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The effect of high-temperature deformation conditions on the mechanical properties of composites produced from aluminum powders with different particle sizes reinforced by SiC, TiC, and AlB12 nanoparticles was examined. High-temperature extrusion promoted uniform distribution of the nanoparticles in the aluminum matrix. At an optimum nanoparticle content (4 wt.%), the most uniform distribution of particles following deformation was shown by the composites produced from a fine size fraction of the aluminum powder. Subsequent high-temperature rolling promoted significant strain hardening (up to 120 MPa) through thermokinetic deformation conditions giving rise to dislocation substructures and activating dynamic recrystallization processes. In all cases, the hardening rate at the initial stage of high-temperature rolling (first pass) was higher than at the subsequent stages when recovery processes activated. The abnormal decrease in strength of the samples subjected to asymmetric rolling to reach high strains was associated with intensification of shear deformation, increasing the ribbon internal energy and thus accelerating the annealing of deformation defects. Among the nanopowder reinforcements, the best mechanical behavior was demonstrated by SiC nanoparticles, whose structural features promoted the best bonding between the particles and the matrix. The samples with AlB12 nanoparticles showed lower hardening because of somewhat weaker bonding and process-induced particles. Titanium carbide nanoparticles provided the worst hardening of the composite because of insufficient bonding with the matrix. The tested deformation conditions, along with the optimal choice of powder components for the composites, allow the production of high-strength ribbons (aluminum metal-matrix composites) employing a relatively simple powder technique. A further increase in the ribbon strength should be promoted by the use of doped aluminum powders following upgrade of the deformation conditions.

The results of researches on steel 4H4N5M4F2 modes thermo-deformation processing optimization are given. It is established that incomplete annealing (750 °С ± 20 °С in comparison with full annealing 860 °С) in cast and forged condition promotes to improve the machining of blanks for the manufacture of matrices. It is shown that the use of incomplete annealing, namely partial recrystallization promotes the formation of spheroidized rather than lamellar carbide phase, which leads to a decrease in the characteristics: strength threshold, yield strength, hardness 900 MPa, 800 MPa, 32 33 HRC in the cast state and 1200 MPa, 1050 MPa, 38 39 HRC in forged condition, respectively. This increases the fracture toughness: 180 J/cm2 in the cast state and 130 J/cm2 in the forged state. The optimized mode of forging at the temperature of 1170 ± 20 °С and heat treatment (hardening at 1100 ± 5 °С and tempering at 595 ± 5 °С) of steel 4H4N5M4F2 allowed to increase impact strength five times in comparison with cast experimental steel, and also to increase strength threshold of 100 MPa. Forged steel 4H4N5M4F2 has slightly lower heat resistance compared to cast, which hardens at temperatures above 630 °C during operation of the die steel tool. After operation of the extruder wheels made of investigated forged steel and forged steel 4H5MF1S, which was used at the enterprise in copper processing, the properties of both steels were determined. The investigated forged steel 4H4N5M4F2 is characterized by an increase in the strength threshold by 200 MPa and hardness by 6 HRC. After operation (production of 60 tons of copper products of M1 grade) the tool (wheel extruder) from H13 steel (analog 4H5MF1S) had micro and macrocracks on the side and inner parts, and in the investigated steel 4H4N5M4F2 such defects were absent. Thus, the studied steel is characterized by increased stability. Keywords: steel, heat treatment, forging, structure, physical and mechanical properties.

Steels with adjustable austenitic transformation during the exploitation (RAPE) are designed for applied in the temperature range of 800 – 950 °C, which corresponds to the austenitic structure, but at the lower temperature range (630 – 650 °C) tempering fragility of the second kind occurs, which makes it difficult to operate. This is inconvenient when the die tool works in a wide range of temperatures during deformation of various metals and alloys. An improved steel composition (4H4N5M3F2) (RAPE) for press molds for hot pressing of copper and its alloys at temperatures of 630 – 650 °C is proposed. Steel was obtained by electroslag remelting, it was heat treated and the properties were determined. It is shown that the heat resistance of the investigated steel is higher by 2 HRC than the heat resistance of steels grade 4H5MF1S and 3H3M3F, which are used under the same operating conditions. The yield strength and impact strength of steel 4H4N5M4F2 considerably exceeds the characteristics of steel 3H3M3F (high –grade rolled products). The annealing temperature limits, which allow obtaining the necessary technological properties of steel, were established. It is shown that the steel structure consists of two areas: dark (obviously it is released martensite) and light (the area with a lower content of the carbide component). With an increase in tempering temperature from 640 to 660 °C, the hardness (HV) of the dark and light components decreases from 478.6 to 459.8 and from 427.8 to 376.0, respectively. The heat resistance of the investigated steel after quenching and tempering in optimal conditions increased to 650 °C (41 HRC).

The structure and mechanical properties of a powder composite with an AMg5 alloy metallic matrix reinforced with SiC particles have been examined. The composite with 3% reinforcing phase shows the best combination of strength, ductility, and damping capacity. Additional deformation processing of the composite improves its strength but reduces ductility because of planar pores observed on the fracture surface of severely deformed samples. It is shown that 30% strain hardening in the rolling process is not accompanied by reduction in ductility.

The structure and properties of composite materials have been studied versus their composition. Comparative analysis of intermetallic titanium materials in dry friction with steel has been carried out. The intermetallic titanium material whose structure is represented by an intermetallic matrix with solid-phase inclusions has the highest tribotechnical properties.