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The microstructure and creep behaviors of cast Mg-xZn-yEr (x=3,6,9 wt.%, x/y=6) alloys were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). XRD results indicated that the main phase compositions of as-cast Mg-xZn-yEr alloys were the icosahedral quasicrystalline phase (I-phase) and α-Mg solid solution. The I-phase mainly distributed in the dendritic and staccato strips. The creep tests were conducted under the condition of 448 K, 70 MPa for 100 h. As the addition of Er increased from 0.5 wt.% to 1.5 wt.%, the total creep strain decreased from 0.962% to 0.512%, and the steady state creep rate decreased from 1.411×10-8s-1 to 4.917×10-9s-1. The I-phase had a tendency to be bulky and continuous, as the volume fraction of Er element increased. Ascribed to the I-phase, the creep strain happened and effectively blocked the movement of dislocations, resulting in the strengthened as-cast Mg-Zn-Er alloys and improved creep resistance. Based on the investigation of creep behaviors, the creep mechanism of the as-cast alloy was mainly grain boundary slipping.

The microstructure evolution of the as-rolled Mg-3Zn-0.5Er alloy (wt.%) has been investigated. The results showed that the phase constituents of the sheet were composed of the α-Mg solid solution and the I-phase (Icosahedral quasicrystalline). The microstructure of sheets transformed from the deformation twinning into dynamic recrystallization (DRX) grains. Furthermore, the deformation twinning appeared again in the dynamic recrystallization grains during further hot rolling. It indicated that the twining was the main deformation mechanism and marginal dynamic recrystallization (DRX) occurred in the deformation twins at low strains. As the reduction reached 39.6%, the twin dynamic recrystallization (TDRX) regions cluster and widen by consumption of the initial deformation twins, then formed shear bands. After the reduction exceeded 66.3%, the microstructures of sheets were composed of equiaxed DRXed grains and fine twins. Moreover, compared with the RD-ND plane, the RD-TD plane had a smaller average grain size, ultimately reached ~15.8μm, which also led to a higher average value of the hardness.

The aim of this study is to enhance the interfacial bonding strength of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/AZ91 composites by heat treatment (HT). Ternary carbides (Al2MgC2) were in situ formed and uniformly dispersed between CNTs and AZ91 matrix by 823K heat treatment of CNTs/AZ91 composites for 12 h. In situ synthesized Al2MgC2 can strengthen the interfacial bonding of CNTs/AZ91 composites, and guarantee an effective load transfer between matrix and CNTs. The HT-CNTs/AZ91 composites showed outstanding mechanical properties due to the excellent interface enhancing effect of Al2MgC2. Compared with pure AZ91 alloy, HT-CNTs/AZ91 composites exhibit improved ultimate tensile strength and 0.2% yield strength by 7% and 22% respectively.

The microstructure evolution of the Mg-3Zn-0.5Er-0.5Al (mass fraction, %) alloy under the different condition was investigated. The results showed that as-cast Mg-3Zn-0.5Er-0.5Al alloy mainly consisted of primary large irregular Mg4Zn7 phase and needlelike (Mg, Zn, Er, Al) quaternary phase. Mg4Zn7 phase almost dissolved into the matrix after solid solution treatment at 400 oC for 10 h, while the (Mg, Zn, Er, Al) quaternary phase still existed. The solution treated alloy was extruded at 250 °C. The ultimate tensile strength of the as-extruded alloy was approximately 268 MPa and the YTS was approximately 163 MPa companying with an elongation of 28%. The tensile strength of the as-extruded alloy improved obviously, which was mainly attributed to the grain refinement.

An effective dispersion process to cast CNT-reinforced in a concentrated magnesium alloy (AZ31) nanocomposite was investigated in this study. The metal magnesium powder was first coated with dispersed CNTs by wet process, followed by the fabricating of CNT/Mg precursor using mechanical briquetting and extrusion. The resultant precursor was then added into AZ31 alloy during the melting process. Finally, CNT/Mg nanocomposites with grain refinement matrix composite were fabricated in as-cast and as-extruded. Compared with the commercial AZ31 alloy, CNT/Mg nanocomposites exhibited higher yield strength of 270 MPa with an increase of 22.7%, which can be largely ascribed to the effective dispersion process of CNTs in the alloy matrix, and the elongation is no significant decrease.

Grain refinement is important for improving the microstructure and mechanical properties of magnesium alloys. Carbon inoculation is an effective method of grain refinement process for magnesium alloys containing aluminum. In this paper, the C2Cl6 and graphite powder were used as the potential grain refiners for AM60 and AZ91 alloys, respectively. The results show that the microstructure and mechanical properties of these Mg-Al magnesium alloys have been improved with these grain refiners. The mechanism and thermodynamics analyses of grain refinement with carbon inoculation in Mg-Al magnesium alloy have been discussed.

This paper reviews the background and significance to investigate the high-speed speed blanking process modeling simulation and optimization of large blanking machine equipment for CNC uncoiling, leveling and shearing line. And a powerful tool has been providing to of heavy machinery optimal design specifications. The finite element model of beam structure has been established by using a three-dimensional modeling software UG NX4.0 CAD and finite element analysis software ANSYS. Then the static and dynamic characteristics results of the whole beam structure have been simulated. On the basis of analysis results, the optimal static and dynamic performance of square cross-section of the beam structure has been obtained. Drawings at the design stage of large blanking machine equipment for NC uncoiling, leveling and shearing line, the use of finite element theory and modal analysis theory, the structure of the blanking machine static and dynamic performance analysis and prediction using optimal design method for optimization, the new machine to improve job performance, improve processing accuracy, shorten the development cycle and enhance the competitiveness of products is very important.

Large gantry machining center can be applied to large diameter and thickness of the flanges, tube sheets and other large sheet metal processing, the industrialization of this type of device for improving the development of modern processing and manufacturing of great strategic significance. The design and optimization of large-scales heavy gantry CNC Machining Center was mainly investigated in this paper. The finite element model of the beam structure was structured by using finite element analysis software-ANSYS. On the basis of analysis results, the optimal static and dynamic performance of square cross-section of the beam structure has been obtained. The maximal displacement is 0.531 mm. The maximum displacement of X=0.0329mm, and Y=0.531 mm occurred in the contact point of middle beam and spindle box. Z is 0.0948mm. The maximal displacement of Y-component is occurred in the contact points of guide and spindle box. This may have a certain impact on the machine processing accuracy. In the middle of the beam can consider to strengthen its internal structure, such as adding reinforcement measures to further improve its rigidity, and improve the machining precision of the whole machine.

The microstructures and mechanical properties of the Mg-Zn-Er alloys have been investigated. The results show that the alloying elements (Zn/Er) with different ratio have a great effect on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the magnesium alloys, especially for the phase constitutes. Furthermore, the more attractive result is that the quasicrystalline phase, as the main secondary phase, precipitates during solidification in the alloy with addition of Zn/Er ration of 6. The cast Mg-5Zn-0.83Er alloy exhibits the ultimate tensile strength and yield tensile strength are 190MPa and 80MPa at room temperature, respectively, with an elongation of 15%.

Magnesium-based composites reinforced with stable icosahedral quasicrystal particles have been fabricated via Repeated Plastic Working (RPW) process. The microstructure of the composites has been investigated by XRD, SEM, TEM and HREM, and its mechanical properties have also been studied. The results showed that the RPW process could reduce the matrix grain size significantly, and the average grain size of matrix was only about 500 nm after 200 cycles of RPW. A good metallurgical bond interface between the quasicrystal particles and the Mg matrix was found. The composites exhibited the maximum yield strength of 265MPa and the maximum ultimate tensile strength of 309MPa at room temperature, respectively. The enhancement of mechanical properties is attributed to the strengthening effect of the quasicrystal particles and the fine-grain size of matrix.

The Mg-5Zn-2.5Er matrix composite reinforced with the in-situ synthesized Mg2Si second phase particles was fabricated via repeated plastic working (RPW) process. The microstructures and the nanocrystals in the composite have been investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HREM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). Great deals of nanocrystals were found in the matrix, and they were around the in-situ synthesized Mg2Si. The HREM analysis showed that the size of nanocrystals was in the range of 5-10 nm, and the difference in their crystallographic orientation was bigger than 15°. It is suggested that the formation of nanocrystals in the matrix is attributed to the RPW deformation process and to the intensive stresse fields around the in-situ synthesized Mg2Si particles, which suppress the growth of nanocrystals by forming nonequilibrium grain boundaries containing disordered dislocation networks and junction disclinations.

In this paper, a systematic investigation of equal channel angular extrusion/Pressing (ECAE, ECAP) process on the AZ31 alloy and die design is performed by using numerical simulation. The stress distributions on the die were obtained, and general consideration of the die during the whole pressing process was given. The numerical results revealed that effective stress distribution at the corner of the cavity and the extruded load during extrusion processes was effect by channel angles and friction factor. From the simulations, it was found that the closer the die corner is, the higher stress value results can be acquired. And the effective stress concentration in ECAP die cavity corner. The extruding load fell rapidly when the angular angle increasing. With the increase of friction factor, extruding load also increased significantly. The proposed method can serve as preconditions to analyze the abrasion and fatigue of ECA Pressing die. Besides, this method also provides a feasible way for other die stress analysis.

The repeated plastic working deformation(RPW) process can reduce grain size of a Mg alloy from 50-100 um to 10-500 nm, but the mechanism responsible for it has not been clear up to now. In the present paper, the effect of RPW deformation process on the grain size of Mg-5Gd-1Er alloy has been studied, and a series microstructural evaluations were performed to investigate the possible mechanism for RPW deformation by using transmission electron microscopy. Although there are no twinning or fibrous microstructures, the dynamic recrystallization, which usually occurs in high stacking fault energy metals, has been found in the alloy deformed by RPW process. The results indicated that the vacancy diffusion played an important role in this kind of dynamic recrystallization. According to the evolution of microstructure, a mechanism was proposed to explain the dynamic recrystallization for RPW deformation process.

The ultra-fine grained (UFG) materials have been widely investigated due to their mechanical properties such as super high strength and super high plasticity. The finite element simulation schemes are planned for the deformation mechanism of ECAP pressing. It will greatly affect the extrusion process when processing parameter changed such as die geometrical parameters and friction condition. It is considerable to determinate the range of die channel angle and die corner angle during ECAP process, and a moderate die corner angle is usually chosen. The friction condition of the ECAP should be lubricated as good as possible in the pressing on the basis of optimal die geometrical conditions. The ECAP process is a non-uniform shear deformation process in the cross-section of the workpiece for first-pass pressing. There have low angle grain boundaries along the cross-section of the grain microstructures. For the multi-pass pressing, although the pressing pass numbers are same, the processing routes were of important significance on the grain sizes and grain distribution and grain boundaries (GBs) orientations of workpieces. The formation mechanism of nanostructure was given for the ECAP through studying the deformation behavior and dislocation’s evolution. The dislocation is one of the main defects in the processed materials, but the form of the dislocations and its density are difference for different processing route. The processed workpiece with high surface quality, refined grain microstructure and optimization grain boundaries were obtained with optimal processing parameters and routes.