Microstructural strain energy of α-uranium determined by calorimetry and neutron diffractometry

The microstructural contribution to the heat capacity of α-uranium was determined by measuring the heat-capacity difference between polycrystalline and single-crystal samples from 77 to 320 K. When cooled to 77 K and then heated to about 280 K, the uranium microstructure released (3±1) J/mol of strain energy. On further heating to 300 K, the microstructure absorbed energy as it began to redevelop microstrains. Anisotropic strain-broadening parameters were extracted from neutron-diffraction measurements on polycrystals. Combining the strain-broadening parameters with anisotropic elastic constants from the literature, the microstructural strain energy is predicted in the two limiting cases of statistically isotropic stress and statistically isotropic strain. The result calculated in the limit of statistically isotropic stress was (3.7±0.5) J/mol K at 77 K and (1±0.5) J/mol at room temperature. In the limit of statistically isotropic strain, the values were (7.8±0.5) J/mol K at 77 K and (4.5±0.5) J/mol at room temperature. In both cases the changes in the microstructural strain energy showed good agreement with the calorimetry

Effect of a heterogeneous distribution of particles on the formation of banded grain structure in wrought Alloy 718

Alloy 718 is known to be sensitive to interdendritic segregation formed during ingot solidification. The occurrence of banded grain structures under heat treating conditions close to 1000 ° C related to interdendritic segregation is often reported. In order to have a better understanding of this microstructural evolution, an extensive experimental program has been carried out. Consequently, a model taking into account the selective dissolution of δ-phase (Ni3Nb) is proposed. A grain growth simulation by Monte-Carlo method is then used to illustrate the grain structure evolution in a banded particle distribution. By comparing experimental data and computer simulation, the relationship between the Monte-Carlo step and the real time is assessed and the range of parameters when heterogeneous microstructures appear is specified

Al-Li Alloys – The Analysis of Material Behaviour during Industrial Hot Forging

Al-Li alloys are a promising class of aerospace materials that combine light weight with high strength, comparable to those of steels. In the case of critical components, it is well known that providing the required reliability is impossible without tailoring the output microstructure of the material. This, in turn, requires a clear understanding of the logic behind microstructure formation depending on the total processing history (especially temperature and strain-rate history). However, uniaxial isothermal laboratory tests provide very limited information about the material behaviour. Real forging processes, especially involving complex geometries, sometimes develop quite complicated temperature-strain-rate paths that vary across the deformed part. A proper analysis of the microstructural transformations taking place in the material under these conditions is therefore very important. In this paper, the correlation between the loading history and microstructural transformations was analysed for AA2099 alloy using the hot forging of a disk-shaped component at selected forging temperatures and strain rates. The obtained results were compared to industrial processing maps based on uniaxial tests