The Mechanical Properties of a Transient Liquid Phase Diffusion Bonded SSM-ADC12 Aluminum Alloy with a ZnAl4Cu3 Zinc Alloy Interlayer

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In this work, in experiments to study the parameters of the TLPDB process of the SSM-ADC12 aluminum alloys with ZnAl4Cu3 zinc alloy interlayer materials affect the microstructure transformations, bonding strength, fatigue properties, and Vickers hard- ness. The work of the paper is well-done, with some interesting results. However, it requires an appropriate revision before publication.

1. More details of the experiment should be provided, such as the testing method and process of the bonding strength and of the samples.

2. The mechanism of microstructure formation should be further analyzed.

3. More theoretical analyses of the correlation of interfacial microstructure and bonding strength of the bimetallic composites are welcome. Adding follow references enrich your introduction and discussion, providing more information. (1) Journal of Magnesium and Alloys, 2023, 11(9): 3059-3098. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jma.2023.09.001; (2) Composites Part B: Engineering, 2024, 284:111726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2024.111726; (3) Journal of Materials Science & Technology, 2022, 105: 214-225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmst.2021.08.011.

4. An appropriate revision in English is needed.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

In this work, in experiments to study the parameters of the TLPDB process of the SSM-ADC12 aluminum alloys with ZnAl4Cu3 zinc alloy interlayer materials affect the microstructure transformations, bonding strength, fatigue properties, and Vickers hard- ness. The work of the paper is well-done, with some interesting results. However, it requires an appropriate revision before publication.

1. More details of the experiment should be provided, such as the testing method and process of the bonding strength and of the samples.

2. The mechanism of microstructure formation should be further analyzed.

3. More theoretical analyses of the correlation of interfacial microstructure and bonding strength of the bimetallic composites are welcome. Adding follow references enrich your introduction and discussion, providing more information. (1) Journal of Magnesium and Alloys, 2023, 11(9): 3059-3098. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jma.2023.09.001; (2) Composites Part B: Engineering, 2024, 284:111726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2024.111726; (3) Journal of Materials Science & Technology, 2022, 105: 214-225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmst.2021.08.011.

4. An appropriate revision in English is needed.

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors (1)

 

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In this work, in experiments to study the parameters of the TLPDB process of the SSM-ADC12 aluminum alloys with ZnAl4Cu3 zinc alloy interlayer materials affect the microstructure transformations, bonding strength, fatigue properties, and Vickers hard- ness. The work of the paper is well-done, with some interesting results. However, it requires an appropriate revision before publication.

 

1. More details of the experiment should be provided, such as the testing method and process of the bonding strength and of the samples.

Response 1: With all due respect, I believe that, in section 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4 (from line #127 to line #183) there are clearly comprehensive details of explanation about all testing methods and the bonding strength process with the best of my knowledge.

 

2. The mechanism of microstructure formation should be further analyzed.

Response 2: With the best of my knowledge, based on the experimenting results I had, I can only explain and summarize the mechanism of microstructure formation in section 3.6 (especially from line #414 to line #434). In addition, I tried to explain this mechanism in the item #5 of the conclusion section (from line #467 to line #475).

 

3. More theoretical analyses of the correlation of interfacial microstructure and bonding strength of the bimetallic composites are welcome. Adding follow references enrich your introduction and discussion, providing more information. (1) Journal of Magnesium and Alloys, 2023, 11(9): 3059-3098. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jma.2023.09.001; (2) Composites Part B: Engineering, 2024, 284:111726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2024.111726; (3) Journal of Materials Science & Technology, 2022, 105: 214-225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmst.2021.08.011.

Response 3: the Author appreciated your suggestions. However, I will include those recommended papers in the future paper.

 

4. An appropriate revision in English is needed.

Response 4: The author have double checked and revised the manuscript as you recommended.

 

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Specific Comments:

1.     Abstract. There is: “In this study, mechanical properties of the specimens after TLPDB of SSM-ADC12 aluminum alloy using ZnAl4Cu3 zinc alloy interlayer, the welding in semi-solid statutes.” This sentence is completely incomprehensible and must be changed.

2.     The designation of the ZnAl4Cu3 alloy should not use subscripts (lines 3, 12, 14, etc.), which are reserved for the designation of intermetallic phases.

3.     There is no need to enter hardness and strength measurement results to two decimal places. Rounded results without fractions are enough.

4.     Table 1 is redundant.

5.     Table 2. There is: “Vicker hardness” but should be: “Vickers hardness”.

6.     Figure 1 shows with an arrow that the gray needles visible are the Mg₂Si phase. This is not true. The gray needles are silicon. This alloy contains 12% silicon, so it is a eutectic alloy. The addition of only 0.07% Mg means that the Mg₂Si phase may appear only occasionally.

7.     Table 2 shows that the tensile strength for the aluminum alloy used was 319 MPa and the elongation was 10-12%. For this type of casting alloys, after modification, the tensile strength does not exceed 250 MPa, and the elongation is only up to 8% (without modification: 180 MPa, and 4%, respectively).

8.     Figure 3. There is: “Strat to holding…” but should be: “Start to holding…”.

9.     Point 3.6. There is: “Micro Vicker’s Hardness” but should be: “Micro Vickers Hardness”.

10.  Generally, the manuscript is too long and should be shortened.

11.  Minor editing errors should be corrected.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor editing errors should be corrected.

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors (2)

 

1. Abstract. There is: “In this study, mechanical properties of the specimens after TLPDB of SSM-ADC12 aluminum alloy using ZnAl4Cu3 zinc alloy interlayer, the welding in semi-solid statutes.” This sentence is completely incomprehensible and must be changed.

Response 1: The author has change the sentence to “In this study, the mechanical properties of SSM-ADC12 aluminum alloy specimens with ZnAl4Cu3 zinc alloy interlayers were observed after TLPDB, which is welding in a semi-solid state.” as you recommended.

 

2. The designation of the ZnAl₄Cu₃ alloy should not use subscripts (lines 3, 12, 14, etc.), which are reserved for the designation of intermetallic phases.

Response 2: The author has changed to ZnAl4Cu3 as you suggested accordingly (as highlighted in yellow).

 

3. There is no need to enter hardness and strength measurement results to two decimal places. Rounded results without fractions are enough.

Response 3: With all due respect, the author prefer to keep 2 decimal places as is.

 

4. Table 1 is redundant.

Response 4: The reason why I include the Table 1 in this manuscript is that the author believe that this could provide benefit to the readers who may use this information to understand how the author’s logic of developing this experiment and how this type of experiment had been developed over the past years among material science communities. So, the author still prefers to keep the Table 1.

 

 

 

 

5. Table 2. There is: “Vicker hardness” but should be: “Vickers hardness”.

Response 5: The author has changed to what you suggested accordingly (as highlighted in yellow).

 

6. Figure 1 shows with an arrow that the gray needles visible are the Mg₂Si phase. This is not true. The gray needles are silicon. This alloy contains 12% silicon, so it is a eutectic alloy. The addition of only 0.07% Mg means that the Mg₂Si phase may appear only occasionally.

Response 6: The Author have changed the Figure 1 from Mg₂Si to eutectic Si phase as you recommended.

 

7. Table 2 shows that the tensile strength for the aluminum alloy used was 319 MPa and the elongation was 10-12%. For this type of casting alloys, after modification, the tensile strength does not exceed 250 MPa, and the elongation is only up to 8% (without modification: 180 MPa, and 4%, respectively).

Response 7: the Author understand what you stated. However, the aluminum alloy we used have be casted by Semi-Solid State casting technique. This technique helps increase the maximum tensile strength upto 319 MP and elongation was also upto 10-12% that the author got from the actual test result.  

 

8. Figure 3. There is: “Strat to holding…” but should be: “Start to holding…”.

Response 8: The author has changed to what you suggested accordingly.

 

9. Point 3.6. There is: “Micro Vicker’s Hardness” but should be: “Micro Vickers Hardness”.

Response 9: The author has changed to what you suggested accordingly.

 

10. Generally, the manuscript is too long and should be shortened.

Response 10: The author has tried his best to shorten the manuscript with the best of his knowledge.

 

11. Minor editing errors should be corrected.

Response 11: The author has double checked and revised the manuscript as you recommended.

 

 

 

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

All my previous suggestions have been taken into account.