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Results for “Precipitation strengthening”

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.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Characterization of Precipitation-Strengthening Heat-Resistant Austenitic Stainless Steels for Life-Prediction Modeling

In this study, the role of minor alloying additions in 347H stainless steels (UNS34709, ASTM A240/240M) on creep-rupture properties at 650-750°C and microstructure evolution during isothermal exposure at 750°C has been investigated, aiming to provide the experimental dataset as boundary conditions of physics-based modeling for material/component life prediction. Four different 347H heats containing various amounts of boron and nitrogen additions were prepared and evaluated. The combined additions of B and N are found to stabilize the strengthening secondary M23C6 carbides and retarding the transition from M23C6 to sigma phase precipitates during thermal exposure. The observed kinetics of microstructure evolution reasonably explains the improvement of creep-rupture properties of 347H stainless steels with the B and N additions.

Yamamoto, Yukinori↗
NASA NTRS1974

An exploratory study of a zirconium-modified, precipitation-strengthened nickel-30 copper alloy

A precipitation-strengthened alloy has been produced through minor additions of zirconium to a base Ni-30Cu alloy. The results of this exploratory study indicate that thermomechanical processing of a solution-treated Ni-30Cu-0.2Zr alloy produced a dispersion of precipitates. The precipitates have been tentatively identified as a Ni5Zr compound. Comparison of the mechanical properties, as determined by testing in air, of the Zr-modified alloy to those of a Ni-30Cu alloy reveals that the precipitation-strengthened alloy has improved tensile properties to 1200 K and improved stress-rupture properties to 1100 K. The oxidation characteristics of the modified alloy appeared to be equivalent to those of the base Ni-30Cu alloy.

Whittenberger, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1974

High temperature mechanical properties of a zirconium-modified, precipitation- strengthened nickel, 30 percent copper alloy

A precipitation-strengthened Monel-type alloy has been developed through minor alloying additions of zirconium to a base Ni-30Cu alloy. The results of this exploratory study indicate that thermomechanical processing of a solution-treated Ni-30Cu-0.2Zr alloy produced a dispersion of precipitates. The precipitates have been tentatively identified as a Ni5Zr compound. A comparison of the mechanical properties, as determined by testing in air, of the zirconium-modified alloy to those of a Ni-30Cu alloy reveals that the precipitation-strengthened alloy has improved tensile properties to 1200 K and improved stress-rupture properties to 1100 K. The oxidation characteristics of the modified alloy appeared to be equivalent to those of the base Ni-30Cu alloy.

Whittenberger, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Strengthening Precipitate Morphologies Fully Quantified in Advanced Disk Superalloys

Advanced aviation gas turbine engines will require disk superalloys that can operate at higher temperatures and stresses than current conditions. Such applications will be limited by the tensile, creep, and fatigue mechanical properties of these alloys. These mechanical properties vary with the size, shape, and quantity of the gamma precipitates that strengthen disk superalloys. It is therefore important to quantify these precipitate parameters and relate them to mechanical properties to improve disk superalloys. Favorable precipitate morphologies and practical processing approaches to achieve them can then be determined. A methodology has been developed at the NASA Lewis Research Center to allow the comprehensive quantification of the size, shape, and quantity of all types of gamma precipitates.

Gabb, Timothy P.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Creep and stress rupture of a mechanically alloyed oxide dispersion and precipitation strengthened nickel-base superalloy

The creep and stress rupture behavior of a mechanically alloyed oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) and gamma-prime precipitation strengthened nickel-base alloy (alloy MA 6000E) was studied at intermediate and elevated temperatures. At 760 C, MA 6000E exhibits the high creep strength characteristic of nickel-base superalloys and at 1093 C the creep strength is superior to other ODS nickel-base alloys. The stress dependence of the creep rate is very sharp at both test temperatures and the apparent creep activation energy measured around 760 C is high, much larger in magnitude than the self-diffusion energy. Stress rupture in this large grain size material is transgranular and crystallographic cracking is observed. The rupture ductility is dependent on creep strain rate, but usually is low. These and accompanying microstructural results are discussed with respect to other ODS alloys and superalloys and the creep behavior is rationalized by invoking a recently-developed resisting stress model of creep in materials strengthened by second phase particles.

Howson, T. E.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Revealing the chemical environment of Cr, Fe, and Ni in high temperature-ultrafine precipitate strengthened steel subjected to low fluence neutron irradiation

High-temperature ultrafine-precipitate-strengthened (HT-UPS) steel has potential applications in advanced nuclear reactors as a structural material. However, little is currently known about its response to neutron irradiation. This research provides insight into the neutron irradiation-induced physicochemical changes of the major constituents in HT-UPS steels, including Fe, Cr, and Ni, using synchrotron X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and diffraction. This study is the first known investigation using XANES to characterize HT-UPS steel to analyze the evolution of the atomic level chemistry. It was found that following irradiation, nucleation, ballistic dispersion, and/or coarsening of Cr 23 C 6 precipitates occurred at very low neutron irradiation fluences, from 0.003 displacements per atom (dpa) up to 0.3 dpa, at ~600°C, which were at least an order of magnitude lower than previous studies. Calculations of the angular momentum projections, partial density of states, and the XANES spectra confirmed the experimental findings of the Cr 23 C 6 precipitate evolution. In contrast, the local atomic structure around Fe and Ni atoms demonstrated irradiation resistance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Creep Behavior and Phase Equilibria in Model Precipitate Strengthened Alumina-Forming Austenitic Alloys

Abstract Creep-rupture behavior and microstructural response in alumina-forming austenitic (AFA) alloys with two different precipitation strengthening mechanisms, “Laves-phase + M 23 C 6 carbide” and “coherent L1 2 γ′-Ni 3 (Al,Ti),” were explored as “model” cases of multi-phase, multi-scale heat-resistant AFA alloys for 650–750°C use. These alloys will be used to guide and verify computational alloy design and life-prediction modeling under an on-going eXtremeMAT project through the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, US Department of Energy. Computational thermodynamics were used to design and predict the amounts of strengthening and deteriorating secondary phases at 750°C. Creep-rupture lives of the alloys tested at 750°C and 100 MPa were in a range of 4000–9000 h, and the microstructure at the gage/grip after creep-rupture testing was compared with isothermally aged alloys for 1500 h, as well as the calculated phases. Detailed microstructure characterization includes phase identification, volume fraction measurement, and compositional analysis, which were correlated with the creep-rupture properties. High-temperature oxidation resistance was also screened and compared with commercial, chromia-forming heat-resistant steels. These model alloys also provide the basis for further design and optimization of next generation AFA alloys with improved creep resistance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Microstructure and Temperature Dependent Indentation Response of Additively Manufactured Precipitation-Strengthened Al 0.3 Ti 0.2 Co 0.7 CrFeNi 1.7 High Entropy Alloy

The temperature-dependent [from room temperature (RT) to 500°C] nanoindentation behavior of a precipitation-strengthened Al 0.3 Ti 0.2 Co 0.7 CrFeNi 1.7 high-entropy alloy (HEA) processed via two different additive manufacturing (AM) techniques was investigated in the as-deposited and annealed conditions. The hierarchically heterogeneous microstructures were achieved via simple one-step annealing treatments, exploiting the residual stresses in the AM-processed HEA to partially recrystallize the microstructure, performed remarkably better than the nearly homogeneous microstructures in the as-deposited state. Further, the one-step annealed conditions revealed < 6.6% reduction in hardness values at 500°C compared to RT, while the as-deposited conditions showed a > 18% reduction in the hardness. The one-step annealed conditions also exhibited significantly higher hardness than the as-deposited conditions owing to their L1 2 -strengthened FCC microstructures. Furthermore, serrated yielding or the Portevin-Le Chatlier effect indicative of microstructural instability was observed during nanoindentation deformation (at 500°C) for the as-deposited conditions but not for the one-step annealed conditions. This, therefore, signifies the robustness of the hierarchically heterogeneous microstructures at elevated temperatures presenting a strong avenue for tuning the HEAs for future nuclear reactor applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2017

Precipitation Strengthenable NiTiPd High Temperature Shape Memory Alloys

In binary NiTi alloys, it has long been known that Ni-rich alloys can be heat treated to produce precipitates which both strengthen the matrix against dislocations and improve the behavior of the material under thermal and mechanical cycling. Within recent years, the same effect has been observed in Ni-rich NiTiHf high temperature shape memory alloys and heat treatment regimens have been defined which will reliably produce improved properties. In NiTiPd alloys, precipitation has also been observed, but studies are still underway to define reliable heat treatments and compositions which will provide a balance of strengthening and good thermomechanical properties. For this study, a series of NiTi-32 at.Pd alloys was produced to determine the effect of changing nickeltitanium content on the transformation behavior and heat treatability of the material. Samples were aged at temperatures between 350C and 450C for times up to 100 hours. Actuation type behavior was evaluated using uniaxial constant force thermal cycling (UCFTC) to determine the effect of composition and aging on the material behavior. TEMSEM was used to evaluate the microstructure and determine the types of precipitates formed. The correlation between composition, heat treat, microstructure, and thermomechanical behavior will be addressed and discussed.

Transformation strain↗
NASA NTRS1989

Precipitation strengthened high strength, high conductivity Cu-Cr-Nb alloys produced by chill block melt spinning

A series of Cu-based alloys containing 2 to 10 a/o Cr and 1 to 5 a/o Nb were produced by chill block melt spinning (CBMS). The melt spun ribbons were consolidated and hot rolled to sheet to produce a supersaturated Cu-Cr-Nb solid solution from which the high melting point intermetallic compound Cr2Nb could be precipitated to strengthen the Cu matrix. The results show that the materials possess electrical conductivities in excess of 90 percent that of pure Cu at 200 C and above. The strengths of the Cu-Cr-Nb alloys were much greater than Cu, Cu-0.6 Cr, NARloy-A, and NARloy-Z in the as-melt spun condition. The strengths of the consolidated materials were less than Cu-Cr and Cu-Cr-Zr below 500 C and 600 C respectively, but were significantly better above these temperatures. The strengths of the consolidated materials were greater than NARloy-Z, at all temperatures. The GLIDCOP possessed similar strength levels up to 750 C when the strength of the Cu-Cr-Nb alloys begins to degrade. The long term stability of the Cu-Cr-Nb alloys was measured by the microhardness of aged samples and the growth of precipitates. The microhardness measurements indicate that the alloys overage rapidly, but do not suffer much loss in strength between 10 and 100 hours which confirms the results of the electrical resistivity measurements taken during the aging of the alloys at 500 C. The loss in strength from peak strength levels is significant, but the strength remains exceptionally good. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the as-melt spun samples revealed that Cr2Nb precipitates formed in the liquid Cu during the chill block melt spinning, indicating a very strong driving force for the formation of the precipitates. The TEM of the aged and consolidated materials indicates that the precipitates coarsen considerably, but remain in the submicron range.

Ellis, David L.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Crystallographic orientation-dependent strain hardening in a precipitation-strengthened Al-Cu alloy

While the strengthening of Al-Cu alloys due to precipitation has been extensively studied, the effect of crystallographic orientation of the matrix and precipitates, as well as precipitate morphology, on the strain hardening behavior is not well understood. In this paper, we investigate this effect with in situ neutron diffraction during deformation of an Al-Cu alloy (206) after multiple aging treatments. Precipitate-dislocation interactions were found to change from precipitate shearing for microstructures predominantly containing GPI and θ" precipitates to Orowan looping for microstructures with primarily θ' and θ precipitates. Notably, significant anisotropy in strain hardening behavior was observed when θ' precipitates were present, which was attributed to crystallographic orientation dependent load transfer from the Al matrix to the θ' precipitates. The anisotropic load transfer is hypothesized to be caused by the extent of rotation of high aspect-ratio θ' precipitates, owing to dislocations looping around them during plastic deformation of the matrix. Predictions from an analytical model describing the anisotropic magnitude of load transfer from precipitate rotation agree well with experimental results, successfully validating the precipitate rotation hypothesis and explaining the anisotropic strain hardening behavior. This model allows for the prediction of stresses separately in the precipitate and matrix phases as a function of crystallographic orientation, only given the bulk mechanical properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1991

The influence of Ag+Mg additions on the nucleation of strengthening precipitates in a non-cold-worked Al-Cu-Li alloy

Aluminum-copper-lithium alloys generally require cold work to attain their highest strengths in artificially aged tempers. These alloys are usually strengthened by a combination of the metastable delta prime (Al3Li) and theta prime (Al2Cu) phases and the equilibrium T sub 1 (Al2CuLi) phase, and where the T sub 1 phase is a more potent strengthener than the delta prime. Various investigators have shown that the high strengths obtained after artificial aging associated with cold work result from the heterogeneous precipitation of T sub 1 on matrix dislocations. The objective here is to elucidate the mechanism by which the Ag+Mg additions stimulate the precipitation of T sub 1 type precipitates without cold work. To accomplish this, the microstructure of an Al-6.3Cu-1.3Li-0.14Zr model alloy was evaluated in a T6 type temper with and without the Ag+Mg addition.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1973

Tensile properties to 650 C and deformation structures in a precipitation strengthened titanium-aluminum alloy

Appreciable strength levels were retained to 650 C in a Ti-10Al-1Si alloy aged in the (alpha + alpha sub 2) phase field to yield optimum room temperature strength and ductility. The aging treatment precipitated a uniform distribution of alpha sub 2-particles such that, at room temperature, dislocations bypassed instead of shearing the particles at low strains. Specimens fractured at room temperature exhibited fine uniform dimples even for those aging conditions that imparted no macroscopic ductility. The main crack appeared to propagate through the planar slip bands that had cut through the alpha sub 2-particles. A two-step aging process produced a higher volume fraction of bimodally distributed alpha sub 2-particles that led to higher strength levels at elevated temperatures. Both for the single size and the bimodal alpha sub 2-particle distributions, elevated-temperature deformation structures consisted mainly of planar slip bands that sheared through the alpha sub 2-particles.

Mendiratta, M. G.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Development of Precipitation-Strengthened Al 0.8 NbTiVM (M = Co, Ni) Light-Weight Refractory High-Entropy Alloys

Single-phase solid-solution refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs) have been receiving significant attention due to their excellent mechanical properties and phase stability at elevated temperatures. Recently, many studies have been reported regarding the precipitation-enhanced alloy design strategy to further improve the mechanical properties of RHEAs at elevated temperatures. In this study, we attempted to develop precipitation-hardened light-weight RHEAs via addition of Ni or Co into Al 0.8 NbTiV HEA. The added elements were selected due to their smaller atomic radius and larger mixing enthalpy, which is known to stimulate the formation of precipitates. The addition of the Ni or Co leads to the formation of the sigma precipitates with homogeneous distribution. The formation and homogeneous distribution of sigma particles plays a critical role in improvement of yield strength. Furthermore, the Al 0.8 NbTiVM 0.2 (M = Co, Ni) HEAs show excellent specific yield strength compared to single-phase AlNbTiV and NbTiVZr RHEA alloys and conventional Ni-based superalloy (Inconel 718) at elevated temperatures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗