The TiNbZr/(Ti, Nb)B metal matrix composite with 2.5 vol.% of borides was produced by vacuum arc melting. The composite was then cold-rolled to thickness strains of 10, 20, 50, or 80%. In the initial condition, the composite had a network-like microstructure consisting of the soft TiNbZr matrix (dendrites) and the rigid (Ti, Nb)B shell (interdendritic space). In comparison with the as-cast condition, cold rolling increased strength by 17–35%, depending on the thickness strain. After the maximum thickness strain of 80%, yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the composite achieved 865 and 1080 MPa, respectively, while total elongation was found to be 5%. Microstructural analysis revealed that cold rolling to 50% resulted in the formation of crossing shear bands caused by the considerable difference in deformation behavior of the matrix and reinforcements. Cold rolling to 80% led to the formation of a lamellar-like microstructure comprising the interlayers of the (Ti, Nb)B phase between the TiNbZr laths. The maximum strain (80% cold rolling) shortened the (Ti, Nb)B fibers into nearly equiaxed particles, with a length to diameter ratio of ~2.
A Ti-6.5Al-2Zr-1Mo-1V/TiB metal-matrix composite with 10.0 vol.% of TiB reinforcing fibers was produced using vacuum arc melting and compared with an unreinforced arc-melted Ti-6.5Al-2Zr-1Mo-1V alloy. The initial microstructure of the composite consisted of two-phase α + β matrix with randomly distributed boride fibers. The addition of TiB fibers resulted in a 40% increase in strength. At room temperature, the composite attained a yield strength of 1100 MPa and a ductility of 10% in compression. At elevated temperatures (400–950 °C), the values of yield strength of the composite remained ~1.5–2 times greater in comparison with the unreinforced alloy. A faster development of globularization in the composite in comparison with the unreinforced alloy was established. The interphase TiB particle/matrix boundary did not contain either a transition layer or any defects like pores or microcracks. Using the obtained results, the apparent activation energy of the plastic deformation was calculated, and processing maps were analyzed both for the unreinforced alloy and for the composite.
Features of microstructure, mechanical properties, and cracking behaviour of the René 80-type superalloy manufactured by laser-based directed energy deposition (DED-LB) have been investigated. Different cracking behaviours were observed in two thin walls fabricated by DED-LB under different conditions. The defect-free thin wall was produced at low power and scanning speed, while increasing energy input during the process led to intensive cracking. Two types of cracks that developed in the René 80-type superalloy were identified: solidification hot cracking and ductility-dip cracking (DDC), caused by σ-phase particles. It was found that transition from an equiaxed structure to a columnar one increased the susceptibility to crack propagation.
The temperature dependence of the mechanical properties of the CoCrFeNi medium-entropy alloy (MEA) manufactured by laser-directed energy deposition (L-DED) and additionally annealed at 1200 °C for 24 h was studied. The microstructure of the as-deposited alloy was represented by a single-phase face-centered cubic structure with coarse columnar grains and a high density of dislocation. Annealing resulted in the development of recrystallization and a reduction in dislocation density. The CoCrFeNi alloy produced by L-DED demonstrated mechanical properties comparable with those of the fine-grained equiatomic CoCrFeMnNi alloy, produced by casting followed by thermomechanical processing. Namely, as-deposited CoCrFeNi had a yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of YS = 370 MPa and UTS = 610 MPa at room temperature, and YS = 565 MPa and UTS = 965 MPa at cryogenic temperature, along with a ductility of ~60%. Annealing resulted in a decrease in strength to YS = 180/350 MPa at 293/77 K. A quantitative analysis of various strengthening mechanisms showed that some strength increment of the as-deposited alloy was ensured by the high dislocation density formed during L-DED.
Specimens of a medium-entropy Fe65(CoNi)25Cr9.5C0.5 (in at.%) alloy were produced using additive manufacturing (selective laser melting, SLM). The selected parameters of SLM resulted in a very high density in the specimens with a residual porosity of less than 0.5%. The structure and mechanical behavior of the alloy were studied under tension at room and cryogenic temperatures. The microstructure of the alloy produced by SLM comprised an elongated substructure, inside which cells with a size of ~300 nm were observed. The as-produced alloy demonstrated high yield strength and ultimate tensile strength (YS = 680 MPa; UTS = 1800 MPa) along with good ductility (tensile elongation = 26%) at a cryogenic temperature (77 K) that was associated with the development of transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effect. At room temperature, the TRIP effect was less pronounced. Consequently, the alloy demonstrated lower strain hardening and a YS/UTS of 560/640 MPa. The deformation mechanisms of the alloy are discussed.