The paper describes cast cobalt alloy after thermal processing -recrystallizing annealing in 1173 ÷ 1473 K temperature range. The aim of processing was to decrease the percentage of the dendritic structure and obtain crystalline structure. The foundations of thermal processing considered the diffusion phenomenon, its parameters were determined analytically. Further, the detailed parameters of processing, results of microstructural analysis, as well as phase diffractometry, full microanalysis of chemical composition and hardness measurements are presented.
INTRODUCTIONCobalt-based alloys are a group of metallic materials suitable for products for reconstructive surgery. They are characterized by a greater passivation potential in physiological solutions. Mechanical properties and corrosion resistance is determined by the chemical composition and structure depending on the type of technology and manufacturing conditions [1,2]. In this respect, cobalt alloys can be divided into casting and wrought alloys.The main alloying elements include chromium, the concentration of which varies within 18 ÷ 30%, molybdenum in the range from 2.5 to 9%, and nickel with concentration in the range of 15 to 35%. Wrought alloys also have tungsten in an amount of 3 ÷ 8.8%. Cobalt also include coal whose maximum concentration is in the range of 0.05 ÷ 0.35%.The basic element which undergoes segregation is chromium, the concentration of which varies in the range 19 ÷ 35%. Molybdenum is segregated to a lesser extent with concentration changing within the range of 4 to 6%.The most commonly used cobalt alloy is Vitalism type Co-Cr-Mo casting alloy. The matrix of the Co-Cr-Mo cast alloy is made of crystallites of the solid solution of chromium, molybdenum and carbon in β-Co with A1 network. Within crystallites, there are strong dendritic micro segregation and in the interdendritic areas and along the crystallite borders there are primary separations of a continuous nature. The heat treatment of cast alloys is used to improve the mechanical and fatigue properties; the results strongly depend on the modification of the chemical composition and metallurgical quality of the casting [3].The alloys of this type do not include iron or tungsten, the stabilizing additive is niobium. Excluding the iron from the alloy composition increases resistance to corrosion. Another factor that increases resistance, especially to pitting and intergranular corrosion, is lower carbon content, which in the presence of carbide forming alloying elements causes the formation of unfavourable M23C6 carbides in the alloys [3,4]. The allotropic transformation α -Co <=> β -Co is the most important from the point of view of biomaterials.Changing the structure from A1 (β -Co) to A3 (α -Co) can be made by forming a stacking fault on every other plane {111} in A1 network [4,5]. As a result, the sequence of the planes changes from ABCABC the ABAB planes (0001). Such a sequence alteration may be formed by the movement of Shockley partial dislocation with Burgers vector 21...