Detection of Ni–Sn phases in temper embrittled Ni–Cr steels
A GENERIC problem in ferritic steels is the reduction in the grain boundary cohesive strength produced by the segregation of trace impurities of Groups IVB and VB of the Periodic Table. Such segregation results in a deterioration in mechanical properties produced, for example, by reversible temper embittlement1 and it also promotes enhanced susceptibility to a range of environmental enhanced cracking processes2–4. It has long been recognised that the embrittlement of steels is enhanced by the presence of certain alloy elements, that is Ni, Cr or Mn, and measurements using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES)5–7 have demonstrated that specific combinations of alloy and impurity elements cosegregate to the boundaries, for example, Ni+Sn, Ni+Sb, Cr+P. These observations can be rationalised using Guttmann's phenomenological theory8 which attributes the increased driving force for segregation to a positive interaction between alloy and impurity solute atoms. Previous investigations1,9–11 have failed to detect the presence of any three dimensional phase using conventional transmission electron microscopy and it is generally considered that the alloy element–trace impurity atoms form two dimensional phases at the boundaries. The only direct evidence for such alloy–impurity interactions and phase formation has been obtained using Mössbauer spectroscopy12,13 but it is not possible using this technique to draw any positive conclusions regarding the location of such compounds. Measurements on a pure Fe-3.5 wt% Ni alloy doped with 119Sn12 showed that Ni atoms associate preferentially with Sn atoms during tempering at 650°C and the marked change in the spectrum observed on ageing at 500°C, within the embrittling temperature range, is consistent with the formation of a Ni–Sn compound (Ni3Sn2 or Ni3Sn4). We report here some initial results from a detailed electron microscopic analysis of the microstructures of a commercial (En30A) Ni–Cr steel and a special laboratory made steel (BE 10) having similar Ni and Cr contents, but doped specifically with tin. The composition of the two steels is presented in Table 1. Both steels were oil quenched from 950°C, tempered for 1 h at 650°C and aged at 500°C for times up to 5,000 h. Carbon extraction replicas, taken from polished surfaces were examined in a Philips EM400 microscope fitted with an energy dispersive X-ray system. Selected individual precipitate particles were analysed using convergent beam microdiffraction and X-ray analysis. Attention was focused on the particles which delineated the lath packet and previous austenite boundaries, that is, high-angle boundaries.
Temper embrittlement of low alloy NI-CR steels—I. The susceptibility to temper embrittlement and the influence of intermediate tempering treatments
Abstract A comprehensive study has been made of the temper embrittlement behaviour of Ni-Cr steels using a commercial low alloy steel (En30A) and a high purity Ni-Cr steel doped with 425 ppm Sn(BElO). The embrittlement was characterised as a function of intermediate tempering treatments at 650°C and subsequent ageing treatments within the temper embrittlement regime (350–575°C), with the ageing being studied up to long ageing times (10,000h). Complementary Auger Electron Spectroscopy studies identified the grain boundary segregation of Ni, Sn, P and Si, with the segregation being strongly dependent upon the bulk composition, intermediate tempering treatment and ageing time within the embrittling temperature regime. The results have important implications to the long term service behaviour of ferritic steel components in engineering plant operating at elevated temperatures.
Optimized Delivery System Achieves Enhanced Endomyocardial Stem Cell Retention
Background—Regenerative cell-based therapies are associated with limited myocardial retention of delivered stem cells. The objective of this study is to develop an endocardial delivery system for enhanced cell retention. Methods and Results—Stem cell retention was simulated in silico using 1- and 3-dimensional models of tissue distortion and compliance associated with delivery. Needle designs, predicted to be optimal, were accordingly engineered using nitinol, a nickel and titanium alloy displaying shape memory and superelasticity. Biocompatibility was tested with human mesenchymal stem cells. Experimental validation was performed with species-matched cells directly delivered into Langendorff-perfused porcine hearts or administered percutaneously into the endocardium of infarcted pigs. Cell retention was quantified by flow cytometry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction methodology. Models, computing optimal distribution of distortion calibrated to favor tissue compliance, predicted that a 75°-curved needle featuring small-to-large graded side holes would ensure the highest cell retention profile. In isolated hearts, the nitinol curved needle catheter (C-Cath) design ensured 3-fold superior stem cell retention compared with a standard needle. In the setting of chronic infarction, percutaneous delivery of stem cells with C-Cath yielded a 37.7±7.1% versus 10.0±2.8% retention achieved with a traditional needle without effect on biocompatibility or safety. Conclusions—Modeling-guided development of a nitinol-based curved needle delivery system with incremental side holes achieved enhanced myocardial stem cell retention.