Changes in microstructure of biomedical Co-Cr-Mo-C alloys with solution treating and aging

Microstructural changes occurring in biomedical Co-Cr-Mo alloys with three carbon levels due to solution treatment and aging were investigated. Ingots of Co-Cr-Mo alloys with three different carbon levels were prepared by vacuum furnace melting; their chemical composition was Co-28Cr-6Mo-xC (x = 0.12, 0.25 and 0.35 mass%). Precipitates were electrolytically extracted from as-cast and heat-treated alloys. An M₂₃C₆ type carbide and a σ s phase were detected as precipitates in as-cast Co-28Cr-6Mo-0.12C alloy, and an M₂₃C₆ type carbide and an η phase (M ₆C-M₁₂C type carbide) were detected in as-cast Co-28Cr-6Mo-0.25C and Co-28Cr-6Mo-0.35C alloys. Only the M₂₃C ₆ type carbide was detected during solution treatment. Complete precipitate dissolution occurred in all the three alloys after solution treatment. The holding time required for complete precipitate dissolution increased with increasing carbon content and decreasing solution treatment temperature. Complete precipitate dissolution occurred in the Co-Cr-Mo-C alloys solution treated at 1523 K for 43.2 ks; they were then subjected to aging from 873 to 1473 K for a heating time up to 44.1 ks after complete precipitate dissolution in solution treatment at 1523 K for 43.2 ks. The M ₂₃C₆ type carbide with a grain size of 0.1-3 μm was observed after aging. A time-temperature-precipitation diagram of the M ₂₃C₆ type carbide formed in the Co-28Cr-6Mo-0.25C alloy was plotted.