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Heat resistant cobalt-based alloys have found a specific niche in the present-day mechanical engineering due to their unique properties. To begin with, cobalt-based alloys are used as corrosion, heat and wear resistant materials intended for aggressive environments and operation at extreme temperatures, e.g. blades, nozzles, swirlers, rings and other elements of turbines and internal combustion engines. Traditional molding methods applied in the mechanical engineering fail to provide necessary operational and technological characteristics of aforementioned machine parts. Owing to selective laser melting it is possible to reduce a production time and manufacturing costs for machine elements with a complex physical configuration and generate an alloy with an extraordinary structure, which is not found in traditionally combined compounds. A structure of cobalt exists in two crystal modifications: a hexagonal close-packed epsilon phase, a low-temperature phase and a face-centered cubic lattice gamma phase, a high-temperature phase. The alloy hardness is directly related to an amount of a low-temperature phase. The laser melting shortens a laser beam impact time on a powder composition due to a higher power and laser travelling speed. A high value of heat conductivity seems to be the reason for rapid solidification and cooling, which, in their turn, increase a percent of an alpha-martensite phase in an alloy and improve the hardness and wear resistance of machine parts. The reported paper summarizes studies aimed at the development of a stable phase structure three-component alloy (Сo-66 mass % Cr-6 mass % Mo) based on the cobalt-chromium-molybdenum system and mixed up via selective laser melting.

Biodegradable materials are currently attracting the attention of scientists as materials for implants in reconstructive medicine. At the same time, ceramics based on calcium silicates are promising materials for bone recovery, because Ca2+ and Si2+ ions are necessary for the mineralization process, and they take an active part in the formation of apatite. In the presented research, the protective silicate biocoatings on a Mg0.8Ca alloy were formed by means of the micro-arc oxidation method, and the study of their morphology, structure, phase composition, corrosion, and biological properties was carried out. Elongated crystals and pores were uniformly distributed over the surface of the coatings. The coated samples exhibited remarkable anti-corrosion properties in comparison with bare magnesium alloy because their corrosion current decreased 10 times, and their corrosion resistance increased almost 100 times. The coatings did not significantly affect the viability of the cells, even without the additional dilution of the extract, and were non-toxic according to ISO 10993-5: 2009. In this case, there was a significant difference in toxicity of the pure Mg0.8Ca alloy and the coated samples. Thus, the results demonstrated that the applied coatings significantly reduced the toxicity of the alloy.

The additive manufacturing of low elastic modulus alloys that have a certain level of porosity for biomedical needs is a growing area of research. Here, we show the results of manufacturing of porous and dense samples by a laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) of Ti-Nb alloy, using two distinctive fusion strategies. The nanostructured Ti-Nb alloy powders were produced by mechanical alloying and have a nanostructured state with nanosized grains up to 90 nm. The manufactured porous samples have pronounced open porosity and advanced roughness, contrary to dense samples with a relatively smooth surface profile. The structure of both types of samples after LPBF is formed by uniaxial grains having micro- and nanosized features. The inner structure of the porous samples is comprised of an open interconnected system of pores. The volume fraction of isolated porosity is 2 vol. % and the total porosity is 20 vol. %. Cell viability was assessed in vitro for 3 and 7 days using the MG63 cell line. With longer culture periods, cells showed an increased cell density over the entire surface of a porous Ti-Nb sample. Both types of samples are not cytotoxic and could be used for further in vivo studies.

A comparative analysis of the structure, properties and the corrosion behavior of the micro-arc coatings based on Sr-substituted hydroxyapatite (Sr-HA) and Sr-substituted tricalcium phosphate (Sr-TCP) deposited on Mg0.8Ca alloy substrates was performed. The current density during the formation of the Sr-HA coatings was higher than that for the Sr-TCP coatings. As a result, the Sr-HA coatings were thicker and had a greater surface roughness Ra than the Sr-TCP coatings. In addition, pore sizes of the Sr-HA were almost two times larger. The ratio (Ca + Sr + Mg)/P were equal 1.64 and 1.47 for Sr-HA and Sr-TCP coatings, respectively. Thus, it can be assumed that the composition of Sr-HA and Sr-TCP coatings was predominantly presented by (Sr,Mg)-substituted hydroxyapatite and (Sr,Mg)-substituted tricalcium phosphate. However, the average content of Sr was approximately the same for both types of the coatings and was equal to 1.8 at.%. The Sr-HA coatings were less soluble and had higher corrosion resistance than the Sr-TCP coatings. Cytotoxic tests in vitro demonstrated a higher cell viability after cultivation with extracts of the Sr-HA coatings.

Mg-based alloys became a material of interest for biomedical applications. The major difficulty in the Mg-based alloy application is its rapid corrosion rate. Various coating methods are used to form a barrier layer onto Mg-based materials. In this work, a thin film of calcium phosphate was deposited on an Mg–0.8 at % Ca alloy using RF magnetron sputtering. As-deposited coatings were in an X-ray amorphous state. Post-deposition heat treatment resulted in the coating crystallization, exhibiting the pure HA phase. Heat-treatment at 450°C for 3 hours did not significantly change the coating integrity and adhesion strength to the Mg–0.8 at % Ca substrate. The Ca/P ratio, however, was changed from 1.85 for as-deposited to 2.00 for heat-treated samples. Both coating and substrate material after heat treatment exhibit preferential crystallographic growth in (002) direction with Tc(002) = 2.86 and 5.79, correspondingly.

Experimental data of thermal stability of the microstructure and mechanical properties (exemplified by the microhardness tests) of the ultrafine grained (UFG) Ti–45 wt % Nb alloy after long-term thermal influence were presented in the paper. UFG structure in the alloy was formed with the severe plastic deformation (SPD) method. It was proved that the SPD method including the multiple abc-pressing and multi-pass rolling and further pre-recrystallizing annealing enhances the formation of UFG structures with the mean element size of 0.25 µm. Samples of Ti–45 wt % Nb alloy in UFG state were annealed at 350 and 400°C during 1, 5, 10, 24, 120, 240 and 360 hours. It was shown that the UFG structure was stable after annealing at 350 and 400°C as a result of thermal influence within the time range up to 360 hours. Stability of mechanical properties depended on the temperature and duration of annealing, i.e. microhardness of 3200 MPa was remained during 120 hours of annealing at 350°C, while microhardness of 3000 MPa was remained during 10 hours of annealing at 400°C.

CoCrMo alloys are very prospective in aerospace, medicine and other applications. Powder bed laser fusion (PBLF) allows to form the structure, phase and elemental compositions, physical and mechanical properties, which could not be achieved with conventional production methods. PBLF specimens were produced from spherical commercial and mechanically alloyed powders. Results of structure, phase and elemental compositions studies and microhardness’ measurements are represented.

Influence of Fe-Si-Al-C alloy cooling rate on its phase composition, structure and microhardness is shown based on metallographic investigations, electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction analysis. It was determined that the structure will change from dendrite to grained, size of structure elements will decrease, quantity and size of secondary phases precipitations will decrease when cooling rate changes from 103 to 107 K/s. The metastable phases such as primary ferrite, austenite and complex carbides are formed in cooling rate range. The volume ratio of main phases changes in favor of primary ferrite with cooling rate increasing. Hardening of the material occurs more than twice. Hardening is due to the interaction of solid-solution hardening, grain boundary hardening and dispersive hardening by secondary phases particles. The maximum hardening is achieved during formation of the alloy in molten pool at electron-beam melting. The alloy in this case contains 80 vol. % of austenite with dendrite similar structure and precipitations of carbide and silicocarbide phases. It can be assumed than such structure will be formed from the alloy with investigated composition at additive manufacturing.

The changes of the phase composition, structure and physicomechanical properties of Ti‑40 mas % Nb after severe plastic deformation are investigated in this paper. By the methods of microstructural, X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy it is determined that phase and structural transformations occur simultaneously in the alloy after severe plastic deformation. The martensitic structure formed after tempering disappears. The inverse α'' → β transformation occurs. The structure consisting of oriented refined grains is formed. The alloy is hardened due to the cold working. The Young modulus is equal to 79 GPa and it is less than that of initial alloy and close to the value obtained after tempering. It is possible that Young modulus is reduced by additional annealing.

The phase transformations of the alloy Ti-40 mas % Nb after tempering and severe plastic deformation are studied. The phase transformations of the alloy according to the type and conditions of external influences are analyzed using methods of XRD, SEM and optical metallography. It is determined that inverse phase transformation of the metastable α''-phase to equilibrium β-phase is carried out after severe plastic deformation. Complete phase transformation α'' → β is typical for the mode, which consists of three pressing operation with the change of the loading axis in cramped conditions, followed by a multi-pass rolling in grooved rolls.

The results of investigation of the structure, physical and mechanical properties of the Ti-Nb alloy ingots with different composition obtained by arc melting are presented. X-ray diffraction and microstructural analyses were used. Microhardness was measured and the Young’s modulus of the alloys was evaluated. When the content of niobium in the alloy changes from 10 to 40 mass.%, phase composition of the alloy varies from α-and α'-phase (10 mass.% of Nb) to α'-, α''- and β-phases (25 mass.% of Nb), to the β-phase (40 mass.% of Nb). The alloy containing 40 mass.% Nb has the lowest Young’s modulus.

By the results of X-ray analysis, microstructural analysis, nanohardness and elastic modulus measurements it was defined that non-equilibrium phases during the process of crystallization are formed in the titanium-niobium alloy with 40wt.% of Nb. The minimum of non-equilibrium phases is formed at the Ti-40wt.% Nb alloy. The uniform grain structure, which consists of β-phase grains with the minimum of elastic modulus, is formed in the alloy ingot. Such structure and complex of properties allows using this alloy for severe plastic deformation.

It was determined that there is components segregation in Ti-Nb alloy under electro arc melting and selective laser melting. It leads to two phase formation. The [beta]-phase forms in the areas enriched in Nb. [alpha]”-phase forms in the Nb-depleted areas. It is recommended to increase the Nb concentration in the alloy up to 45 wt. % to eliminate heterogeneity of phase and elemental composition.

The production of parts by selective electron beam melting (SEBM) is accompanied by the formation of nonequilibrium structures. This is caused by the crystallization of alloys with high cooling rates. To evaluate the influence of cooling rate on the process of structural and phase transformations in the Fe-8Si-5Al-2C alloy, the electron beam melting of plasma coating was carried out. The dendritic structure was formed in the molten pool. The distance between dendritic branches of the second order was 2–5 µm. This corresponds to the cooling rate of about 103 K/s. The electron microscopy has shown that dendrites were formed by α-phase, while γ-phase was localized between α-phase crystals in form of intercalations. The secondary phases (intermetallic, aluminum and iron carbosilicides, aluminates and iron carboaluminates) are of sub-micron size and located in the α- and γ-phase boundary intersections or within the grains of the main phase. The microhardness of the alloy increases twofold. This suggests that c...

The structure of Ti-40Nb alloy prototype obtained by selective laser melting (SLM) on “VARISKAF 100MV” installation was considered by the methods of optical metallography, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It was revealed that the most of the specimens’ surface is uniform flowed surface with typical banded structure formed by laying-on molten pools. The process of the individual layer formation was followed by drop formation. This leads to the porosity formation on the specimen’s surface. The structure of entire specimen is not homogeneous throughout the transverse section. The porosity of three kinds is observed. They are cavities of not full contact and melting of the layers, drawholes, gas pores. The porosity optimization requires more careful SLM modes selection. The alloy has a grain structure with anisotropy from small (2–8 µm) to medium (8–20 µm) grain size. The anisotropy of the specimen is formed in each layer and is retained during building of the specimen. The grains of microstruct...