ABSTRACT
Current practice in the manufacture of Co-Cr-Mo alloy total hip prostheses is the use of a solution treatment to increase the ductility of the as-cast alloy. This study is concerned with the reactions encountered during solution treatment at temperatures between 1165-1270 degrees C. These reactions, including incipient melting, a carbide transformation from M23C6 to M6C and sigma-phase formation, have been examined using both qualitative and quantitative metallographic techniques, and are shown to influence the production of a single phase microstructure. As a result, an optimum temperature for solution treatment of 1220 degrees C has been determined. It is further proposed that a reduction in the carbon content of this alloy would improve its solution treatment behavior.
