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• The strain recovery rate of gradient porous NiTi SMAs was nearly doubled. • More than 4 % stable recoverable strain was first obtained in gradient porous NiTi SMAs. • Superelasticity improvement mainly came from lower phase transformation temperatures and precipitation strengthening. • Gradient porous structures played a non-negligible role in both superelasticity deterioration and improvement. Bone-mimicking gradient porous NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) are promising for orthopedic implants due to their distinctive superelastic functional properties. However, premature plastic deformation in weak areas such as thinner struts, nodes, and sharp corners severely deteriorates the superelasticity of gradient porous NiTi SMAs. In this work, we prepared gradient porous NiTi SMAs with a porosity of 50% by additive manufacturing (AM) and achieved a remarkable improvement of superelasticity by a simple solution treatment regime. After solution treatment, phase transformation temperatures dropped significantly, the dislocation density decreased, and partial intergranular Ti-rich precipitates were transferred into the grain. Compared to as-built samples, the strain recovery rate of solution-treated samples was nearly doubled at a pre-strain of 6% (up to 90%), and all obtained a stable recoverable strain of more than 4%. The remarkable superelasticity improvement was attributed to lower phase transformation temperatures, fewer dislocations, and the synergistic strengthening effect of intragranular multi-scale Ti-Ni precipitates. Notably, the gradient porous structure played a non-negligible role in both superelasticity deterioration and improvement. The microstructure evolution of the solution-treated central strut after constant 10 cycles and the origin of the stable superelastic response of gradient porous NiTi SMAs were revealed. This work provides an accessible strategy for improving the superelastic performance of gradient porous NiTi SMAs and proposes a key strategy for achieving such high-performance architectured materials. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study investigated the precipitation and segregation of 17-4 precipitation-hardened stainless steel during selective laser melting. • Segregation behavior was calculated with solidification mode of F mode and FA mode due to partitioning coefficient of alloy elements. • Solution treatment after additive manufacturing should be conducted at higher temperatures with longer duration. • The size and area fraction of the precipitates decreased with increasing temperature and duration of the solution treatment. • Hardness increased with the optimized solution treatment owing to the Cu dissolution from the precipitates into the matrix. 17-4 precipitation-hardened (PH) stainless steel (SS) exhibits high strength and good corrosion resistance via Cu-precipitation hardening. Unlike conventional wrought 17-4PH SS, Cu segregation and ε-Cu precipitates are observed in additively manufactured (AM) 17-4PH SS owing to the repeated rapid cooling after heating, which characterizes the AM process. In this study, solution treatment was conducted under various temperatures (1,000, 1,050, 1,100, and 1,200 °C) and durations (1, 2, 4, and 8 h) to minimize the negative effects of Cu segregation and ε-Cu precipitates on precipitation hardening. The mechanical properties and microstructures of each condition for the Cu precipitation behavior were examined. Although the ε-Cu precipitates did not disappear after solution treatment, the average diameter of the ε-Cu precipitates tended to decrease with increasing solution treatment temperature and duration. Therefore, solution treatment at a temperature of 1,200 °C for 8 h was the best, resulting in improved strength compared to the conventional solution treatment at 1,050 °C. Solution treatment on at least 1,100 °C is effective in AM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin layer is a characteristic microstructure of aluminium die castings, which would effect the surface blistering during solution treatment. In this study, the microstructures of skin layer were investigated by the methods of optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA). High resolution X-ray CT was used to compare the skin layer with normal surface before and after solution treatment. With the aid of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the formation mechanism of the skin layer was discussed based on microstructure distribution, solute segregation, porosity distribution and surface blistering. The results suggested that the skin layer is related to a succession of complex processes before the filling process finished. Pore clusters or laminar defects would be formed in skin layers during solution treatment and cause severe surface blistering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pitting corrosion resistance of duplex stainless steels UNS S31803 annealed at different temperatures ranging from 1050 °C to 1200 °C for 24 h has been investigated by means of potentiostatic critical pitting temperature (CPT). The microstructural evolution and pit morphologies of the specimens were studied through optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The potentiostatic CPT measurements show that the CPT was elevated with the annealing temperature increased from 1050 °C to 1150 °C and decreased as the temperature further increased to 1200 °C. The specimens annealed at 1150 °C exhibited the highest CPT and the best pitting corrosion resistance. The pit morphologies show that the pit initiation sites transfer from austenite phase to ferrite phase as the annealing temperature increases. The results were explained by the variation of pitting resistance equivalent number (PREN) of ferrite and austenite phases as the annealing temperature was varied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The δ phase evolution and its effect on the austenite grain growth in the solution treatment of superalloy GH4169 were investigated at the solution temperatures of 1233, 1253, 1273 and 1293 K and the holding time of 30, 45 and 60 min. The δ phase is dissolved and transformed from short bars to fine bars or particles gradually with the increasing solution temperature. The holding time affects the morphology and the amount of δ phase slightly. The austenite grain grows with the increasing solution temperature and holding time. It grows slowly at the solution temperatures ranging from 1233 to 1373 K, but sharply from 1273 to 1293 K. The phenomenon suggests that the δ phase generates a pinning effect on the austenite grain growth. The kinetic analysis about the austenite grain growth was carried out at the solution temperatures ranging from 1233 to 1373 K. The grain growth exponent n value is calculated to be 1.2 which confirms the pinning effect of δ phase on the austenite grain growth, and activation energy Q value is calculated to be 394.1 kJ mol-1. Finally, a model with an average difference 9.22% for the austenite grain growth was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]