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Neutron investigation of Nitinol stents and massive samples before and after PIRAC coating
Rogante, M. ; Buhagiar, J. ; Cassar, G. ; Debono, M. ; Lebedev, V. ; Mikula, Pavol ; Ryukhtin, Vasil
Nitinol, a thermoelastic Ni-Ti Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) with approximately 50 at. % Ti, is adopted in a wide range of medical equipment and devices used in interventional radiology, orthopaedics, neurology and cardiology, in particular as a smart material for stents. In this work, NiTi real stents and massive samples before and after different Powder Immersion Reaction Assisted Coating (PIRAC) treatments have been investigated by using two neutron techniques: (1) Small and Ultra-Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS, USANS) for nano- and micro-scale characterization, obtaining information on structure and the effects due to the coating treatment, and (2) High-Resolution Neutron Diffraction (HRND), evaluating the macrostrain components resulting from angular shifts of diffraction peaks and the micro-strains in the plastically deformation region by means of profile-broadening analysis. The obtained results contribute: improving knowledge of defects and other key features of the materials complementary to those achieved by using traditional examination techniques. helping to better understand the functional characteristics of Nitinol parts and predict the material's mechanical behaviour.
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On a possible use of neutron three axis diffractometer for studies of elastic and plastic deformation of polycrystalline materials
Mikula, Pavol ; Ryukhtin, Vasil ; Rogante, M.
Feasibility of using a high-resolution three axis neutron diffractometer performance for elastic and plastic deformation studies of metallic polycrystalline samples is presented. The method consists of unconventional set up employing bent perfect crystal (BPC) monochromator and analyzer with a polycrystalline sample in between. After the realization of focusing conditions in real and momentum space at the neutron wavelength of 0.162 nm, a high angular resolution up to FWHM(d/d)=2x10-3 was achieved on the standard Fe(110) sample (2 mm diameter) which then opened the possibility for the measurements of small lattice parameter changes of samples. The feasibility of the instrument for macro-and microstrain as well as grain size studies is demonstrated on the polycrystalline samples of low carbon shear deformed steel wires and the NiTi plates subjected to heat treatment.
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Residual stress determination by neutron diffraction in low-carbon steel wires with accumulated shear deformation
Rogante, M. ; Mikula, Pavol ; Strunz, Pavel ; Zavdoveev, A.
Modern methods of severe plastic deformation (SPD) currently allow obtaining the ultrafine-grained (UFG) structure nearly in any material. In the manufacturing process of wire with UFG structure, a main restriction is the continuous drawing scheme in which this process occurs, thus it is important to consider the factors affecting the drawing efficiency. Despite the data on SPD steels such as strength, plasticity and conductivity, obtained by classical methodologies, further investigations are needed: a key information is the residual stresses (RS) status, and RS determination is an essential issue to improve knowledge of SPD effects. In this work, 15 wires samples made of low-alloyed quality structural steel Grade 08G2S GOST 1050 with accumulated shear deformation - as result of rolling with shear of the metal ingot and conventional wire drawing - have been investigated by neutron diffraction (ND). Results provide substantial data helping to evaluate the effect of shear deformation on RS of the considered steel, as well as additional support to complement the information already achieved by using the other characterization methodologies. Knowledge of the RS status can help developing a lowcarbon wire drawing technology with needed manufacturability and efficiency, playing a decisive role in the debugging of material selection and engineering design requirements.
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On the scientific utilisation of low power research reactors
Mikula, Pavol ; Strunz, Pavel
In our contribution we focus our attention on the scientific utilisation of the beam tubes at the low power research reactor LVR-15. Namely, it will be reported about the neutron scattering instrumentation development and the educational possibilities at the low power neutron sources. The feasibility of carrying out the methodology and instrumental development research at the low power neutron sources will be demonstrated on designs of several high resolution and good luminosity neutron scattering instruments exploiting Bragg diffraction optics. Some of them have been already realized e.g. for small angle neutron scattering studies or residual strain/stress measurements. As the mentioned instrumental development and testing can be carried out at the low power neutron sources, due to the much lower safety requirements in comparison with the medium and high flux sources, they offer excellent educational and training programmes in neutron scattering or imaging for students.
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Influence of Plastic Deformation on the Residual Stress Distribution and Fatigue Behaviour of High Strength Steels Welds
Mráz, Ľ. ; Karlsson, L. ; Hamak, I. ; Mikula, Pavol ; Vrána, Miroslav
The effects of plastic deformation and cyclic loading on residual stress distribution have been studied at welds in high strength 800 MPa steel. Effects of residual stress levels on fatigue life are also presented. Tensile loading was used to induce precisely controlled plastic deformation at weld toes. Residual stress distributions were measured by neutron diffraction. The influence of fatigue loading on the residual stress level was much smaller than that of plastic deformation. A large drop of residual stresses in the vicinity of the welds was recognised after local straining at the level of 2%. Stresses decreased with up to 550 MPa in the region around the weld toe. The effect of local plastic deformation on fatigue properties was also found to be significant. Fatigue strength more than doubled compared to the non-strained as-welded condition.
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Neutron diffraction analysis of residual strain/stress distribution in the vicinity of high strength welds
Mráz, Ľ. ; Karlsson, L. ; Hamak, I. ; Vrána, Miroslav ; Mikula, Pavol
Residual stresses resulting from non homogeneous heat distribution during welding process belong to most significant factor influencing behavior of welded structures. These stresses are responsible for defect occurrence during welding and they are also responsible for crack initiation and propagation at the either static or dynamic load. The significant effect of weld metal chemical composition as well as the effect of fatigue load and local plastic deformation on residual stress distribution and fatigue life have been recognized for high strength steels welds. The changes in residual stress distribution have then positive effect on cold cracking behavior and also on fatigue properties of the welds [1-3]. Several experimental methods, both destructive and non-destructive, such as hole drilling method, X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction and others, have been used to examine residual stress distribution in all three significant orientations in the vicinity of the welds. The present contribution summarizes the results of neutron diffraction measurements of residual stress distribution in the vicinity of single-pass high-strength-steel welds having different chemical composition as well as the influence of fatigue load and local plastic deformation. It has been observed that the chemical composition of the weld metal has a significant influence on the stress distribution around the weld. Similarly, by aplying both cyclic load or pre-stress load on the specimens, stress relaxation was observed even in the region of approximately 40 mm far from the weld toe.
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