Monika Losertová

Study of reaction diffusivity in the copper-indium-tin ternary system

Interaction of lead-free solders with copper substrate represents an important phenomenon in the issue of reliability of solder joints. New experimental data describing phase equilibria in the Cu-In-Sn system after long-time diffusion annealing at the 400 °C/50 hours, 600 °C/310 hours and 600 °C/48 hours will be presented. The composition of solders was: 100 % Sn, 75 % Sn + 25 % In, 50 % Sn + 50 % In, 25 % Sn + 75 % In, 100 % In. The fast quenching method was employed to freeze thermodynamic equilibrium after annealing, followed by metallography, microhardness measurements, SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and WDX (Wave Dispersive X-ray) analysis. New phase equilibrium data, together with the data from literature, represent the best existing experimental description of phase equilibria in the system in question. The obtained experimental results of the phase equilibria were compared with the thermodynamic modelling by the CALPHAD (Calculation of Phase Diagrams) method and with other authors.

Effect of Ti and Fe Alloying on Kirkendall Voids Feature in Ni/Ni3Al Welded Joints after the High Temperature Annealing

The study of influence of Fe and Ti alloying elements in the Ni3Al intermetallic alloy on diffusion feature in Ni/Ni3Al-Me (Me = Fe or Ti) joints was performed using the diffusion couple technique. Four sets of diffusion couples of diverse compositions prepared by means of resistance welding or electron beam welding in vacuum were used. The concentrations profiles and diffusivities of welded Ni/Ni3Al-Fe and Ni/Ni3Al-Ti joints were determined after annealing at 1050°C for 100 hours. The concentration profiles were smoothed using suitable types of polynomials. The Kirkendall voids in the area between the Matano plane and the new  interface created after annealing were observed. Metallographic study and qualitative evaluation of voids by means of AFM method revealed different feature of Kirkendall regions in Ni/Ni3Al-Fe couples unlike Ni/Ni3Al-Ti joints.

Study of Fracture Feature of Titanium Based Alloys for Biocompatible Implants after Removal from Human Body

The study of microstructure and fracture surfaces was performed on specimens of reconstruction plate, reconstruction nail and elastic nail. The composition and phase analysis of microstructure was performed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) JEOL JSM - 6490LV equipped with EDS INCA X - ACT probe. Examination of fracture surfaces by SEM confirmed that damage was not simply due to fatigue but contained evidence of corrosion and mechanical fretting as well.

Study of Kirkendall Effect in Ni/Ni3Al Welded Joint after the High Temperature Annealing

The study of composition and microstructure of welded joints was performed before and after the diffusion annealing at elevated temperatures for different annealing time. The Kirkendall effect in the Ni/Ni3Al diffusion couples was observed by means of different methods, e.g. using light, scanning electron and atomic force microscopies. The study suitably completes and specifies the morphology features of Kirkendall voids at different evolution stages, i.e. at nucleation, growing and coalescence. Kirkendall voids occurred in the region between the Matano and γ/γ´interface planes. The location of the γ/γ´ interface that moved in the direction of Ni3Al phase during the annealing resulted from the Al concentration profile measured by EDAX. The Matano plane location was determined by means of Boltzmann-Matano’s method using concentration profile data. It was observed that the void size was increasing in the direction from the Matano plane to the γ/γ´ interface. The obtained results were completed by surface topography of Kirkendall voids of slightly etched specimens by atomic force microscopy (AFM).