Single crystal growth and its microstructure in Co-Cr-Mo alloys for biomedical applications

Co-Cr-Mo based alloys have been widely employed as heat resistant materials and as biomaterials for implants because of their high strength and superior wear resistance. In general, the alloys exhibit a very complicated composition-dependent microstructure containing stacking faults and related mechanical properties. Thus, the essential properties must be clarified by using not only polycrystals but also single crystals. To our knowledge, single crystals and related properties have not been reported elsewhere. Thus, Co-Cr-Mo single crystals were grown and used to analyze the microstructure and the related properties. Single crystals with a composition Co-27 mass% Cr-6 mass% Mo alloy defined by ASTM F75 were grown by two single crystal apparatuses: the optical floating zone and the Bridgman methods. The single crystals with the smooth-surface shape were successfully obtained in the Bridgman method under an Ar gas atmosphere at a crystal growth rate of 5.0 or 2.5 mm/h. A portion of the crystals contain Al as Al₂O₃ precipitates from the crucible. Since the Al₂O₃ precipitate induces martensitic phase transformation from fcc (?) phase to hcp (ε) phase, the single crystals were separated into two parts (a) containing Al₂O ₃ precipitate and (b) in the absence of the clear precipitate. The microstructure was significantly altered by the martensitic phase transformation from the ? to ε phase induced by stress field or heating. In addition, variant formation of ε phase has a large influence on the mechanical functions of these Co-Cr-Mo alloys. Novel findings were preliminary obtained in the single crystals.