Effects of alloy additions on the microstructures and tensile properties of cast Co-Cr-Mo alloy used for surgical implants

The composition of the Co-Cr-Mo alloy has been modified by additions of nickel and some trace elements aluminium, titanium and boron. In this paper, the first part of the present study, the effects of alloy additions on the microstructures and tensile properties of the as-cast Co-Cr-Mo alloy are discussed. The effects of alloy additions on the fatigue behaviour of the alloy will be discussed in the second part of the present study. It is found that alloy additions do not seem to result in changes in the nature of the casting structure. A directional, coarse dendritic cast structure is produced in the modified alloys as in the base alloY. However, the alloy additions affect the carbide precipitations and the formation of some fine details of the microstructure such as dislocations, stacking faults and twins produced during the solidification. A considerable improvement in the transient mechanical properties, especially in the tensile ductility, is achieved by modifying the base alloy with alloy additions.     

Effects of alloy additions on the fatigue properties of cast Co-Cr-Mo alloy used for surgical implants

As the second part of the present study, the effects of modifying the composition of the Co-Cr-Mo alloy with additions of nickel and some trace elements aluminium, titanium and boron, have been investigated. A great improvement in the fatigue crack growth resistance of the cast alloy is obtained by nickel additions to the base alloy, mainly because of a significant increase in the alloy's stacking fault energy. In addition, the fatigue fracture ductility is observed to be improved strikingly with the nickel additions. Much smaller facets and better ductility with a mixed fatigue crack propagation mode, as compared to the base alloy, are observed in the alloys with low nickel content level, and in the alloys with high nickel content level, localized ductile fatigue striations are observed. It is also indicated that minor additions of such elements as aluminium, titanium and boron can be used to improve further the fatigue crack growth resistance resulting from the elimination of some microstructural casting defects.     

Improved surface properties of D2 steel by laser surface alloying

The wear and the high-temperature oxidation resistance of the D2 steel (Fe-1.5 C-12 Cr-0.95 Mo-0.9 V-0.3 Mn) were increased by laser surface alloying after coating the surface with SiC or Cr₃C₂ powder. The surface alloys exhibit two microstructures: hypoeutectic and hypereutectic, respectively, all containing iron solid solutions and iron-chromium carbides, (Fe,Cr)₇C₃. The oxidation resistance of these alloys was measured in isothermal and cyclic conditions, and was shown to increase with silicon or chromium additions, particularly due to the formation of a chromia scale with excellent behaviour during thermal shoks. The surface alloy obtained with Cr₃C₂ also has shown a better resistance to wear due to its hypereutectic microstructure.     

Microstructures, mechanical properties and in vitro corrosion behaviour of biodegradable Mg–Zr–Ca alloys

The microstructures, mechanical properties, corrosion behaviour and biocompatibility of the Mg–Zr–Ca alloys have been investigated for potential use in orthopaedic applications. The microstructures of the alloys were examined using X-ray diffraction analysis, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties of Mg–Zr–Ca alloys were determined from compressive tests. The corrosion behaviour has been investigated using an immersion test and electrochemical measurement. The biocompatibility was evaluated by cell growth factor using osteoblast-like SaOS2 cell. The experimental results indicate that the hot-rolled Mg–Zr–Ca alloys exhibit much finer microstructures than the as-cast Mg–Zr–Ca alloys which show coarse microstructures. The compressive strength of the hot-rolled alloys is much higher than that of the as-cast alloys and the human bone, which would offer appropriate mechanical properties for orthopaedic applications. The corrosion resistance of the alloys can be enhanced significantly by hot-rolling process. Hot-rolled Mg–0.5Zr–1Ca alloy (wt %) exhibits the lowest corrosion rate among all alloys studied in this paper. The hot-rolled Mg–0.5Zr–1Ca and Mg–1Zr–1Ca alloys exhibit better biocompatibility than other studied alloys and possess advanced mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility, suggesting that they have a great potential to be good candidates for orthopaedic applications.     

A review of the high temperature oxidation of iron- manganese- aluminium alloys

Research on the oxidation behaviour of alloys from the Fe-Mn-Al system has been devoted primarily to the austenitic alloys with particular attention being paid to their mechanical properties. Information regarding their oxidation behaviour and scale morpology is sparse. There is very little on the behaviour of the ferritic alloys and these show great promise as heat resisting alloys, particularly with small additions of chromium. The oxidation behaviour of iron, manganese and binary iron-manganese alloys is reviewed in this paper, to clarify the behaviour of the more complex ternary alloys.     

合金元素复合化对Ti_(2)AlNb合金高温抗氧化性能影响EI北大核心CSCD

Ti_(2)AlNb合金具有良好的工艺性能、综合力学性能和较低的密度等性能优势,是新型航空发动机的重要选材之一。为拓宽Ti_(2)AlNb合金的应用范围,需对传统Ti_(2)AlNb合金进行合金成分优化和工艺组织调控以进一步增强其高温抗氧化性能。本研究在传统Ti-Al-Nb三元合金体系基础上,综合设计Mo,Zr,W等合金复合化的方法提高Ti_(2)AlNb合金的抗氧化能力,通过对新型Ti_(2)AlNb合金在750℃和850℃的氧化增重行为分析、氧化层特征结构分析、表面氧化物种类和合金成分过渡分布分析等,发现Mo合金元素引起Ti_(2)AlNb合金在750℃上升至850℃时抗氧化性能的明显下降,Zr合金元素则始终保持着Ti_(2)AlNb合金良好的高温抗氧化能力;更为深入的截面试样SEM表征可将氧化层结构细分为氧化物层、富氧扩散层和组织演变层,Zr和W合金元素对850℃高温氧化过程中不同氧化层结构具有协同抑制作用,因此提出通过Zr和W合金元素复合的方法作为新型Ti_(2)AlNb合金抗氧化合金成分优化方向。     

Influence of boron on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-11.6Si-0.4Mg casting alloy modified with strontium

Abstract

The influence of the addition of Al-1B master alloy on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-11.6%Si-0.4%Mg alloy modified with 0.030%Sr has been investigated. The mechanical properties and fracture behaviour of the alloys as cast and after T6 heat treatment with three different melt treatments (no treatment; 0.030%Sr modifying treatment; and 0.030%Sr + 0.028%B combined melt treatment) were also compared. Al-1B master alloy has a strong action in refining the dendritic structure in near eutectic Al-Si casting alloys modified with Sr. The Sr+B combined melt treatment can improve considerably the mechanical properties of the alloys, both as cast and after T6 heat treatment. Fracture modes of the alloys with the Sr modifying treatment and the Sr+B combined melt treatment are typically ductile. However, fractographs indicate that the alloy with combined melt treatment suffered greater ductile deformation before fracture. The Sr+B combined melt treatment significantly improves the mechanical properties of near eutectic Al-Si casting alloys.     

Si对AM50力学性能和高温蠕变性能的影响

在基体合金AM50中分别加入Si和Ca,研究了Si和Ca对AM50-xSi合金的微观组织、力学性能及蠕变性能的影响.结果表明:加入Si后,合金高温蠕变性能随Si量的增加而增加并超过了AS41的水平;在AM50-xSi中加入微量Ca以后,合金中的Mg2Si相得到细化,从汉字状转变成颗粒状,室温及150℃拉伸性能明显提高.     

Mg-Al Alloys Manufactured by Casting and Hot Working Process

Mechanical properties of Mg-Al based alloys at different fabrication state,namely as-cast,hot rolled,and annealed,were investigated to develop the alloys that are suitable for the casting/hot working process.Exper- imental results indicated that the castability such as hot cracking resistance tends to improve with increasing the aluminum content.However,the elongation at elevated temperatures was observed to decrease as the AI content increases,implying difficulties in hot forming.A small amount of Zr additions could significantly enhance the room temperature mechanical properties of hot-rolled Mg-6%Al-1%Zn alloy.The tendency of remarkable grain coarsening at high temperatures was effectively reduced by the Zr additions.TEM analyses suggested that very fine Al-3Zr precipitates formed in the Zr-added alloy are responsible for the obtained results.     

硼对铜合金组织和性能的影响

研究了加硼铜合金的组织以及力学、腐蚀、腐蚀磨损和冲蚀性能。结果表明：硼能明显细化铜合金的组织，提高其强度、硬度，改善其耐蚀、耐腐蚀磨损及耐冲蚀能力；并确定硼在铜合金中的最佳含量范围。     

稀土铝锂合金2090Ce焊接热影响区组织和性能研究

采用焊接热模拟试验方法系统地研究了稀土铝锂合金２０９０Ｃｅ焊接热影响区（ＨＡＺ）组织和性能；探讨了稀土元素Ｃｅ和焊接热循环峰值温度的影响及作用机制。结果表明，焊接热循环将使２０９０Ｃｅ合金ＨＡＺ发生软化，而适量的铈能够阻碍合金的再结晶、晶粒长大以及强化相Ｔ１相的溶解和聚集长大，使ＨＡＺ的软化程度降低，塑性得到改善。     

Long-term oxidation behaviour of Ni3Al alloys with and without chromium additions

The oxidation behaviour of Ni₃Al alloys with and without chromium additions was studied after long-term exposure in an air furnace over a wide temperature range from 560–1300C. The chromium-containing alloy exhibited a better oxidation resistance below 1150C. Above this temperature the penetration depth of oxides into and along the grain boundaries in the chromium-containing alloy became larger than that in the alloy without chromium. Also the penetration depth increased drastically at 1150C for both alloys. Through energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses, the compositions and structures of the oxide scales for both alloys were also identified.     

Sb合金化对AE41镁合金耐热性能的影响

采用X射线、光学显微镜、电子探针、扫描电镜等手段研究了Sb合金化对AE41（Mg-4Al-1RE）镁合金组织和耐热性能的影响．结果表明,Sb取代Al优先与RE形成以RE2Sb相为主的高熔点弥散颗粒质点,而枝条状Al11RE3相数量和尺寸减小．Al11RE3相对基体的割裂作用的减弱,RE～Sb质点的弥散强化作用、以及Sb、RE等元素的固溶强化作用,使合金的常温和高温力学性能尤其是塑韧性显著提高,并且有效地改善了高温抗蠕变能力．过量的Sb反而降低了合金的力学性能和耐热性能．合金的断裂为具有塑性特征的准解理断裂．     

Oxidation of TiAl based intermetallics

The high temperature oxidation behaviour of the binary and ternary alloys of the Ti–48Al system was studied at different temperatures. The primary objectives of this work were the establishment of the activation energies, the migration tendencies of the alloy species, mechanism of oxidation and chemistry of the oxide scales. The ternary additions were Cr (1.5 at 19%), V (2.2 at%), W (0.2 at%) and Mn (1.4 at%). The addition of ternary additions did not play a significant role in the oxidation behaviour at 704°C. At 815°C the alloys with Cr and V exhibited linear oxidation behaviour with large weight gains while the base Ti–48Al alloys exhibited the best behaviour. At 982°C the Mn-containing alloy was the worst, exhibiting a linear oxidation behaviour while the alloy with V and W and the base alloy with 400 p.p.m. oxygen exhibited the best oxidation behaviour. At 982°C the outermost oxide layer in contact with air is always near stoichiometric TiO₂. In all the alloys a layer of porosity is created just below the outer TiO₂ layer by the Kirkendall mechanism due to the rapid outward diffusion of Ti atoms. The addition of trivalent atoms like Cr in small amounts appear to be detrimental to the oxidation process as they can generate additional oxygen vacancies while the addition of atoms with valence of 5, such as V, and 6, such as W, appear to have beneficial effect on the oxidation behaviour at 982°C by tying up oxygen vacancies. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The effects of calcium and yttrium additions on the microstructure,mechanical properties and biocompatibility of biodegradable magnesium alloys

In this study, the effects of calcium (Ca) and yttrium (Y) on the microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion behaviour and biocompatibility of magnesium (Mg) alloys, i.e. Mg–xCa (x = 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0 and 20.0%, wt%, hereafter) and Mg–1Ca–1Y, were investigated. Optical microscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), compressive and Vickers hardness testing were used for the characterisation and evaluation of the microstructure and mechanical properties. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the alloys was assessed using osteoblast-like SaOS2 cells. The corrosion behaviour of these alloys was evaluated by soaking the alloys in simulated body fluid (SBF) and modified minimum essential medium (MMEM) at 37 °C in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO₂. Results indicated that the increase of the Ca content enhances the compressive strength, elastic modulus and hardness of the Mg–Ca alloys, but deteriorates the ductility, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of the Mg–Ca alloys. The Y addition leads to an increase in the ductility; but a decrease in the compressive strength, hardness, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of the Mg–1Ca–1Y alloy when compared to the Mg–1Ca alloy. Solutions of SBF and MMEM with the immersion of Mg–xCa and Mg–1Ca–1Y alloys show strong alkalisation. Our research results indicate that Mg–xCa alloys with Ca additions less than 1.0 wt% exhibited good biocompatibility, low corrosion rate as well as appropriate elastic modulus and strength; whilst the Y is not a proper element for Mg alloys for biomedical application due to its negative effects to the corrosion resistance and biocompatibility.     

The microstructural control of cast and mechanical properties of zinc-aluminium alloys

The zinc-aluminium alloys containing 8, 12, and 27% aluminium are finding increasing applications in the casting industry. These alloys are stronger than most aluminium alloys. In addition, they possess high wear resistance and bearing properties. However, surface sinks and shrinkage defects are observed on the bottom faces of such castings, contrary to general foundry practice. In the present investigation, this problem observed in the Zn-8%Al, Zn-12%Al, Zn-27%Al alloys was tackled by controlling various casting parameters and also by additions of the master alloys of strontium and lithium into the molten alloys. It was found that the underside shrinkage problem was influenced by the aluminium content of the alloy, melt superheat, casting size and cooling conditions. The strontium and lithium additions were found to be beneficial in reducing the underside shrinkage problem. The ultimate tensile strength, fracture elongation and Vickers hardness were all increased with aluminium concentration and lithium addition. It was found also that the most problematical Zn-27%Al alloy, which provided the highest mechanical properties, was very suitable for the squeeze-casting technique. The mechanical properties were increased sharply in these squeeze-cast bars.     

The use of two reactive elements to optimize oxidation performance of alumina-forming alloys

Abstract

Standard reactive element (RE) studies have characterized the behavior of single RE additions such as Y, La or Hf. However, several commercial alumina-forming alloys are “co-doped” with two or more RE additions which allows the total amount of RE dopant in the alloy to be reduced. The oxidation performance of both commercial and laboratory-made co-doped alloys shows better scale adhesion and/or slower scale growth rates than comparable alloys with one RE addition. Characterization of the alumina scales showed no significant change in the grain structure with co-doping; however, as the total RE addition was reduced in co-doped alloys, a smaller volume of RE-rich oxides was observed within the scale. Quantification of the amount of RE ionic segregation on alumina scale grain boundaries formed on single doped and co-doped alloys showed similar amounts of segregation.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of rapidly solidified Al-Si-Fe-X base alloys

The effects of Ti and V additions on microstructure and mechanical properties of rapidly solidified Al-20w/oSi-5w/oFe alloy were investigated, respectively. The hypereutectic Al-Si-Fe base alloys were gas-atomized and hot-extruded to make the consolidated bars. The addition of 2w/oTi increased wear resistance and mechanical properties such as tensile strength, hardness and elongation. Based on TEM analyses, it can be concluded that the improved properties in the Al-Si-Fe alloys containing Ti were caused by the formation of DO₂₂-(Al,Si)₃ Ti phase finely dispersed in the matrix. On the contrary, V addition was less effective than Ti, in that V could not decompose as the expected Al₁₀V phase with a large v/o of precipitates; V was mostly solid-solutionized in the other unknown phase.     

Influences of boron contents on microstructures and mechanical properties of as-casted near α titanium alloy

Ti-6.5Al-2.5Sn-9Zr-0.5Mo-0.25Si-1Nb-1W-0.1Er-xB(x=0,0.1,0.2,0.4,0.6 and 0.8 wt％)with different boron contents are fabricated for investigation.Influences of boron element and its amounts on phase constitutions,microstructures,textures and compression mechanical properties are carefully studied.With the increasing boron additions,contents of TiB phase increase,and the maximum intensities of tex-tures decrease.Microstructures are significantly and continuously refined after adding boron element and with the increasing boron additions,and turning point of refinement rates for different microstruc-tural parameters is found at 0.2 wt％boron content.Strengths increase monotonously,while elongations increase firstly and decrease afterwards.The maximum value of elongation is acquired at boron con-tent of 0.2 wt％.On the premise of ensuring plasticity,0.2 wt％boron content is the most appropriate amount for microstructural refinement and mechanical properties enhancement for current near α tita-nium alloys.Meanwhile,aspect ratios of TiB whiskers increase with the increasing boron contents.Lots of near equiaxed α grains or α grains with irregular morphologies are discovered around TiB phase.Dis-torted and twisted α grain boundaries are also obviously detected in boron containing alloys.Moreover,premature fracture of alloys containing TiB whiskers is largely influenced by the fracture of these brittle reinforcements.     

多主元难熔高熵合金的研究进展

近年来,高熵合金(HEAs)因其新颖的设计理念和优异的综合力学性能成为了新材料领域的研究热点之一。作为HEAs一个重要分支的难熔高熵合金(RHEAs)由于将高熔点难熔元素作为主要合金成分而具有优异的高温抗软化性能。难熔高熵合金在高温下具有良好的相稳定性,有望成为新型高温结构材料。相比于传统的高温合金,难熔高熵合金的成分范围更广,密度区间更大,抗氧化性也更好。在过去的十余年中,难熔高熵合金的研究已经取得了很大进展。许多合金和合金体系都已经进行了广泛的测试和表征,包括力学性能和氧化行为等方面,有关固溶强化、变形机制和氧化行为的新模型也正在出现并不断完善。计算机构建模型和模拟计算也逐渐应用于难熔高熵合金的研究,促进了难熔高熵合金的开发和发展。主要介绍了难熔高熵合金的成分设计,对比分析了其制备工艺和相组成,并讨论了其室温和高温时的力学性能及高温抗氧化性。最后总结了难熔高熵合金研究目前存在的问题和瓶颈,并对未来研究方向提出了建议。