• 열처리공학회지
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.271-276
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• 2020

The relationship between the hardness and interlamellar spacing of discontinuous precipitates (DPs) formed by continuous cooling was studied for Mg-9%Al-1%Zn alloy. After solution treatment at 683 K for 24 h, the specimens were cooled to room temperature with different cooling rates ranging from 0.2 to 2 K·min^-1, in order to obtain DPs with various interlamellar spacings. It was found that cooling rate of 2 K·min^-1 yielded only small amount of nodular DPs at the grain boundaries, while cooling rates below 2 K·min^-1 yielded both DPs and continuous precipitates (CPs). The volume fraction of DPs increased with increasing cooling rate up to 0.5 K·min^-1, over which it abruptly decreased. The hardness of DPs was increased with an increase in the cooling rate, whereas the interlamellar spacing of the DPs was decreased with respect to cooling rate. The hardness of the DPs formed by continuous cooling was correlated with the interlamellar spacing and can follow a Hall-Petch type relation as in the case of pearlite with lamellar morphology.

• 열처리공학회지
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.306-310
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• 2007

Changes in microstructure and damping capacity with aging time for solutionized Mg-Al alloy have been investigated. Discontinuous ${\beta}\;(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$ precipitates form along the primary grain boundaries, the amount of which increases as the aging time increases. The hardness of the matrix with respect to aging time shows a typical "S" shape, indicating a generation of fine continuous precipitates in the matrix during the aging. The peak level of damping capacity is obtained after 1 hour of aging, over which the damping capacity becomes deteriorated continuously. The formation of optimum density of continuous ${\beta}$ precipitates with fine morphology which would act as pinning points for dislocation lines, might be responsible for the improvement of damping capacity.

• 열처리공학회지
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.173-179
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate comparatively the microstructural characteristics and hardness of discontinuous precipitates (DPs) in Mg-9%Al alloy, which were formed by continuous cooling (CC) from 678 K to RT and isothermal aging (IA) at 413 K, respectively. In as-cast state, the Mg-9%Al alloy consisted of partially divorced eutectic β(Mg₁₇Al₁₂) particles with a small amount of DPs showing (α+β) lamellar morphology adjacent to the β particles. The DPs formed by CC had interlamellar spacings in a broad range of 0.85~2.12 ㎛ (1.51 ㎛ in average) owing to the various formation temperatures in response to continuous cooling process. Meanwhile, the DPs formed by IA had relatively narrower interlamellar spacings of 0.14~0.29 ㎛ (0.21 ㎛ in average), which is associated with the low and constant formation temperature. Thinner and higher volume fraction of β phase layers were noticeable in the DPs formed by IA. Higher hardness values were obtained in the DPs formed by IA than the DPs formed by CC, which may well be ascribed to the finer lamellar structure and higher β phase content of the DPs formed by IA.

• 열처리공학회지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 1999

This study has investigated the effect of aging treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-6Al-xZn(x = 1.5, 2.5) alloys fabricated by the squeeze casting process. The microstructures of as-squeeze cast were composed of pro-eutectic ${\alpha}$, super saturated ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$ compound. Aged at both $200^{\circ}C$ and $240^{\circ}C$, Mg-6Al-xZn alloys showed the peak hardness due to the formation of ${\beta}(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$ precipitates. The discontinuous precipitates of the lamella type are predominant at $200^{\circ}C$ aging treatment, while the finely dispersed continuous precipitates were dominant at $240^{\circ}C$ aging treatment. Mg-6Al-xZn alloys fabricated by the squeeze casting process had the better combination of tensile strength and elongation compared to the conventionally cast alloys. As zinc contents increased, the tensile strength was increased by the solid solution strengthening effect of zinc.

• 열처리공학회지
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• 제35권6호
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• pp.295-302
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• 2022

The present study aims to investigate the effect of Al content on microstructure and hardness of discontinuous precipitates (DPs) formed by continuous cooling (CC) in Mg-8%Al and Mg-9.5%Al alloys. The DPs had a wide range of (α+β) interlamellar spacings, which may well be attributed to the different transformation temperatures during CC. The higher Al content gave rise to the higher level of interlamellar spacings of the DPs, and thicker and larger amount of β phase layer in the DPs. It is noticeable that the Mg-9.5%Al alloy exhibited higher hardness of the DPs than the Mg-8%Al alloy, but the ratio of increase in hardness of the DPs compared to that of the as-cast state was similar regardless of the Al content. The reason was discussed based on the differences in microstructures of the DPs for the Mg-8%Al and Mg-9.5%Al alloys.

• 열처리공학회지
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.223-229
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• 2023

This work was intended to investigate the effects of Zn content on microstructure and hardness of discontinuous precipitates (DPs) produced by continuous cooling (CC) in Mg-8%Al-X%Zn alloys with 0%, 0.5% and 1% of Zn contents (wt%). The DPs in the alloys possessed a wide range of (α+β) interlamellar spacings, which is attributed to the different transformation temperatures during CC. The higher Zn content resulted in the lower level of interlamellar spacings of the DPs, along with thinner and larger volume fraction of β phase layer in the DPs. It is noted that the DPs in the alloy with higher Zn content exhibited higher hardness, and that the ratio of increase in hardness of the DPs to that of the as-cast state was also increased with increasing Zn content. The reason was discussed on the basis of microstructural differences of the DPs in the Mg-8%Al-X%Zn alloys.

• 한국주조공학회지
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.280-285
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• 2001

Nb-containing austenitic stainless steel is widely used as exhaust frame and diffuser assembly in power plant. However, this steel is known to be difficult to produce by the continuous casting process due to the surface cracks. Therefore, the continuous casting technology was developed for the prevention of the surface cracks on CC slabs. Precipitates and the analysis of heat trasfer in a slab were investigated in order to find out the formation mechanism of surface cracks on cc slabs It was found that surface cracks are occurred due to the NbC precipitates, which are formed along the grain boundaries around $800^{\circ}C$. The secondary cooling pattern has been developed to produce the defect free CC slabs of Nb-containing austenitic stainless steel.

• 열처리공학회지
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.249-255
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• 2019

This study is intended to clarify the main microstructural factors that contribute to an increase of hardness during isothermal aging in Mg-Al alloy. For this work, Mg-9.3%Al alloy specimens were solution-treated at 688 K for 24 h followed by water quenching, and then aged at 473 K for up to 24 h. The aging at 473 K yielded nodular discontinuous precipitates (DPs) with (${\alpha}+{\beta}$) lamellar morphology at the grain boundaries, and the volume fraction of DPs increased from 0% to ~30% with increasing aging time up to 12 h. For the aging times longer than 12 h, further formation of DPs was substantially inhibited owing to the occurrence of significant continuous precipitation within the ${\alpha}-(Mg)$ matrix, and the density of continuous precipitates (CPs) becomes greater with increasing aging time. Hardness of the specimen was steadily increased with aging time up to 24 h. Microstructural examination on the aged specimens revealed that the increased overall hardness at the early stage of aging is associated with the increased volume fraction of DPs, but at the later stage of aging, where the amount of DPs was hardly changed, the increased hardness of the ${\alpha}-(Mg)$ matrix in response to the higher density of CPs within the matrix, plays a key role in increasing the overall hardness value.

• 대한금속재료학회지
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.329-337
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• 2008

During the continuous casting of boron-bearing steel, the corner cracks on the slab are formed by deformation with low strain rate and rapid cooling at the unbending temperature within the range of 800- $1000^{\circ}C$. Especially, the rapid cooling in the corner of slab during the continuous casting leads to as corner cracking. Therefore, in this study, the hot tensile tests applied to the different cooling rates were taken into account in order to study the effect of cooling rate on the hot ductility of boron-bearing steel. The results revealed that increasing cooling rate deteriorate the hot ductility of boron- bearing steel. Rapid decreasing of the hot ductility is caused by formation of a film-like ferrite and precipitate at the austenite grain boundaries. The morphology of the precipitates in the boron-bearing steel was monitored by PTA (Particle Tracking Autoradiography) and TEM, we observed MnS and BN compound and their morphology was quite different depending on the cooling rates. When the cooling rate is increased, rodshape MnS and BN precipitates can be formed along the austenite grain boundaries. It can cause that weakening the boundary region and decreasing the hot ductility of boron-bearing steel.

• 열처리공학회지
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.302-308
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• 2021

The aim of this study was to investigate the dependence of the hardness and thermal conductivity on the volume fraction of discontinuous precipitates (DPs) in the Mg-9.3%Al alloy with (α-(Mg)+DPs) dual phase structure. In order to obtain various DPs volume fractions, the alloy was solution-treated at 688 K for 24 h and then aged at 418 K for up to 144 h. The volume fraction of DPs increased from 0% to 63% with an increase in the aging time up to 72 h, over which, continuous precipitation was observed within the α-(Mg) grains. It is noticeable that the hardness and thermal conductivity of the alloy increased linearly with the volume fraction of DPs. The improved hardness and thermal conductivity with respect to volume fraction of DPs are closely associated with the higher hardness of the DPs with fine (α+β) lamellar structure and the lower Al concentration in the α phase layer of the DPs, respectively.