Effect of sigma phase in Co-29Cr-6Mo alloy on corrosion and mechanical properties

Effect of the sigma (a) phase in Co-29Cr-6Mo alloy on corrosion and mechanical behavior has been investigated. The area fraction of the a phase varies depending on the aging time at 1023 K. The area fraction of the sigma phase increases with increasing aging time and reaches 0.6 % after aging at 1023 K for 21.6 ks. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) analysis revealed the quantity of released Co ion shows almost the same values regardless of different area fraction of the a phase. In addition, plastic elongation and 0.2% proof strength exhibit almost the same values, although the alloys have different area fraction of the a phase. These results suggest that a small amount of the a phase (<0.6%) hardly affect the corrosion and mechanical properties in the Co-29Cr-6Mo alloy.