Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “MAGNESIUM ALLOY”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 199 records · Page 11

Melt-Pool Dynamics and Microstructure of Mg Alloy WE43 under Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing Conditions

Magnesium-based alloy WE43 is a state-of-the-art bioresorbable metallic implant material. There is a need for implants with both complex geometries to match the mechanical properties of bone and refined microstructure for controlled resorption. Additive manufacturing (AM) using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) presents a viable fabrication method for implant applications, as it offers near-net-shape geometrical control, allows for geometry customization based on an individual patient, and fast cooling rates to achieve a refined microstructure. In this study, the laser–alloy interaction is investigated over a range of LPBF-relevant processing conditions to reveal melt-pool dynamics, pore formation, and the microstructure of laser-melted WE43. In situ X-ray imaging reveals distinct laser-induced vapor depression morphology regimes, with minimal pore formation at laser-scan speeds greater than 500 mm/s. Optical and electron microscopy of cross-sectioned laser tracks reveal three distinct microstructural regimes that can be controlled by adjusting laser-scan parameters: columnar, dendritic, and banded microstructures. These regimes are consistent with those predicted by the analytic solidification theory for conduction-mode welding, but not for keyhole-mode tracks. The results provide insight into the fundamental laser–material interactions of the WE43 alloy under AM-processing conditions and are critical for the successful implementation of LPBF-produced WE43 parts in biomedical applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Long-term thermal degradation and alloying constituent effects on five boron/aluminum composites

Thermal exposure effects on the properties of five boron/aluminum composite systems were experimentally investigated. The composite systems were 49 volume percent boron fibers (203 micron diameter) in aluminum-alloy matrices 1100 Al, 2024 Al, 3003 Al, 5052 Al, and 6061 Al. Specimens were thermally exposed up to 10,000 hours at 500 K and 590 K, up to 500 hours at 730 K, and up to 10,000 hours at 500 K and 590 K, up to 500 hours at 730 K, and up to 2000 thermal cycles between 200 K and 590 K. Composite longitudinal and transverse tensile strengths, longitudinal compression strength, and in-plane shear strength were determined. None of the systems was severely degraded by exposure at 590 K. The best performing system was B-2024 Al. Effects of matrix alloys on degradation mechanisms were experimentally investigated. Composite specimens and individual fibers were metallurgically analyzed with a scanning electron microscope and an electron microprobe to determine failure characteristics, chemical element distribution, and reaction layer morphology. Alloying constituents were found to be affect the composite degradation mechanisms as follows: alloys containing iron, but without manganese as a stabilizer, caused increased low-temperature degradation; alloys containing magnesium, iron, or manganese caused increased degradation; and alloys containing copper caused increased fiber strength.

Olsen, G. C.↗

Mechanochemical Synthesis and Thermoelectric Properties of Magnesium Silicide and Related Alloys

The present invention provides a method of making a substantially phase pure compound including a cation and an anion. The compound is made by mixing in a ball-milling device a first amount of the anion with a first amount of the cation that is less than the stoichiometric amount of the cation, so that substantially all of the first amount of the cation is consumed. The compound is further made by mixing in a ball-milling device a second amount of the cation that is less than the stoichiometric amount of the cation with the mixture remaining in the device. The mixing is continued until substantially all of the second amount of the cation and any unreacted portion of anion X are consumed to afford the substantially phase pure compound.

Fleurial, Jean-Pierre↗

Mitigating Space Radiation Using Magnesium(-Lithium) and Boron Carbide Composites

The health effects of galactic cosmic radiation are a serious impediment to crewed exploration of the solar system. OLTARIS, an interface for the 3DHZETRN deterministic radiation transport code, was used to assess the response of aerospace materials to this constant radiation exposure. Traditional aerospace structural materials like aluminum can, after a certain mass, increase the health effects of such radiation. However, materials with lower atomic mass may mitigate this build-up in secondary radiation with increasing areal density. As such, lower atomic mass structural alloys of magnesium and magnesium–lithium are promising candidates. These alloys may reduce the mass of structures when substituted for aluminum alloys. Reinforcement with boron carbide could further reduce atomic mass while also improving the mechanical properties of such lightweight alloys. This study found that the lower atomic mass of these materials increased nuclear fragmentation upon cosmic radiation interactions, leading to a softening of the secondary (neutron) radiation spectra. This softened spectra reduced the effective dose equivalent, a measure of health effects, for magnesium(-lithium) alloys and their boron carbide-reinforced composites when compared to aluminum.

Galactic cosmic radiation↗

Stress-corrosion behavior of aluminum-lithium alloys in aqueous environments

The stress corrosion susceptibility of two powder metallurgy (P/M) alloys, Al-Li-Cu and Al-Li-Cu-Mg two mechanically attrited (M/A) alloys, Al-Li-Cu and Al-Li-Mg; and two wrought, ingot alloys, X-2020 and AA7475, are compared. Time-dependent fracture in an aqueous sodium chloride environment under alternate immersion condition was found to vary significantly between alloys. The stress corrosion behavior of the two powder metallurgy processed alloys was studied in detail under conditions of crack initiation, static crack growth, and fatigue crack growth. A variety of stress corrosion tests were performed including smooth surface, time-to-failure tests; potentiostatic tests on smooth surfaces exposed to constant applied strain rates; and fracture mechanics-type tests under static and cyclic loads. Both alloys show surface pitting and subsequent intergranular corrosion. Pitting is more severe in the magnesium-bearing alloy and is associated with stringer particles strung along the extrusion direction as a result of P/M processing.

Pizzo, P. P.↗

Stress-corrosion behavior of aluminum-lithium alloys in aqueous salt environments

The stress corrosion susceptibility of two powder metallurgy (P/M) alloys, Al-Li-Cu and Al-Li-Cu-Mg; two mechanically attrited (M/A) alloys, Al-Li-Cu and Al-Li-Mg; and two wrought, ingot alloys, X-2020 and AA7475, are compared. Time-dependent fracture in an aqueous sodium chloride environment under alternate immersion condition was found to vary significantly between alloys. The stress corrosion behavior of the two powder metallurgy processed alloys was studied in detail under conditions of crack initiation, static crack growth, and fatigue crack growth. A variety of stress corrosion tests were performed including smooth surface, time-to-failure tests; potentiostatic tests on smooth surfaces exposed to constant applied strain rates; and fracture mechanics-type tests under static and cyclic loads. Both alloys show surface pitting and subsequent intergranular corrosion. Pitting is more severe in the magnesium-bearing alloy and is associated with stringer particles strung along the extrusion direction as a result of P/M processing.

Pizzo, P. P.↗

Use of reversible hydrides for hydrogen storage

The addition of metals or alloys whose hydrides have a high dissociation pressure allows a considerable increase in the hydrogenation rate of magnesium. The influence of temperature and hydrogen pressure on the reaction rate were studied. Results concerning the hydriding of magnesium rich alloys such as Mg2Ca, La2Mg17 and CeMg12 are presented. The hydriding mechanism of La2Mg17 and CeMg12 alloys is given.

Darriet, B.↗

Atomistic simulations and machine learning of solute grain boundary segregation in Mg alloys at finite temperatures

Understanding solute segregation thermodynamics is the first step in investigating grain boundary (GB) properties, such as strong yttrium (Y) effects on grain growth and texture evolution in micro-scale polycrystalline magnesium (Mg) alloys. To estimate the average GB segregation behavior in low-solute-concentration Mg alloys (e.g., 2 at.% Y), a state-of-the-art spectral approach is applied based on a per-site segregation energy spectrum for Y solute atoms at zero K obtained from molecular statistics (MS) simulations of ~10 4 GB sites in Mg symmetric tilt GBs (STGBs). Although selected MS simulation results are consistent with verification by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, estimates of average segregation tendency based on the zero-K energy spectrum deviate from experimental observations. To resolve this problem, thermodynamic integration (TI) methods based on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to determine the per-site segregation free energies of Y at representative GB sites, which show contributions beyond harmonic approximations can be important for certain GB sites at high temperatures. A surrogate model of per-site segregation free energy is constructed from a small set of TI data points using stacking cross-validation regressors and physics-informed descriptors. This model is applied to predict the Y segregation free energy spectra for thousands of GB sites in Mg STGBs with uncertainty quantification. Finally, the average segregation tendency predicted by the spectral approach based on the free energy spectra agrees well (within the uncertainty range) with experimental observations for micro-scale polycrystalline Mg alloys at typical thermomechanical processing temperatures (500 ~ 800 K), where thermodynamic equilibrium states are likely to be achieved due to fast diffusion.

Atomistic simulations↗

The Effect of Continuous Weathering on Light Metal Alloys Used in Aircraft

An investigation of the corrosion of light metal alloys used in aircraft was begun at the National Bureau of Standards in 1925 and has for its purpose causes of corrosion in aluminum-rich and magnesium-rich alloys together with the development of methods for its prevention. The results, obtained in an extensive series of laboratory and weather-exposure tests, reveal the relative durability of a number of commercially available materials and the extent to which the application of various surface coatings of oxide alone and with paint coatings afforded additional protection. The paper may be considered as a supplement to NACA report 490.

Mutchler, Willard↗

Fatigue Crack Growth Threshold Testing of Metallic Rotorcraft Materials

Results are presented for a program to determine the near-threshold fatigue crack growth behavior appropriate for metallic rotorcraft alloys. Four alloys, all commonly used in the manufacture of rotorcraft, were selected for study: Aluminum alloy 7050, 4340 steel, AZ91E Magnesium, and Titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V (beta-STOA). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sponsored this research to advance efforts to incorporate damage tolerance design and analysis as requirements for rotorcraft certification. Rotorcraft components are subjected to high cycle fatigue and are typically subjected to higher stresses and more stress cycles per flight hour than fixed-wing aircraft components. Fatigue lives of rotorcraft components are generally spent initiating small fatigue cracks that propagate slowly under near-threshold cracktip loading conditions. For these components, the fatigue life is very sensitive to the near-threshold characteristics of the material.

Newman, John A.↗

Aluminum-Scandium Alloys: Material Characterization, Friction Stir Welding, and Compatibility With Hydrogen Peroxide (MSFC Center Director's Discretionary Fund Final Report, Proj. No. 04-14)

This Technical Memorandum describes the development of several high-strength aluminum (Al) alloys that are compatible with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) propellant for NASA Hypersonic-X (Hyper-X) vehicles fuel tanks and structures. The yield strengths for some of these Al-magnesium-based alloys are more than 3 times stronger than the conventional 5254-H112 Al alloy, while maintaining excellent H2O2 compatibility similar to class 1 5254 alloy. The alloy development strategy is to add scandium, zirconium, and other transitional metals with unique electrochemical properties, which will not act as catalysts, to decompose the highly concentrated 90 percent H2O2. Test coupons are machined from sheet metals for H2O2 long-term exposure testing and mechanical properties testing. In addition, the ability to weld the new alloys using friction stir welding has also been explored. The new high-strength alloys could represent an enabling material technology for Hyper-X vehicles, where flight weight reduction is a critical requirement.

Lee, J. A.↗

The relative stress-corrosion-cracking susceptibility of candidate aluminum-lithium alloys for aerospace structural applications

The microstructure and tensile properties of two powder metallurgy processed aluminum-lithium alloys were determined. Strength properties of 480 MPa yield and 550 MPa ultimate tensile strength with 5% strain to fracture were attained. Very little reduction in area was observed and fracture characteristics were brittle. The magnesium bearing alloy exhibited the highest strength and ductility, but fracture was intergranular. Recrystallization and grain growth, as well as coarse grain boundary precipitation, occurred in Alloy 2. The fracture morphology of the two alloys differed. Alloy 1 fractured along a plane of maximum shear stress, while Alloy 2 fractured along a plane of maximum tensile stress. It is found that a fixed orientation relationship exists between the shear fracture plane and the rolling direction which suggests that the PM alloys are strongly textured.

Pizzo, P. P.↗

Modulus, strength and thermal exposure studies of FP-Al2O3/aluminum and FP-Al2O3/magnesium composites

The mechanical properties of FP-Al2O3 fiber reinforced composites prepared by liquid infiltration techniques are improved. A strengthening addition, magnesium, was incorporated with the aluminum-lithium matrix alloy usually selected for these composites because of its good wetting characteristics. This ternary composite, FP-Al2O3/Al-(2-3)Li-(3-5)Mg, showed improved transverse strength compared with FP-Al2O3/Al-(2-3)Li composites. The lower axial strengths found for the FP-Al2O3/Al-(2-3)Li-(3-5)Mg composites were attributed to fabrication related defects. Another technique was the use of Ti/B coated FP-Al2O3 fibers in the composites. This coating is readily wet by molten aluminum and permitted the use of more conventional aluminum alloys in the composites. However, the anticipated improvements in the axial and transverse strengths were not obtained due to poor bonding between the fiber coating and the matrix. A third approach studied to improve the strengths of FP-Al2O3 reinforced composites was the use of magnesium alloys as matrix materials. While these alloys wet fibers satisfactorily, the result indicated that the magnesium alloy composites used offered no axial strength or modulus advantage over FP-Al2O3/Al-(2-3)Li composites.

Bhatt, R. T.↗

The Preston-Tonks-Wallace (PTW) Model Parameterization of Al-6061 With Sesame EoS

In this report, we make a recommendation for the PTW model parameters for an aluminum alloy, Al 6061-T6 based on the quasi-static and split-Hopkin pressure bar experimental data, provided by the experimentalists in MST-8, LANL. Al 6061 is an aluminum alloy with magnesium and silicon, and the temper designation T6 means it has gone through heat treatment followed by quenching, cooling, and aging. (Note that T4 is naturally aged and T6, artificially.) We adopted the shear modulus and melt curve models that are necessary to parameterize the PTW model, from Sesame EoS. In the lack of those information on this particular aluminum alloy, we used what is available for pure aluminum.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗