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5 pages, 1558 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Clad Metals: Fabrication, Properties, and Applications

by Young-Rae Cho

Metals 2021, 11(8), 1186; https://doi.org/10.3390/met11081186 - 26 Jul 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4312

Abstract

Studying clad metals has been an active field of research in the last few decades [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clad Metals: Fabrication, Properties and Applications)

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Research

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10 pages, 6481 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Change of Microstructure and Hardness of Duo-Casted Al3003/Al4004 Clad Material during Extrusion Process

by Jin-Kyung Lee, Sang-Pill Lee, Jong-Sup Lee, Sangmok Lee, Ilguk Jo and Dong-Su Bae

Metals 2020, 10(12), 1648; https://doi.org/10.3390/met10121648 - 7 Dec 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1766

Abstract

This study was carried out to observe and measure the microstructure, distance between dendrite arms, aspect ratio, and Knoop hardness change of extruded material formed by the hydro co-extrusion of Al3003/Al4004 clad material manufactured by the duo-casting method. The specimen of duo-casted Al3003/Al4004 [...] Read more.

This study was carried out to observe and measure the microstructure, distance between dendrite arms, aspect ratio, and Knoop hardness change of extruded material formed by the hydro co-extrusion of Al3003/Al4004 clad material manufactured by the duo-casting method. The specimen of duo-casted Al3003/Al4004 clad materials was circle shaped; it was composed of Al3003 (outside) and Al4004 (inside) materials. The manufacturing conditions of the hydro co-extruded specimen were 423 K temperature and 6.5 ratio of extrusion. At the interface of the duo-casted Al3003/Al4004 clad material, a non-junction at the interface and non-metallic inclusions of Si- and Mn-based oxides were observed. Al3003 exhibits equiaxed crystals; Al4004 has a casted structure with dendrites before extrusion, showed slight deformation during extrusion, and then finally exhibited completely deformed structures after extrusion. In the cast material, the distance between dendrite arms increased, and the aspect ratio of dendrites tended to decrease from the surface to the center. However, in the case of the extruded material, neither Al3003 nor Al4004 changed significantly from the surface to the inside. As extrusion progressed, the Knoop hardness value at the interface of Al3003/Al4004 increased rapidly compared with those of Al3003 and Al4004 matrixes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clad Metals: Fabrication, Properties and Applications)

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15 pages, 38193 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Laser-Assisted Fusing on Microstructural Evolution and Tribological Properties of NiWCrSiB Coating

by Changkyoo Park and Eun-Joon Chun

Metals 2020, 10(4), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/met10040548 - 23 Apr 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2361

Abstract

The present study examines the applicability of a diode laser-assisted fusing treatment and a temperature-control system to the NiWCrSiB thermal spray coating to develop the enhanced wear resistance of continuous-casting molds. As a result of the use of the lasers, the variations in [...] Read more.

The present study examines the applicability of a diode laser-assisted fusing treatment and a temperature-control system to the NiWCrSiB thermal spray coating to develop the enhanced wear resistance of continuous-casting molds. As a result of the use of the lasers, the variations in the microstructure and the hardening behavior during the fusing treatment could be controlled. Fine secondary phases (approximately 0.05–10 μm in size) homogeneously present in the coating after the laser-assisted fusing were observed to be Cr-, Mo- and W-based carbides and borides. Transmission electron microscope analysis was used to characterize these fine secondary phases as M₇C₃ and M₂₃C₆ carbides and M₅B₃ boride. Because of these fine secondary phases, the hardness increased from 730 (as-sprayed status) to 1230 HV (after fusing at a temperature of 1473 K). Finally, given the formation of fine secondary phases and the occurrence of surface hardening, the laser-assisted fusing treatment was deemed to enhance the tribological performance of the thermal-sprayed coating, in that it exhibited a lower coefficient of friction and lower wear rate than the as-sprayed coating. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clad Metals: Fabrication, Properties and Applications)

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18 pages, 8858 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Equivalent Beam Model of High Burnup Spent Nuclear Fuel Rods under Lateral Impact Loading

by Sanghoon Lee and Seyeon Kim

Metals 2020, 10(4), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/met10040470 - 3 Apr 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2548

Abstract

Spent nuclear fuel (SNF) is nuclear fuel that has been irradiated and discharged from nuclear reactors. During the whole management stages of SNF before it is, in the end, disposed in a deep geological repository, the structural integrity of fuel rods and the [...] Read more.

Spent nuclear fuel (SNF) is nuclear fuel that has been irradiated and discharged from nuclear reactors. During the whole management stages of SNF before it is, in the end, disposed in a deep geological repository, the structural integrity of fuel rods and the assemblies should be maintained for safety and economic reasons. In licensing applications for the SNF storage and transportation, the integrity of SNF needs to be evaluated considering various loading conditions. However, this is a challenging task due to the complexity of the geometry and properties of SNF. In this paper, a simple and equivalent analysis model for SNF rods is developed using model calibration based on optimization and process integration. The spent fuel rod is simplified into a hollow beam with a homogenous isotropic material, and the model parameters thus found are not dependent on the length of the reference fuel rod segment that is considered. Two distinct models with different interfacial conditions between the fuel pellets and cladding are used in the calibration to account for the effect of PCMI (Pellet-Clad Mechanical Interaction). The feasibility of the models in dynamic impact simulations is examined, and it is expected that the developed models can be utilized in the analysis of assembly-level analyses for the SNF integrity assessment during transportation and storage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clad Metals: Fabrication, Properties and Applications)

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15 pages, 5090 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Heat Treatment Condition on Microstructural and Mechanical Anisotropies of Selective Laser Melted Maraging 18Ni-300 Steel

by Dohyung Kim, Taehwan Kim, Kyeongsik Ha, Jeong-Jung Oak, Jong Bae Jeon, Yongho Park and Wookjin Lee

Metals 2020, 10(3), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/met10030410 - 23 Mar 2020

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 4567

Abstract

18Ni-300 maraging steel produced by the selective laser melting (SLM) process has a unique microstructure that is different from that of the same alloy processed by conventional methods. In this paper, maraging steels were fabricated by the selective laser melting process and their [...] Read more.

18Ni-300 maraging steel produced by the selective laser melting (SLM) process has a unique microstructure that is different from that of the same alloy processed by conventional methods. In this paper, maraging steels were fabricated by the selective laser melting process and their microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated in terms of post heat treatment conditions. Moreover, the effect of different heat treatments on the mechanical anisotropy was studied in detail. The micro Vickers hardness in the as-built state was around 340 Hv and could be increased to approximately 600 Hv by aging heat treatments. It was found that the solution heat treatment was not necessary to obtain a fully hardened state. From tensile tests of the maraging steels heat treated with different conditions, it was found that the highest strength was achieved by aging and solution treatment (ST) temperatures lower than the commonly used temperatures. In the direction parallel to the laser scanning, the highest ultimate tensile strength was obtained when 450 °C aging was done without solution heat treatment. In the other two directions tested, i.e., directions normal to the building and 45 degrees to the laser scanning direction, the highest tensile strength was obtained when aging was done at 450 °C after 750 °C solution treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clad Metals: Fabrication, Properties and Applications)

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19 pages, 10332 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metallurgical Characterization of the Interfaces in Steel Plates Clad with Austenitic Steel or High Ni Alloys by Hot Rolling

by Fabio Giudice, Severino Missori, Francesco Murdolo and Andrea Sili

Metals 2020, 10(2), 286; https://doi.org/10.3390/met10020286 - 21 Feb 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4099

Abstract

An integrated experimental-theoretical approach to the metallurgical characterization of the interfaces in steel plates clad by hot rolling is proposed. Three different couplings of materials have been studied: ASTM A 515 Gr.60 low carbon steel clad with austenitic stainless steel AISI 304L; extra [...] Read more.

An integrated experimental-theoretical approach to the metallurgical characterization of the interfaces in steel plates clad by hot rolling is proposed. Three different couplings of materials have been studied: ASTM A 515 Gr.60 low carbon steel clad with austenitic stainless steel AISI 304L; extra low carbon steel ASTM A283 clad with high Ni content Alloy 59; and, low carbon steel AISI 1010 clad with Cu-Ni Monel 400. Experimental investigations, which are addressed to analyse the microstructural changes near the interfaces and identify the present phases, have been carried out through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations, microanalytical measurements by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and Vickers microhardness tests. In all of the cases examined, the zones that are affected by detrimental microstructural changes results in being considerably less thick than the overall cladding layer. Simulations that are based on theoretical diffusion modelling have been integrated to the experimental characterization by introducing a cladding parameter that acts on the diffusion bonding efficiency, in order to evaluate the effects of process temperature and time variations on diffusion bonding efficiency and stability. In particular, this analytical investigation has shown how the shorter is the duration of the diffusion transient and the higher the temperature, the lower results the sensitivity of the diffusion processes to temperature fluctuations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clad Metals: Fabrication, Properties and Applications)

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16 pages, 21262 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Copper Clad Steel Strips Produced by a Modified Twin-Roll Casting Process

by Dennis Münster and Gerhard Hirt

Metals 2019, 9(11), 1156; https://doi.org/10.3390/met9111156 - 28 Oct 2019

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6407

Abstract

Twin-roll strip casting of steel provides a resource and energy efficient way to produce thin hot strips directly from the liquid phase. Clad metals offer less costly alternatives to monolithic alloys for a wide range of applications, but their various production routes are [...] Read more.

Twin-roll strip casting of steel provides a resource and energy efficient way to produce thin hot strips directly from the liquid phase. Clad metals offer less costly alternatives to monolithic alloys for a wide range of applications, but their various production routes are extensive, expensive, or slow. In order to exploit the strengths of twin-roll strip casting to provide a possibly more cost and energy efficient production route for clad thin strips, research into the expansion of twin-roll strip casting process is conducted. The aim of the current research is the combination of steel with copper. For this purpose, a prefabricated cladding strip of commercially pure copper is inserted into the twin-roll strip casting process. Bonding between the copper strip and the cast steel strip (DC01) is realized by exploiting the process heat. The bonding zone of the clad strip is subsequently analyzed under the optical microscope and in the electron micro probe analyzer. The imagery shows an irregular bonding interface with straight and locally altered regions alternating. These irregularities can be classified into four groups based on their morphology and suspected forming mechanism. Bond strength and formability of the clad strips is qualitatively examined in rolling and bending tests. Rolling was possible without delamination and a total height reduction of approx. 40% while defect-free bending of 2 mm and 3 mm thick specimens was possible up to a bending angle of 90° for a bending radius of 5 mm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clad Metals: Fabrication, Properties and Applications)

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15 pages, 8426 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Intermetallic Compound Layer on Peel Strength and Crack Propagation Behavior in Cu/Al/Cu Clad Composites

by Yong Keun Kim and Sun Ig Hong

Metals 2019, 9(11), 1155; https://doi.org/10.3390/met9111155 - 27 Oct 2019

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5634

Abstract

The effects of interfacial modification in tri-layered Cu/Al/Cu composites by heat treatment on interface stability and crack propagation were investigated. In order to investigate the crack path during the peel test, the intermetallic compound layer with the propagating crack was examined using electron [...] Read more.

The effects of interfacial modification in tri-layered Cu/Al/Cu composites by heat treatment on interface stability and crack propagation were investigated. In order to investigate the crack path during the peel test, the intermetallic compound layer with the propagating crack was examined using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analyses. The increase of peel strength from 7.8 to 9.1 N/mm in the tri-layered Cu/Al/Cu composite in the presence of thin discontinuous intermetallic compounds with heat treatment at 200–300 °C was accompanied by the increase of electrical conductivity from 65.3% IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard) to 66.8% IACS. Continuous intermetallic layers consisting of Al₂Cu, AlCu, and Al₄Cu₉ were found in Cu/Al/Cu heat-treated at temperatures above 350 °C and its thickness increased rapidly and reached up to 35.2 μm at 500 °C. The peel strength drastically decreased to 5.75 N/mm after heat treatment at 400 °C, and it gradually increased as the heat treatment temperature was increased to 450 °C (5.91 N/mm) and 500 °C (6.16 N/mm). The increased peel strengths after heat treatment at 450 and 500 °C were accompanied by pronounced serrations of the peel strength–displacement curves. The amplitude of serration increased substantially with increasing annealing temperature from 400 to 500 °C. The major crack along the interface propagated, mostly along the Al₂Cu/AlCu boundary with some inclined cracks, propagated through the AlCu and Al₄Cu₉ intermetallic compound layers. The repetition of crack propagation along the interface and crack deflection through the intermetallic layer as an inclined crack induced the serrated surface on the peeled-off Cu plate, enhancing the interface toughening. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clad Metals: Fabrication, Properties and Applications)

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11 pages, 3391 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High Temperature Mechanical Properties and Wear Performance of B₄C/Al7075 Metal Matrix Composites

by Sangmin Shin, Donghyun Lee, Yeong-Hwan Lee, Seongmin Ko, Hyeonjae Park, Sang-Bok Lee, Seungchan Cho, Yangdo Kim, Sang-Kwan Lee and Ilguk Jo

Metals 2019, 9(10), 1108; https://doi.org/10.3390/met9101108 - 17 Oct 2019

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3259

Abstract

In this study, high volume fraction B₄C reinforced Al matrix composites were fabricated with a liquid pressing process. Microstructural analysis by scanning electron microscope and a transmission electron microscopy shows a uniform distribution of the B₄C reinforcement in the [...] Read more.

In this study, high volume fraction B₄C reinforced Al matrix composites were fabricated with a liquid pressing process. Microstructural analysis by scanning electron microscope and a transmission electron microscopy shows a uniform distribution of the B₄C reinforcement in the matrix, without any defects such as pore and unwanted reaction products. The compressive strength and wear properties of the Al7075 matrix and the composite were compared at room temperature, 100, 200, and 300 °C, respectively. The B₄C reinforced composite showed a very high ultimate compression strength (UCS) over 1.4 GPa at room temperature. The UCS gradually decreased as the temperature was increased, and the UCS of the composite at 300 °C was about one third of the UCS of the composite at room temperature. The fractography of the compressive test specimen revealed that the fracture mechanism of the composites was the brittle fracture mode at room temperature during the compression test. However, at the elevated temperature, AMCs had a mixed mode of a brittle and ductile fracture mechanism under the compressive load. The composite produced by a liquid pressing process also showed superior wear resistance compared with the Al matrix. The result of the wear test indicates that the wear loss of the Al matrix at 300 °C was two times higher than that of the AMCs, which is attributed to the formation of a mechanically mixed layer (MML) in the composites at the high temperature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clad Metals: Fabrication, Properties and Applications)

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11 pages, 7731 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation on Springback Behavior of Cu/Ni Clad Foils during Flexible Die Micro V-Bending Process

by Chuanjie Wang, Shan Wang, Shuting Wang, Gang Chen and Peng Zhang

Metals 2019, 9(8), 892; https://doi.org/10.3390/met9080892 - 15 Aug 2019

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2896

Abstract

With the increasing demand for micro parts using metal laminates in modern production, the manufacturing processes of thin sheet parts have been elevated. However, it is difficult to predict the deformation behavior with miniaturization because of size effects in micro-scale. In this study, [...] Read more.

With the increasing demand for micro parts using metal laminates in modern production, the manufacturing processes of thin sheet parts have been elevated. However, it is difficult to predict the deformation behavior with miniaturization because of size effects in micro-scale. In this study, the flexible die micro V-bending behavior of Cu/Ni clad foils was investigated. The bending experiments with three different punch angles and Cu/Ni clad foils under different annealed temperatures were performed. The results show that the springback angle increases with the increase of bending angle and annealing temperature. The placement of Cu/Ni clad foils induced compressive stress results in the more obvious thinning of thickness and decreasing of springback angle. The interactive effects of the distribution of deformation zones and compressive stress induced by the interface layer result in the springback behavior of Cu/Ni clad foils during the flexible die micro V-bending process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clad Metals: Fabrication, Properties and Applications)

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