The Effect of Cobalt on the Deformation Behaviour of a Porous TiNi-Based Alloy Obtained by Sintering

Abstract

This research investigates the effect of cobalt on the deformation behaviour of a porous TiNi-based alloy that was obtained by sintering. Porous TiNi-based alloys with cobalt additives, accounting for 0–2 at. % and with a pitch of 0.5, were obtained. The structural-phase state of the porous material was researched by X-ray structural analysis. The effect of different amounts of Co (used as an alloying additive) on the deformation behaviour was investigated by tensile to fracture. The fractograms of fracture of the experimental samples were analysed using scanning electron microscopy. For the first time, the present research shows a diagram of the deformation of a porous TiNi-based alloy that was obtained by sintering under tensile. The stages of deformation were described according to the physical nature of the processes taking place. The effect of the cobalt-alloying additive on the change in the critical stress of martensitic shear was investigated. It was found that the behaviour of the concentration dependency of stress at concentrations under 1.5 at. % Co was determined by an increase in the stress in the TiNi solid solution. This phenomenon is attributed to the arrangement of Co atoms on the Ti sublattice, as well as an increase in the fraction of the B19′ phase in the matrix. The steep rise of the developed forces on the concentration dependency of the martensitic shear stress at 2 at. % Co is presumably attributed to the precipitation hardening of austenite due to the precipitation of finely dispersed coherent Ti3Ni4 phase following the decrease of fraction of martensite. An analysis of fractograms showed that as more cobalt was added, areas of fracture with traces of martensite plates of the B19′ phase started to prevail. At 2 at. % Co these plates fill almost the entire area of the fracture. The research findings presented in this work are of great importance, since they can be used to achieve the set of physical and mechanical properties required for the development of biocompatible materials for implantology.