| 1. |
- Darenberg, Jessica, et al.
(författare)
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Molecular and clinical characteristics of invasive group A streptococcal infection in Sweden
- 2007
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Ingår i: Clinical Infectious Diseases. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1537-6591 .- 1058-4838. ; 45:4, s. 8-450
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background. The incidence and severity of invasive group A streptococcal infection demonstrate great variability over time, which at least, in part, seems to be related to group A streptococcal type distribution among the human population. Methods. An enhanced surveillance study of invasive group A streptococcal infection (746 isolates) was performed in Sweden from April 2002 through December 2004. Noninvasive isolates from either the throat or skin (773 isolates) were collected in parallel for comparison. Clinical and epidemiological data were obtained from 88% of patients with invasive disease and were related to isolate characteristics, including T type, emm sequence type, and the presence of 9 superantigen genes, as well as pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern comparisons of selected isolates. Results. The annual incidence was 3.0 cases per 100,000 population. Among the patients with invasive disease, 11% developed streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, and 9.5% developed necrotizing fasciitis. The overall case-fatality rate was 14.5%, and 39% of the patients with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome died (P < .001). The T3/13/B3264 cluster accounted for 33% of invasive and 25% of noninvasive isolates. Among this most prevalent type cluster, emm types 89 and 81 dominated. Combined results from pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, emm typing, and superantigen gene profiling identified subgroups within specific emm types that are significantly more prone to cause invasive disease than were other isolates of the same type. Conclusions. This study revealed a changing epidemiology of invasive group A streptococcal infection in Sweden, with emergence of new emm types that were previously not described. The results also suggest that some clones may be particularly prone to cause invasive disease.
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| 2. |
- Eriksson, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Cleavage of antigen-bound immunoglobulin G by SpeB contributes to streptococcal persistence in opsonizing blood.
- 2003
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Ingår i: Infection and Immunity. - 0019-9567 .- 1098-5522. ; 71:1, s. 211-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Group A streptococci (GAS) express a superantigen, SpeB, having cysteine protease activity. SpeB exhibits several properties that might contribute to virulence, the most recently discovered being the ability to cleave immunoglobulin G (IgG) in a manner similar to that of papain. In the present study, we confirmed this latter finding and found that the irreversible inhibition of SpeB protease activity completely abolishes IgG cleavage. SpeB cleavage of IgG was not species restricted since SpeB cleaved both human, rabbit, and mouse IgG. In order to investigate the nature of the SpeB cleavage of IgG, antibodies were immobilized prior to exposure to SpeB, either by unspecific binding of the Fc to GAS surface proteins or by antigen-specific binding. Analysis of the IgG molecules by SDS-PAGE showed that SpeB could cleave antigen-bound antibodies, while the IgG bound to IgG-binding proteins was protected from cleavage. In a phagocytosis assay using whole blood, the M49 GAS strain NZ131 showed a significantly higher survival than its isogenic speB mutant. Furthermore, the addition of extracellular supernatant derived from an overnight culture of native NZ131 increased the survival of its isogenic speB derivative. This indicates that SpeB's ability to cleave off the Fc part of antigen-bound IgG contributes to GAS escape from opsonophagocytosis while not interfering with the formation of a host-like coat by unspecific IgG binding.
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| 3. |
- Eriksson, Björn K G, et al.
(författare)
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Group A streptococcal infections in Sweden : a comparative study of invasive and noninvasive infections and analysis of dominant T28 emm28 isolates.
- 2003
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Ingår i: Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1537-6591. ; 37:9, s. 1189-93
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Surveillance of group A streptococcus (GAS) infections in Sweden during 1996-1997 indicated that T28 isolates were dominant, whereas T1M1 infections were uncommon. Circulating T28 isolates were nearly all emm28, MLST52, and these clones had also been prevalent 10 years earlier. Isolates from invasive and noninvasive infections were of similar types and prevalences. The average national incidence of invasive episodes was 2.9/100,000 population but varied between 0 and 8.3/100,000 population in different counties. It increased markedly with age, reaching 22.9 episodes/100,000 among people aged > or =90 years. The incidence of puerperal sepsis was higher than expected (22.4/100,000 of those at risk), with 1 death. Overall mortality was 16% and was associated with preexisting chronic disease (P=.002). Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) developed in approximately 15% of patients with invasive episodes, with a mortality rate of 45%. The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was not found to be associated with the development of STSS.
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| 4. |
- Eriksson, Catharina, 1955-
(författare)
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Immunological mechanisms in systemic autoimmunity : autoantibodies and chemokines in systemic lupus erythematosus and during treatment with TNF inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that, without powerful treatment, may lead to irreversible joint damage. During the past decade, anti-cytokine therapy has become available, e.g., infliximab, a chimeric antibody targeting the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF that has a central role in the inflammatory process in RA patients. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease that may affect all organs and is characterized by a massive antibody production. Chemokines, chemokine receptors and lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1(CD91) are regulators of inflammation in autoimmune diseases and T-cell migration. Objectives. The aim of this study was to get a deeper understanding how TNF blocking treatment influences inflammatory mechanisms and autoantibody formation in RA with special reference to similarities and differences with SLE. Methods. In patients with RA treated with anti-TNF, and in SLE patients (ACR criteria) clinical evaluation was performed and blood samples analyzed. Autoantibodies were analyzed using indirect immunofluorescence, ELISA and multiplex flow cytometry in samples from anti-TNF treated RA patients (n=59) followed longitudinally for 54 weeks, in pre-diseased samples from SLE patients (n=38) and matched population-based controls (n=152). T-cell expression of chemokine receptors and CD91 was analyzed by flow cytometry, whilst serum levels of chemokines were determined using ELISA in anti-TNF treated RA-patients (n=24) followed longitudinally (30 weeks), and cross-sectionally in SLE-patients (n=23). Expression of mRNA for chemokines was analyzed in T-cells from SLE-patients (n=10) using PCR. Results. After treatment with infliximab, RA patients produced ANA, anti-dsDNA and anti-nucleosome antibodies, but not anti-ENA antibodies. Although these antibodies are considered typical for SLE only one patient developed a transient lupus-syndrome. Antibodies against cell nuclear antigens, including ENA, were detected several years before the first clinical symptom of SLE; anti-SSA was the earliest detectable antibody. In RA-patients before infliximab treatment, the T-cell expression of several chemokine receptors was elevated compared with healthy controls. In contrast, only one soluble chemokine, IP-10 was elevated. After treatment the levels of soluble MIP-1β, MCP-1 and IP-10, and the T-cell expression of CCR2 were decreased. In SLE-patients MIP-1β, MCP-1, SDF-1, IP-10 and RANTES in blood were elevated, whilst expression of CXCR5 and CCR6 on T-cells was lower than in healthy controls. T-cell expression of CXCR2 and CCR1 was elevated in active disease (measured as SLEDAI index), whereas the CXCR5 and CCR2 expression was lower in inactive SLE. In SLE patients with nephritis IP-10 was lower and T-cell expression of CXCR3 and CCR3 elevated compared with patients without nephritis. The expression of CD91 was higher on T-cells from patients not responsive to infliximab treatment compared with responders. Conclusion. These findings indicate that anti-TNF (infliximab) treatment in RA-patients has a major impact on the production of autoantibodies and chemokines. The autoantibody profile in infliximab-treated patients was similar to that predating disease onset in SLE patients with the exception of anti-ENA being detectable in SLE, but the development of lupus-syndromes was rare. The expression of CD91 on T-cells may predict responsiveness to infliximab. The expression of chemokine receptors in SLE- patients seemed to be related to disease activity. Anti-nuclear antibodies were detectable years before clinical disease onset in patients who developed SLE suggesting a gradual pathogenic process.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Granlund, Margareta, et al.
(författare)
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Stomatococcus mucilaginosus septicemia in leukemic patients.
- 1996
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Ingår i: Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. - 1469-0691. ; 2:3, s. 179-185
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To report an unexpectedly high number of cases of septicemia with Stomatococcus mucilaginosus, and try to identify predisposing factors. METHODS: All blood cultures obtained during 1991--93 from patients treated at the hematologic ward were bacteriologically identified. The medical records of patients with S. mucilaginosus-positive blood cultures were retrospectively reviewed and evaluated. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of S. mucilaginosus were tested. RESULTS: S. mucilaginosus blood isolates from patients with hematologic malignancies were found to be as common as isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. Eleven patients with myelogenous leukemia and isolation of S. mucilaginosus from the blood are reported on. One patient had concomitant meningitis. All patients were neutropenic and most had oral mucositis and had been given ciprofloxacin prophylaxis. S. mucilaginosus isolates from these patients were resistant to ciprofloxacin in contrast to isolates from patients who had received other prophylactic regimens and seven isolates found in healthy individuals not recently treated with antibiotics. The resistant S. mucilaginosus were found to be of diverse genetic origin as determined by RFLP. CONCLUSIONS: The appearance of resistant strains during ciprofloxacin prophylaxis may be a predisposing factor for S. mucilaginosus septicemia. There was no evidence of a nosocomial spread of S. mucilaginosus strains.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Luan, Shi-Lu, 1972-
(författare)
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Molecular epidemiology of streptococcus agalactiae : mobile elements as genetic markers.
- 2006
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Streptococcus agalactiae, also designated group B streptococcus (GBS), is a Gram-positive coccus, and it is an important pathogen that causes invasive disease in neonates, pregnant adults, and non-pregnant adults with predisposing conditions. The group II intron GBSi1 is one of the major mobile genetic elements identified in S. agalactiae. The aim of this thesis was to characterize the GBSi1 distribution pattern, the population structure, and the influence of serotype- and clone-specific properties on the invasive capacity among clinical invasive and non-invasive isolates of S. agalactiae.Two additional copies of GBSi1 were identified at sites different from the primarily identified scpB-lmb locus. The distribution of GBSi1 was uneven among different serotypes. Three intron copies were only found in isolates of serotype III, and these targeted all the three identified gene loci. In contrast, a single copy of GBSi1 was found in isolates of serotype II and V and only located at the scpB-lmb locus. Furthermore, at the 5′ flanking region of the scpB-lmb gene locus, a novel 2.1 kb DNA fragment with plasmid features was identified only in intron carrying isolates. This may suggest that GBSi1 once was brought into the S. agalactiae genome by an integrated plasmid.Multilocus sequence typing was used to characterize totally 314 invasive and non-invasive S. agalactiae isolates collected in Northern and Western Sweden from the years 1988 to 2004. Five major genetic lineages (clonal complexes) were identified among both invasive and non-invasive isolates, including serotype Ia, Ib, and II to V, indicating a clonal population structure of S. agalactiae isolates. A number of genetically highly related isolates were found to express different capsular types, suggesting that capsule switching occurs rather frequently between isolates. Furthermore, non-invasive isolates belonging to the same clonal complexes displayed more heterogeneity in capsule expression as well as in the distribution patterns of mobile genetic elements than invasive isolates. This indicates that less variability is allowed in a highly selective environment such as the blood. All major clonal complexes and serotypes caused invasive disease, although their ability to do so varied greatly. CC17 was significantly associated with neonatal invasive disease; whereas CC19 was equally common among isolates from adult and neonatal disease, despite that both CC17 and CC19 expressed capsular type III. This striking difference seen between CC17 and CC19 suggests that clonal complex associated properties, in addition to capsular type, play important roles in the virulence of S. agalactiae. CC1, a new emerging clone since early 1990s, has caused substantial amount of disease among adults. In addition, mutually exclusive distribution of mobile elements GBSi1 and IS1548 was seen, and they were shown to constitute genetic markers for serotype III CC17 and CC19 isolates, respectively.
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| 9. |
- Luan, Shi-Lu, et al.
(författare)
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Multilocus sequence typing of Swedish invasive group B streptococcus isolates indicates a neonatally associated genetic lineage and capsule switching.
- 2005
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Ingår i: Journal of clinical microbiology. - 0095-1137 .- 1098-660X. ; 43:8, s. 3727-33
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Streptococcus agalactiae, also designated group B streptococcus (GBS), is an important pathogen in neonates, pregnant women, and nonpregnant adults with predisposing conditions. We used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to characterize 158 GBS isolates that were associated with neonatal and adult invasive disease and that were collected in northern and western Sweden from 1988 to 1997. Five major genetic lineages (sequence type [ST] 19, ST-17, ST-1, ST-23, and ST-9 complexes) were identified among the isolates, including serotype Ia, Ib, and II to V isolates, indicating a highly clonal population structure among invasive GBS isolates. A number of STs were found to contain isolates of different serotypes, which indicates that capsule switching occurred rather frequently. Two distantly related genetic lineages were identified among isolates of serotype III, namely, clonal complex 19 (CC19), and CC17. CC19 was equally common among isolates from adult and neonatal disease (accounting for 10.3% of GBS isolates from adult disease and 18.7% from neonatal disease), whereas CC17 significantly appeared to be associated with neonatal invasive disease (isolated from 21.9% of neonatal isolates but only 2.6% of adult isolates). The distribution of the mobile elements GBSi1 and IS1548 reveals that they can act as genetic markers for lineages CC17 and CC19, respectively.
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
- Maripuu, Linda, et al.
(författare)
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Dynamics of the immune response against extracellular products of group A streptococci during infection
- 2007
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Ingår i: Clinical and Vaccine Immunology. - 1556-6811 .- 1556-679X. ; 14:1, s. 44-51
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The immune response against the infecting group A streptococcus (GAS) extracellular products (EP) was determined in acute- and convalescent-phase sera from 75 patients with different clinical manifestations of GAS infection. All EP elicited a high proliferative response in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In patients with bacteremia, low neutralization in acute-phase sera was associated with development of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Lack of neutralization in acute-phase sera was more common in patients infected with the T1emm1 serotype. The majority of patients did not develop the ability to neutralize the mitogenic activity of their infecting isolate despite a significant increase in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titer in early convalescent-phase sera. In patients with the ability to neutralize GAS EP, the immune response remained high over at least 3 years. In contrast, the neutralization capacity conferred by intravenous immunoglobulin and/or plasma treatment disappeared within 3 months.
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| 12. |
- Maripuu, Linda, et al.
(författare)
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Superantigen gene profile diversity among clinical group A streptococcal isolates.
- 2008
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Ingår i: FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology. - 0928-8244 .- 1574-695X. ; 54:2, s. 236-44
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study examines the diversity of superantigen gene profiles between and within emm-genotypes of 92 clinical group A streptococcal isolates (30 STSS, 24 sepsis, 25 erysipelas, and 12 tonsillitis) collected in Sweden between 1986 and 2001. The emm-genotype and the distribution of smeZ, speG, speJ, speA, speC, speH, speI, speK/L, speL/M, speM, and ssa genes, and the smeZ allelic variant were determined using PCR and DNA sequencing. Forty-five emm1 isolates revealed 10 superantigen gene profiles. One profile dominated and was identified in 22 isolates collected over 14 years. The results indicate that a selective advantage maintained this genotype in circulation. The superantigen content among the emm1 isolates ranged from three to seven, with smeZ-1, speG, and speA present in all but one profile. The 47 isolates of 27 other emm-genotypes exhibited 29 superantigen gene profiles. Thus, the distribution of superantigen genes was highly variable within isolates regardless of emm-genotype. Two novel emm1 subtypes and 14 novel smeZ allelic variants were identified. The 22 smeZ alleles were generally linked to the emm-genotype. The results of the investigation show that superantigen gene profiling is useful for tracking spread of clones in the community.
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| 13. |
- Maripuu, Linda, 1973-
(författare)
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Superantigens in group A streptococcus : gene diversity and humoral immune response
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a strictly human pathogen that causes infections ranging from asymptomatic carriage to the highly lethal streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). GAS are classified according to the sequence of the variable 5’ end of the emm-gene that encodes the surface associated M-protein. In the late 1980s, outbreaks of GAS infections with high rates of STSS were reported in several parts of the world, including Sweden. Superantigens (SAgs), a group of exotoxins, have been described as key mediators of STSS due to their capacity to polyclonally activate T-cells and induce a massive release of inflammatory cytokines. Previous reports have revealed that sera from STSS patients have lower capacity to neutralize this SAg-mediated immune stimulation and a higher prevalence of GAS isolates with specific emm-genotypes during disease outbreaks. The aims of this thesis were to analyse the protective antibody response mounted by the host against SAgs produced by the infecting GAS isolate and to characterise the isolates emm-genotypes and SAg gene profiles. The clinical material examined was collected from patients with STSS, sepsis, erysipelas, or tonsillitis in Sweden between 1986 and 2001. Both acute- and convalescence-phase sera were analyzed, along with the infecting GAS isolates. The 92 clinical GAS isolates examined were found to exhibit a high degree of genetic diversity in terms of the number and identity of their SAg genes. Isolates with a given emm-genotype could be divided into subgroups on the basis of their SAg gene profiles. Ten different SAg gene profiles were identified in the 45 emm1 isolates examined; one of these ten was highly persistent, being observed in 22 isolates collected over 14 years. Two of the 11 known SAg genes in GAS, smeZ-1 and speA, were more prevalent in the emm1 associated profiles than in the SAg gene profiles of isolates with other emm-genotypes. Patients infected by GAS with the emm1-genotype were less likely to produce acute-phase sera that could effectively neutralize the T-cell mitogenicity induced by the infecting isolate’s extracellular products (EP). Sepsis patients whose sera exhibited this lack of neutralizing ability were more prone to developing STSS. Most patients whose acute-phase sera did not effectively neutralize the EP from the infecting isolate lacked protective antibodies in their convalescent-phase sera despite having elevated ELISA titers. The results reported herein show that combining SAg gene profiling with emm-genotyping may be useful for tracking the spread of GAS clones in the community. It was also shown that a lack of neutralizing activity in convalescence-phase sera might be due to an inability of those patients to mount a protective immune response against SAgs produced by the infecting GAS isolate.
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| 14. |
- Norrby-Teglund, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Correlation between serum TNF alpha and IL6 levels and severity of group A streptococcal infections
- 1995
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases. - 0036-5548 .- 1651-1980. ; 27:2, s. 125-130
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The multiorgan failure syndrome caused by group A streptococci (GAS) designated streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) is believed to be mediated by cytokines induced by superantigens. In order to study the relationship between superantigen production, cytokine levels in patient sera, and clinical GAS manifestation we examined acute-phase sera and strains from 25 patients with GAS bacteremia. The patients had various disease manifestations, including STSS (44%), erysipelas (28%), septicemia (24%), wound infections (16%), and pneumonia (12%). Serotype T1M1 dominated, representing 56% of the isolates, but also strains of other serotypes were identified. The strains were found to produce the streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins (Spe) A, B, and F, as determined by immuno-blot analyses. There was no difference in amounts of toxin produced between strains isolated from patients with different manifestations of disease. Levels of TNF alpha, IL1 alpha, IL6, IL8, and IFN gamma in acute-phase sera were determined by use of ELISA and RIA assays. The analyses showed higher levels of IL6 in sera from patients with STSS than in sera from patients with bacteremia without shock. TNF alpha was elevated in sera from patients with STSS, as compared to sera from patients with uncomplicated pharyngotonsillitis. No increase in the levels of IL1 alpha, IL8, and IFN gamma could be found in the patient sera and there was no difference in the level of those cytokines between the various patient categories.
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| 15. |
- Sendi, Parham, et al.
(författare)
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Bacterial phenotype variants in group B streptococcal toxic shock syndrome
- 2009
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Ingår i: Emerging Infectious Diseases. - : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). - 1080-6040 .- 1080-6059. ; 15:2, s. 223-232
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We conducted genetic and functional analyses of isolates from a patient with group B streptococcal (GBS) necrotizing fasciitis and toxic shock syndrome. Tissue cultures simultaneously showed colonies with high hemolysis (HH) and low hemolysis (LH). Conversely, the HH and LH variants exhibited low capsule (LC) and high capsule (HC) expression, respectively. Molecular analysis demonstrated that the 2 GBS variants were of the same clonal origin. Genetic analysis found a 3-bp deletion in the covR gene of the HH/LC variant. Functionally, this isolate was associated with an increased growth rate in vitro and with higher interleukin-8 induction. However, in whole blood, opsonophagocytic and intracellular killing assays, the LH/HC phenotype demonstrated higher resistance to host phagocytic killing. In a murine model, LH/HC resulted in higher levels of bacteremia and increased host mortality rate. These findings demonstrate differences in GBS isolates of the same clonal origin but varying phenotypes.
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| 16. |
- Östberg, Gustaf, 1971, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of TaC on plastic deformation of WC-Co and Ti(C,N)-WC-Co
- 2006
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Ingår i: International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials. - : Elsevier BV. - 0263-4368. ; 24:1-2, s. 145-154
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The plastic deformation resistance of metal cutting inserts made from a WC–Co cemented carbide, a Ti(C, N)–WC–Co cermet and corresponding materials with additions of TaC has been studied. The cermets were produced with both high and low carbon activity, resulting in a total of six materials. Ab initio calculations of some WC/WC grain boundary geometries suggest that both Co and Ta segregate substitutionally to the boundary and improve the grain boundary strength when substituting carbon. However, only Co segregation was found experimentally, probably due to (Ta, W)C formation. Plastic deformation tests were performed with a turning operation under controlled conditions. For the WC–Co, the addition of Ta had a positive effect for lower cutting speeds but at higher speeds the effect was negative. Three-point bending tests indicated a beneficial effect of Ta in WC–Co, which was also confirmed by internal friction (IF) measurements. However, after thermal cycling, the effect of Ta could be smaller, or even negative. The Ta cermet produced with low carbon activity exhibited a better plastic deformation resistance during cutting but no apparent effects of Ta could be seen either in IF measurements or in three-point bending tests of the cermets. However, a correlation was found between plastic deformation during turning and IF spectra. In the cermet materials, binder phase lamella formation promotes grain boundary sliding at high temperatures.
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| 17. |
- Östberg, Gustaf, 1971, et al.
(författare)
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Mechanisms of plastic deformation of WC-Co and Ti(C,N)-WC-Co
- 2006
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Ingår i: Int. J. Refract. Hard Mater.. - : Elsevier BV. - 0263-4368. ; 24:1-2, s. 135-144
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The deformation of the cutting edge of inserts made from WC–Co and Ti(C, N)–19%WC–Co upon radial turning was measured as a function of the cutting speed. Ab initio calculations of some grain boundary geometries in WC–Co indicated that Co segregates to WC/WC grain boundaries in submonolayer proportions and increases their strength and resistance to Co infiltration. This was also confirmed with TEM-EDX. SEM studies showed that during plastic deformation the hard phase skeletons in both materials were partly broken up and infiltrated by binder phase. TEM observations showed a considerable deformation of the WC grains and some infiltrated grain boundaries were facetted along low energy planes. In the cermet, no deformation of the hard phase grains could be seen. The plastic deformation at high temperatures observed by three-point bending corresponds to a number of relaxation processes, detected by internal friction, related to grain boundary sliding. Both materials deform by grain boundary sliding, accommodated in the cermet by Co diffusion and in the WC–Co by deformation of the hard phase and diffusion of Co.
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