19 research outputs found
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Comparison of Microstructures and Mechanical Properties for Solid Cobalt-Base Alloy Components and Biomedical Implant Prototypes Fabricated by Electron Beam Melting
The microstructures and mechanical behavior of simple, as-fabricated, solid
geometries (with a density of 8.4 g/cm3), as-fabricated and fabricated and annealed
femoral (knee) prototypes all produced by additive manufacturing (AM) using electron
beam melting (EBM) of Co-26Cr-6Mo-0.2C powder are examined and compared in this
study. Microstructures and microstructural issues are examined by optical metallography,
SEM, TEM, EDS, and XRD while mechanical properties included selective specimen
tensile testing and Vickers microindentation (HV) and Rockwell C-scale (HRC) hardness
measurements. Orthogonal (X-Y) melt scanning of the electron beam during AM
produced unique, orthogonal and related Cr23C6 carbide (precipitate) cellular arrays with
dimensions of ~2ÎŒm in the build plane perpendicular to the build direction, while
connected carbide columns were formed in the vertical plane, parallel to the build
direction.Mechanical Engineerin
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Effect of Build Parameters and Build Geometries on Residual Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Ti-6Al-4V Components Built by Electron Beam Melting (EBM)
In this study, involving additive manufacturing (AM) using electron beam melting (EBM), we
have examined build defects which result from beam tripping, porosities (including unmelted or
unsintered zones) due to excursions from optimal build parameters (especially variations in melt
scan beam current and scan speed), and gas bubbles trapped in atomized Ti-6Al-4V starting
powder as well as recycled powder, and retained in the build. At optimized build conditions we
have also examined microstructure-mechanical property (hardness, tensile strength, and
elongation) variations for multiple rake building and multiple melt scans using optical
metallography and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). These
build variances cause cooling rate variances which promote α-phase growth and variations in
dislocation density, as well as α-to-α' (martensite) phase changes, all of which produce some
degree of mechanical property variations. These features (especially α-to-α' phase changes) are
notable on comparing solid builds in comparison with a variety of mesh arrays where strut
dimension and build-element complexities alter the cooling rates in a significant way. We
illustrate these microstructure variations with corresponding variations in microindentation
hardness measurements made directly on fine mesh (strut) structures. Finally, we have examined
Ti-6Al-4V powder chemistries and solid build chemistries which for single-pass melt scans at
optimized build conditions are shown to be relatively constant up to 40 cycles of powder reuse
with the exception of Al content which was reduced by 10 to 15% in solid builds at optimized
conditions. However, Al loss in solid builds approached 25% for multiple (2 and 3) melt scans,
while no changes in Ar gas-bubble density were observed with changes in α-phase (grain) width
which increased from 3 ”m for a single melt scan to 4.5 and 6 ”m for 2 and 3 melt scans,
respectively. Corresponding Rockwell C-scale (HRC) hardness varied from 37, 36, and 35,
respectively; with ultimate tensile strengths exceeding 1.2 GPa at elongations of 12% or higher
for this melt scan sequence.Mechanical Engineerin
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Microstructure Architecture Development in Metals and Alloys By Additive Manufacturing Using Electron Beam Melting
The concept of materials with controlled microstructural architecture (MCMA) to
develop and fabricate structural materials with novel and possibly superior properties and
performance characteristics is a new paradigm or paradigm extension for materials science and
engineering. In the conventional materials science and engineering paradigm, structure
(microstructure), properties, processing, and performance features are linked in the development
of desirable materials properties and performance through processing methodologies which
manipulate microstructures. For many metal or alloy systems, thermomechanical treatment
combining controlled amounts of plastic deformation with heat treatment or aging cycles can
achieve improved mechanical properties beyond those attainable by conventional processing
alone (such as rolling or forging for example) through controlled microstructure development. In
this paper we illustrate a new concept involving the fabrication of microstructural architectures
by the process development and selective manipulation of these microstructures ideally defining
material design space. This allows for the additional or independent manipulation of material
properties by additive manufacturing (AM) using electron beam melting (EBM). Specifically we
demonstrate the novel development of a carbide (M23C6) architecture in the AM of a Co-base
alloy and an oxide (Cu2O) precipitate-dislocation architecture in the AM of an oxygen-containing Cu. While more conventional processing can produce various precipitate
microstructures in these materials, EBM produces spatial arrays of precipitate columns or
columnar-like features often oriented in the build direction. These microstructural architectures
are observed by optical microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy.
Prospects for EBM architecture development in precipitation-hardenable Al alloys is also
discussed. In the EBM build process using precursor powders, the electron beam parameters
(including beam focus, scan speed and sequencing) produce localized, requisite thermodynamic
regimes which create or organize the precipitate-related spatial arrays. This feature demonstrates
the utility of AM not only in the fabrication of complex components, but also prospects for
selective property design using CAD for MCMA development: a new or extended processing-microstructure-property-performance paradigm for materials science and engineering in
advanced manufacturing involving solid free-form fabrication (SFF).Mechanical Engineerin
Influence of the length of hospitalisation in post-discharge outcomes in patients with acute heart failure: Results of the LOHRCA study
Objective: To investigate the relationship between length of hospitalisation (LOH) and post-discharge outcomes in acute heart failure (AHF) patients and to ascertain whether there are different patterns according to department of initial hospitalisation.
Methods: Consecutive AHF patients hospitalised in 41 Spanish centres were grouped based on the LOH (15 days). Outcomes were defined as 90-day post-discharge all-cause mortality, AHF readmissions, and the combination of both. Hazard ratios (HRs), adjusted by chronic conditions and severity of decompensation, were calculated for groups with LOH >6 days vs. LOH <6 days (reference), and stratified by hospitalisation in cardiology, internal medicine, geriatrics, or short-stay units.
Results: We included 8563 patients (mean age: 80 (SD = 10) years, 55.5% women), with a median LOH of 7 days (IQR 4â11): 2934 (34.3%) had a LOH 15 days. The 90-day post-discharge mortality was 11.4%, readmission 32.2%, and combined endpoint 37.4%. Mortality was increased by 36.5% (95%CI = 13.0â64.9) when LOH was 11â15 days, and by 72.0% (95%CI = 42.6â107.5) when >15 days. Conversely, no differences were found in readmission risk, and the combined endpoint only increased 21.6% (95%CI = 8.4â36.4) for LOH >15 days. Stratified analysis by hospitalisation departments rendered similar post-discharge outcomes, with all exhibiting increased mortality for LOH >15 days and no significant increments in readmission risk.
Conclusions: Short hospitalisations are not associated with worse outcomes. While post-discharge readmissions are not affected by LOH, mortality risk increases as the LOH lengthens. These findings were similar across hospitalisation departments
International nosocomial infection control consortium (INICC) report, data summary of 36 countries, for 2004-2009
The results of a surveillance study conducted by the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) from January 2004 through December 2009 in 422 intensive care units (ICUs) of 36 countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe are reported. During the 6-year study period, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN; formerly the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance system [NNIS]) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infections, we gathered prospective data from 313,008 patients hospitalized in the consortium's ICUs for an aggregate of 2,194,897 ICU bed-days. Despite the fact that the use of devices in the developing countries' ICUs was remarkably similar to that reported in US ICUs in the CDC's NHSN, rates of device-associated nosocomial infection were significantly higher in the ICUs of the INICC hospitals; the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection in the INICC ICUs of 6.8 per 1,000 central line-days was more than 3-fold higher than the 2.0 per 1,000 central line-days reported in comparable US ICUs. The overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia also was far higher (15.8 vs 3.3 per 1,000 ventilator-days), as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (6.3 vs. 3.3 per 1,000 catheter-days). Notably, the frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates to imipenem (47.2% vs 23.0%), Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (76.3% vs 27.1%), Escherichia coli isolates to ceftazidime (66.7% vs 8.1%), Staphylococcus aureus isolates to methicillin (84.4% vs 56.8%), were also higher in the consortium's ICUs, and the crude unadjusted excess mortalities of device-related infections ranged from 7.3% (for catheter-associated urinary tract infection) to 15.2% (for ventilator-associated pneumonia). Copyright © 2012 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
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Automatic Layerwise Acquisition of Thermal and Geometric Data of the Electron Beam Melting Process using Infrared Thermography
Layerwise monitoring has become an area of interest in the field of additive
manufacturing because of potential to further enable part qualification during every stage of
fabrication. Spatial monitoring and qualification during part fabrication has never before been
possible with traditional manufacturing processes such as milling or casting. An IR camera has
been externally annexed atop an EBM system to obtain layerwise thermographs throughout the
fabrication process. This paper demonstrates a process to compare each layer of fabrication using
automatically acquired thermal images to the corresponding CAD file for each fabricated object.
Two different methods of image analysis for part detection were compared (analysis on the basis
of color and analysis by edge detection). Detection allowed the quantification of processing
information (average temperature and surface anomalies) and geometric information (surface
area and perimeter). A percent error of the compared surface area was found to range from 5%-
17%, and automatically acquired temperature measurements were within 7.8K of the recorded
thermograph. The methods presented in this research showcase the beginning steps of integrated
metrology in advanced manufacturing systems and automatic monitoring of per-part thermal
behavior and part quality.Mechanical Engineerin
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EBM Fabrication and Characterization of High Purity Niobium for Superconductor Applications
Superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities are used to accelerate charged particles
to near the speed of light for elemental studies. Currently, SRF cavities are typically fabricated
using different forming processes including deep-drawing and spinning to mechanically shape
niobium into the desired geometry. This research presents the development of processing
parameters for high purity niobium (powder size range of 25-125ÎŒm) using electron beam
melting additive manufacturing technology. Fabrication parameters were improved to obtain
dense parts in a time-efficient manner. A specific procedure was used to maintain powder
purity, and powder chemistry was monitored at different stages of fabrication. In addition, a
series of experiments were performed to obtain 99.9% dense parts and a maximum building
height of ~85mm.Mechanical Engineerin