CN118268455A - Electric excitation rapid creep age forming control process and device for aluminum-based composite material - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of plastic forming of aluminum-based composite materials, and in particular to a controllable process and device for electrically stimulated rapid creep aging forming of aluminum-based composite materials, comprising a mold, a main power supply, an auxiliary power supply, a temperature detection console, a temperature measuring device, and a temperature compensation device; electrodes are placed at both ends of a component, and the component is heated to a specified aging temperature by using an electric current, and kept warm for a specified time to achieve rapid heating of the component, while a temperature monitoring and control device monitors and controls the temperature in a creep aging deformation process in real time, and if certain sub-regions of the component do not reach a target temperature, the auxiliary power supply is turned on to compensate the temperature of the sub-region, and a temperature monitoring device is used to monitor and feedback the temperature change in real time until the temperature of the region reaches the target temperature; the invention can achieve uniform control and distribution of the overall temperature of the component, increase the stress relaxation amount of plastic forming of the aluminum-based composite material, accelerate the aging process, and enhance the plastic deformation capacity.

Description

Controllable process and device for electrically stimulated rapid creep aging forming of aluminum matrix composites

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of plastic forming of aluminum-based composite materials, and in particular to a property-controlled process and device for electrically stimulated rapid creep aging forming of aluminum-based composite materials.

Background technique

Aluminum-based composite materials have complex micro-nano structures such as multiple interfaces. During the forming process, stress concentration is easily formed at the interface, resulting in cracks, wrinkles and other phenomena. The use of conventional forming methods can easily lead to the failure of component fracture and insufficient forming accuracy. Creep aging forming (stress relaxation aging forming) is one of the commonly used plastic forming methods for aluminum-based composite materials. It can simultaneously achieve precise forming and aging strengthening, and is widely used in the forming of thin-walled components for aerospace. However, the traditional creep aging forming method has extremely slow heating and cooling rates, extremely long process flow (generally more than 20h), extremely high energy consumption, and extremely complex manufacturing process; in addition, the traditional creep aging method uses an autoclave to form the component. The principle of the autoclave is to heat the component in a closed space through air, and the mold needs to be heated at the same time, resulting in extremely slow heating efficiency and difficulty in monitoring the temperature and deformation during the deformation process. At the same time, the size of the component is also limited by the size of the autoclave. In recent years, studies have found that the use of current-assisted creep aging forming process can quickly optimize the material microstructure, promote the aging process, and increase the creep strain, providing a method to improve the traditional creep aging forming process.

At present, there are related patents that use electric excitation to assist forming. The Chinese invention patent with publication number CN109570321B discloses a method for promoting creep forming. This method is only for metal materials, and the electric pulse is only applied for a specified period of time during the creep process, not the entire creep process, and it does not mention not using an autoclave for forming. The Chinese invention patent application with publication number CN113265602A discloses a heat treatment method for quickly improving the strength of aluminum alloys. This method emphasizes the electric pulse cycle heating of aluminum alloys to improve strength. The Chinese utility model patent with publication number CN207197955U discloses a device for pulse current assisted creep aging, and only provides a pulse current emission device used on a testing machine. The Chinese invention patent with publication number CN109482690B discloses a current-assisted roll forming method for special-section pipes of difficult-to-deform materials. This method only performs current-assisted roll forming on special-section pipes of difficult-to-deform materials such as titanium alloys, Ti ₂ AlNb-based intermetallic compounds and high-strength aluminum alloys.

Summary of the invention

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a controllable process and device for electrically stimulated rapid creep aging forming of aluminum-based composite materials, which solves the problem of slow vacuum heating speed of autoclave in the prior art.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides an aluminum-based composite material electrically stimulated rapid creep aging forming controllable device, characterized in that it comprises:

Mould, main power supply, auxiliary power supply, temperature detection console, temperature measuring device, and temperature compensation device;

The aluminum-based composite material component is tightly attached to the mold; electrodes are connected to both ends of the aluminum-based composite material component, and the electrodes are connected to the main power supply through wires, and the main power supply, the electrodes, the wires and the aluminum-based composite material component form a current loop;

A plurality of temperature measuring devices are respectively connected to a plurality of different areas on the aluminum-based composite material component, and the temperature measuring devices are communicatively connected to the temperature detection console;

The auxiliary power supply is electrically connected to the temperature detection console, and multiple different areas on the aluminum-based composite material component are respectively connected to multiple temperature compensation devices, and the temperature compensation devices are electrically connected to the auxiliary power supply.

Preferably, the mold is a flexible mold or an adjustable pallet mold, and an insulating material is provided between the aluminum-based composite material component and the mold.

Preferably, the temperature measuring device is a thermocouple, and the thermocouple is respectively connected to multiple regions of the aluminum-based composite material component to measure the temperature in the connection region;

Preferably, the temperature compensation device is a temperature compensation electrode, and the temperature compensation electrodes are respectively connected to multiple regions of the aluminum-based composite material component to perform heating compensation on the temperature in the connection region.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a process for controlling the electrical stimulation rapid creep aging forming of aluminum-based composite materials, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

Step S1, placing the aluminum-based composite material component tightly against the mold, wherein the aluminum-based composite material component and the mold are insulated;

Step S2, attaching the temperature measuring device to multiple areas on the surface of the component, turning on the temperature detection console, and the temperature detection console monitors the temperature of multiple areas in real time during the deformation process of the component;

Step S3, turning on the main power supply, heating the aluminum-based composite material component to a first target temperature by using electric current within a first current heating time, and keeping the temperature for a first heat preservation time;

Step S4, based on the temperature measuring device, using a temperature detection console to detect the temperature of each area of the aluminum-based composite material component, and obtaining the area of the aluminum-based composite material component that has not reached the first target temperature;

Turning on the auxiliary power supply to compensate the temperature of the area that has not reached the first target temperature, and using the temperature detection console to detect the temperature change until the temperature of the area reaches the first target temperature;

Step S5, after the heat preservation is completed, the main power supply and the auxiliary power supply are turned off, and when the temperature of the component drops to room temperature, the component is taken out from the mold to complete the electrically stimulated rapid creep aging forming of the aluminum-based composite material component.

Preferably, in step S3, the first current heating time is 1-5 minutes, the first target temperature is 110-200° C., and the first heat preservation time is 2-6 hours.

Preferably, in step S4, the current heating time is adjusted according to the difference between the current temperature of the area that has not reached the target temperature and the first target temperature until the area reaches the target temperature.

Preferably, in step S3, the first current heating time, the first target temperature and the first heat preservation time are obtained based on the geometric dimensions of the aluminum-based composite material component.

Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

(1) Improved performance and faster efficiency: The internal multi-interface and multi-dislocation structures enable the thermal and non-thermal effects of current to more effectively promote dislocation migration, thereby increasing the amount of stress relaxation. Compared with traditional creep aging formed components, the components formed by electrically stimulated creep aging have more microstructures inside, which can effectively improve performance and deformation capacity in a short time.

(2) Efficient temperature change and temperature control: The electric excitation creep aging uses direct resistance heating to quickly increase the temperature, which improves the temperature change efficiency. Through the coordination of the main power supply and the auxiliary power supply, the multi-region temperature uniformity of the component is achieved. This method is not only efficient, but also easy to control the deformation and temperature of the component in a semi-open space.

(3) Low energy consumption and simplified equipment: Compared with the traditional autoclave aging process, the electric excitation creep aging process has a higher energy utilization rate and saves energy costs. In addition, the required equipment is simple, including only power supply, temperature control equipment, clamping mechanism and necessary temperature measurement and conductive equipment, which reduces equipment investment and operation complexity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating particular embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.

FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a device for electrically stimulated rapid creep aging forming of aluminum-based composite materials provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG2 is a schematic diagram showing the effect of improving tensile properties, stress relaxation and aging properties of electrically stimulated rapid creep aging forming of aluminum-based composite materials provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flow chart of a process for controlling properties of electrically stimulated rapid creep aging forming of aluminum-based composite materials provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

Reference numerals: 101 - mould, 102 - main power supply, 103 - auxiliary power supply, 104 - temperature detection control console, 105 - temperature measuring device, 106 - temperature compensation device, 107 - aluminium-based composite material component, 108 - electrode.

Detailed ways

In order to more clearly understand the above-mentioned purpose, features and advantages of the present invention, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments of the present invention and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other. In addition, the present invention can also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein, and therefore, the protection scope of the present invention is not limited by the specific embodiments disclosed below.

In order to illustrate the effectiveness of the method proposed in the present invention, the above technical solution of the present invention is described in detail below through a specific embodiment. As shown in FIG1 , an embodiment of the present invention discloses a controllable device for electrically stimulated rapid creep aging forming of aluminum-based composite materials, comprising:

Mould 101, main power supply 102, electrode 108, auxiliary power supply 103, temperature detection console 104, temperature measuring device 105, temperature compensation device 106;

The aluminum-based composite material component 107 is tightly attached to the mold 101; the electrodes 108 are connected to both ends of the aluminum-based composite material component 107, and the electrodes are connected to the main power supply through wires, and the main power supply, the electrodes, the wires and the aluminum-based composite material component form a current loop;

Multiple areas on the aluminum-based composite material component are respectively connected to multiple temperature measuring devices 105, and the multiple temperature measuring devices are communicatively connected to the temperature detection console 104;

The auxiliary power supply 103 is electrically connected to the temperature detection console 104 , and multiple areas on the aluminum-based composite material component 107 are respectively connected to multiple temperature compensation devices 106 , which are connected to the auxiliary power supply through wires.

In some embodiments, the mold is a flexible mold or an adjustable pallet mold, and an insulating material is provided between the aluminum-based composite material component and the mold;

In some embodiments, the temperature measuring device is a thermocouple, which is attached to multiple areas of the aluminum-based composite material component to measure the temperature during the forming process of the aluminum-based composite material component;

In some embodiments, the temperature compensation device is a temperature compensation electrode, which is connected to multiple regions of the aluminum-based composite material component to compensate for the temperature during the forming process of the aluminum-based composite material component;

As shown in FIG3 , the embodiment of the present invention discloses a controllable process for electrically stimulated rapid creep aging forming of aluminum-based composite materials, comprising the following steps:

(1) Place the aluminum-based composite material component in a flexible mold or an adjustable pallet mold, adjust the component to a specified position, apply stress to the component by mechanical loading and make it close to the mold, and use insulating material to insulate the component from the mold.

In this way, the current can be prevented from flowing directly from the aluminum-based composite component to the mold, ensuring that the current only flows inside the component. The thermal effect generated when the current passes through the component plays a role inside the component, promoting the creep aging process. At the same time, the insulating material also helps prevent electrical short circuits and improve operational safety.

(2) A temperature measuring device such as a thermocouple is attached to multiple points and areas on the surface of the component to measure the temperature during the component forming process.

(3) Turn on the temperature monitoring and control device, which monitors and provides feedback on the temperatures of multiple regions and multiple points in real time during the deformation of the component.

(4) Place electrodes at both ends of the component, turn on the main power supply, use current to heat the component to a specified aging temperature, and keep it warm for a specified time to achieve rapid heating of the component. At the same time, the temperature monitoring and control device monitors and controls the temperature in the creep aging deformation process in real time.

(5) If certain sub-areas of the component do not reach the target temperature, turn on the auxiliary power supply to compensate for the temperature of the sub-area, and use the temperature monitoring device to monitor and feedback the temperature changes in real time until the temperature of the area reaches the target temperature.

The purpose of this step is to ensure that each sub-area of the component can evenly reach the predetermined processing temperature. By using the auxiliary power supply to heat the lower temperature area in a targeted manner and using the temperature monitoring device to monitor and feedback the temperature information in real time, the temperature can be accurately controlled to ensure the uniformity of material properties and the effect of aging treatment. This helps to improve the overall quality of the forming process and the performance of the component.

(6) After reaching the specified creep aging time, the power is turned off, the temperature of the component drops to room temperature, and the component is removed from the mold, completing the electrically stimulated rapid creep aging forming of the aluminum-based composite component.

It can be understood that the electrically stimulated rapid creep aging forming process of the present invention forms the component in a semi-open space, and no longer needs to be formed in the closed space of an autoclave, and the deformation and temperature of the component during the deformation process can be conveniently and effectively regulated.

In some embodiments, in step (4), the current heating time can be controlled at 1-5 min, the heating rate is 20-100°C/min, the heating temperature is 110-200°C, and under current loading, the elongation of the aluminum-based composite material is increased by more than 50% (Figure 2), which greatly improves the forming limit of the material and can achieve complex thin-walled structures without cracking or failure after molding; the insulation time is 2-6 h, and at the same time, electrical excitation during the pressure holding process will promote the stress relaxation degree of the aluminum-based composite material, which is increased by more than 20% (Figure 2), reducing the internal stress of the plate and reducing springback; and electrical excitation can accelerate the precipitation of equal microstructures of the aluminum-based composite material and improve the peak aging strength.

In some embodiments, in step (5), the current heating time can be reasonably adjusted according to the difference between the current temperature of the area that has not reached the target temperature and the target temperature, until the area reaches the target temperature.

Although the specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in a specific order, each action or step should be understood to require that such action or step be performed in the specific order shown or in a sequential order, or require that all illustrated actions or steps should be performed to obtain the desired result. Under certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Similarly, although some specific implementation details are included in the above discussion, these should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. Certain features described in the context of a separate embodiment can also be implemented in a single implementation in combination. On the contrary, the various features described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations individually or in any suitable sub-combination.

The above description is only a preferred specific implementation manner of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by any technician familiar with the technical field within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention should be covered within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims (8)

1. An electrically activated rapid creep age forming control device for an aluminum-based composite material, which is characterized by comprising:

The device comprises a die, a main power supply, an auxiliary power supply, a temperature detection control console, a temperature measuring device and a temperature compensating device;

The aluminum-based composite material member is tightly attached to the die; electrodes are connected to two ends of the aluminum-based composite material component, the electrodes are connected with a main power supply through wires, and the main power supply, the electrodes, the wires and the aluminum-based composite material component form a current loop;

A plurality of temperature measuring devices are respectively connected to a plurality of different areas on the aluminum-based composite material member, and the temperature measuring devices are in communication connection with a temperature detection control console;

The auxiliary power supply is electrically connected with the temperature detection control console, and a plurality of temperature compensating devices are respectively connected with a plurality of different areas on the aluminum-based composite material component and are electrically connected with the auxiliary power supply.

2. The electrically activated rapid creep age forming control device of an aluminum-based composite material as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the die is a flexible die or an adjustable clamping plate die, and an insulating material is arranged between the aluminum-based composite material component and the die.

3. The electrically activated rapid creep age forming control device of an aluminum-based composite material as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

The temperature measuring device is a thermocouple which is respectively connected with a plurality of areas of the aluminum-based composite material component and is used for measuring the temperature in the connecting areas.

4. The electrically activated rapid creep age forming control device of an aluminum-based composite material as in claim 3, wherein:

The temperature compensating device is a temperature compensating electrode which is respectively connected with a plurality of areas of the aluminum-based composite material component to carry out heating compensation on the temperature in the connecting areas.

5. A process for the manufacture of an electrically activated rapid creep age forming control device for aluminum matrix composites according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising the steps of:

step S1, tightly attaching an aluminum-based composite material component to a mold, wherein the aluminum-based composite material component is insulated from the mold;

s2, adhering a temperature measuring device to a plurality of areas on the surface of the component, and opening a temperature detection control console, wherein the temperature detection control console monitors the temperatures of the plurality of areas in the deformation process of the component in real time;

s3, turning on a main power supply, electrically heating the aluminum-based composite material component to a first target temperature within a first current heating time period by using current, and preserving heat for a first heat preservation time period;

S4, detecting the temperature of each region of the aluminum-based composite material member by using a temperature detection console based on the temperature measuring device, and obtaining a region of the aluminum-based composite material member which does not reach a first target temperature;

switching on an auxiliary power supply, supplementing the temperature of the area which does not reach the first target temperature, and detecting the temperature change by using a temperature detection console until the temperature of the area reaches the first target temperature;

and S5, after the heat preservation is finished, the main power supply and the auxiliary power supply are turned off, and when the temperature of the component is reduced to the room temperature, the component is taken out from the die, so that the electrically-stimulated rapid creep aging forming of the aluminum-based composite material component is finished.

6. The electrically stimulated rapid creep age forming process of an aluminum-based composite as defined in claim 5, wherein:

in step S3, the first current heating time is 1-5min, the first target temperature is 110-200 ℃, and the first heat preservation time is 2-6h.

7. The process according to claim 6, wherein:

In step S4, the current heating time is adjusted according to the difference between the current temperature of the area not reaching the target temperature and the first target temperature until the area reaches the target temperature.

8. The process according to claim 5, wherein:

In step S3, the first current heating duration, the first target temperature, and the first heat-preserving duration are obtained based on the geometric dimensions of the aluminum-based composite member.