JPH08283921A - High strength aluminum alloy consolidation material and its production - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To produce a high strength aluminum alloy consolidation material used for structural material for machine parts, etc. CONSTITUTION: This consolidation material is composed essentially of supersaturated solid solution phases of <=100nm average crystalline grain size and has >=1mm thickness, and further, the super-saturated solid solution phases are constituted as grains of 1-10μm average grain size. Moreover, the consolidation material has a composition represented by general formulae, Albal Ma Xb and Albal Ma Xb Qc [where M means V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni, X means Li, Mg, Si, Ti, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Hf, Ta, W, Mm, and rare earth elements, Q means B, C, N, and O, and the symbols (a), (b), and (c) stand for 0.5-10%, 0.5-10%, and <=5%, respectively). The consolidation material can be produced by an electron beam vapor deposition process. By this method, the high strength aluminum alloy consolidation material having new structure can be obtained, and, by using an electron beam vapor deposition process, a high density and high strength bulk material can be obtained directly from a master alloy.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a high strength aluminum alloy solidified material used as a structural material for machine parts and the like and a method for producing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The conventional fine crystal structure of rapidly solidified aluminum alloys has been strengthened by the refinement of the structure by the rapid solidification method. Furthermore, instead of a microcrystalline structure,
Further, by quenching in a specific composition to obtain an amorphous phase, a material having higher strength is obtained. However, an alloy having a fine structure obtained by a method such as a rapid solidification method or a mechanical alloying method is usually limited to a ribbon or a powder. Therefore, in order to use it as a structural material for machine parts or the like, it was necessary to assemble and solidify thin strips or powders. As a method of assembly and solidification, a hot extrusion method, a forging method, etc. are usually used, but due to the heat history at that time, the amorphous obtained by quenching is crystallized by heating, and the fine crystal structure grows grains by heating. Therefore, there is a problem that the strength characteristics deteriorate after hot working.
Further, since the ribbon or powder is used as the raw material, the shape of the final product is limited due to the manufacturing facility, and it is difficult to produce a large-area plate material.

Further, a powder metallurgy method is generally used. The process is mother alloy → melting → rapid solidification → billet (preform) conversion (+ degassing) → hot working (extrusion, extrusion,
There is a problem that it has to go through a complicated process such as forging) → finishing → final product. Also, the oxidation of the surface of the ribbon or powder as a raw material has a limit in controlling the atmosphere,
There is a problem that unsoundness of solidification due to residual surface oxide, hydrogen embrittlement due to gas components, especially adsorbed water, crystallization water, etc., and contamination during powder handling cause problems in product characteristics after molding.

Electron beam evaporation, on the other hand, is a well-known physical vapor deposition technique, mainly used for the production of metal films or coatings, but with alloys having metastable supersaturated solid solutions at the scale of structural material applications. It is also known as a manufacturing method. For a general explanation, see the two papers by Bickerdike et al., "International Journal."
al of Rapid Solidifatio
n (1985, Vol. 1 pp 305-325; 198).
6, Vol. 2 pp001 to 019) ".

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a high-strength aluminum alloy solidified material having a fine crystal structure without the problems of oxidation, hydrogen embrittlement and contamination.

[0006]

The present invention comprises a supersaturated solid solution phase having an average crystal grain size of 100 nm or less.
A high strength aluminum alloy solidified material having a thickness of 1 mm or more. The present invention also has an average particle size of 1-1.
It is a high-strength aluminum alloy solidification material characterized by being composed of 0 μm particles, the particles substantially consisting of a supersaturated solid solution phase having an average crystal grain size of 100 nm or less, and having a thickness of 1 mm or more. . The volume ratio of the supersaturated solid solution phase is preferably 80% or more, and the rest is amorphous or intermetallic compound, but the volume ratio of the intermetallic compound is preferably 0, and the maximum is 5%.
The relative density of the bulk material is preferably 95% or more. If the average crystal grain size exceeds 100 nm, the strength is insufficient, and if the volume ratio of the amorphous phase exceeds 20%, the ductility, toughness and workability deteriorate. When the volume ratio of the intermetallic compound increases, the strength is not adversely affected, but there is a problem that the solidifying material decreases.

The size of the particles in the deposited macrostructure is 1 to 10 μm, but if it is smaller than 1 μm,
Even if it is larger than 10 μm, voids occur and the relative density is 95
% Or more cannot be obtained, resulting in a material defect. When the amorphous phase is mixed, the amorphous particles and fine crystals having a supersaturated solid solution as a main phase are uniformly dispersed in the particles having a size of 1 to 10 μm and do not exist at the particle interface. If an amorphous phase is present at the interface between macro-structured particles in which particles are densely deposited, ductility,
Toughness and workability will be reduced. In order to obtain the tissue has an Al _bal M _a X _b or of the general formula _{Al bal M a X b Q c} , a = 0.5~10%, b = 0.5~10%, c = 5
% Or less, and more preferably 80% or more in terms of ductility.

M element is V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co,
It is at least one element selected from Ni and is an element effective in refining the structure. Further, solid solution strengthening can enhance the strength of the alloy without impairing the toughness. If the amount is less than 0.5%, the strengthening is insufficient and the macro and micro structures as described in the above claims cannot be obtained. If the amount exceeds 10%, the ductility of aluminum as a matrix or a supersaturated solid solution of aluminum is reduced. Moreover, an amorphous phase is easily formed, which causes problems in thermal stability, workability, and ductility.
Further, at the substrate temperature at which the macro and micro structures described in the above claims can be obtained, only low density ones can be obtained, so the range of 0.5 to 10% is preferable.
X is an element such as Li, Mg, Si, Ti, Cu, Zn,
Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Hf, Ta, W, Mm
(Misch metal), at least one element selected from rare earth metal elements, and is an element effective in refining the structure. Further, the solid solution strengthening makes it possible to increase the strength of the alloy without impairing the toughness. If the amount is less than 0.5%,
In addition to insufficient reinforcement, it is impossible to obtain a macro or micro structure as described in the above claims. The amount is 10
If it exceeds%, the ductility of aluminum as a matrix or a supersaturated solid solution of aluminum is reduced. Further, an amorphous phase is easily formed, which causes problems in thermal stability, workability, and ductility. Further, at the substrate temperature at which the macro and micro structures described in the above claims can be obtained, only low density ones can be obtained, so the range of 0.5 to 10% is preferable. Q element is
At least one element selected from B, C, N and O,
It is an element capable of significantly improving the heat resistance of aluminum or an aluminum supersaturated solid solution. The Q element is an element that cannot be uniformly alloyed by a usual melting method or the like, and the solidified material can be produced only by the vapor deposition method by controlling the atmosphere. If the amount exceeds 5%, the heat resistance remains good, but a dense material cannot be produced and a problem occurs in ductility.

Such an aluminum alloy solidified material has an average crystal grain size of substantially 100 by an electron beam evaporation method.
nm or less having an average particle size of 1-10 μm of a supersaturated solid solution phase
m alloy particles can be obtained by a method characterized in that they are deposited on a vapor deposition substrate. FIG. 1 schematically shows a specific example of the electron beam vapor deposition apparatus. In the vacuum apparatus, a vapor deposition source material rod 2 is arranged in a copper crucible 1 so as to be movable from the lower side to the upper side, and an electron gun 3 is attached thereto.
Is irradiated with the electron beam 4 to heat and melt the evaporation source material and further evaporate it. The evaporated particles 5 are deposited by evaporation on a deposition substrate 6 provided so as to face the crucible 1, and a deposition layer 7 is formed.
To form. Further, a shutter 8 is provided between the crucible 1 and the deposition substrate 6, and is opened when the substrate temperature and the vapor deposition particles become suitable conditions.

Although only one electron gun 3 is shown, a plurality of electron guns 3 can be provided. By providing a plurality of electron guns 3, a material having a more uniform composition distribution, a compositionally non-uniform functionally graded material, an artificial lattice thick film material, and the like can be manufactured. Such electron beam evaporation is suitable for obtaining the structure of the present invention, as compared with other physical vapor deposition techniques, since a high cooling state can be obtained. The degree of vacuum in the vacuum device is 0.
5 × 10 ^{−5 to} 1.5 × 10 ⁻⁵ Torr is suitable.
Further, in order to obtain the above-mentioned texture, the temperature of the vapor deposition material substrate is set to 1
It is preferable to control the temperature to 50 to 350 ° C. When the temperature is lower than 150 ° C., a non-equilibrium state can be obtained, but there are problems that it is difficult to obtain a dense material and the material tends to be columnar. If the temperature is higher than 350 ° C., the crystal grain size becomes large, the strength characteristics are deteriorated, and the precipitation / crystallization phenomenon of the intermetallic compound occurs, and the ductility, toughness, and workability deteriorate.

[0011]

EXAMPLE A high-strength aluminum alloy solidified material was produced using the materials having the compositions shown in Table 1 by the electron beam evaporation apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and under the same evaporation conditions as shown in Table 1. A specific manufacturing method is as follows:
An electron beam is emitted from the electron gun with the gun output shown in Table 1. The vapor deposition time and the deposition substrate temperature were also set under the conditions shown in Table 1. In the case of Example 9 of the present invention, the inside of the apparatus was placed in an oxygen atmosphere. As the vapor deposition source material used at this time, a material excluding oxygen components is prepared. As the Q element, N. When O is used, the inside of the apparatus is operated in an N, O atmosphere such as N ₂ , O ₂ . When the inside of the equipment is N and O atmosphere, the partial pressure is 6 × 10 ^-3 when N ₂
It is appropriate that the pressure is less than or equal to Torr, and if O ₂ is less than or equal to 1 × 10 ⁻³ Torr. When B or C is included, B or C is used as a vapor deposition source.
Alternatively, a material containing B or C may be used.

[0012]

[Table 1] Hardness (Hv) of the solidified material obtained based on Table 1
Was measured. The hardness (Hv) is shown by a measured value (DPN) by a micro Vickers hardness meter with a load of 25 g. The obtained results are shown in Table 2.

[0013]

[Table 2] From the results shown in Table 2, the solidified material of the present invention has a hardness of 265 to 265.
It can be seen that it is extremely high as 360 DPN, and it can be seen that it is a solidified material excellent in high strength characteristics. FIG. 2 is an SEM image from the surface of the deposit of Inventive Example 1, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged photograph of FIG. It can be seen that the deposit is in the form of particles having a particle size of 1 to 10 μm, and these particles are deposited to form the solidifying material. FIG. 4 is an SEM image from the surface of the deposited material of Inventive Example 2 and FIG. 5 is Inventive Example 3, and it can be seen that it is almost the same as FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 6 shows the SE of the fracture surface of the deposit of Example 3 of the present invention.
M image, which is different from amorphous and exhibits a dimple pattern peculiar to a ductile crystal. Further, no progress of fracture at the interface of the columnar structure due to the macroscopic columnar structure of the deposit was observed, and it can be seen that a very dense state was obtained. FIG. 7 is an example 3 of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a DSC curve (differential scanning calorimetry curve) of the example 6 of the present invention. From this, an exothermic peak corresponding to decomposition or precipitation of an amorphous or supersaturated solid solution is recognized up to around 300.degree. It can be seen that it is thermally stable. FIG. 9 is an X-ray diffraction pattern of Example 1 of the present invention, showing only the peak of fcc (face-centered cubic structure) -Al, and it can be seen that the structure is a fine crystal phase consisting only of the supersaturated solid solution fcc-Al phase. . FIG. 10 shows Example 2 of the present invention.
2 is an X-ray diffraction pattern of the above, and there is a peak of fcc-Al and a broad portion indicating that it contains an amorphous phase, and the amorphous phase is dispersed in the fine crystalline phase composed of the main phase supersaturated solid solution fcc-Al phase. It can be seen that it is a mixed phase structure.

[0015]

According to the present invention, a high-strength aluminum alloy solidified material having a novel structure can be obtained, and a high-density high-strength bulk material can be directly obtained from a mother alloy by utilizing an electron beam evaporation method. It is possible to provide a stable product without being affected by the heat history in the conventional hot extrusion method or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a specific example of an electron beam vapor deposition apparatus suitable for the manufacturing method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an SEM photograph from the surface of the deposit of Example 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an SEM photograph from the surface of a deposit of Inventive Example 2.

FIG. 5 is an SEM photograph from the surface of a deposit of Inventive Example 3.

FIG. 6 is an SEM photograph of a fracture surface of a vapor deposition product of Inventive Example 3.

FIG. 7 is a differential scanning calorimetry curve of Example 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a differential scanning calorimetric analysis curve of Example 6 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an X-ray diffraction diagram of Example 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an X-ray diffraction diagram of Example 2 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 crucible 2 evaporation source material rod 3 electron gun 4 electron beam 5 particles 6 deposition substrate 7 deposition layer 8 shutter

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A high-strength aluminum alloy solidified material, which is substantially composed of a supersaturated solid solution phase having an average crystal grain size of 100 nm or less and has a thickness of 1 mm or more. 2. A particle having an average particle size of 1 to 10 μm, which is substantially composed of a supersaturated solid solution phase having an average crystal particle size of 100 nm or less and a thickness of 1 mm.
A high-strength aluminum alloy solidified material characterized by the above. 3. The high-strength aluminum alloy solidified material according to claim 1, wherein the supersaturated solid solution phase has a volume ratio of 80% or more, and the balance is an amorphous phase or an intermetallic compound phase. 4. The high-strength aluminum alloy solidified material according to claim 3, wherein when the intermetallic compound phase is included, the phase is 5% or less in volume ratio. 5. The solidified high-strength aluminum alloy material according to claim 1, wherein the bulk material has a relative density of 95% or more. 6. A structure having a supersaturated solid solution as a main phase and an amorphous phase finely dispersed in a particle having an average particle size of 1 to 10 μm.
The high-strength aluminum alloy solidified material according to claim 2, wherein only a crystal phase of m or less is present. 7. A general formula: Al _bal M _a X _b (provided that at least one element M is V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, chosen from Ni, X is Li, Mg, Si, Ti, Cu ，
Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Hf, Ta, W,
It is at least one element selected from Mm (Misch metal) and rare earth elements, and a and b are atomic percentages of a.
= 0.5-10%, b = 0.5-10%), The high-strength aluminum alloy solidified material according to claim 1 or claim 2. 8. A general formula: Al _bal M _a X _b Q _c (where M
Is at least one element selected from V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co and Ni, and X is Li, Mg, Si, Ti, C
u, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Hf, Ta,
W, Mm (Misch metal), at least one element selected from rare earth elements, Q is at least one element selected from B, C, N, and V, and a, b, and c are atomic percentages and a = 0.5-10%, b = 0.5-10%, c
= 5% or less), the high strength aluminum alloy solidified material according to claim 1 or 2. 9. An alloy particle having an average particle size of 1 to 10 μm, which is substantially composed of a supersaturated solid solution phase having an average crystal particle size of 100 nm or less, is deposited on a deposition material deposition substrate by an electron beam evaporation method. Manufacturing method of high strength aluminum alloy solidified material. 10. The method for producing a solidified high-strength aluminum alloy material according to claim 9, wherein the granular alloy particles have a dense microstructure and not a columnar structure. 11. The temperature of the vapor deposition substrate is 150-350.
The method for producing a high-strength aluminum alloy solidified material according to claim 9, wherein the temperature is 0 ° C. 12. A gradient material in which the composition and / or crystal structure (structure) is continuously or stepwise changed in the thickness direction by controlling the amount and rate of vaporized element from the vapor deposition source by electron beam output. A method for producing the solidified high strength aluminum alloy described above. 13. The deposited alloy particles have the general formula: Al
_bal M _a X _b (where M is V, Cr, Mn, Fe, C
at least one element selected from o and Ni, X is L
i, Mg, Si, Ti, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb,
Mo, Ag, Hf, Ta, W, Mm (Misch metal), at least one element selected from rare earth elements, a and b are atomic percentages of a = 0.5 to 10%,
b = 0.5 to 10%). The method for producing a high-strength aluminum alloy solidified material according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the composition has the composition shown in FIG. 14. The deposited alloy particles have the general formula: Al
_bal M _a X _b Q _c (where M is V, Cr, Mn, Fe, C
at least one element selected from o and Ni, X is L
i, Mg, Si, Ti, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb,
At least one element selected from Mo, Ag, Hf, Ta, W, Mm (Misch metal) and rare earth elements,
Q is at least one element selected from B, C, N and O, a, b and c are atomic percentages, and a = 0.5 to
10%, b = 0.5 to 10%, and c = 5% or less). The method for producing a high-strength aluminum alloy solidified material according to claim 9 or claim 10.