Effect of broaching on high-temperature fatigue behavior in notched specimens of INCONEL 718
Notches were machined in specimens of INCONEL 718 by a broaching process, where differing broaching runs led to differing extents of subsurface deformation and surface roughness. Fatigue tests were carried out at 600 °C with a trapezoidal loading waveform at 0.25 Hz. The broaching process that led to the more severe subsurface deformation (but lower surface roughness) showed the worst fatigue performance. Analysis of total strain amplitude in the notch root with the aid of an elastoplastic finite-element (FE) model showed that the work hardening related to the subsurface deformation caused by the different broaching can account for the difference in fatigue lives. Differences in initiation and growth behavior were seen for the two broached finishes as well as for broached and subsequently polished samples. These differences are discussed in terms of a change in crack growth initiation and growth mechanisms due to the presence of the work-hardened layer.
Inclusion size effect on the fatigue crack propagation mechanism and fracture mechanics of a superalloy
Low cycle fatigue life of nickel-base superalloys is enhanced as a consequence of inclusion reduction in the melt process; however, the functional dependencies between fatigue characteristics and inclusions have not been well investigated. In this study, the propagation mechanism of the fatigue crack initiated from inclusions is examined in fine-grained IN718, which is a representative turbine disc material for jet engines. There is a faceted-striated crack transition on the fracture surfaces. This faceted-striated transition also appears in theda/dN vs crack length curves. It is observed that the faceted crack propagation time can be more than 50 pct of total lifetime in the low cycle fatigue test. The significance of inclusion size effect is explained on the premise that the faceted fatigue crack propagation time scales with the inclusion size, which is taken as the initial crack length. A predictive protocol for determining inclusion size effect is given.
Brushite-collagen composites for bone regeneration.
Brushite-based biomaterials are of special interest in bone regeneration due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability; on the other hand, collagen is a well-known osteoconductive biomaterial. In the present study a new brushite-collagen composite biomaterial is reported. This new biomaterial was prepared by combining citric acid/collagen type I solutions with a brushite cement powder. The obtained biomaterial was a cement paste, with improved handling properties. The effect of collagen on the setting reaction of brushite cement was studied, and was found to speed up the cement setting reaction. The cement paste set into a hard ceramic material within 18.5+/-2.1min and had compressive strength similar to that of spongeous bone (48.9+/-5.9MPa in dry conditions and 12.7+/-1.5MPa in humid conditions). The combination of collagen with citric acid revealed an interesting synergistic effect on the compressive strength of the composite material. Moreover, this new biomaterial had excellent cohesion properties (ninefold better than brushite cement), and high cellular adhesion capacity (threefold higher than brushite cement). The composite biomaterial described in this study combines good handling properties, compressive strength, cohesion and cell adhesion capacity, along with the osteoconductive and biodegradable properties inherent in brushite and in collagen-based biomaterials.