Jaroslav Málek

Corrosion behavior of Ti–39Nb alloy for dentistry

To increase an orthopedic implants lifetime, researchers are now concerned on the development of new titanium alloys with suitable mechanical properties (low elastic modulus-high fatigue strength), corrosion resistance and good workability. Corrosion resistance of the newly developed titanium alloys should be comparable with that of pure titanium. The effect of medical preparations containing fluoride ions represents a specific problem related to the use of titanium based materials in dentistry. The aim of this study was to determine the corrosion behavior of β titanium alloy Ti-39Nb in physiological saline solution and in physiological solution containing fluoride ions. Corrosion behavior was studied using standard electrochemical techniques and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was found that corrosion properties of the studied alloy were comparable with the properties of titanium grade 2. The passive layer was based on the oxides of titanium and niobium in several oxidation states. Alloying with niobium, which was the important part of the alloy passive layer, resulted in no significant changes of corrosion behavior. In the presence of fluoride ions, the corrosion resistance was higher than the resistance of titanium.

Phase transformations in non-isothermally annealed as-cast and cold-rolled AlMnScZr alloys

Abstract The effect of Mn addition on the microstructure, thermal and mechanical properties in as-cast and cold-rolled Al–Sc–Zr alloys was studied. Electrical resistometry, differential scanning calorimetry and microhardness measurements were used. Transmission electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction and X-ray diffraction of specimens quenched from temperatures of pronounced changes in resistivity helped to identify the microstructural processes responsible for resistivity changes. The distinct microhardness increase observed after annealing above ∼320°C is caused by precipitation of the Al3Sc particles. The cold-rolling prior to a heat treatment has no substantial effect on temperature position of the Al3Sc-phase precipitation. The formation of Al6Mn and/or Al6(Mn,Fe) particles is responsible for the intensive resistivity decrease of the cold-rolled materials compared to the as-cast materials. Precipitation of these particles has an insignificant effect on microhardness. The apparent activation energy for the precipitation of the Al3Sc particles was determined.

Effect of storage conditions on long-term stability of Ag nanoparticles formed via green synthesis

Spherical Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) with a diameter of 20 nm or smaller were biologically synthesized using algae Parachlorella kessleri. The effect of storage conditions on the long-term stability of AgNPs was investigated. UV/Vis spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering measurements revealed that the long-term stability of AgNPs was influenced by light and temperature conditions. The most significant loss of stability was observed for the AgNPs stored in daylight at room temperature. The AgNPs stored under these conditions began to lose their stability after approximately 30 d; after 100 d, a substantial amount of agglomerated particles settled to the bottom of the Erlenmeyer flask. The AgNPs stored in the dark at room temperature exhibited better long-term stability. Weak particle agglomeration began at approximately the 100th day. The AgNPs stored in the dark at about 5°C exhibited the best long-term stability; the AgNPs stored under such conditions remained spherical, with a narrow size distribution, and stable (no agglomeration) even after 6 months. Zeta-potential measurements confirmed better dispersity and stability of AgNPs stored under these conditions.

The effect of annealing temperature on the properties of powder metallurgy processed Ti-35Nb-2Zr-0.5O alloy

Ti-35Nb-2Zr-0.5O (wt%) alloy was prepared via a powder metallurgy process (cold isostatic pressing of blended elemental powders and subsequent sintering) with the primary aim of using it as a material for bio-applications. Sintered specimens were swaged and subsequently the influence of annealing temperature on the mechanical and structural properties was studied. Specimens were annealed at 800, 850, 900, 950, and 1000°C for 0.5h and water quenched. Significant changes in microstructure (i.e. precipitate dissolution or grain coarsening) were observed in relation to increasing annealing temperature. In correlation with those changes, the mechanical properties were also studied. The ultimate tensile strength increased from 925MPa (specimen annealed at 800°C) to 990MPa (900°C). Also the elongation increased from ~ 13% (800°C) to more than 20% (900, 950, and 1000°C).

Characterization of TiNb Films on Ti Alloys for Hard Tissue Replacement

We present here a study of coatings prepared from β-Ti binary alloy Ti-39wt%Nb, a promising metallic material. TiNb is a highly corrosion-resistant and non-toxic material that is potentially applicable as a biomaterial. TiNb coatings can be prepared on substrates of widely-used materials, and promise not only improved properties but also a less high price of potential TiNb implants. A TiNb film can also be used as a barrier for limiting the potential diffusion of some allergens and toxic elements from the substrate to the surface, which can be influenced by layer properties. We deposited thin layers of TiNb by magnetron sputtering, which provides excellent layer properties in applications. These layers were prepared on substrates made from Ti, Ti alloys (Ti39Nb and Ti6Al4V) and stainless steel AISI316. The aim of our work was to characterize the structure and the mechanical properties of the layers, in dependence on the type of substrate, for application as coatings for medical implants.

The Effect of Solution Treatment Temperature on Plastic Deformation and Fracture Mechanisms of Beta-Titanium Alloy

The beta-titanium alloys are used mainly in bioapplications for artificial joints and other implants. They posses interesting properties such as, high corrosion resistance, low Young’s modulus, good plasticity or superelasticity etc. In this work the effect of solution treatment temperature on deformation and fracture properties has been studied. The alloy Ti-35Nb-2Zr was processed via powder metallurgy process (cold isostatic pressing, sintering and subsequent swaging). Swaged alloy was annealed at 800, 850, 900, 950 and 1000 °C. Tensile tests have been performed on such heat treated specimens and the fracture surface has been studied in correlation with microstructure. With increasing annealing temperature both tensile strength (from 925 MPa to 990 MPa) and elongation (from 13 to 25 %) increased where the maximum values were obtained for 900 °C annealed specimens and subsequently slight decrease has been observed. The simultaneous increase of strength and elongation was attached to change of deformation mechanisms which was described by studying fracture surfaces and microstructure of deformed (tensile tested) specimens.

Evaluation of Changes of Mechanical Properties of Selected Cr-Ni-Mo Steels for Heavy Forgings during Long Time Annealing

The effect of long dwell time at elevated temperatures on two types of steels used for production of heavy forgings was evaluated. Microstructural changes and mechanical properties were monitored in temperature interval of 200 - 700 °C in order to avoid the possibility of grain boundary embrittlement during long dwell time at the processing temperature. Samples of the evaluated steels 26NiCrMoV14-5 and 22CrNiMoWV8-8 were being austenitized for 2 hours at temperature of 1200 °C and oil quenched. Subsequently the annealing at selected temperatures for 100 hours was applied. Tensile test, hardness and impact energy measurements were used for the evaluation. The results of mechanical testing, structural and fracture surface analyses indicate that for steels 26NiCrMoV145 and 22CrMoNiWV8-8 there exist a temperature interval of 300 - 400 °C and 500 600 °C respectively showing the toughness decrease.

Phase Transformations and Recrystallization in Cold-Rolled Al-Mg-Sc-Zr Alloy Prepared by Powder Metallurgy

The mechanical, thermal and electrical properties and recrystallization behaviour of the cold-rolled AlMgScZr alloy prepared by powder metallurgy were studied. The materials were investigated during isothermal annealing (400 and 550 °C) and during step-by-step linear annealing from room temperature up to 570 °C. The observed results were compared with microstructure observation by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction from a previous study of the Al–Mg-based alloys with Sc and Zr. The precipitation sequence of the Al–Mg system and coarsening of the Sc,Zr-containing particles caused electrical and heat flow changes during the annealing. The presence of the Al3(Sc,Zr) particles has an anti-recrystallization effect that prevents recrystallization at temperature minimally up to ~ 400 °C. A partial recrystallization of the alloy was registered after annealing at 550 °C already for 30 min. The cause of the anti-recrystallization effect is precipitation of the Mg-containing particles as follows from a comparison to the alloy without Mg. But the Mg-addition to the Al–Sc–Zr alloy prepared by powder metallurgy has a poorer anti-recrystallization effect than a Mn-addition.

Precipitation Processes in Hot-Rolled Al-Mn-Sc-Zr Alloy

The effect of hot rolling on mechanical and electrical properties, microstructure and recrystallization behaviour of the AlMnScZr alloy was studied. The mould-cast alloy and the alloy after hot rolling at 300 °C was studied during step-by-step quasilinear annealing from 200 °C up to 600 °C with heating rate 100 K/h followed by subsequent isothermal annealing at 600 °C/5 h. Precipitation reactions were studied by electrical resistometry, differential scanning calorimetry and hardness measurements. Transmission electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction examination of specimens quenched from temperatures of significant resistivity changes were used to identify microstructural processes responsible for these changes. Only occasional irregular sharp-edged polygonal particles of the AlMnFeSi system were found in the as-prepared state of the mould-cast alloy. The as-prepared state of the hot-rolled alloy was characterized by a dispersion of fine coherent Al3Sc and/or Al3(Sc,Zr) particles and furthermore a fine (sub) grain structure was observed. The hardening effect in the alloys is due to presence and/or precipitation of the Sc,Zr-containing particles with L12 structure. The distinct resistivity changes of the alloys are mainly caused by precipitation of Mn-containing particles. Two-stage development of the Al6Mn phase (in (sub) grain interiors and at (sub) grain boundaries) in the hot-rolled alloy was observed. The presence of Sc,Zr-and Mn-containing particles has an anti-recrystallization effect that prevents recrystallization minimally up to 600 °C and annealing of 1 hour in the hot-rolled alloy. The apparent activation energy for the Al3(Sc,Zr)-phase and Al6Mn-phase precipitation was also determined. The activation energy values obtained in the hot-rolled AlMnScZr alloy are comparable to those observed in the hot deformed AlMnScZr alloys prepared by powder metallurgy.

Influence of Annealing Temperature and Time on the Mechanical Properties of Selected Steels for Heavy Forgings

Two types of steels used for production of heavy forgings were selected for the experimental evaluation of the effect of long time dwell at elevated temperatures and cooling during heat treatment on their mechanical properties in order avoid the possibility of grain boundary embrittlement. Samples from evaluated steels 26NiCrMoV14-5 and 22CrNiMoWV8-8 were austenitized for 2 hours at temperature of 1200°C and oil quenched. Subsequently the annealing at temperatures (200 - 700)°C for 1 hour and 100 hours was applied. Selected mechanical properties, especially hardness and impact energy, were monitored. It was found that for steels 26NiCrMoV14‑5 and 22CrMoNiWV8-8 exist the temperature intervals (300 - 400)°C and (500 ‑ 600)°C respectively with the possible potential for toughness decreasing.