Papers by Author: Tomasz Goryczka

Abstract: Shape memory effects, the course and characteristic temperatures of phase transitions and mechanical properties and surface properties of NiTi alloys strongly depend on the chemical composition, the production process used and the plastic working and thermomechanical treatment as well as surface treatment. The test alloy was obtained by vacuum metallurgy by melting the components in a graphite crucible and casting into a graphite ingot mould. In order to obtain the rods in the process of hot plastic working, hot forging was applied using a smith hammer and rotary hot forging on a swaging machine. The resulting rods were subjected to an appropriate heat treatment and thermo mechanical treatment to obtain, at room temperature, a parent phase structure B2.The paper presents the results of the research of NiTi rods after hot rotary forging. The phase composition of the samples of the tested alloy after different heat treatments were determined by X-ray powder diffraction technique. It was found that at room temperature, depending upon the processing the samples had a structure parent phase with a small amount of martensite. The courses of phase transitions and the changes of the temperature characteristic were determined on the basis of the recorded DSC curves. It was found that the test rate after aging in the temperature range of 400-500 °C transitions take place involving the rhombohedral R phase. The temperature ranges of shape recovery of samples after various heat treatments were determined by recording the recovery of the shape during heating, in tests performed according to the standard ASTM 2082-06.

Abstract: The TiNiNb alloys with nominal composition containing 5at.% and 10at.% of niobium, substituted for nickel, were produced using a powder metallurgy. Alloys were produced from the initial powders of titanium, nickel and niobium with purity about 99.7%. Mixed powders were sintered at vacuum furnace at various sintering condition. Alloys showed the presence of the reversible martensitic transformation occurring between the B2 phase and the monoclinic martensite B19'. Apart from the presence of the transformable phases, also the non-transformable phase Ti₂Ni was identified. Moreover, in sintered alloy (shorter sintering time), some amount of the niobium was stated. Increase of the niobium content also increased characteristic temperatures of the martensitic transformation.

Abstract: The paper presents results of structural studies of hot extruded NiTi shape memory alloy that is in the B2 phase at room temperature. Texture of the alloy was determined from the X-ray diffraction measurements. It was found that in result of 60 % sample reduction (at a cross-section of a bar formed by hot extrusion) weak axial texture - type <110>_B2 was formed. The volume of the grains oriented in this way was approx. 20 %. Basing on metallographic observations it was also found that the size of the grains formed as a result of the thermomechanical treatment was uniform with the average area of 1700 μm². This information is significant from the point of view of functional properties. Hot extruded alloy revealed presence of the reversible martensitic transformation. Its characteristic temperatures were slight higher than in as-cast alloy. Moreover, the extruded NiTi alloy showed 100 % of the shape recovery.

Abstract: The pitting potential, E_pit, of the passive layer on the implant alloy can be treated as an accelerated laboratory test to assessment a susceptibility to pitting corrosion of metallic biomaterials in simulated body fluids. This study deals with an evaluation of E_pit of the self-passivated TiO₂ layer formed on the surface of the NiTi implant alloy as a function of the scan rate of polarization. Cyclic potentiodynamic studies were performed in Ringer’s solution at 37°C. It was found out that the more noble value of E_pit in the range of 0.99-2 V was registered at a given polarization scan rate that ranged from 0.16 to 2 mV s^-1, the lower susceptibility of the self-passivated NiTi implant alloy to the initiation of pits was detected.

Abstract: In the present study the series of the Ni46.2Co5.0Mn36.1In12.6, Ni48.7Co5.2Mn34.4In11.6 and Ni45.6Co4.8Mn36.4In13.2 alloys (at. %) were studied. The influence of the indium addition on structure and phase transitions was studied. All alloys were annealed at 900°C for 24 hours and then slowly cooled in the furnace. After annealing all of the studied alloys showed the macrostructure of radially oriented columnar grains, which lied in the direction perpendicular to the casting axis. For the alloy containing about 13 at. % of indium the monoclinic 14M modulated martensite was stated at room temperature. Apart from the modulated martensite in a1_133 alloy the gamma phase was also observed. For alloy with higher indium content the mixture of cubic L21 parent phase and cubic gamma phase was identified. All studied alloys showed one-step martensitic transformation.

Abstract: The NiTi alloy (50.6 at.% Ni) passivated for 30 min at 130°C by autoclaving has been studied towards corrosion resistance in aqueous solutions of 3% NaCl, 0.1 M H₂SO₄, 1 M H₂SO₄ and HBSS. Structure and thickness of the passive layer (TiO2, rutile) were examined by X-ray reflectivity method and high resolution electron microscopy. Corrosion behavior of this oxide layer was investigated by open circuit potential method and polarization curves. It was found that the corrosion resistance of the passivated NiTi alloy is strongly dependent on the type of corrosive environment. The higher corrosion resistance of the tested samples was revealed in sulfate solutions as compared to chloride ones. The highest resistance to electrochemical corrosion of the NiTi alloy was observed in 0.1 M H2SO4 solution. Susceptibility to pitting corrosion of the tested samples was observed which increased with the concentration rise of chlorine anions in solution. Electrochemical tests for 316L stainless steel carried out under the same experimental conditions revealed a weaker corrosion resistance in all solutions as compared to the highly corrosion resistant NiTi alloy.

Abstract: Two Ni-based (Ni-Mn-Ga and Ni-Mn-Co-In) ferromagnetic nonstoichiometric shape memory alloys were studied in order to determine the influence of hot extrusion process on macro, microstructure and texture of the studied alloys. The microstructure of the alloys in the as cast state and after extrusion was analyzed by electron backscatter diffraction technique. Typical microstructure of the as cast alloys consisted of radially oriented columnar grains elongated perpendicularly to the casting axis. For the alloys Ni-Mn-Ga and Ni-Mn-Co-In alloys the 10M and 14M modulated martensite were observed, respectively. After extrusion Ni-Mn-Ga samples revealed high density of fibre texture parallel to the extrusion axis. In spite of applying different extrusion parameters it was not possible to avoid cracks and overcome the brittleness of the Ni-Mn-Co-In alloys.

Abstract: In this study, the electrosynthesis method of the zinc oxide films on NiTi shape memory alloy substrate from zinc acetate solution, has been studied. The optimum conditions for production of the ZnO thin films were found at a voltage of 20 V for 60 s. Experimental data were presented on the deposition process, structure and composition of the ZnO thin films. It was found that depending on the deposition parameters, the structure of the obtained zinc oxide films varies from amorphous to coarse-grained. It was ascertained that the examined electrosynthesis of the ZnO films appears as a useful method for the surface modification of the NiTi alloy towards biomedical applications.

Abstract: Two shape memory alloys with nominal chemical composition: Ni50Ti50 and Ni47Ti50Co3 were produced using twin roll casting technique (TRC). Relatively high cooling rate realized during solidification causes directional heat flow. In result of that, high textured strips were produced. However, the total amount of the preferentially oriented grains differs between surface and cross-section of the strip. At surface, where the crystallization of the grains is the most intensive amount of the grains can reach about 77%. At the cross-section of both strips, where the solidification rate decreased, the total amount of the textured grains was not higher than 57%.

Abstract: In order to improve a biocompatibility of a NiTi shape memory alloys used as a long-term implant, surface was covered by protective multi-layers coating. First, alloy was passivated in autoclave, and then hydroxyapatite was deposited using electrophoresis at room temperature. In result of that multi-layer was formed on the top of the surface consisted of titanium oxide and hydroxyapatite. Phase identification done with use of grazing incidence beam X-ray diffraction proved sequence of obtained coatings. Applied procedure for multi-layer deposition allowed avoiding of the B2 parent phase decomposition. Moreover, the martensitic transformation occurs in two-steps.