The effect of various alloy preheatings followed by full solid solution treatments on the resultant strength and ductility of as-cast Co-Cr-Mo-C alloys was investigated. Three preheating temperatures were evaluated: 815 ЊC, 950 ЊC, and 1100 ЊC for 4 hours and then solid solution treated at 1225 ЊC for 4 hours. Tensile and compressive tests were carried out on the heat-treated alloys. It was found that the strength and ductility of the heat-treated alloys exhibited significant improvements over the as-cast condition. In particular, optimum ductility of the heat-treated alloys and alloy strength were promoted by preheating at 815 ЊC. A relatively fine grained structure coupled with a uniform distribution of second-phase particles promoted homogeneous plastic deformation in the bulk. Fractographic observations indicated that the exhibited ductility was associated with the development of numerous plastic bands combined with band interlockings. Alloy preheats at 950 ЊC and 1100 ЊC prior to solutionizing lead to inferior strength and ductility. Although preheating at 1100 ЊC led to slight improvements, in both cases, the fracture path was dominated by the presence of continuous carbide films surrounding the dendritic grains. Hence, less than optimum combinations of strength and ductility were achieved by the heat treatments at the higher temperatures.

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This work reports the influence of microstructure on the electrochemical efficiency of Al- alloys to be used as sacrificial anodes. The microstructure of as-cast Al-ingots was characterized by X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscope (equipped with WDS microanalysis facilities). The electrochemical behavior was investigated in 3% NaCl solution simulating sea water at room temperature. Regarding microstructure, X-ray diffractometry detected the presence of the α-Al phase, and the τ-Al2Mg3Zn3, Mg7Zn3 and δ-AlLi precipitates. SEM observations confirmed the presence of α-Al dendrites with τ-Al2Mg3Zn3 and Mg7Zn3 particles in matrix. In interdendritic regions, it was observed the presence of the eutectic α-Al + τ-Al2Mg3Zn3 plus some primary Mg7Zn3 particles. δ-AlLi particles were identified at this step only by X-ray diffractometry. Finally, it was detected that an uniform distribution of precipitates in the α-Al dendrites together with an uniform distribution of a fine eutectic gave as a result in as-cast ingots an electrochemical efficiency up to 61.4 %.

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