New forming method of manufacturing cylindrical parts with nano/ultrafine grained structures by power spinning based on small plastic strains

A new spinning method to manufacture the cylindrical parts with nano/ultrafine grained structures is proposed, which consists of quenching, power spinning and recrystallization annealing. The microstructural evolution during the different process stages and macroforming quality of the spun parts made of ASTM 1020 steel are investigated. The results show that the microstructures of the ferrites and pearlites in the ASTM 1020 steel are transformed to the lath martensites after quenching. The martensite laths obtained by quenching are refined to 87 nm and a small amount of nanoscale deformation twins with an average thickness of 20 nm is generated after performing a 3-pass stagger spinning with 55% thinning ratio of wall thickness, where the equivalent strain required is only 0.92. The equiaxial ferritic grains with an average size of 160 nm and nano-carbides are generated by subsequent recrystallization annealing at 480°C for 30 min. The spun parts with high dimensional precision and low surface roughness are obtained by the forming method developed in this work, combining quenching with 3-pass stagger spinning and recrystallization annealing

Design of the sex hormones and physical exercise (SHAPE) study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Physical activity has been associated with a decreased risk for breast cancer. The biological mechanismn(s) underlying the association between physical activity and breast cancer is not clear. Most prominent hypothesis is that physical activity may protect against breast cancer through reduced lifetime exposure to endogenous hormones either direct, or indirect by preventing overweight and abdominal adiposity. In order to get more insight in the causal pathway between physical activity and breast cancer risk, we designed the <it>Sex Hormones and Physical Exercise (SHAPE) </it>study. Purpose of SHAPE study is to examine the effects of a 1-year moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise programme on endogenous hormone levels associated with breast cancer among sedentary postmenopausal women and whether the amount of total body fat or abdominal fat mediates the effects.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>In the SHAPE study, 189 sedentary postmenopausal women, aged 50–69 years, are randomly allocated to an intervention or a control group. The intervention consists of an 1-year moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic and strenght training exercise programme. Partcipants allocated to the control group are requested to retain their habitual exercise pattern. Primary study parameters measured at baseline, at four months and at 12 months are: serum concentrations of endogenous estrogens, endogenous androgens, sex hormone binding globuline and insuline. Other study parameters include: amount of total and abdominal fat, weight, BMI, body fat distribution, physical fitness, blood pressure and lifestyle factors.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This study will contribute to the body of evidence relating physical activity and breast cancer risk and will provide insight into possible mechanisms through which physical activity might be associated with reduced risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>NCT00359060</p

Phase Stability Effects on Hydrogen Embrittlement Resistance in Martensite–Reverted Austenite Steels

Earlier studies have shown that interlath austenite in martensitic steels can enhance hydrogen embrittlement (HE) resistance. However, the improvements were limited due to microcrack nucleation and growth. A novel microstructural design approach is investigated, based on enhancing austenite stability to reduce crack nucleation and growth. Our findings from mechanical tests, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy reveal that this strategy is successful. However, the improvements are limited due to intrinsic microstructural heterogeneity effects

Grain refinement in dual-phase steels

Deformation-induced ferrite transformation (DIFT) was applied in laboratory tests to produce fine-grained dual-phase (DP) steels. Four different chemistries were investigated, starting from a conventional DP 600 chemistry of 0.06 wt pct C-1.9 wt pct Mn-0.16 wt pct Mo and subsequently varying Nb and Mo additions. For all investigated steels, ultrafine ferrite (UFF) with a grain size of 1 to 2 μm can be obtained when a sufficient amount of deformation (e.g., a true strain of 0.6 or above in axisymmetric compression) is applied to an austenite microstructure with a grain size in the range of 10 to 20 μm at 25 °C to 50 °C above the austenite-to-ferrite transformation start temperature (Ar 3) characteristic for the given cooling condition. Rapid post-deformation cooling at rates of approximately 100 °C/s yields the desired UFF-martensite microstructure. Electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) mapping reveals a high percentage (approximately 40 pct) of low-angle boundaries in these microstructures, except for the steel that is just microalloyed with Nb. The steel with the plain-carbon-base chemistry was subjected to hot torsion simulations of a hot strip rolling processing schedules that incorporate a DIFT pass after a conventional seven-stand finish mill schedule. Executing the DIFT pass at 650 °C to 675 °C produced an UFF microstructure, illustrating the potential for the design of novel thermomechanical processing paths to produce hot-rolled ultrafine DP steels