A quenching stamping device and process for preparing amorphous alloy

Abstract

The application discloses a rapid quenching stamping device and process for preparing amorphous alloys, and belongs to the technical field of stamping processes under the quenching condition of various alloy materials. The device is arranged in a vacuum chamber as a whole, and comprises a casting assembly, an induction melting assembly and a pulling assembly. The application adopts a rapid quenching stamping mode, and the process flow is simple and efficient, so that the rapid and continuous preparation of bulk amorphous alloys can be realized, and the preparation efficiency is remarkably improved. Compared with the preparation method in the prior art which is complex in equipment, harsh in forming condition and high in cost, the application greatly reduces the production cost, and has good industrial application prospect and economic benefits.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of stamping technology under rapid cooling conditions for various alloy materials, specifically relating to a rapid cooling stamping device and process for the preparation of amorphous alloys. Background Technology

[0002] Amorphous alloys are a class of metastable solid materials formed by rapid cooling of molten alloys, exhibiting long-range disorder and short-range order. Due to the lack of grain boundaries and dislocations, amorphous alloys typically possess high strength and hardness, along with good corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and elastic limit, thus attracting widespread attention. The combination of mechanical and plastic properties in amorphous alloys demonstrates significant potential for numerous structural and functional applications. It is well known that a sufficiently fast cooling rate is a necessary condition for the production of amorphous materials. Currently, existing methods for preparing amorphous materials mainly include single-roll casting, spray casting, copper mold suction casting, and laser rapid solidification. While these methods can achieve amorphous phase formation under certain conditions, they still have some shortcomings. First, many alloy systems have weak glass-forming ability, requiring extremely high cooling rates to obtain amorphous structures, resulting in small sample sizes that are difficult to meet the requirements for large-size component fabrication. Second, some amorphous alloy systems contain reactive elements such as Zr, Ti, Mg, and La, which readily react with oxygen, nitrogen, and water vapor at high temperatures, causing melt contamination, increased inclusions, and even compositional changes, thereby reducing the quality of the formed parts. Traditional equipment generally suffers from uneven protective atmosphere distribution, limited sealing effect, and long melt exposure paths, making amorphous alloys more susceptible to external environmental influences during the forming process. Secondly, amorphous alloys tend to crystallize at high temperatures, especially during melt transfer, holding, and delayed forming. Improper time control or insufficient local cooling rates can easily lead to crystallization before or during forming, resulting in the final part failing to achieve the desired amorphous structure and thus reducing the material's mechanical properties. Thirdly, amorphous alloys are extremely sensitive to temperature, with relatively narrow melting temperature, holding time, and forming temperature windows. Unstable heating temperature control can easily lead to localized overheating, component segregation, or melt oxidation; conversely, low temperatures may result in insufficient melt fluidity, making it difficult to fully fill complex cavities and affecting part forming quality. Furthermore, for multi-element alloy systems, especially high-entropy or refractory systems, large melting point differences, strong elemental segregation tendencies, and high melt viscosity further increase the difficulty of amorphous alloy preparation, leaving existing technologies with shortcomings in component control, microstructure uniformity, and bulk size improvement. More importantly, these technologies cannot produce large-size, thick-walled amorphous materials. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a device that can prepare bulk amorphous materials. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the present invention aims to provide a rapid cooling stamping apparatus and process for the preparation of amorphous alloys, thereby solving the technical problems in existing technologies that make it impossible to prepare large-size and thick-walled amorphous materials, and that the preparation process is prone to poor forming quality due to insufficient cooling rate, oxidation contamination of active elements, runaway high-temperature crystallization, and narrow temperature window, as well as the difficulty in controlling the segregation of multi-element alloy components and the uniformity of microstructure.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A rapid quenching stamping apparatus for the preparation of amorphous alloys is arranged entirely in a vacuum chamber; the apparatus includes a casting assembly, an induction melting assembly, and a drawing assembly.

[0005] Specifically, the casting assembly includes a cylinder sliding screw arranged vertically, with a cylinder connecting rod mounted on its top in the transverse direction; a motor and a cylinder are fixedly mounted on the cylinder connecting rod, and the piston rod of the cylinder is connected to the stamping head, which can move vertically under the drive of the cylinder.

[0006] Specifically, a first lifting platform and a second lifting platform are arranged side by side below the cylinder connecting rod. A stamping die driving component is provided on the first lifting platform, and a stamping die is fixedly installed on the second lifting platform. The sample receiving port of the stamping die is located directly below the stamping head. The stamping die and the second lifting platform can move as a whole in the lateral direction under the drive of the stamping die driving component.

[0007] Specifically, the induction melting assembly includes a sample container for holding alloy materials, the sample container being located above the stamping die and the pull-out baffle; an induction heating coil is provided on the outside of the sample container, the diameter of the induction heating coil being directly aligned with the sample receiving opening of the stamping die; the top and bottom of the sample container are both open, and from top to bottom, a suspension ring, an upper connecting sleeve, a high-temperature resistant washer, and a lower connecting sleeve are arranged on the top of the sample container, the bottom of the lower connecting sleeve being fitted over the top of the sample container, the top of the lower connecting sleeve and the bottom of the upper connecting sleeve being fitted inside the high-temperature resistant washer, and the suspension ring being fixedly installed on the top surface of the upper connecting sleeve.

[0008] Specifically, the pull-out assembly includes a third lifting platform, on which a baffle drive is placed. The piston rod of the baffle drive is connected to the pull-out baffle. Under the drive of the baffle drive, the pull-out baffle can move laterally to the bottom of the sample container and close the bottom of the sample container.

[0009] The present invention also has the following technical features: Specifically, the stamping die drive component is a cylinder, an electric cylinder, or an electromagnet.

[0010] Specifically, the baffle drive component is a pneumatic cylinder or an electric cylinder.

[0011] Specifically, the suspension ring is a buckle made of copper.

[0012] Specifically, the material of the sample container is selected from glass, alumina, zirconium oxide, magnesium oxide, yttrium oxide, water-cooled copper, etc.

[0013] This invention also protects a process for preparing amorphous alloys using the rapid cooling stamping apparatus described above, comprising the following steps: Step 1: Clean the vacuum chamber with high-purity argon gas until the oxygen content reaches below 200 ppm; continue to introduce high-purity argon gas until the oxygen content in the vacuum chamber reaches below 50 ppm and the water content reaches below 10 ppm.

[0014] Step 2: Turn on the water cooling system connecting the induction melting component and the water cooling system connecting the stamping head and the stamping die, and set the temperature of the cooling circulating water.

[0015] Step 3: Place the alloy material into the sample container, activate the baffle drive to move the baffle until it is flush with the bottom of the sample container, blocking the added alloy material.

[0016] Step 4: Turn on the power of the induction heating coil and set its power. After the alloy material in the sample container has completely melted, start the baffle drive to move the baffle to the right until the bottom of the sample container is open, so that the completely molten alloy material falls into the stamping die under the action of gravity.

[0017] Step 5: Once the fully molten alloy material falls into the stamping die, activate the stamping die drive to move the stamping die to the left and spring back to directly below the stamping head.

[0018] Step Six: Start the motor to make the cylinder drive the stamping head to move downward. After setting the pressure, let it enter the stamping die to press the alloy material.

[0019] Step 7: After the stamping die has cooled down, start the motor to drive the cylinder to move the stamping head upward, so that the stamping head rises back to the initial position and the stamped amorphous alloy material can be taken out.

[0020] Step 8: Activate the baffle drive to move the pull-out baffle to the left, so that the pull-out baffle springs back to directly below the induction melting assembly.

[0021] Specifically, in step two, the temperature of the cooling circulating water is set to 22-26℃.

[0022] Specifically, in step three, the alloy material is La. 62 Al 15.7 Cu 11.15 Ni11.15 .

[0023] Specifically, in step three, the alloy material is either a smelted alloy ingot or a mixed metal weighed according to atomic or mass ratios.

[0024] Specifically, in step three, the smelting method of the alloy material is electric arc melting, induction melting, electron beam melting, plasma melting, cold crucible suspension melting, water-cooled copper crucible melting, zone melting, laser melting, etc.

[0025] Specifically, in step six, the pressure is 10-100N.

[0026] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following technical effects: (I) This invention significantly improves the cooling rate of the melt through rapid cooling stamping process, which enables heat to be quickly discharged from the inside of the material and effectively suppresses the crystallization process, thereby successfully preparing large-size, thick-walled bulk amorphous alloys, breaking through the limitation that traditional amorphous alloys can only exist in low-dimensional forms such as thin strips and fine wires.

[0027] (II) This invention employs a rapid cooling stamping method, which causes the alloy melt to undergo an extremely high cooling rate during the forming process, effectively avoiding the problem of uncontrolled high-temperature crystallization caused by insufficient cooling rate. At the same time, the rapid cooling stamping process significantly shortens the residence time of the material in the high-temperature region, effectively preventing the amorphous alloy from crystallizing during the forming process, thereby ensuring the integrity of the amorphous structure and excellent performance of the product.

[0028] (III) The device of the present invention can avoid oxidation pollution of active elements, reduce heterogeneous nucleation cores in the melt, and reduce the critical cooling rate required for amorphous formation, thereby significantly improving the amorphous formation ability and thermal stability of the alloy.

[0029] (IV) The present invention ensures that the alloying elements do not have time to undergo macroscopic segregation during the solidification process by rapid cooling stamping, thereby ensuring the uniform distribution of each element in the product and achieving precise control of the microstructure uniformity, thus ensuring the consistency and reliability of the product performance.

[0030] (V) This invention, through precise control of the rapid cooling stamping process, ensures that the forming process remains within a suitable amorphous formation temperature window, effectively avoiding the generation of crystallization defects. The resulting bulk amorphous alloy exhibits characteristics such as dense structure, uniform composition, and high amorphous content, maintaining the excellent mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of amorphous alloys.

[0031] (VI) This invention employs a rapid cooling stamping method, which features a simple and efficient process flow, enabling rapid and continuous preparation of bulk amorphous alloys and significantly improving preparation efficiency. Compared with existing preparation methods that involve complex equipment, demanding forming conditions, and high costs, this invention substantially reduces production costs and has promising industrial application prospects and economic benefits. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the rapid cooling stamping device.

[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the casting assembly.

[0034] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the pull-out assembly.

[0035] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an induction melting assembly. Figure 5 La prepared for the example 62 Al 15.7 Cu 11.15 Ni 11.15 Amorphous XRD pattern. Figure 6 La prepared for the example 62 Al 15.7 Cu 11.15 Ni 11.15 SEM image of the alloy sample.

[0036] The labels in the diagram represent: 1-casting mold assembly, 2-induction melting assembly, 3-pull-out assembly, and 4-vacuum chamber.

[0037] 101-Cylinder sliding screw, 102-Cylinder connecting rod, 103-Cylinder, 104-Pressing head, 105-First lifting platform, 106-Second lifting platform, 107-Pressing die drive component, 108-Pressing die.

[0038] 201-Sample container, 202-Induction heating coil, 203-Suspension ring, 204-Upper connecting sleeve, 205-High temperature resistant gasket, 206-Lower connecting sleeve.

[0039] 301-Third lifting platform, 302-Baffle drive component, 303-Pull-out baffle.

[0040] The specific content of the present invention will be further explained in detail below with reference to the embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0041] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, all components and raw materials used in this invention are those known in the art.

[0042] The following are specific embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the following specific embodiments. All equivalent modifications made based on the technical solutions of this application fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0043] Example 1 This embodiment provides a rapid quenching stamping device for the preparation of amorphous alloys, the entire device being housed in a vacuum chamber (4); as Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the device includes a casting assembly (1), an induction melting assembly (2), and a drawing assembly (3).

[0044] like Figure 2 As shown, the casting assembly (1) includes a cylinder sliding screw (101) arranged in the vertical direction, and a cylinder connecting rod (102) is installed on its top in the horizontal direction; a motor and a cylinder (103) are fixedly installed on the cylinder connecting rod (102), and the piston rod of the cylinder (103) is connected to the stamping head (104), and the stamping head (104) can move in the vertical direction under the drive of the cylinder (103). Below the cylinder connecting rod (102), a first lifting platform (105) and a second lifting platform (106) are arranged side by side. A stamping die drive component (107) is provided on the first lifting platform (105), and a stamping die (108) is fixedly installed on the second lifting platform (106). The sample receiving port of the stamping die (108) is located directly below the stamping head (104). The stamping die (108) and the second lifting platform (106) can move as a whole in the lateral direction under the drive of the stamping die drive component (107).

[0045] like Figure 4 As shown, the induction melting assembly (2) includes a sample container (201) for holding alloy materials. The sample container (201) is located above the stamping die (108) and the pull-out baffle (303). An induction heating coil (202) is provided on the outside of the sample container (201). The diameter of the induction heating coil (202) is directly opposite the sample receiving port of the stamping die (108). The top and bottom of the sample container (201) are open. From top to bottom, the top of the sample container (201) is provided with a suspension ring (203), an upper connecting sleeve (204), a high-temperature resistant gasket (205), and a lower connecting sleeve (206). The bottom of the lower connecting sleeve (206) is fitted outside the top of the sample container (201). The top of the lower connecting sleeve (206) and the bottom of the upper connecting sleeve (204) are fitted inside the high-temperature resistant gasket (205). The suspension ring (203) is fixedly installed on the top surface of the upper connecting sleeve (204).

[0046] like Figure 3As shown, the pull-out assembly (3) includes a third lifting platform (301), on which a baffle drive (302) is placed. The piston rod of the baffle drive (302) is connected to the pull-out baffle (303). Under the drive of the baffle drive (302), the pull-out baffle (303) can move in the lateral direction to the bottom of the sample container (201) and close the bottom of the sample container (201).

[0047] As a specific embodiment, the stamping die drive (107) is a cylinder, an electric cylinder, or an electromagnet. When the stamping die drive (107) is a cylinder or an electric cylinder, its piston rod is connected to the stamping die (108).

[0048] As a specific solution in this embodiment, the baffle drive (302) is a cylinder or an electric cylinder.

[0049] As a specific solution in this embodiment, the vacuum chamber (4) is connected to the chamber cleaning system and the atmosphere circulation system for atmosphere cleaning and atmosphere protection. That is, argon gas is passed through the vacuum chamber (4) for cleaning until the oxygen content reaches below 50 ppm and the water content reaches below 10 ppm, then the experiment can be carried out, and the argon atmosphere circulation is kept stable.

[0050] As a specific embodiment, both the stamping head (104) and the stamping die (108) are provided with an inlet and an outlet cooling port, which are connected to the water cooling system for introducing circulating cooling water.

[0051] As a specific solution in this embodiment, since the casting is prone to sticking together at high temperature after molding, the stamping die (108) is a symmetrical two-half splicing structure to facilitate disassembly.

[0052] As a specific solution in this embodiment, the suspension ring (203) is a buckle made of copper.

[0053] As a specific solution in this embodiment, the material of the sample container (201) is selected from glass, alumina, zirconium oxide, magnesium oxide, yttrium oxide, water-cooled copper, etc.

[0054] The working process of the device of the present invention is as follows: The sample container (201) is suspended by the suspension ring (203); the baffle drive (302) is activated, and the pull-out baffle (303) is moved to close the bottom of the sample container (201). Then, the alloy material is loaded into the sample container (201), with its bottom facing the sample receiving port of the stamping die (108); the induction heating coil (202) is activated to melt the alloy material in the sample container (201); after melting, the pull-out baffle (303) is moved by the baffle drive (302) to open the bottom of the sample container (201), and then the completely molten alloy material falls into the stamping die (108). Then the stamping die drive (107) is activated, so that the stamping die (108) moves directly below the stamping head (104). Finally, the stamping head (104) is activated to press the alloy material. After standing for the die to cool, the rapidly cooled stamped amorphous alloy is obtained.

[0055] Example 2 This embodiment provides a process for preparing amorphous alloys using the rapid cooling stamping apparatus of Embodiment 1, including the following steps: Step 1: Open the chamber cleaning system and use high-purity argon to clean the vacuum chamber (4) until the oxygen content reaches below 200 ppm. Then, open the atmosphere circulation system to make the oxygen content in the vacuum chamber (4) reach below 50 ppm and the water content reach below 10 ppm.

[0056] Step 2: Turn on the water cooling system connecting the induction melting assembly (2) and the water cooling system connecting the stamping head (104) and the stamping die (108), and set the temperature of the cooling circulating water to 26°C.

[0057] Step 3: Apply the alloy material (specifically La in this embodiment) 62 Al 15.7 Cu 11.15 Ni 11.15 The sample is placed in the sample container (201), and the baffle drive (302) is activated to drive the pull-out baffle (303) to move until the pull-out baffle (303) is flush with the bottom of the sample container (201), blocking the added alloy material. The alloy material can be an alloy ingot after induction melting, or a mixed metal weighed according to the atomic ratio or mass ratio. The alloy melting method is not limited to electric arc melting, induction melting, electron beam melting, plasma melting, cold crucible suspension melting, water-cooled copper crucible melting, zone melting, laser melting, etc.

[0058] Step 4: Turn on the power of the induction heating coil (202), set the high-frequency induction power supply current to 11.5, and after the alloy material in the sample container (201) has completely melted, start the baffle drive (302) to drive the pull-out baffle (303) to move to the right until the bottom of the sample container (201) is open, so that the completely melted alloy material falls into the stamping die (108) under the action of gravity.

[0059] Step 5: Once the fully molten alloy material falls into the stamping die (108), start the stamping die drive (107) to drive the stamping die (108) to move to the left and bounce back to directly below the stamping head (104).

[0060] Step 6: Start the motor to drive the cylinder (103) to move the stamping head (104) downward, set the pressure to 10~100N, and enter the stamping die (108) to press the alloy material.

[0061] Step 7: After the stamping die (108) has cooled down, start the motor so that the cylinder (103) drives the stamping head (104) to move upward, so that the stamping head (104) rises back to the initial position, and the stamped amorphous alloy material can be taken out.

[0062] Step 8: Start the baffle drive (302) to drive the pull-out baffle (303) to move to the left, so that the pull-out baffle (303) bounces back to directly below the induction melting assembly (2).

[0063] Figure 5 The La prepared in this example 62 Al 15.7 Cu 11.15 Ni 11.15 The XRD pattern of the amorphous material shows that the diffraction peaks are broad and dome-shaped, exhibiting characteristic peaks of amorphous materials. This equipment can prepare amorphous alloy samples. Figure 6 The La prepared in this example 62 Al 15.7 Cu 11.15 Ni 11.15 The SEM image of the alloy sample shows that there is no microstructure, which is consistent with the characteristics of amorphous materials.

Claims

1. A rapid quenching stamping apparatus for the preparation of amorphous alloys, wherein the entire apparatus is disposed in a vacuum chamber (4); characterized in that, The device includes a casting assembly (1), an induction melting assembly (2), and a drawing assembly (3). The casting assembly (1) includes a cylinder sliding screw (101) arranged in the vertical direction, and a cylinder connecting rod (102) installed on its top in the horizontal direction; a motor and a cylinder (103) are fixedly installed on the cylinder connecting rod (102), and the piston rod of the cylinder (103) is connected to the stamping head (104), and the stamping head (104) can move in the vertical direction under the drive of the cylinder (103); Below the cylinder connecting rod (102), a first lifting platform (105) and a second lifting platform (106) are arranged side by side. A stamping die drive component (107) is provided on the first lifting platform (105), and a stamping die (108) is fixedly installed on the second lifting platform (106). The sample receiving port of the stamping die (108) is located directly below the stamping head (104). The stamping die (108) and the second lifting platform (106) can move as a whole in the lateral direction under the drive of the stamping die drive component (107). The induction melting assembly (2) includes a sample container (201) for holding alloy materials. The sample container (201) is located above the stamping die (108) and the pull-out baffle (303). An induction heating coil (202) is provided on the outside of the sample container (201). The diameter of the induction heating coil (202) is directly opposite the sample receiving port of the stamping die (108). The top and bottom of the sample container (201) are open. From top to bottom, the top of the sample container (201) is provided with a suspension ring (203), an upper connecting sleeve (204), a high-temperature resistant gasket (205), and a lower connecting sleeve (206). The bottom of the lower connecting sleeve (206) is fitted outside the top of the sample container (201). The top of the lower connecting sleeve (206) and the bottom of the upper connecting sleeve (204) are fitted inside the high-temperature resistant gasket (205). The suspension ring (203) is fixedly installed on the top surface of the upper connecting sleeve (204). The pull-out assembly (3) includes a third lifting platform (301), on which a baffle drive (302) is placed. The piston rod of the baffle drive (302) is connected to the pull-out baffle (303). The pull-out baffle (303) can move in the lateral direction to the bottom of the sample container (201) under the drive of the baffle drive (302) and close the bottom of the sample container (201).

2. The rapid cooling stamping apparatus for amorphous alloy preparation as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The stamping die drive component (107) is a cylinder, an electric cylinder, or an electromagnet.

3. The rapid cooling stamping apparatus for amorphous alloy preparation as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The baffle drive (302) is a pneumatic cylinder or an electric cylinder.

4. The rapid cooling stamping apparatus for amorphous alloy preparation as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The suspension ring (203) is a buckle made of copper.

5. The rapid cooling stamping apparatus for amorphous alloy preparation as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The material of the sample container (201) is selected from one or more of glass, alumina, zirconium oxide, magnesium oxide, yttrium oxide, and water-cooled copper.

6. A process for preparing amorphous alloys using the rapid cooling stamping apparatus as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step 1: Use a protective atmosphere to ensure that the oxygen and water content in the vacuum chamber (4) reaches the preset values; Step 2: Turn on the water cooling system connecting the induction melting assembly (2) and the water cooling system connecting the stamping head (104) and the stamping die (108), and set the temperature of the cooling circulating water; Step 3: Place the alloy material into the sample container (201), activate the baffle drive (302) to drive the pull-out baffle (303) to move until the pull-out baffle (303) is flush with the bottom of the sample container (201) to block the added alloy material; Step 4: Turn on the power of the induction heating coil (202) and set its power. After the alloy material in the sample container (201) has completely melted, start the baffle drive (302) to drive the pull-out baffle (303) to move to the right until the bottom of the sample container (201) is open, so that the completely melted alloy material falls into the stamping die (108) under the action of gravity. Step 5: After the fully molten alloy material falls into the stamping die (108), start the stamping die drive (107) to drive the stamping die (108) to move to the left and bounce back to directly below the stamping head (104); Step 6: Start the motor to drive the cylinder (103) to move the stamping head (104) downward. After setting the pressure, let it enter the stamping die (108) to press the alloy material. Step 7: After the stamping die (108) has cooled down, start the motor to make the cylinder (103) drive the stamping head (104) to move upward, so that the stamping head (104) rises back to the initial position, and the stamped amorphous alloy material can be taken out. Step 8: Start the baffle drive (302) to drive the pull-out baffle (303) to move to the left, so that the pull-out baffle (303) bounces back to directly below the induction melting assembly (2).

7. The process for preparing amorphous alloys using the rapid cooling stamping apparatus as described in claim 6, characterized in that, In step one, the oxygen content in the vacuum chamber (4) is below 50 ppm and the water content is below 10 ppm.

8. The process for preparing amorphous alloys using the rapid cooling stamping apparatus as described in claim 6, characterized in that, In step two, the temperature of the cooling circulating water is set to 22-26℃.

9. The process for preparing amorphous alloys using the rapid cooling stamping apparatus as described in claim 5, characterized in that, In step six, the pressure is 10-100N.

10. The process for preparing amorphous alloys using the rapid cooling stamping apparatus as described in claim 6, characterized in that, In step one, the protective atmosphere is argon.

Images