Materials Science Forum Vol. 879

Abstract: Precursor phenomena of melting in pure metals (In, Pb, Bi and Sn) and alloys of the systems Pb-Bi and In-Sn with different compositions have been investigated by means of Mechanical Spectroscopy (MS), i.e. dynamic modulus and damping measurements. MS tests evidenced that a sharp drop of dynamic modulus E takes place in a temperature range ΔT before the formation of the first liquid: the modulus variation ΔE and the corresponding temperature range ΔT depend on the specific metal or alloy. The modulus drop is consistent with a relevant increase of interstitial concentration (self-interstitials assuming the dumbbell configuration), as predicted by the Granato’s theory of melting. The increase of damping in the same temperature range of modulus drop supports this explanation. Owing to their dumbbell configuration self-interstitials interact with the flexural vibration of samples and the periodic re-orientation under the external applied stress leads to energy loss and damping increase. The increase of self-interstitials has the effect to weaken interatomic bonds (modulus drop) and favours the collapse of crystal lattice (melting).

Abstract: During large strain deformation of polycrystals, grain or interphase boundaries are driven by the material flow, which is a convection movement. By contrast, upon static recrystallization or grain growth, their motion takes place with respect to matter, which is referred to as grain boundary or interphase migration. During hot working, where dynamic phase transformations commonly occur, convection and migration operate simultaneously. According to local geometrical (e.g., prescribed velocity field, grain boundary curvature) and physical (e.g., grain boundary mobility, dislocation densities) conditions, they can reinforce or oppose each other, but generally combine in more complex ways. The aim of this work is to analyze such effects on the basis of simple analytical approaches. The results suggest that second phase particles or grains dynamically generated (i.e., during straining) exhibit approximately equiaxed shapes.

Abstract: A crucial factor for ingrowth of permanent implants in the bone is the rapid cellular acceptance. The topographical features often follow mechanical aspects for implant stability. But several of these implants fail due to insufficient cell adhesion. Cells are able to perceive the physico-chemical properties of their surrounding and to pass these signals into the cell to modulate their adhesion structures, growth or production of extracellular matrix. However, the complex cell physiology at the material interface is not yet fully understood, particular on stochastically structured topographies resulting from industrial production. We could find out that corundum blasted titanium hampered the organization of actin filaments inside the cells, clustered adhesion components, e. g. beta-1 integrins and tensin, and the cells bridged the valleys which reduces cell-substrate contacts. These morphological changes strongly diminished the mineralization of osteoblasts. To shed light on cause and effect we reduced the physical complexity of the material surface by introduction of regular micro-structures (pillars, grooves) using deep reactive ion etching. Now it was more obvious what cells are doing on sharp edged topographies ‒ the actin filaments of our cells were clustered around the pillars. As a result the intracellular calcium signaling and the protein synthesis were impaired. Our recent findings indicated an attempted phagocytosis of the micro-pillars by osteoblasts. Therefore we conclude that implants used in orthopedic surgery should avoid any sharp-edged topographical features that could induce phagocytosis by the surrounding cells, which is an unnecessarily energy consuming process.

Abstract: Thermomechanical processing is a well-defined route to achieve adequate combinations of strength/toughness for a wide range of applications. Inside this family, that based on accumulated strain in austenite followed by proper accelerated cooling strategies is probably one of the most selected. Usually this has been achieved with steels with Nb additions and other microalloying combinations. Recently, it has been observed an increase in the relevance of Ti as microalloying element. In addition to the classical approaches based on its availability to avoid grain growth, Ti provides, mainly in near-net-shape technologies, additional possibilities in relation to austenite conditioning and precipitation hardening. Multiple factors intervene simultaneously (solidification rates, Ti amount, Ti/N ratio, interaction with Nb...) leading nowadays, to important difficulties to properly predict its behavior. This manuscript focuses on some of these issues.

Abstract: As third generation advanced high strength steels (AHSS) managing both high strength and good ductility/formability, medium manganese steels containing 3-7 wt% Mn have attracted attentions recently. However, the fundamental microstructure evolution during thermomechanical processing and heat treatments in medium-Mn steels is still unclear. In the present study, changes in microstructure and mechanical properties during various heat treatments and thermomechanical processes of 4Mn-0.1%C steel were studied. It was clarified from dilatometric measurements that ferrite transformation in the 4Mn-0.1C steel was quite slow, so that fully martensitic structures were obtained in many cases after cooling from austenite. On the other hand, hot-deformation of austenite greatly accelerated ferrite transformation, and dual phase microstrcutures composed of ferrite and martensite could be obtained. The dual phase steel showed good combinations of high strength and adequate tensile ductility.

Abstract: Diamond has long been considered as a suitable material for the fabrication of radiation detectors due to its outstanding physical properties. Even more so in the specific case of radiation therapy dosimetry applications, where the near-tissue equivalence radiation absorption, good spatial resolution and radiation hardness are required. Recently, a synthetic single crystal diamond dosimeter was developed at “Tor Vergata” University in cooperation with PTW-Freiburg, showing excellent dosimetric properties. Such a device was thus commercialized (microDiamond^TM, PTW-type 60019) and widely accepted by the medical physics community, due to its reproducibility, reliability, accuracy and versatility. In this work, a novel diamond based dosimeter for in vivo application developed in our laboratories is presented. A basic dosimetric characterization of detector performances was performed under irradiation with ⁶⁰Co and 6 MV photon beams. Response stability, short and long term reproducibility, fading effect, linearity with dose, dose rate dependence, and temperature dependence were investigated. The detector response was found to be reproducible and dose rate independent in the range between 0.5 and 5 Gy/min. Its temperature dependence was within 0.5% between 25 and 38 ^◦C, and negligible fading effect was observed. The obtained results indicate the proposed novel diamond device as a promising candidate for in vivo dosimetry in radiation therapy application.

Abstract: The effects of thermo-mechanical training on damping capacity of two types of stainless steels, Fe-18Cr-8Ni (SUS 304) and Fe-25Cr-20Ni (SUS 310S) stainless steels, are studied. The thermo-mechanical training with bending deformation is adopted, since vibration manner in internal friction measurement is bending mode. An anisotropic damping capacity as well as hardness of samples is studied. It is found that deformation induced ε-martensite is observed for trained SUS 304 sample, while deformation twins are formed in the trained SUS 310S sample. It is also found that internal friction of SUS 304 sample is larger than that of SUS 310S sample. Increase in number of training results in an increase in the internal friction and hardness. In addition, anisotropic damping capacity is observed in the samples subjected the thermo-mechanical training. To be concluded, the thermo-mechanical training is useful for enhancement of both damping capacity and strength of SUS 304 and SUS 310S stainless steels.

Abstract: TiPd was investigated as a candidate of high-temperature shape memory alloys. To improve shape recovery, solid-solution hardening by addition of alloying element has been performed. The effect of alloying on martensite transformation temperature, shape memory effect, and yield strength of martensite and austenite phases were investigated. Zr and Hf were found to be effective element to improve shape memory effect. The most important factor to improve shape memory effect of TiPd is temperature to form Ti₂Pd₃ precipitates rather than strengthening.

Abstract: Challenging issues concerning energy efficiency and environmental politics require novel approaches to materials design. A recent example with regard to structural materials is the emergence of lightweight intermetallic TiAl alloys. Their excellent high-temperature mechanical properties, low density, and high stiffness constitute a profile perfectly suitable for their application as advanced aero-engine turbine blades or as turbocharger turbine wheels in next-generation automotive engines. Advanced so-called 3^rd generation TiAl alloys, such as the TNM alloy described in this paper, are complex multi-phase alloys which can be processed by ingot or powder metallurgy as well as precision casting methods. Each process leads to specific microstructures which can be altered and optimized by thermo-mechanical processing and/or subsequent heat treatments.

Abstract: Titanium (Ti) exhibits many attractive properties that enable practical applications. It is also considered to be a ubiquitous element, since it has the ninth highest Clarke number among all the elements. However, the principal beta-stabilizing elements for Ti, molybdenum and vanadium, can be very expensive, and so many Ti alloys are also costly. For this reason, less expensive alloying elements would be preferable. Iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) are beta stabilizers for Ti alloys that are readily available, since they have the fourth and eleventh highest Clarke numbers, respectively. Furthermore, since Fe has a large diffusion coefficient in the beta phase of Ti, precipitation of the omega phase occurs more quickly when Fe is added. The behaviors of Ti-Mn and Mn-Fe alloys during heat treatment have been investigated and it has been found that, in some alloys, the isothermal omega phase is precipitated. Because this phase can lead to brittleness of the alloy, it is very important to suppress its precipitation. Since it is well known that aluminum (Al) suppresses isothermal omega precipitation, the present work investigated the effects of Al content on the phase constitution and heat treatment behavior of Ti-8.5 mass%Mn-1 mass%Fe-0, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 mass%Al alloys using electrical resistivity, Vickers hardness, and X-ray diffraction measurements. In the case of each of these alloys, whether solution-treated or water-quenched, only the beta phase was identified. The resistivities at room and liquid nitrogen temperatures were found to increase monotonically with Al content, while the Vickers hardness decreased up to 3 mass% Al and then remained constant. The addition of Al was found to suppress omega precipitation.