Effect of Nb on β → α ″ Martensitic Phase Transformation and Characterization of New Biomedical Ti-xNb-3Fe-9Zr Alloys

A new generation of Ti-xNb-3Fe-9Zr ( x = 15 , 20, 25, 30, 35 wt %) alloys have been designed using various theoretical approaches including DV-xα cluster, molybdenum equivalency, and electron to atom ratio. Afterward, designed alloys are fabricated using cold crucible levitation melting technique. The microstructure and mechanical performances of newly designed alloys are characterized in this work using scanning electron microscope and universal testing machine, respectively. Each alloy demonstrates monolithic β phase except Ti-35Nb-3Fe-9Zr alloy which display dual α ″ + β phases. Typically, niobium acts as an isomorphous beta stabilizer. However, in this work, formation of martensitic α ″ phases occurs at 35 wt % of niobium among the series of newly designed alloys. Furthermore, none of the alloys fail till the maximum load capacity of machine, i.e., 100 KN except Ti-35Nb-3Fe-9Zr alloy. Moreover, the Vickers hardness test is carried out on Ti-xNb-3Fe-9Zr alloys which demonstrate slip bands around the indentation for each alloy. Notably, the deformation bands and cracks around the indentations of each alloy have been observed using optical microscopy; Ti-35Nb-3Fe-9Zr demonstrates some cracks along with slip bands around its indentation. The Ti-25Nb-3Fe-9Zr alloy shows the highest yield strength of 1043 ± 20 MPa , large plasticity of 32 ± 0.5 % , and adequate hardness of 152 ± 3.90 Hv among the investigated alloys. The Ti-25Nb-3Fe-9Zr alloy demonstrates good blend of strength and malleability. Therefore, Ti-25Nb-3Fe-9Zr can be used effectively for the biomedical applications.

Strain-Gradient Crystal Plasticity Finite Element Modeling of Slip Band Formation in α-Zirconium

Two methods for the determination of geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) densities are implemented in a lower-order strain-gradient crystal plasticity finite element model. The equations are implemented in user material (UMAT) subroutines. Method I has a direct and unique solution for the density of GNDs, while Method II has unlimited solutions, where an optimization technique is used to determine GND densities. The performance of each method for capturing the formation of slip bands based on the calculated GND maps is critically analyzed. First, the model parameters are identified using single crystal simulations. This is followed by importing the as-measured microstructure for a deformed α-zirconium specimen into the finite element solver to compare the numerical results obtained from the models to those measured experimentally using the high angular resolution electron backscatter diffraction technique. It is shown that both methods are capable of modeling the formation of slip bands that are parallel to those observed experimentally. Formation of such bands is observed in both GND maps and plastic shear strain maps without pre-determining the slip band domain. Further, there is a negligible difference between the calculated grain-scale stresses and elastic lattice rotations from the two methods, where the modeling results are close to the measured ones. However, the magnitudes and distributions of calculated GND densities from the two methods are very different.

Strain Localization Modes within Single Crystals Using Finite Deformation Strain Gradient Crystal Plasticity

The present paper aims at providing a comprehensive investigation of the abilities and limitations of strain gradient crystal plasticity (SGCP) theories in capturing different kinds of localization modes in single crystals. To this end, the small deformation Gurtin-type SGCP model recently proposed by the authors, based on non-quadratic defect energy and the uncoupled dissipation assumption, is extended to finite deformation. The extended model is then applied to simulate several single crystal localization problems with different slip system configurations. These configurations are chosen in such a way as to obtain idealized slip and kink bands as well as general localization bands, i.e., with no particular orientation with respect to the initial crystallographic directions. The obtained results show the good abilities of the applied model in regularizing various kinds of localization bands, except for idealized slip bands. Finally, the model is applied to reproduce the complex localization behavior of single crystals undergoing single slip, where competition between kink and slip bands can take place. Both higher-order energetic and dissipative effects are considered in this investigation. For both effects, mesh-independent results are obtained, proving the good capabilities of SGCP theories in regularizing complex localization behaviors. The results associated with higher-order energetic effects are in close agreement with those obtained using a micromorphic crystal plasticity approach. Higher-order dissipative effects led to different results with dominant slip banding.

The Portevin-Le Chatelier effect in corrosion behavior of the Mg-Zn-Sr alloy

The as-solutionized Mg-4Zn alloys, one candidate material for biological implantation, are featured with the Portevin-Le Chatelier effect during the tensile testing with strain rate of 6.67×10-7 s-1, which leads to the higher corrosion rate and the acceleration of stress corrosion cracking. With the increase of the strain, new slip bands are generated and the proliferation of dislocations is very rapid in slip bands. The microgalvanic corrosion occurs between the slip bands (anode) and the low-dislocation-density region (cathode). The 0.1 wt. % Sr addition can reduce the impact of the Portevin-Le Chatelier effect on as-solutionized Mg-4Zn alloy, resulting from the inhibition of twin, the better grain coordination deformation ability and the lower density of geometrically necessary dislocations.

Study on displacement cascade and tensile simulation by molecular dynamics: Formation and properties of point defects

The molecular dynamics method is used to investigate the formation and properties of irradiation-induced damage (point defects). Displacement cascade simulations are performed to study the effects of primary knock-on atom (PKA) energy, temperature, vacancy concentration and tensile pre-strain on irradiation-induced damage in [Formula: see text]-Fe. An increase in PKA energy, vacancy concentration and tensile pre-strain can lead to an increase in defect numbers. In contrast, an increase in temperature decreases the defect numbers. After cascade collisions, tensile tests are performed to investigate the effect of point defects on mechanical properties. The yield stress and corresponding strain of irradiated Fe decrease with an increase in the number density of Frenkel pairs. Results show that irradiation accelerates damage of the internal structure, decreases the number of slip bands and increases the instability of the structure during plastic deformation.

Deformation Behavior and Tensile Properties of the Semi-Equiaxed Microstructure in Near Alpha Titanium Alloy

The tensile deformation and fracture behavior of a particular semi-equiaxed microstructure (S-EM) in a near alpha titanium alloy TA19 are investigated by an in situ method. In the S-EM, the thin β lamellae grow through the equiaxed αp phase (αp), and the original αp/βtrans interface in the bimodal microstructure largely disappears, forming a blurry interface between the semi-equiaxed αp phase (equiaxed αp phase that is grew through by the thin β lamellae) and the transformed β microstructure (βtrans). The formation of dense slip bands inside the semi-equiaxed αp phase in the S-EM is inhibited by the thin β lamellae during the tensile deformation. The special characteristics of the S-EM reduce the stress concentration at the interface, and the crack initiation probability in the blurry semi-αp/βtrans interface decreased compared to the distinct αp/βtrans interface in a conventional equiaxed microstructure (EM). Moreover, the ultimate tensile strength of the S-EM is higher than that of the EM with a slight loss of plasticity.