hierarchy Microstructures and Phase Transformations in Metallic Alloys)

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16 pages, 11692 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Reconstruction of Engineered Austenite: Revisiting Effects of Grain Size and Ausforming on Variant Selection of Martensite

by Cheng-Yao Huang, Shao-Lun Lu and Hung-Wei Yen

Metals 2022, 12(9), 1511; https://doi.org/10.3390/met12091511 - 13 Sep 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1946

Abstract

In this work, the variant selection of martensite in a stainless maraging steel was investigated by electron backscattering diffraction and a new protocol of parent phase reconstruction. The reconstruction protocol enables digital austenite reversion into prior austenite microstructure and provides information of variant selection from a large number of austenite grains. It was found that strong variant selection occurred when the prior austenite grains were significantly refined in annealing or severely deformed by ausforming. When the prior austenite grain size was finer than 20 μm, it was found that a pair of twinned variants dominated in one packet, which dominates the prior austenite grain. This finding is explained by the inefficient space left by the early transformed martensite in the dominant packet. In contrast, variants with the same Bain orientation occupied most of the space of the austenite when the strain of the austenite exceeded 50%. The accumulated microbands on the

\{1 1 1\}

plane acted as nucleation sites of specific variants of martensite. This work provides statistical results to revisit the variant selection of martensitic transformation with the assistance of computational crystallography. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hierarchy Microstructures and Phase Transformations in Metallic Alloys)

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