Interactions between dislocations and twins in deformed titanium aluminide crystals

Using scanning, transmission electron microscopy and aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, we have studied the interactions between dislocations and twins in impact deformed polysynthetic twinned TiAl crystal. The 1/3?<?1$\overline{1}\overline{1}$] and 1/6?<?211] step dislocations on coherent twin boundaries reveal the interactions of glissile 1/2?<?101> dislocations with the coherent twin boundaries. An abnormal stacking fault was found adjacent to the coherent twin boundary. It has the same stacking sequence but different atom species in the [$\overline{1}$10] direction with an additional displacement of 1/4[$\overline{1}$10] in two neighboring {111} layers, and is likely induced by the slip of a 1/12[112] (i.e. 1/4[$\overline{1}$10] + 1/6[2$\overline{1}$1]) dislocation.     

双态组织高Nb-TiAl合金的缺口敏感性

通过对圆棒状缺口试样和无缺口光滑试样进行单向拉伸试验,研究了双态组织高Nb-TiAl合金的缺口敏感性。研究表明,缺口根半径R≥0. 5 mm的U型试样和缺口角度60°、R≥1 mm的V型试样的抗拉强度RmN都大于光滑试样的抗拉强度Rm,缺口敏感度NSR均大于1,合金对缺口不敏感。当缺口类型相同时,缺口敏感性随缺口根半径R的减小而增大; V型缺口敏感性大于U型缺口;对于V型缺口试样,当R=0. 5 mm时,其NSR在0. 98～1. 03之间,RmN在Rm附近波动,易出现缺口敏感。     

Producing fully-lamellar microstructure for wrought beta-gamma TiAl alloys without single α-phase field

Fine-grained fully-lamellar (FL) microstructure is desired for TiAl components to serve as compressor/turbine blades and turbocharger turbine wheels. This study deals with the process and phase transformation to produce FL microstructure for Mo stabilized beta-gamma TiAl alloys without single α-phase field. Unlike the α + γ two-phased TiAl or beta-gamma TiAl with single α-phase field, the wrought multi-phase TiAl–4/6Nb–2Mo–B/Y alloys exhibit special annealing process to obtain FL microstructure. Short-term annealing at temperatures slightly above β-transus is recommended to produce the desired FL microstructure. The related mechanism is to guarantee the sufficient diffusion homogenization of β stabilizers during single β-phase annealing, and further avoid α decomposition by α → γ + β when cooling through α + β + γ phase field. The colony boundary β phase contributes to fine-grained nearly FL microstructure, by retarding the coarsening of the α phase grains.     

Vacuum brazing of TiAl-based intermetallics with Ti–Zr–Cu–Ni–Co amorphous alloy as filler metal

An amorphous Ti41.7–Zr26.7–Cu14.7–Ni13.8–Co3.1 (wt%) ribbon fabricated by melt spinning was used as filler to vacuum braze Ti–48Al–2Nb–2Cr (at%) intermetallics. The influences of brazing temperature and time on the microstructure and strength of the joints were investigated. It is found that intermetallic phases of Ti₃Al and γ-Ti₂Cu/Ti₂Ni form in the brazed joints. The tensile strength of the joint first increases and then decreases with the increase of the brazing temperature in the range of 900–1050 °C and the brazing time varying from 3 to 15 min. The maximum tensile strength at room temperature is 316 MPa when the joint is brazed at 950 °C for 5 min. Cleavage facets are widely observed on all of the fracture surfaces of the brazed joints. The fracture path varies with the brazing condition and cracks prefer to initiate at locations with relatively high content of γ-Ti₂Cu/Ti₂Ni phases and propagate through them.     

Improvement of microstructure and mechanical properties of TiAl−Nb alloy by adding Fe element

In order to improve mechanical properties and optimize composition of TiAl−Nb alloys, Ti46Al5Nb0.1B alloys with different contents of Fe (0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, and 1.1 at.%) were prepared by melting. Macro/microstructure and compression properties of the alloys were systematically investigated. Results show that Fe element can decrease the grain size, aggravate the Al-segregation and also form the Fe-rich B2 phase in the interdendritic area. Compressive testing results indicate that the Ti46Al5Nb0.1B0.3Fe alloy shows the highest ultimate compressive strength and fracture strain, which are 1869.5 MPa and 33.53%, respectively. The improved ultimate compression strength is ascribed to the grain refinement and solid solution strengthening of Fe, and the improved fracture strain is due to the reduced lattice tetragonality of γ phase and grain refinement of the alloys. However, excessive Fe addition decreases compressive strength and fracture strain, which is caused by the severe Al-segregation.     

Characterization of hydrogenated niobium interlayer and its application in TiAl/Ti2AlNb diffusion bonding

Hydrogenation of niobium foil was achieved by cathodic charging and its application as the interlayer facilitates a sound joint of TiAl/Ti₂AlNb. The microstructure and mechanical properties of hydrogenated niobium were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nano-indentation and thermogravimetry (TG) analysis. It is demonstrated that the plasticity of the surface of niobium interlayer is improved and dislocation density in niobium crystal lattice increases significantly, owing to the process of niobium interlayer hydrogenation and subsequent dehydrogenation. To investigate the effect of the hydrogenation of the niobium interlayer on the TiAl/Ti₂AlNb diffusion bonding joint, the pure niobium foil was also applied as the interlayer for comparison. The effect of the bonding parameters on the interfacial microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of the joints were systematically analyzed by SEM coupled with an energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and shear test. The typical microstructure of the joint is found to be TiAl/B2 phase/Nb/δ phase/β phase/Ti₂AlNb. With the increase of the hydrogen content, bonding temperature, holding time and bonding pressure, the bonding defects decreased and the thickness of the diffusion layer increased correspondingly. The shear strength of joint reached 258.9 MPa at 950 °C for 40 min under a pressure of 5 MPa with the hydrogenated niobium interlayer of 1.0 wt% hydrogen content.     

Evaluation of Ca-doped BaZrO3 as the crucible refractory for melting TiAl alloys

In this study, a new Ca-doped BaZrO₃ refractory was designed by using thermodynamics approaches and tested for its applicability for vacuum induction melting (VIM) of TiAl alloys. The influence of CaO on the BaZrO₃ phase constitution and microstructure, as well as the key features of the TiAl melt interaction with the Ca-doped BaZrO₃ crucibles were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results revealed that the Ca-doped BaZrO₃ refractory consisted of Ba_1-xCa_xZrO₃ and CaO phases. An obvious interaction occurred during the melting of the TiAl alloy in the Ca-doped BaZrO₃ crucible along with the generation of BaAl₂O₄ as a reaction product, with formation of a reaction layer up to 5?µm thick. Dissolution of Ca-doped BaZrO₃ refractory in the TiAl melt was the main reason for the alloy-crucible reaction. Moreover, the Ca-doped BaZrO₃ crucible was found to substantially reduce the contamination of the TiAl alloy, with lower oxygen concentration as compared with other conventional oxide crucibles. Overall results confirmed that vacuum induction melting using the Ca-doped BaZrO₃ refractory can be considered as an appropriate method for the fabrication of TiAl alloys.     

TiAl合金与异种材料的摩擦焊接

TiAl合金与42CrMo直接摩擦焊接性较差,为此分别引入高温合金GH3039、K418、N80A和纯镍N6作为中间材料,对TiAl-GH3039/K418/N80A/N6-42CrMo异种材料的摩擦焊接工艺进行了研究。采用硬度计、扫描电镜和电子万能试验机对焊后接头区域的硬度、组织和焊合区成分变化以及接头力学性能进行了分析。研究表明,TiAl合金与异种材料焊后接头中形成了复杂的多层状金属间化合物;TiAl合金与GH3039、N80A的摩擦焊接性较好,与K418、N6的摩擦焊接性较差;根据不同材料线膨胀系数随温度的变化规律、与TiAl合金摩擦焊接后接头的性能及其与42CrMo的摩擦焊接性,最终选择GH3039作为中间材料。通过引入中间材料,摩擦焊制备了TiAl合金涡轮-42CrMo转轴的异种材料整体转子,使得TiAl合金在涡轮增压器领域的应用成为可能。