Uma Batra

The influence of nickel and copper on the austempering of ductile iron

In the present investigation, the effect of alloying elements on the austempering process, austempered microstructure, and structural parameters of two austempered ductile irons (ADI) containing 0.6% Cu and 0.6% Cu/1.0% Ni as the main alloying elements was investigated. The optical metallography and x-ray diffraction were used to study the changes in the austempered structure. The effect of alloying additions on the austempering kinetics was studied using the Avrami equation. Significantly more upper bainite was observed in the austempered Cu-Ni alloyed ADI than in Cu alloyed ADI. The volume fraction of retained austenite (Xγ), the carbon level in the retained austenite (Cγ), and the product XγCγ in an austempered structure of Cu-alloyed ADI are higher than in Cu-Ni-alloyed ADI. The austempering Kinetics is slowed down by the addition of Ni.

Effect of austenitization on austempering of copper alloyed ductile iron

A ductile iron containing 0.6% copper as the main alloying element was austempered at a fixed austempering temperature of 330 °C for a fixed austempering time of 60 min after austenitization at 850 °C for different austenitization periods of 60, 90, and 120 min. The austempering process was repeated after changing austenitization temperature to 900 °C. The effect of austenitization temperature and time was studied on the carbon content and its distribution in the austenite after austenitization. The effect of austenitization parameters was also studied on austempered microstructure, structural parameters like volume fraction of austenite, Xγ, carbon content Cγ, and XγCγ, and bainitic ferrite needle size, dα after austempering. The average carbon content of austenite increases linearly with austenitization time and reaches a saturation level. Higher austenitization temperature results in higher carbon content of austenite. As regards the austempered structure, the lowering austenitization temperature causes significant refinement and more uniform distribution of austempered structure, and a decrease in the volume fraction of retained austenite.

Influence of Magnesium Ion Substitution on Structural and Thermal Behavior of Nanodimensional Hydroxyapatite

Hydroxyapatite (HA), incorporating small amount of magnesium, shows attractive biological performance in terms of improved bone metabolism, osteoblast and osteoclast activity, and bone in-growth. This article reports a systematic investigation on the influence of magnesium (Mg) substitution on structural and thermal behavior of nanodimensional HA. HA and Mg-substituted HA nanopowders were synthesized through sol-gel route. The morphology and size of nanopowders were characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The BET surface area was evaluated from N2 adsorption isotherms. Structural analysis and thermal behavior were investigated by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and differential thermal analysis. As-synthesized powders consisted of flake-like agglomerates of HA and calcium-deficient HA. The incorporation of magnesium in HA resulted in decrease of crystallite size, crystallinity, and lattice parameters a and c and increase in BET surface area. β-tricalcium phosphate formation occured at lower calcination temperature in Mg-substituted HA than HA.

Austempering and austempered ductile iron microstructure in copper alloyed ductile iron

The variation in the austempered microstructure, the volume fraction of retained austenite, Xλ, the average carbon content of retained austenite, Cλ, their product XλCλ and the size of bainitic ferrite needles with austempering temperature for 0.6% Cu alloyed ductile iron have been investigated for three austempering temperatures of 270, 330, and 380 °C for 60 min at each temperature after austenitization at 850 °C for 120 min. The austempering temperature not only affects the morphology of bainitic ferrite but also that of retained austenite. There is an increase in the amount of retained austenite, its carbon content, and size of bainitic ferrite needles with the rise in austempering temperature. The influence of austempering time on the structure has been studied on the samples austempered at 330 °C. The increase in the austempering time increases the amount of retained austenite and its carbon content, which ultimately reaches a plateau.

Mathematical model for austenitization kinetics of ductile iron

A mathematical model was developed in the current study to understand the progress of austenitization process in ductile irons. The austenitization time required to produce homogeneous austenite in a two-phase region of austenite and graphite has been estimated in terms of (a) time required for transformation of matrix to austenite and (b) time required for dissolution of graphite in austenite to attain uniform carbon content, which remains in equilibrium with graphite. The time required been related to the structural parameters of cast ductile iron-like radius of graphite nodule, radius of austenite cell, volume fraction of graphite, volume fraction of ferrite in cast matrix, and diffusion constant. The model was used to determine the minimum austenitization time required to achieve homogeneous austenite in three commercial ductile irons when austenitized at a temperature of 900 °C. The results were compared with those obtained. The uniformity of the carbon content in austenite of ductile iron was verified indirectly by measuring microhardness.

Challenges and opportunities for biodegradable magnesium alloy implants

Abstract Magnesium (Mg) and its alloys posse’s great potential for the application of biodegradable medical implants. It is due to their unique properties like low density and elastic modulus, good biocompatibility, etc. But still there are many challenges for Mg alloy based implants. Due to rapid degradation of Mg and its alloys in biological fluid, it loses its mechanical integrity and fails to perform before the complete healing of bone fracture (in orthopedics application) or removal of plaque in arteries (in case of vascular implants). Using suitable alloying elements mechanical strength and corrosion resistance of Mg-alloys can be enhanced but cytotoxicity and long term inflammatory consequences of these elements are the major concern. Further modifying the surface characteristics of Mg-alloy through various surface coating, machining, mechanical working, etc., corrosion behaviour can be manipulated. In this field of biodegradable implants, the various opportunities are yet to be explored in detail to improve the clinical performance of Mg alloy implants for orthopedics and vascular applications. This review paper summarises the various challenges and opportunities in design and development of biodegradable Mg alloy implants.

A study of austenitization of SG iron

Austenitization process of three SG irons with varying compositions and as cast matrix microstructure has been studied at three austenitization temperatures of 850, 900 and 950C for different time periods. Microstructure, hardness and X-ray diffraction have been used to reveal the nature of dependence of the process on austenitization temperature, time and as cast structure. The optimum austenitization time is maximum for ferritic and minimum for pearlitic matrix.

Nano‐Hydroxyapatite/Fluoridated and Unfluoridated Bioactive Glass Composites: Structural Analysis and Bioactivity Evaluation

Biphasic bioceramic composites containing nano‐hydroxyapatite (HAP) and nanosized bioactive glasses have been prepared in the form of pellets and have been examined for the effects of bioglass concentrations and sintering temperature on the structural transformations and bioactivity behavior. Pure stoichiometric nano‐HAP was synthesized using sol‐gel technique. Two bioglasses synthesized in this work—fluoridated bioglass (Cao‐P2O5‐Na2O3‐CaF2) and unfluoridated bioglass (Cao‐P2O5‐Na2O3) designated as FBG and UFBG respectively, were added to nano‐HAP with concentrations of 5, 10, 12 and 15%. The average particle sizes of synthesized HAP and bioglasses were 23 nm and 35 nm, respectively. The pellets were sintered at four different temperatures i.e. 1000 °C, 1150 °C, 1250 °C and 1350 °C. The investigations involved study of structural and bioactivity behavior of green and sintered pellets and their deviations from original materials i.e. HAP, FBG and UFBG, using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron m...

Structure and properties of silver-doped calcium phosphate nanopowders

Stable and antimicrobial silver-doped calcium phosphate nanopowders were synthesized using sol–gel route by setting the atomic ratio of Ag/(Ag+Ca) at 3% and (Ca+ Ag)/P at 1.67. Prior to synthesis of nanopowders, influence of time of hydrolyzation on pH and density of precursors were comprehensively studied. Hydrolyzation time was found to have profound influence on pH of constituent precursors. Sufficient hydrolysis resulted in early maturation of sol. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the heterogeneous and agglomerated state of particles with average size of 3.9± 1.9 μm. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) presented uniform distribution of O, Ag, Ca and P elements in nanopowder. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the formation of apatitic structure, whereas X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed the multiphase constitution of nanopowders primarily composed of β-TCP, Ag and other hybrid phases. Crystallite size and lattice parameters of β-TCP and Ag phases were increased with the rise in calcination temperature. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed three regions of weight change and indicated the high thermal stability of nanopowders. Disk diffusion method was used to test the antimicrobial resistance of nanopowders against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains. All nanopowders exhibited antimicrobial resistance against both E. coli and S. aureus bacteria.

Effect of Capping Agent on Physicochemical Properties of Zinc Substituted Nanoscale Hydroxyapatite

Nanoscale zinc substituted hydroxyapatite has been synthesized by solgel technique at 70 C using an aqueous solution of calcium nitrate tetrahydrate (CNT), zinc nitrate tetrahydrate (ZNT) and potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) as starting materials with or without a capping agent, triethanolamine (TEA). The synthesized nanopowders were calcined at two temperatures 800 C and 1000 C for 1 hr. The morphology and size of nanopowders were characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The BET surface area was evaluated from N2 adsorption isotherms. Structural analysis and thermal behavior were investigated by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry. The results of TEM confirmed that TEA is effective in reducing average crystallite size from 15 nm in case of zinc substituted hydroxyapatite without TEA (ZnHA) to 9 nm in case of zinc substituted hydroxyapatite with TEA (ZnHA-TEA). FTIR spectra showed the presence of weaker HPO4 bands and stronger O-H bands in case of ZnHA as compared to ZnHA-TEA, which indicated that the formation of the latter is delayed due to TEA assistance. TGA study revealed that ZnHA is thermally more stable as compared to ZnHA-TEA. These results show that the introduction of capping agent effectively restricts the particle growth during precipitation as well as on calcination.