Papers by Author: Hui Min Zhou

Abstract: Nickel-titanium alloy are extensively used in engineering and biomedical fields for their excellent properties of shape-memory, super-elasticity and biocompatibility. Their fatigue performance has been attracted increasingly attention, because they are often used under cyclic conditions. In this paper, the ultrasonic fatigue behavior of nickel-titanium endodontic files under unconstrained condition has been studied using the self-designed ultrasonic fatigue testing equipment. The vibration and harmonious response properties of nickel-titanium endodontic files are also analyzed using finite element method. Experimental results show that the average ultrasonic fatigue life of nickel-titanium endodontic files under unconstrained conditions is more than 108. Fracture of the files always occurred at the position about 2 -3 mm near the file tip. Results of finite element analysis show that the maximum stress of the nickel-titanium endodontic files located at the position about 2 -3 mm near the file tip, where is prone to generate fatigue cracks. The results of finite element analysis are consistent with the experimental results. The scanning electronic microscope (SEM) results show that the ultrasonic fatigue cracks always initiated at the surfaces of the files, where the secondary phases or impurities existed and induced fatigue cracks under repeated stress.

Abstract: Dental diamond bur is now a regular rotary tool, with its head made of diamond particles embedded into nickel coating, and its shank made of stainless steel. There are strong demands from the dentist on prolongation of usage life and avoiding of breakage. To solve this problem, on the one hand, since diamond is hard to be wetted under the condition of normal temperature and pressure due to the high interfacial energy between diamond and general metals and alloys. Diamond particles coated with titanium layer was used for the preparation of composite electroplating with the intention of improving the interfacial adhesion between diamond and metal matrix; on the other hand, superelastic biomedical NiTi alloy was used as the substrate to improve the flexibility and prevent the breakage. In this study, the optimal preparation parameters of Ni/surface-modified diamond electroplating were determined by orthogonal test, and the bonding conditions between the diamond particles and the NiTi alloy substrate were studied by scanning electron microscope. Further performance comparison of Ni/modified and Ni/un-modified diamond composite electroplating was conducted on a pin-on-disc wear machine under the dry sliding condition, and the material removal volume was used as the evaluating criterion of wear resistance. The results showed that the binding strength between diamond particles and NiTi alloy substrate could be enhanced, as well as the wear resistance, which may give direction on the future design of dental bur.

Abstract: Temper embrittlement and fracture control method based on both non-equilibrium grain-boundary segregation (NGS) theory and grain refinement technique are studied in this paper. Grain refinement technique by deformation induced phase transformation in low-alloy steels, 12Gr1MoV and 2.25Gr1MoNb, is investigated. A single-pass hot rolling process by using a Gleeble-1500 system is performed. Experimental results show that steel strength and toughness may be controlled and improved by grain refinement, and that the grain sizes were affected by the deforming temperature, strain reduction, and strain rate. According to the NGS theory, a control method of brittle fracture along grain-boundary is proposed so that some catastrophically brittle fracture failure may be averted. Grain refinement may decrease both the concentration of phosphorus at grain boundaries and the critical time. With the grain refinement technique, the temper embrittlement of steel may be improved, and the critical time may be shortened. The cost of heat treatment for fracture control will therefore be reduced.

Abstract: For most of the experiments and the practical problems about the non-equilibrium grain-boundary segregation (NGS), segregation will always occur during continuous cooling. The effective-time-method assumed that any continuous cooling curve for a sample can be replaced by a corresponding stepped curve. In this paper, the non-equilibrium grain-boundary segregation of phosphorus in step cooling process in an industrial steel
12Cr1MoV
is studied based on the effective-time-method and compared with that in isothermal holding process. Results show that the calculated result is in good accordance with the experimental observation. It provides a direct support for the effective-time-method of NGS. The step cooling process can speed-up the embrittlement of the steel. Based on the step cooling technique, a control method of grain-boundary brittleness is proposed.

Abstract: The non-equilibrium grain-boundary segregation (NGS) isotherms and its kinetics serve to provide a more complete understanding of inter-granular segregation behavior in relation to mechanical properties, not only for the engineering steels but also for a wide range of structural alloys. The NGS of phosphorus and temper embrittlement dynamics on the same heat treatment condition at the same isothermal holding time in two Cr-Mo steels, 12Cr1MoV and 2.25Cr1Mo, was experimentally studied. The fracture behaviour was also observed by tensile tests in situ in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results show that both the concentration of phosphorus atoms in grain boundaries and the degree of embrittlement reaches a maximum at the critical time. It can be satisfactorily elucidated by the temper embrittlement mechanism of NGS caused by cooling from solution temperature to isothermal holding temperature.