Investigation of microstructure and hardness evolution in N36 alloy subjected to gradient deformation and annealing

IF 5.5 2区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, CHARACTERIZATION & TESTING

Materials Characterization Pub Date : 2025-09-02 DOI:10.1016/j.matchar.2025.115525

Huang Xuefei , Wu Yihao , Cibo Lihao , Chen Tianxu , Liao Tongxiao , Liao Jingjing

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

A simple batch-processing method has been proposed to prepare large-sized zirconium alloys with gradient microstructure. Specifically, a wedge-shaped N36 alloy (Zr-1Sn-1Nb-0.3Fe) sample was hot-rolled to produce a continuous deformation gradient ranging from 0 to 90 %. The samples were subsequently annealed at different temperatures ranging from 500 °C to 650 °C for 2 h to explore the effects of annealing on the hardness and microstructure. The results showed that the hardness increases proportionally with the hot-rolling strain below 60 %, but increases much more significantly when the strain reaches 90 %. Annealing results in a hardness decrease and the higher annealing temperature induces a larger decrease, while the regions with higher hot-rolling strain retained higher hardness after annealing. The as-rolled alloy exhibits a dynamically recrystallized microstructure consisting of equiaxed grains with a high dislocation density. Annealing results in a significantly decreased dislocation density and a bigger grain size. After annealing, the regions with higher rolling strain exhibited larger grain sizes, higher recrystallization degrees, lower dislocation densities. However, the second-phase particles (SPPs) in the more severely deformed regions exhibited a larger size and higher precipitate volume fractions, which contributed to the higher hardness. Both the rolled and annealed alloys displayed {0001} <11

\bar{2}

0 > and {0001} <01

\bar{1}

0 > textures.

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梯度变形退火后N36合金显微组织及硬度变化研究

提出了一种简单的批量加工方法来制备具有梯度组织的大尺寸锆合金。其中，楔形N36合金（Zr-1Sn-1Nb-0.3Fe）试样经热轧后产生0 ~ 90%的连续变形梯度。随后将样品在500 ~ 650℃的不同温度下退火2 h，以研究退火对硬度和显微组织的影响。结果表明：在热轧应变低于60%时，硬度随热轧应变的增大成比例增加，但当热轧应变达到90%时，硬度增加更为显著；退火导致硬度降低，退火温度越高，降低幅度越大，而热轧应变较高的区域退火后硬度保持较高。轧制态合金具有高位错密度的等轴晶动态再结晶组织。退火后，位错密度显著降低，晶粒尺寸增大。退火后，高轧制应变区域晶粒尺寸较大，再结晶程度较高，位错密度较低。而变形较严重区域的第二相颗粒（SPPs）尺寸较大，析出相体积分数较高，硬度较高。轧制和退火合金均显示{0001}<；112¯0 >；和{0001}<；011¯0 >；织构。

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来源期刊

Materials Characterization 工程技术-材料科学：表征与测试

CiteScore

7.60

自引率

8.50%

发文量

746

审稿时长

36 days

期刊介绍： Materials Characterization features original articles and state-of-the-art reviews on theoretical and practical aspects of the structure and behaviour of materials. The Journal focuses on all characterization techniques, including all forms of microscopy (light, electron, acoustic, etc.,) and analysis (especially microanalysis and surface analytical techniques). Developments in both this wide range of techniques and their application to the quantification of the microstructure of materials are essential facets of the Journal. The Journal provides the Materials Scientist/Engineer with up-to-date information on many types of materials with an underlying theme of explaining the behavior of materials using novel approaches. Materials covered by the journal include: Metals & Alloys Ceramics Nanomaterials Biomedical materials Optical materials Composites Natural Materials.