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The effect of boron on the refinement of microstructure in cast cobalt alloys

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Abstract

Controlling the grain size and morphology of cast cobalt-based components is important for optimizing a component’s in-service properties. This work investigates the role of boron on the grain size of binary cobalt–boron alloys by application of contemporary grain refinement theory. Boron solute is found to refine the width of the columnar grains but fails to promote the columnar to equiaxed transition. The lack of equiaxed grains is attributed to the thermal solidification conditions and a lack of potent nucleant particles. The refinement of the columnar grains with boron solute may be due to a growth restriction mechanism.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC), the CAST Cooperative Research Centre, and the Queensland Centre of Advanced Materials Processing and Manufacturing (AMPAM) for financial support and permission to publish this work. The DMTC was established and is supported under the Australian Government’s Defence Future Capability Technology Centres Programme. The CAST Cooperative Research Centre was established and is supported under the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Programme. AMPAM was established and is supported by the Queensland Government’s Smart State Innovation Building Fund. The authors also thank Mr. Oliver Thomas for his assistance during experimentation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Defence Material Technology Centre, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia

    Michael J. Bermingham, Stuart D. McDonald, David H. StJohn & Matthew S. Dargusch

  2. Centre for Advanced Materials Processing and Manufacturing, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia

    Michael J. Bermingham, Stuart D. McDonald, David H. StJohn & Matthew S. Dargusch

  3. CAST Cooperative Research Centre, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia

    Stuart D. McDonald, David H. StJohn & Matthew S. Dargusch

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  1. Michael J. Bermingham
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  2. Stuart D. McDonald
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  4. Matthew S. Dargusch
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Correspondence to Michael J. Bermingham.

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Bermingham, M.J., McDonald, S.D., StJohn, D.H. et al. The effect of boron on the refinement of microstructure in cast cobalt alloys. Journal of Materials Research 26, 951–956 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2011.21

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