Surface modification of Ti alloy by electro-explosive alloying and electron-beam treatment

By methods of modern physical metallurgy the analysis of structure phase states of titanium alloy VT6 is carried out after electric explosion alloying with boron carbide and subsequent irradiation by pulsed electron beam. The formation of an electro-explosive alloying zone of a thickness up to 50 µm, having a gradient structure, characterized by decrease in the concentration of carbon and boron with increasing distance to the treatable surface has been revealed. Subsequent electron-beam treatment of alloying zone leads to smoothing of the alloying area surface and is accompanied by the multilayer structure formation at the depth of 30 µm with alternating layers with different alloying degrees having the structure of submicro - and nanoscale level

Fatigue life of silumin treated with a high-intensity pulsed electron beam

The regularities of the formation of the structure of silumin irradiated with a high-intensity electron beam in different modes are revealed using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The optimum irradiation mode that allows one to increase the fatigue life of this material by a factor of up to 3.5 is determined. The probable causes of the observed effect are investigated

Fatigue variation of surface properties of silumin subjected to electron-beam treatment

The analysis of structure-phase states modification of silumin subjected to electron beam treatment with the following fatigue loading up to the failure is carried out by methods of transmission electron diffraction microscopy. The tribology and strength properties of silumin surface after electron beam treatment and fatigue tests are studied and hardness decrease, wear coefficient and friction coefficient increase with the growth of cycles number are revealed. The possible reasons of the tribology and strength properties of silumin surface layers decrease are discussed

Formation structural phase gradients in rail steel during long-term operation

The paper presents results of the structural and phase analysis of the surface layer composition in the type R65 rail steel in its original state and after long-term operation. It is shown that long-term operation of rail steel is accompanied by its structural and phase modification at a depth of not less than 2 mm. The structural elements are detected that can be stress concentrators

Fractography of the fatigue fracture surface of silumin irradiated by high-intensity pulsed electron beam

The surface modification of the eutectic silumin with high-intensity pulsed electron beam has been carried out. Multi-cycle fatigue tests were performed and irradiation mode made possible the increase in the silumin fatigue life more than 3.5 times was determined. Studies of the structure of the surface irradiation and surface fatigue fracture of silumin in the initial (unirradiated) state and after modification with intense pulsed electron beam were carried out by methods of scanning electron microscopy. It has been shown, that in mode of partial melting of the irradiation surface the modification process of silicon plates is accompanied by the formation of numerous large micropores along the boundary plate/matrix and microcracks located in the silicon plates. A multi-modal structure (grain size within 30-50 μm with silicon particles up to 10 μm located on the boundaries) is formed in stable melting mode, as well as subgrain structure in the form of crystallization cells from 100 to 250 μm in size). Formation of a multi-modal, multi-phase, submicro- and nanosize structure assisting to a significant increase in the critical length of the crack, the safety coefficient and decrease in step of cracks for loading cycle was the main cause for the increase in silumin fatigue life

Formation of a microcomposite structure in the surface layer of yttrium-doped titanium

Surface layers containing oxides and carbides of titanium and yttrium are prepared by the electroexplosive doping of titanium with yttrium. The subsequent electron-beam irradiation leads to dispersion of the structure to a nano- and submicron state. The formation of two types of eutectics is revealed using scanning electron microscopy. The eutectics enriched in titanium and yttrium have a globular and plate-like shape, respectively. The formation of a modified surface layer (enriched in yttrium, carbides and oxides of titanium and yttrium) leads to a threefold increase in the microhardness of the titanium, a more than twofold decrease in the friction coefficient of the doped layer, and a more than 2.8-fold decrease in the wear rate

Structure phase states formation of Ti-Y surface layer by electro explosion and electron-beam treatment

A titanium-yttrium composite surface layer is formed on pure titanium surface by electro explosion and electron-beam treatments. The composite consists of titanium-rich and yttrium-rich eutectic microstructures. Both eutectics are in non-equilibrium state with their chemical constitution deviation from that in equilibrium phase diagram. The surface layer increases the surface hardness by three times, decreases the friction coefficient by 3 times and reduces the ware rate by 4 times in comparison with that of the surface of pure titanium

Surface modification of Ti alloy by electro-explosive alloying and electron-beam treatment

By methods of modern physical metallurgy the analysis of structure phase states of titanium alloy VT6 is carried out after electric explosion alloying with boron carbide and subsequent irradiation by pulsed electron beam. The formation of an electro-explosive alloying zone of a thickness up to 50 µm, having a gradient structure, characterized by decrease in the concentration of carbon and boron with increasing distance to the treatable surface has been revealed. Subsequent electron-beam treatment of alloying zone leads to smoothing of the alloying area surface and is accompanied by the multilayer structure formation at the depth of 30 µm with alternating layers with different alloying degrees having the structure of submicro - and nanoscale level