High-pressure torsion processing of Zn–3Mg alloy and its hybrid counterpart: A comparative study

David Hernández-Escobar, Raymond R. Unocic, Megumi Kawasaki, Carl J. Boehlert

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Processing of metal hybrid nanocomposites have emerged in the recent years by means of solid-state reactions through severe plastic deformation techniques, resulting in heterogenous microstructures and mechanical properties. Despite the increased scientific interest in these unusual materials, little is known regarding their comparative attributes with respect to a homogeneous material having equivalent nominal composition. This work provides a direct comparison of the microstructure and the hardness evolution between a Zn–3Mg (wt.%) alloy and its hybrid counterpart, after high-pressure torsion (HPT) and after HPT followed by a post-deformation annealing (PDA) treatment. Experimental results indicate that both the alloy and the hybrid reach a similar level of grain refinement after HPT processing, however, grain growth follows different trends after PDA. The HPT-processed alloy exhibits clusters of Mg2Zn11 nanocrystalline domains that coalesce into coarser grains maintaining a unimodal GS distribution after PDA. On the other hand, the hybrid after PDA displays a multimodal GS distribution consisting of ultrafine Mg-rich grains containing MgZn2 and Mg2Zn11 nanoscale intermetallics, in a matrix of coarser dislocation-free Zn grains. These observations were supported by kernel average misorientation (KAM) maps and pole figures obtained through electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis.

Original languageEnglish
Article number154891
JournalJournal of Alloys and Compounds
Volume831
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 5 2020

Funding

The funding for this research was supported by the National Science Foundation Division of Material Research , under Grant No. DMR-1607942 through the Metals and Metallic Nanostructures (MMN) program (DHE & CJB) and under Grant No. DMR-1810343 (MK). A portion of this research (S/TEM) was conducted at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science User Facility. The funding for this research was supported by the National Science Foundation Division of Material Research, under Grant No. DMR-1607942 through the Metals and Metallic Nanostructures (MMN) program (DHE & CJB) and under Grant No. DMR-1810343 (MK). A portion of this research (S/TEM) was conducted at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science User Facility.

FundersFunder number
Metals and Metallic NanostructuresDMR-1810343
National Science Foundation Division of Material ResearchDMR-1607942
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science
National Science Foundation1810343

    Keywords

    • Heterostructure
    • High-pressure torsion
    • Hybrid
    • Intermetallic
    • Microhardness
    • Zinc

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'High-pressure torsion processing of Zn–3Mg alloy and its hybrid counterpart: A comparative study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this