O desenvolvimento dos veículos atuais vem sendo impulsionado pela necessidade de redução de massa associada com o aumento da segurança para os passageiros. Na procura de novos materiais e processos para atender estas exigências, os aços bifásicos ferrítico-martensíticos ou DP vêm se destacando entre os aços avançados de alta resistência (AHSS), por apresentar elevada resistência mecânica e boa ductilidade. Da mesma forma, a soldagem a laser vem se mostrando promissora para junção desta classe de materiais. Este processo permite unir os aços DP com boa qualidade metalúrgica sem significativas distorções dimensionais. Embora os aços DP apresentem boa soldabilidade, um amolecimento localizado na zona afetada pelo calor (ZAC) também é observado, especialmente no aço DP1000, que apresenta elevada fração de martensita. Desta forma, esta Tese propõe a soldagem a laser do aço DP1000 de espessura 1,80 mm, seguida de uma sistemática caracterização microestrutural, visando a produção de juntas soldadas suficientemente resistentes. Para isto, foram produzidos cordões numa chapa de aço DP1000, variando a potência nominal de soldagem entre 0,4 e 2,0 kW e a velocidade de soldagem entre 20 e 150 mm/s. A caracterização microestrutural foi conduzida com o auxílio das técnicas de microscopia óptica (MO), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), difração de raios X (DRX) e difração de elétrons retroespalhados (EBSD). As juntas soldadas mais representativas foram submetidas a ensaios de dureza Vickers e tração uniaxial. Os resultados mostram que é possível produzir juntas soldadas resistentes no aço DP1000. Todavia, é fundamental que a combinação de parâmetros gere soldas com penetração total e mínima largura de ZAC, limitando a quantidade de amolecimento da martensita prévia e a fração volumétrica de austenita retida. Na presente Tese, os melhores resultados foram obtidos para uma potência de 2,0 kW e velocidade de 150 mm/s. / The development of modern vehicles has been driven by the need of mass reduction associated with the increase of the safety of passengers. In the search for new materials and processes to meet these requirements, ferritic-martensitic dual-phase (DP) steels are potential candidates among advanced high-strength steels (AHSS), because of their high mechanical strength and good ductility. In that sense, laser beam welding has been shown promising for joining this class of materials. This process allows joining DP steels with good metallurgical quality without large dimensional distortions. Although DP steels show good weldability, a localized softening in the heat affected zone (HAZ) is also observed, especially in DP1000 steel which contains large amounts of martensite. Thus, laser beam welding has been performed in DP1000 steel with thickness of 1.80 mm, followed by a systematic microstructural characterization, aiming at the production of resistant welded joints. For this, bead-on-plate welds were carried out in DP1000 steel, varying the welding power between 0.4 and 2.0 kW and the welding speed between 20 and 150 mm/s. The microstructural characterization was conducted with the aid of light optical microscopy (LOM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). The most representative welded joints were tested for Vickers hardness and uniaxial tensile test. Results show that it is possible to produce sound and resistant welded joints in DP1000 steel. However, it is critical that the combination of parameters allows the obtainment of welds with full penetration and minimum HAZ width, limiting the amount of softening of prior martensite and the volume fraction of retained austenite. In the present Thesis, this was achieved using a power of 2.0 kW and a welding speed of 150 mm/s.

Fundamental understanding of high strain rate deformation behavior of materials is critical in designing new alloys for wide-ranging applications including military, automobile, spacecraft, and industrial applications. High entropy alloys, consisting of multiple elements in (near) equimolar proportions, represent a new paradigm in structural alloy design providing ample opportunity for achieving excellent performance in high strain rate applications by proper selection of constituent elements and/or thermomechanical processing. This dissertation is focused on fundamental understanding of high strain-rate deformation behavior of several high entropy alloy systems with widely varying microstructures. Ballistic impact testing of face centered cubic Al0.1CoCrFeNi high entropy alloy showed failure by ductile hole growth. The deformed microstructure showed extensive micro-banding and micro-twinning at low velocities while adiabatic shear bands and dynamic recrystallization were seen at higher velocities. The Al0.7CoCrFeNi and AlCoCrFeNi2.1 eutectic high entropy alloys, with BCC and FCC phases in lamellar morphology, showed failure by discing. A network of cracks coupled with small and inhomogeneous plastic deformation led to the brittle mode of failure in these eutectic alloys. Phase-specific mechanical behavior using small-scale techniques revealed higher strength and strain rate sensitivity for the B2 phase compared to the L12 phase. The interphase boundary demonstrated good stability without any cracks at high compressive strain rates. The Al0.3CoCrFeNi high entropy alloy with bimodal microstructure demonstrated an excellent combination of strength and ductility. Ballistic impact testing of Al0.3CoCrFeNi alloy showed failure by ductile hole growth and demonstrated superior performance compared to all the other high entropy alloy systems studied. The failure mechanism was dominated by micro-banding, micro-twining, and adiabatic shear localization. Comparison of all the high entropy alloy systems with currently used state-of-the-art rolled homogenous armor (RHA) steel showed a strong dependence of failure modes on microstructural features.

The aim of this work was to systematically study how the microstructure evolution is affected by the carbon activity in WC-Ni cemented carbides. Seven WC-9.59at%Ni alloys with different carbon activity were sintered at 1500 °C. From investigating these alloys, the carbon window has been experimentally evaluated using light optical microscopy and compared to theoretical carbon window calculated using Thermo-Calc. The overall microstructure of cross sections and raw surfaces have been investigated using scanning electron microscopy. Finally, the WC grain size and distribution have been evaluated using electron backscatter diffraction. It was found that the experimental carbon window was slightly wider than the theoretical carbon window. The WC grain size increased and the grain size distribution got wider with increasing carbon activity. In addition, the largest WC grains showed the largest grain growth by increasing carbon activity. By comparing the present results of grain size and distribution of WC-Ni to previous results of WC-Co, it was found that the WC grain growth was more pronounced and more influenced by the carbon activity.

[pt] Atualmente, pesquisas envolvendo metais e suas ligas têm como um de seus objetivos o controle microestrutural, como forma de aprimorar as propriedades de interesse, para as aplicações desejadas. Um fator importante que possui influência nas propriedades dos materiais policristalinos são os tipos, e distribuições de contornos de grãos e/ou de fase. A aplicação de processos que envolvam altas temperaturas, como tratamentos térmicos ou processos de soldagem, podem levar a transformações de fase, as quais modificam a cristalografia, composição química, distribuição e tamanho dos grãos. Os aços inoxidáveis duplex são ligas bifásicas constituídas de proporções aproximadamente iguais de ferrita e austenita pertencentes ao sistema Fe-Cr-Ni. Essa estrutura bifásica combina elevada resistência, boa tenacidade e excelente resistência à corrosão. Devido à essas excelentes propriedades são utilizadas em vários setores industriais como: indústrias químicas, petroquímicas, de petróleo e gás, e de construção naval. Incrementos na concentração de Cr e Ni nestes aços levam a formação de duas novas classes, os aços super e hiper duplex, cujas propriedades são semelhantes aos aços duplex, porém superiores. Neste caso, devido ao aumento no teor dos elementos de liga os processos de soldagem podem levar a formação de fases intermetálicas e/ou precipitados, as quais são deletérias as propriedades dos aços, facilitando o processo de corrosão. Muitas das transformações no estado sólido que ocorrem nos aços, seguem determinadas relações de orientação cristalográfica. Essas relações descrevem as interfaces de baixa energia que determinam os processos de nucleação e crescimento de novas fases. Portanto a determinação das relações de orientação presente nos aços duplex, super-duplex e hiper-duplex, a partir de transformações de fase obtidas em condições de equilíbrio e paraequilíbrio foram estudadas com a intenção de correlacionar com a susceptibilidade à corrosão por pites. Foram estudados os aços UNS S32205, UNS S32750 e UNS S33207, respectivamente pertencendo as classes duplex, super e hiperduplex A determinação das relações de orientação e fração de fases foi obtida por difração de elétrons retroespalhados (Electron Backscattering Diffraction - EBSD). A composição química das fases foi obtida por Espectroscopia de Energia Dispersiva (Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy - EDS). Estes dados foram correlacionados com os resultados obtidos após testes de corrosão ASTM G-48. Para todos os aços se observa a tendência do aumento da relação de orientação KS após submissão aos ciclos térmicos. No entanto, para as condições estudadas não foi encontrada uma correlação clara entre a presença da orientação KS com a formação de pites na ferrita. / [en] Currently, research involving metals and their alloys has microstructural control as one of its objectives, to improve the properties of interest, for the desired applications. An important factor that influences the properties of polycrystalline materials are the types and distributions of grain and/or phase boundaries. The application of processes involving high temperatures, such as heat treatments or welding processes, can lead to phase transformations, which modify the crystallography, chemical composition, distribution and size of the grains. Duplex stainless steels are biphasic alloys made up of approximately equal proportions of ferrite and austenite belonging to the Fe-Cr-Ni system. This two-phase structure combines high strength, good toughness and excellent corrosion resistance. Due to these excellent properties, they are used in various industrial sectors such as: chemical, petrochemical, oil and gas, and shipbuilding industries. Increases in the concentration of Cr and Ni in these steels lead to the formation of two new classes, super and hyper duplex steels, whose properties are like duplex steels, but superior. In this case, due to the increase in the content of alloying elements, the welding processes can lead to the formation of intermetallic phases and/or precipitates, which are deleterious to the properties of the steels, facilitating the corrosion process. Many of the solid-state transformations that occur in steels follow certain crystallographic orientation relationships. These relationships describe the lowenergy interfaces that determine the processes of nucleation and growth of new phases. Therefore, the determination of orientation relationships presents in duplex, super-duplex and hyper-duplex steels, from phase transformations obtained under equilibrium and paraequilibrium conditions, were studied with the intention of correlating with the susceptibility to pitting corrosion. The UNS S32205, UNS S32750 and UNS S33207 steels were studied, respectively belonging to the duplex, super and hyperduplex classes. of the phases was obtained by Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy (EDS). These data were correlated with the results obtained after ASTM G-48 corrosion tests. For all steels, there is a trend towards an increase in the KS orientation ratio after submission to thermal cycles, however no clear correlation between the presence of the KS orientation and the formation of pits in the ferrite was found.

This project is in collaboration with the Hydro-Quebec Research Institute (IREQ) and the Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy (CCEM) on the mechanical test performance of miniature-scale micro-tensile specimens. The objective of the thesis project is to create an efficient and reliable fabrication route for producing micro-tensile specimens and to validate the accuracy of a newly custom-built micro-tensile bench at IREQ. The fabrication techniques developed and outlined in this thesis use the underlying fundamental physical mechanisms of secondary electron microscopy (SEM), focused-ion beam (FIB), and the femtosecond (fs)-laser machining for producing optimal quality micro-tensile specimens. The mechanical testing of the specimens is geared towards studying the localized deformation occurring in the microstructure when the size of the specimen only limits a number of grains and grain boundaries in order to target the specific detailed measurement of the mechanical behaviour of individual grains and interfaces. The goal for creating an optimal fabrication route for micro-tensile specimens is to carry out micro-mechanical testing of the primary turbine steels of 415 martensitic stainless steel used in the manufacture of Francis turbine components at Hydro-Quebec. The mechanical testing of single phase and interphase interface 415 steel micro-tensile specimens are considered building blocks to developing digital twin models of the steel microstructure. The experimental data from the mechanical tests would be fed into the crystal plasticity finite element models (CPFEM) that are currently being developed by researchers at IREQ. With the development of digital twin models, engineers at IREQ would be able to predict crack initiation at the microstructure level (prior to crack propagation into macro-scale cracks) by observing the evolution of the grain’s crystallographic orientation and morphology, as well as deformation mechanisms such as martensite formation and twinning produced from localized induced strains in the microstructure. In addition, self-organized dislocation processes such as dislocation nucleation and dislocation escape through the free surface can also be studied using the CPFEM models for size-limited mechanical deformation behaviour of miniature-scale mechanical test specimens. The fabrication routes studied in this thesis project use the combination of the fs-laser and plasma focused ion beam (PFIB) to machine the micro-tensile specimens. (100) single crystal copper was the ideal material chosen to validate the accuracy of the micro-tensile bench and quality of the fs-laser-machined tensile specimens, due to its ductile nature and well-characterized properties studied in literature. A mechanical size effect was studied for single crystal copper specimens with different gauge thicknesses. It was observed from the micro-tension testing that the strength of the specimens increased with decreasing gauge thickness occurring in the size-limited tensile gauges. In addition, it was determined there was negligible differences in the size effect seen between the PFIB-machined copper micro-tensile specimens and the fs-laser-machined micro-tensile specimens, demonstrating that the fs-laser is a reliable machining route for the micro-tensile specimens. X-ray computed tomography was used to validate the correct geometry of the machined gauge section produced from an innovative gauge thinning method adopted from IREQ’s research collaborator, Dr. Robert Wheeler. As well, finite-element analysis (FEA) was performed to determine the deformation behaviour under both linear-elastic and non-linear elastoplastic conditions of (100) copper and 415 steel models simulated in pure tension, prior to the fabrication of the micro-tensile specimens, respectively. Furthermore, significant progress has been made towards targeting martensite grains in the 415-steel microstructure using electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis to produce single crystal and interphase interface micro-tensile specimens. A workflow towards grain targeting using EBSD analysis has been developed, as well as for the relocation of grains using reference fiducial marks for future fabrication of the single crystal and interphase interface 415 micro-tensile specimens. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / Hydro-Quebec is an energy utilities company that operates the design of Francis hydro-turbines to supply hydroelectric power across the province of Quebec. The hydro-turbines have an expected service life of 70 years. Unfortunately, the turbines can get replaced by new ones prior to reaching half of its service life, due to the development of severe fatigue crack growth in the primary components of the turbines. A solution proposed by the researchers at the Hydro-Quebec Research Institute (IREQ) is to determine a linkage between the turbine’s steel’s microstructure and the mechanical behaviour of the turbine steels. Deformation of the material starts at the microstructure level, where dislocations glide through the material lattice, causing both reversible (elastic) and irreversible (plastic) deformation. Therefore, a solution was proposed by the researchers at IREQ to create computational models of the steel microstructure to predict the deformation of the steel’s microstructure. Being able to predict the deformation mechanisms through the simulation models of the microstructures allows for engineers at Hydro-Quebec to schedule regular maintenance of the turbines more efficiently and provide metallurgists the knowledge on what is occurring at the microstructure level and what can be done to improve the chemical and physical composition of the steel. To develop the digital twin models, experimental data must be collected through mechanical testing of miniature mechanical test specimens of the turbine steels. The mechanical properties of the single phases and interphase interface specimens are fed into the models as building blocks to building a microstructure map of the turbine steels. Micro-tension testing of micro-tensile specimen provides direct information about the material’s mechanical properties. In this work, a reliable and efficient fabrication route for micro-tensile specimens was developed for the purpose of extracting mechanical properties of single phase and interphase interface turbine steel specimens using focused ion beam (FIB) and femtosecond laser machining.