Study of Fatigue and Fracture Behavior of Cr-Based Alloys and Intermetallic Materials

Abstract

hThe microhardness, and tensile and fracture-toughness properties of drop-cast and directionally-solidified Cr-9.25 at.% (atomic percent) Ta alloys have been investigated.Directional solidification was found to soften the alloy, which could be related to the development of equilibrium and aligned microstructures. It was observed that the tensile properties of the Cr-Ta alloys at room and elevated temperatures could be improved by obtaining aligned microstructures. The directionally-solidified alloy also showed increased fracture toughness at room temperature. This trend is mainly associated with crack deflection and the formation of shear ribs in the samples with aligned microstructures. The sample with better-aligned lamellar exhibits greater fracture toughness.