The Effect of Oxygen on Phase Equilibria in the Ti-V System: Impacts on the AM Processing of Ti Alloys

Oxygen is always a constituent in “real” titanium alloys including titanium alloy powders used for powder-based additive manufacturing (AM). In addition, oxygen uptake during powder handling and printing is hard to control and, hence, it is important to understand and predict how oxygen is affecting the microstructure. Therefore, oxygen is included in the evaluation of the thermodynamic properties of the titanium-vanadium system employing the CALculation of PHAse Diagrams method and a complete model of the O-Ti-V system is presented. The β-transus temperature is calculated to increase with increasing oxygen content whereas the extension of the α-Ti phase field into the binary is calculated to decrease, which explains the low vanadium solubilities measured in some experimental works. In addition, the critical temperature of the metastable miscibility gap of the β-phase is calculated to increase to above room temperature when oxygen is added. The effects of oxygen additions on phase fractions, martensite and ω formation temperatures are discussed, along with the impacts these changes may have on AM of titanium alloys.     

Hydrogen Embrittlement of Beta-Stabilized Titanium Alloys

The α-β type alloys are subject to a loss of tensile ductility with increasing hydrogen content. No hydride phase is visible in embrittled α-β type alloys. The embrittlement encountered appeared to be of the strain-aging type. Both compositional and structural factors are shown to influence the hydrogen tolerance of α-β type alloys.     

Transformation kinetics and mechanical properties of Zr-Mo alloys

Alloys containing 1.3, 3.3, 5.4, and 7.5 pct Mo were prepared using high purity molybdenum and sponge zirconium. Time-temperature-transformation curves were established for these alloys based on the resistivity vs time of anneal curves of isothermally quenched rods. Tensile and impact bars of each alloy were heat treated by isothermal quench techniques as well as by quench and reheat treatments. These bars were then machined, tested, and the properties compared. Optimum properties could be developed in the 1.3 pct Mo alloy using the isothermal quench technique. The 3.3, 5.4, and 7.5 pct Mo alloys exhibited a brittle behavior irrespective of type of heat treatment. An ω or transition phase in the β → α transformation was discovered which undoubtedly accounts for most of the brittleness observed. The ω phase has been tentatively indexed as tetragonal, c/a= 1.45. Mechanical properties of unalloyed sponge zirconium are presented for comparison.     

Structure of the transition phase omega in Ti-Cr alloys

Ti-Cr alloys age harden after β-quenching by formation of an ω-phase. The structure and orientation of this transition phase have been determined. The hardness appears to be caused by strain in the β-matrix produced by concurrent enrichment of alloy content in the ω-phase.     

Effect of Cold Rolling and Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ti-4Al-1Mn Titanium Alloy

Mechanical behavior of Ti-4Al-1Mn titanium alloy has been studied in annealed, cold-rolled and heat-treated conditions. Room temperature tensile strength as well as % elongation has been found to be low with increasing amount of cold rolling. Lowering of strength in cold worked condition is attributed to premature failure. However, the same has been mitigated after heat treatment. Significant effect of cooling media (air and water) from heat treatment temperature on microstructure was not found except for the degree of fineness of α plates. Optimum properties (strength as well as ductility) were exhibited by samples subjected to 15% cold rolling and heat treatment below β transus temperature, which can be attributed to presence of recrystallized microstructure. In cold worked condition, the microstructure shows fine fragmented α plates/Widmanstätten morphology with high dislocation density along with a large amount of strain fields and twinning, which gets transformed to recrystallized equiaxed microstructure and with plate-like morphology after near β heat treatment. Prior cold work is found to have a significant effect on mechanical properties supported by evolution of microstructure. Twinning is found to be assisting in deformation as well as in recrystallization through the formation of deformation and annealing twins during cold working and heat treatment. Fracture analysis of the tested sample with prior cold work and heat-treated condition revealed quasi-ductile failure as compared to only ductile failure features seen for samples heat treated without prior cold work.     

Influence of Nb on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-Sn ultrafine eutectic alloy

In this study, A series of the high strength (T₈₂Sn₁₈)_100-xNb_x (x=0, 1, 3, 5, and 9 at%) ultrafine eutectic alloys with large plasticity are developed by suction casting method. The Ti₈₂Sn₁₈ binary eutectic alloy consists of a mixture of a hcp Ti₃Sn and a α-Ti phases having the plate-like lamellar type duplex structure with micro scaled eutectic colony. From the (T₈₂Sn₁₈)₉₇Nb₃, the alloy display structural heterogeneous distribution of ultrafine-scaled phases composed of β-Ti(Nb) solid solution surrounded by alternating plate-like shaped Ti₃Sn and α-Ti phases. With increasing Nb content, the volume fraction of β-Ti is continuously increased, which induced improving mechanical properties both strength and plasticity. Especially, (Ti₈₂Sn₁₈)₉₁Nb₉ alloy has the outstanding combination of the high strength (σ _y ≈1.1 GPa) and large plasticity (ε _p ≈36%) at room temperature.     

The Microstructural Evolution and Special Flow Behavior of Ti-5Al-2Sn-2Zr-4Mo-4Cr During Isothermal Compression at a Low Strain Rate

The microstructural evolution and special flow behavior of Ti-5Al-2Sn-2Zr-4Mo-4Cr during isothermal compression at a strain rate of 0.0001 s^?1 were investigated. The dislocation climbs in elongated α grains resulted in the formation of low-angle boundaries that transform into high-angle boundaries with greater deformation, and the elongated α grains subsequently separated into homogenous globular α grains with the penetration of the β phase. The simultaneous occurrence of discontinuous dynamic recrystallization and continuous dynamic recrystallization in the primary β grains resulted in a trimode grain distribution. The β grains surrounded by dislocations presented an equilateral-hexagonal morphology, which suggests that grain boundary sliding through dislocation climbs was the main deformation mechanism. The true stress–strain curves for 1073 and 1113 K abnormally intersect at a strain of ~0.35, related to the α → β phase transformation and distinct growth of the β grain size.     

X-ray diffraction determination of root-mean-square displacements of atoms in <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis>2 and <Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis> phases of titanium nickelide

Intensities of 15 fundamental and 11 superlattice reflections of the B2 phase have been measured in a titanium nickelide single crystal using X-ray Mo Kα radiation. Structure factors for these reflections and root-mean-square displacements of nickel and titanium atoms from the crystal-lattice sites have been calculated. The mean squared displacements of nickel atoms are equal to 〈u ²〉_Ni=0.087 ± 0.006 Ų; those of titanium atoms, 〈u ²〉_Ti = 0.039 ± 0.003 Ų. The temperature dependence of root-mean-square displacements in the B2 phase and in the temperature range of the B2 → R transformation has been determined. Root-mean-square atomic displacements in the R phase have been calculated. The Debye temperature has been determined and the root-mean-square atomic displacements in the B2 phase have been separated into static and dynamic ones.     

Investigation of the heat treatment of commercial titanium-base alloys

An exploratory survey of the heat treatment response of commercial titanium alloys (Ti-150A, RC-130B, and MST 3Al-5Cr alloys) shows a wide range of possible hardness and microstructural characteristics. The hardening is primarily dependent on the solid state transformation of the βphase. An age hardening reaction which apparently is associated with β decomposition and precipitation has been shown. Brittleness and notch sensitivity appear to be characteristic of age hardening to high hardness. Ductility, tensile strengths, and elongations are given.     

Simulation of hydrogen diffusion in TiH<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> structures

Quantum-mechanical calculations of the energies of the formation of Frenkel pairs and barriers for hydrogen migration via different mechanisms in the titanium hydride δ-TiH _x and in the α phase of titanium have been carried out. Using the potential of interaction developed for the molecular-dynamic simulation, diffusion coefficients of hydrogen in fcc and hcp lattices of TiH _x were calculated depending on the temperature. The opportunity to approximate the coefficients of hydrogen self-diffusion has been analyzed in terms of the model of non-interacting point defects. For δ-TiH _x , the range of concentrations and temperatures was separated where the self-diffusion of hydrogen becomes liquid-like (ceases be dependent on the hydrogen concentration), upon the transition into which there takes place a sharp increase in the isochoric heat capacity. The effect of defects in the Ti sublattice on the coefficient of self-diffusion of H has been investigated.     

Improved High-Temperature Microstructural Stability and Creep Property of Novel Co-Base Single-Crystal Alloys Containing Ta and Ti

The influence of Ta and Ti additions on microstructural stability and creep behavior in novel Co-Al-W base single-crystal alloys has been investigated. Compared to the ternary alloy, the γ′ solvus temperature and γ′ volume fraction were raised by individual additions of Ta and Ti, and increased further in the quinary alloy containing both alloying additions. In contrast to ternary and quaternary alloys, an improved microstructural stability with the stable γ–γ′ two-phase microstructure and more than 60% γ′ volume fraction existed in the quinary alloy after prolonged aging treatment at 1050°C for 1000 h. The creep behavior at 900°C revealed lower creep rates and longer rupture lives in the quaternary alloys compared to the ternary alloy, whereas the quinary alloy exhibited even better creep resistance. When the creep temperature was elevated to about 1000°C, the creep resistance of the quinary alloy exceeded the previously reported Co-Al-W-base alloys and first-generation Ni-base single-crystal superalloys. The improved creep resistance at approximately 1000°C was considered to be associated with high γ′ volume fraction, γ′ directional coarsening, and dislocation substructure, which included γ–γ′ interfacial dislocation networks and the sheared γ′ precipitates containing stacking faults and anti-phase boundaries.     

Prospects of In-Situ <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> as an Inoculant in Aluminum: A Feasibility Study

In-situ α-Al₂O₃ was successfully synthesized and dispersed in Al alloy using B₂O₃ and ultrasonication-aided liquid mixing technique. Microstructure analysis identified α-Al₂O₃ as the most common phase in the composite master alloy, whereas AlB₁₂ was frequently observed and AlB₂ was rarely found in the alloy. Grain refinement analysis of selected Al alloys registered a transition of columnar to equiaxial grains of α-Al with the inoculation of the master alloy and ultrasonication treatment. Similarly, an improvement in the mechanical properties of A357 alloy was observed with the combination of inoculation and ultrasonication treatment.     

Microstructure and properties of a titanium alloy-orthorhombic titanium aluminide layered composite

The microstructure and tensile properties of a layered composite material fabricated by solid-state bonding of its components using pressure welding are studied at room and elevated temperatures. The components are made of a high-temperature VT25U titanium alloy and an intermetallic alloy (O alloy) based on orthorhombic titanium aluminide of the composition Ti-23Al-22.7Nb-1.1V-0.6Zr-0.2Si-0.3C (at %). The study of the microstructure and chemical composition of the composite by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis demonstrates that this method of producing a layered composite provides high-quality poreless bonding of materials of different types. The solid-state bonding zone has an intermediate chemical composition. Mechanical tests demonstrate that the room-temperature strength of the composite is comparable with that of the O alloy and is higher than that of the titanium alloy; as the fraction of the titanium alloy in the composite decreases, this strength increases. The relative elongation of the layered composite is found to be higher than that of the O alloy and lower than that of the titanium alloy. In the temperature range 500–700°C, the strength of the composite material is 25% higher than that of the titanium alloy, and its plasticity is lower than that of the titanium alloy. Our method is shown to be promising for producing layered composite materials that have high mechanical properties over a wide temperature range.     

Hot Deformation Mechanisms of an As-Extruded TiAl Alloy with Large Amount of Remnant Lamellae

The hot deformation mechanisms of an as-extruded Ti-44Al-5V-1Cr alloy with a large amount of remnant lamellae were investigated by hot compression tests at temperatures of 900-1250 °C and strain rates of 0.001-1 s^?1. The hot processing map of the as-extruded Ti-44Al-5V-1Cr alloy was developed on the basis of dynamic materials modeling and the Prasad criteria. There were four different domains in the hot processing map, according to the efficiency of power dissipation, η. The flow soft and hot deformation mechanisms for different domains were illustrated in the context of microstructural evolution during the process of deformation. As a result, the dynamic recrystallization and superplastic deformation occurred at 1125-1150 °C near 0.001 s^?1, and this region is suitable for superplastic forming. The α phase dynamic recrystallization and dynamic recovery occurred at 1250 °C and 0.1 s^?1. The existence of small amount of the γ and β phases effectively inhibited the growth of α grains.     

Phase transformations during deformation of Fe-Ni and Fe-Mn alloys produced by mechanical alloying

Compositions of Fe_{(100 ? x)}Mn _x (x = 10 and 12 at. %) and Fe_{(100 ? y)}Ni _y (y = 18 and 20 at. %) were produced by combined mechanical alloying of pure-metal powders and annealed in the austenitic field. After annealing and cooling to room temperature, the alloys had a single-phase austenitic structure. During deformation, the γ phase partially transforms into the α ₂ phase (and/or ? phase in Fe-Mn alloys). The phase composition of the alloys after deformation depends on the amount of alloying elements and the predeformation annealing regime. The amount of martensite in the structure of a bulk alloy obtained by powder compacting grows proportionally to the degree of deformation of the sample.     

Embrittlement and conditions of the optimization of magnetic properties in the amorphous alloy Co<Subscript>69</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>3.7</Subscript>Cr<Subscript>3.8</Subscript>Si<Subscript>12.5</Subscript>B<Subscript>11</Subscript> in the absence of a viscous–brittle transition

The influence of the holding time upon annealing on the temperature of the viscous–brittle transition (temperature of embrittlement) T_f in a cobalt-based amorphous alloy of the composition Co₆₉Fe_3.7Cr_3.8Si_12.5B₁₁ with a very low saturation magnetostriction λ_s (<10^–7) has been studied. It has been established that the dependence of the embrittlement temperature T_f on the of time of holding t_a can be described by an Arrhenius equation and that the embrittlement at the annealing temperatures above and below 300°C is described by different kinetic parameters. In the alloy under study, irrespective of the holding time, embrittlement occurs in a very narrow range of annealing temperatures, which does not exceed 5 K. Based on the experimental data on the evolution of the hysteresis magnetic properties upon the isochronous annealings and upon the isothermal holding, the regime of heat treatment that ensures a very high (about 50000) magnitude of the permeability µ₅ (H = 5 mOe, f = 1 kHz) without the transition of the alloy into a brittle state has been determined.     

Experimental Investigation of the Binary Mn-Sb Phase Diagram

The binary manganese-antimony (Mn-Sb) phase diagram was reinvestigated in the whole composition range using powder-XRD, DTA and SEM-EDX. The phase boundaries and melting temperatures of the ferromagnetic phases MnSb and Mn₂Sb were modified by taking into account the new experimental data. Most of the reaction temperatures could be verified within a range of ±10 °C. Nevertheless, a few temperatures had to be revised, such as the eutectic reaction L → β-Mn + Mn ₂ Sb at 893 °C and the eutectoid reaction β-Mn → α-Mn + Mn ₂ Sb at 718 °C. The previously reported peritectic melting behavior of MnSb could be confirmed. The variation of the lattice parameters of the NiAs-(B8 ₁ ) type MnSb phase with composition was determined. A revised version of the of the Mn-Sb phase diagram is presented.     

Correlation between the Hall Resistance and Magnetoresistance in the Mixed State of an Nd<Subscript>2 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ce<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>CuO<Subscript>4 + δ</Subscript> Electronic Superconductor

The Hall resistance and the magnetoresistance in the mixed state of the Nd_{2 ? x}Ce _x CuO_{4 + δ} quasi-two-dimensional system near the antiferromagnetic-superconductor (AF-SC) phase transition have been measured at doping levels x = 0.14 and 0.15, and a correlation has been established. This correlation can be analyzed using the following power relationship: ρ _xy (B) ~ [ρ _xx (B)]^β. It was found that index β varied from 0.94 ± 0.03 in the region of AF and SC coexistence (x = 0.14) to 0.6 ± 0.1 in the SC region with the maximum critical temperature (x = 0.15) at low temperatures and weak magnetic fields. This reduction suggests that the symmetry of carrier pairing changes at the boundary of the transition from the phase of antiferromagnetic ordering and spin density waves to the superconducting phase in the presence of antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations.     

Characterization of Microstructure and Wear Resistance of PEO Coatings Containing Various Microparticles on Ti6Al4V Alloy

Titania-based composite coatings were prepared by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) treatment of Ti6Al4V alloy in electrolyte with α-Al₂O₃, Cr₂O₃ or h-BN microparticles in suspension. The microstructure, composition of PEO composite coatings were analyzed by SEM, EDS and XRD. The wear resistance of composite ceramic coatings was studied by ball-on-disk wear test at ambient temperature and 300 °C. The results showed that the addition of microparticles accelerated the growth rate of PEO coating and changed the microstructure and composition of PEO coating. PEO coating was porous and mainly composed of rutile-TiO₂, anatase-TiO₂ and Al₂TiO₅. PEO/α-Al₂O₃ (Cr₂O₃ or h-BN) composite coating only had small micropores and appeared some α-Al₂O₃ (Cr₂O₃ or h-BN) phase. Besides, the addition of α-Al₂O₃ (Cr₂O₃ or h-BN) microparticles greatly improved the wear resistance of PEO coating. At ambient temperature, abrasive wear dominated the wear behavior of PEO coating, but abrasive wear and adhesive peel simultaneously happened at 300 °C. Whether at ambient temperature or 300 °C, PEO composite coating had better wear resistance than PEO coating. Besides, PEO/h-BN composite coating outperformed other composite coatings regardless of the temperature.     

Phase Equilibria of the Ternary Al-Cu-Zn Alloys on Al-Zn Rich Side

Phase equilibria of the Al-Cu-Zn system on Al-Zn rich side was experimentally determined with 16 alloys annealed at 360 °C. The annealed alloys were examined by means of x-ray diffraction, electron probe microanalysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Five single-phase regions and seven two-phase regions as well as three three-phase regions, i.e. α-(Al)?+?θ-Al₂Cu?+?τ′-Al₄Cu₃Zn, α-(Al)?+?τ′-Al₄Cu₃Zn?+?ε-CuZn₄ and α-(Al)?+?ε-CuZn₄?+?(Zn), were determined. The partial isothermal section of the Al-Cu-Zn system on Al-Zn rich side at 360 °C was constructed based on the obtained experimental data in this work. It was observed that the solid solution phase α-(Al) would easily decompose into ε-CuZn₄, (Zn) and α′-(Al) at the ambient temperature in the early stages. The ternary phase τ′-Al₄Cu₃Zn would form and ε-CuZn₄ would disappear gradually along with the extension of aging time.