镁合金被誉为“21世纪绿色金属”,但其低硬度、易腐蚀的特性限制了应用。近期,江苏科技大学材料学院团队在《Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering》发表重磅研究,提出一种表面处理技术——FS-SMAT,成功实现纯镁与AZ31镁合金的晶粒纳米级细化与硬度跃升!这项技术如何突破传统瓶颈?让我们一起揭开其科学奥秘!
Hu, L. H., Peng, J. H., Hu, X. X., Chen, L. Y., Bobrov, M. M., & Lu, S. (2023). Effect of FS-SMAT on microstructure and mechanical property of pure magnesium and AZ31 magnesium alloy. Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/25787616.2023.2171768
【技术核心:FS-SMAT的“双刃剑”工具】
传统FSP技术因高温易导致晶粒粗化,而FS-SMAT通过无针搅拌工具显著降低热输入。团队设计两种工具:
1、球形工具:接触面小,热输入低,适合纯镁的温和塑性变形。
2、平面工具:带沟槽设计,驱动材料流动,热输入高,适合AZ31的剧烈变形。
图2 球形与平面搅拌工具设计(原文件图2a-b)
Figure 2. Photographs of the (a) spherical stir tool and (b) plane stir tool and the FS-SMATed (c,d) pure Mg plates
and (e,f) AZ31 plates processed by (c,e) spherical stir tool and (d,f) plane stir tool.
【实验结果:晶粒细化与硬度跃升】
1、纯镁的“逆袭”
(1)球形工具处理后,晶粒尺寸从12.4 μm细化至1.74 μm(图4a),显微硬度提升至63 HV(原40 HV)。
(2)平面工具因高温导致晶粒粗化,但团队发现其适合AZ31合金。
图4 纯镁晶粒细化对比(原文件图4a)
Figure 4. Microstructure of the FS-SMATed pure Mg plate using the (a,b) spherical stir tool and (c,d) plane stir tool in the (a,c) center zone and (b,d) transition zone.
2、AZ31合金的“纳米化奇迹”
(1)平面工具处理后,晶粒尺寸从9.6 μm细化至0.91 μm(图8b),硬度飙升至125 HV(原55 HV);
(2)EBSD分析显示(图7),孪晶与动态再结晶协同作用,实现超细晶结构。
图8 AZ31合金纳米级晶粒(原文件图8b)
Figure 8. Microstructure in (a) the rectangular box in Figure 5(b) and typical microstructure in (b) zone-b, (c) zone-c and (d) zone-d.
【科学机制:温度与变形的博弈】
1、球形工具:低温+中等变形→抑制晶粒生长,适合纯镁。
2、平面工具:高温+剧烈变形→促进动态再结晶,结合AZ31的合金元素(Al、Zn)抑制晶界迁移,实现“纳米级锁固”。
图10 FS-SMAT过程示意图(原文件图10)
Figure 10. Schematic showing the FS-SMAT using (a) a spherical stir tool and (b) a plane stir tool.
【应用前景】
该技术为镁合金表面强化开辟了新路径:
1、航空航天:轻量化部件硬度提升,延长寿命。
2、汽车工业:高耐磨镁合金车身,降低能耗。
3、3C电子:超薄设备结构件强度升级。
【结语】
“通过工具设计与工艺优化,我们让镁合金‘刚柔并济’!”——论文通讯作者彭金华教授。这项研究不仅攻克了镁合金应用瓶颈,更为其他轻金属的表面改性提供了全新范式!
【英文摘要】
A novel material processing method, friction stir-surface mechanical attrition treatment (FS-SMAT) was conducted on pure magnesium plate and AZ31 magnesium alloy plate. Two types of stir tools, spherical stir tool and plane stir tool, are designed to process FS-SMAT to reduce the heat input compared with the traditional friction stir processing (FSP). Microstructure evolution during FS-SMAT and its effect on mechanical property are investigated. FS-SMAT has different effect on microstructure and mechanical property when using the spherical and plane stir tools. Different heat input and plastic deformation can be produced due to the specific shapes of stir tools. Using a spherical stir tool, the grain size of pure magnesium plate was refined to 1.74 μm. The micro-hardness was improved from 40 HV to 63 HV. In contrast, after FS-SMAT with a plane stir tool, the grain size and micro-hardness of AZ31 magnesium alloy are 0.91 μm and 125 HV, respectively.