Papers by Author: Yukichi Umakoshi

Abstract: A dominant inorganic substance in hard tissue is known to be a biological apatite (BAp)^nano-crystal which basically crystallizes in an anisotropic hcp lattice, and the BAp c-axis is parallel to extended collagen fibrils. We applied the microbeam X-ray diffractometer system with an incident beam spot 100µm or 50µm in diameter to the original, regenerated and pathological hard tissues in order to analyze the preferential alignment of the BAp c-axis as a parameter of bone quality closely relating to the mechanical function. We conclude that the BAp orientational distribution in the hard tissues is a new measure to evaluate stress distribution in vivo, nano-scale microstructure and the related mechanical function, healing process of the regenerated bone and progress of the bone diseases.

Abstract: Formation of a nanocrystalline structure through rapid solidification, thermal crystallization and electron irradiation induced crystallization was investigated in Fe-Nd-B alloys. A nanocrystalline structure was obtained by rapid quenching of the melt in a Fe86Nd9B5 alloy, while an amorphous single phase was formed in a Fe77Nd4.5B18.5 alloy. In the latter alloy, a nanocrystalline structure was obtained by thermal crystallization and electron irradiation induced crystallization of the amorphous phase. The average grain size of the precipitate obtained by irradiation at 298 K was about 8 nm, which is much smaller than that obtained during thermal crystallization. Results indicate that electron irradiation is effective for obtaining a novel nanocrystalline structure in Fe-Nd-B alloys.

Abstract: Fracture behaviors of three directionally solidified (DS) duplex-phase alloys composed of Ni3Nb(D0a)/Ni3Al(L12), Ni6TaAl(D024)/Ni3Al(L12) and Ni3Ti(D024)/Ni3Si(L12) phases, respectively were investigated by three-point bending tests, focusing on temperature and orientation dependence. The temperature-toughness relation showed dissimilar curves depending on alloy. The increasing rate of fracture toughness was the highest in the Ni3Al/Ni3Nb alloy with fine lamellar structure and was the lowest in the Ni3Al/Ni6TaAl alloy with rod-like precipitates. The controlling mechanism for the temperature dependence of fracture behavior of Ni3Al/Ni3Nb alloys was discussed.

Abstract: Superplastic viscous deformation and thermal crystallization behavior of supercooled liquid in Zr60.0Al15.0Ni25.0 metallic glass were investigated. The temperature interval of the supercooled liquid region (∆Tx) was 83 K. The supercooled liquid showed significant viscous plasticity, resulting in large elongation and high strain rate deformation. The stress-strain behavior can be classified into three types: stress overshoot, stable viscous flow with constant flow stress and strain hardening. The strain hardening is due to the precipitation of Zr6Al2Ni crystalline phase with ellipsoidal morphology. Superplastic viscous deformation behavior is very sensitive to thermal crystallization as well as to deformation temperature and strain rate.

Abstract: D03-ordered Fe3Al single crystals containing 23, 25 and 28at.%Al were cyclically deformed at [ 49 1 ] loading axis in tension-compression mode. Giant pseudoelasticity took place in Fe-23 and 25at.%Al single crystals at an early stage of cyclic deformation, while a slight strain recovery was observed in Fe-28at.%Al. In Fe-23 and 25at.%Al single crystals, superpartial dislocations with Burgers vector of 1/4[111] moved individually dragging the nearest neighbour anti-phase boundary (NNAPB). The NNAPB pulled back the superpartials during unloading, resulting in giant pseudoelasticity and low residual dislocation density. In contrast, a couplet of the superpartials was observed to bow out leaving two superpartials in Fe-28at.%Al. This means that the dislocation couplet dragged the next-nearest neighbour anti-phase boundary (NNNAPB). The surface tension of NNNAPB is lower than that of NNAPB resulting in a slight strain recovery in Fe-28at%Al. As cyclic deformation proceeded, residual dislocation density increased with an increase in the number of cycles even in Fe-23 and 25at.%Al. In particular, persistent slip bands (PSB) were formed in Fe-23at.%Al single crystals, though PSB is seldom observed in fatigued intermetallic compounds. To-and-fro motion of superpartials during loading and unloading was suppressed by dislocation bundles, resulting in a reduced shape recovery. However, large strain recovery occurred in Fe-25at.%Al single crystals at a strain amplitude of 1.0% even at 20cycles. It was also noted that Fe-23 and 25at.%Al demonstrated tension-compression asymmetry even at [ 49 1 ] orientation; the yield stress in compression was higher than that in tension. This implies that the core structure of <111> screw dislocation played an important role in the deformation behaviour of Fe3Al single crystals.

Abstract: A magnetic technique was applied to examine cyclic deformation behavior and deformation damage in ordered FeAl and Ni3(Al,Ti) single crystals. The fatigue lifetime of FeAl was evaluated by an abrupt increase in spontaneous magnetization. The morphology of γ precipitates in Ni3(Al,Ti) during annealing and deformation was examined by changes in spontaneous magnetization and coercive force.

Abstract: Plastic deformation behavior including anomalous strengthening of Ni3X-type compounds with D019, D0a and D024 structure were examined and summarized, focusing on the correlation between deformation characteristics and features of their crystal structures.