2010 KPTrumble

MSE 230

HW7 Solutions (03/05)

Spring 2010

1. (a) From Fig. 10.11, the curve for recrystallization at 119C is closest to 95% recrystallized in 60 min. (118C would be acceptable, although this level of precision is not practical. (b) i) Impurities in solution usually decrease diffusivity and thereby increase the temperature required for a given degree of recrystallization in a given time; ii) the higher the %CW the higher the driving force (energy difference) for recrystallization and thus the lower the recrystallization temperature. 2.

(a)

(a) 100% P (b) 75% P + 25% M* (c) ~50% M + 50% A** (d) ~100% M* (e) 100% B *M in (b) and (d) contains 5% retained A (i.e., M transformation is 95% complete at RT) **Cooling from 175C, the remaining A would transform to M, the extent of which depending only on decrease in temperature.

(b)

(c) (d) (e) (a,b,d,e) (e)

(c)

(a, b, d, e)

3.
(b) (c) (c) (b) (a) (d)

(c)

(a) Fine pearlite and proeutectoid ferrite (b) Martensite (c) Martensite and proeutectoid ferrite (d) Coarse pearlite and proeutectoid ferrite (e) Martensite, fine pearlite and proeutectoid ferrite. Note that martensite + ferrite would be produced under any cooling rate between curve (b) and (c) shown. Cooling rates faster than (c) would yield less ferrite and more martensite. Note that the austenitization temperature is higher than for an eutectoid steel. See the phase diagram to make sure you understand why.

(c) (b)

(e) (a)

(d)

2010 KPTrumble
4. Hardness (strength) of (b) >> (c) > (e) > (a) > (d), in the order of decreasing cooling rate. The rank order of hardness of the microstructure constituents is M >> Pfine > Pcourse >> F. The hardness of the structures containing multiple constituents (all except b) will be some weighted average of the hardness of the constituents. Note, whenever the A => F transformation is complete (cooling rate (c) and slower) the proportion of ferrite in the structure is the same, as given by the phase diagram (wF=0.55). With decreasing cooling rate, the balance of the structure (0.45) is softer (from all M to M + Pfine, to all Pfine, to Pcoarser), so the overall hardness must likewise decrease with decreasing cooling rate. Any structure that contains any amount of pearlite, must also contain this amount (0.55) of primary ferrite. 5. Product 2(d) is Bainite, which when formed at 250C in a 1080 steel has a hardness of 550 Brinell (Fig. 10.31). Product 2(e) is Martensite. Using the tempering data in Fig. 10.35 (right), only the 315C tempering kinetics line allows tempering to a hardness of 550 Brinell in the time range covered by the data (~10 s to ~1 day). Tempering for a little over one hour (3800 s) would soften (and toughen) the martensite to a hardness of 550 Brinell. 6. The temperature versus time plot of the solution-treatment and aging cycle is shown on the next page. In the solution-treatment process, the coarse phase (CuAl2) dissolves into the phase (Al-Cu solid solution). Eventually (at equilibrium) the is a uniform solid solution of 4.4 wt.% Cu in Al. It is important to stay below the solvus temperature to avoid liquid formation during solution treatment. Staying below the eutectic temperature ensures that any local regions of higher Cu concentration (due to segregation from solidification) will not remelt. The precipitates that forms at the usual aging temperatures have the composition CuAl2, but slightly different crystal structure than the equilibrium , hence the designation . The hardness rises as their number, size and volume fraction increases. At 204C, the maximum hardness is reached in about 1 to 2 h. With continued aging, the precipiates coarsen, with the larger ones growing and the smaller ones shrinking away (driven by the decrease in interface area). Thus, their number decreases and spacing increases, so the hardness drops (overaging). The main advantage of aging at lower temperatures is that the peak hardness (strength) increases. At lower temperatures, the driving force (undercooling) for nucleation is higher, producing more precipitates and thus a smaller spacing between them, more effectively impeding dislocation motion. The disadvantage is that the time to reach the peak hardness is longer, about a day at 150C (in this case, the relative peak hardness increase is small).

2010 KPTrumble

T(C)

Solution-Treatment, 525C/1 h +

+ -CuAl2

TEutectic = 548C

Quench

Age, 204C/1 to 2 h 200 + '' Air-cool

100 (supersaturated)

time