Microstructure characteristics and deformation behavior of tin bronze/1010 steel bimetal layered composite by continuous solid/liquid bonding

The tin bronze (TB) and steel (SAE 1010) bimetal layered composite (BLC) plate was prepared by continuous solid-liquid bonding. Microstructures and interdiffusion between Cu and Fe in the obtained BLC were characterized by optical microscope, electron probe micro-analysis and electron back scattering diffraction. Mechanical properties were analyzed by the uniaxial tensile and bending tests. Moreover, in order to study the deformation behavior of the two materials, the clad ratio and mechanical properties of the BLC after rolling were also performed. The results show that the TB/1010 steel BLC with excellent metallurgical bonding and homogeneous microstructure is obtained. The ultimate tensile strength of the BLC (512.3 MPa) is located between the TB (376.2 MPa) and 1010 steel (536.3 MPa), and it is 56.0 MPa larger than the calculated value by the rule of mixture, which is attributed to the synergetic strengthening of the interface. The plastic instability strain is calculated according to the long-wavelength prediction combining the strain hardening index n and work hardening coefficient k of TB and 1010 steel. The generation of twins in TB and the reduction in grain size caused by rolling result in an increase in yield strength of the BLC. The results of the bending tests further show that the strength of interface is larger than that of the TB because the crack propagation is located at the TB and the interface is always tightly bonded.

Automated summary

The tin bronze and steel bimetal layered composite plate was prepared using continuous solid-liquid bonding. Microstructures and interdiffusion between Cu and Fe were analyzed, and mechanical properties were examined through different tests. The study found that the bonding between the layers was excellent, and the ultimate tensile strength was higher than expected due to the synergistic strengthening of the interface. The plastic instability strain and yield strength were affected by factors such as twinning in the tin bronze and reduction in grain size caused by rolling. The bending tests showed that the strength of the interface was higher than that of the tin bronze.