Elevated temperature flow strength,creep resistance and diffusion welding characteristics of Ti-6Al-2Nb-1Ta-0.8Mo

A study of the flow strength, creep resistance and diffusion welding characteristics of the titanium alloy Ti-6Al-2Nb-1Ta-0.8Mo has been conducted. Two mill-processed forms of this alloy were examined. The forged material had been essentially processed above the beta transus (∼1275 K) while the rolled form had been subjected to work below the beta transus. Between 1150 and 1250 K, the forged material was stronger and more creep resistant than the rolled alloy. Both forms exhibit superplastic characteristics in this temperature range. Strain measurements during diffusion welding experiments at 1200 K reveal that weld interfaces have no measurable effect on the overall creep deformation. Significant deformation appears to be necessary to produce a quality diffusion weld between superplastic materials. A “soft” interlayer inserted between faying surfaces would seemingly allow manufacture of quality diffusion welds with little overall deformation.     

The effect of microstructure and deformation behavior on the hot ductility of Ti-6Al-2Nb-1Ta-0.8Mo

Hot ductility of the alloy Ti-6Al-2Nb-lTa-0.8Mo has been correlated with microstructure and fracture behavior. Low hot ductility was found to be associated with strain localization within the grain boundary alpha phase, producing void formation along the prior-beta grain boundaries and inter-granular fracture. Microstructural features that appear to be critical to the strain localization process are beta grain shape and alpha phase morphology. For the case of Widmanstätten + grain boundary alpha phase morphologies, equiaxed prior-beta grains formed by annealing above the beta transus are required to produce significant strain localization. For the beta processed structure with elongated beta grains due to working above the beta transus temperature, the orientation of the grain boundary alpha phase limits strain localization due to low resolved shear stress. The martensitic Widmanst?ten alpha prime structure formed by quenching from above the beta transus temperature rapidly forms grain boundary alpha upon reheating to temperatures high in the alpha + beta phase field. This results in strain localization in the grain boundary regions in an apparently similar manner to that observed in the Widmanstätten + grain boundary alpha phase morphologies with equiaxed prior-beta grains.     

The effect of microstructure on the deformation modes and mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-2Nb-1Ta-0.8Mo: Part II. Equiaxed structures

The Ti-6Al-2Nb-lTa-0.8Mo alloy was processed to develop both near-basal and transverse textures. Samples were annealed at different temperatures to vary the equiaxed alpha grain size and the thick-ness of the grain boundary beta, and subsequently quenched in order to transform the beta phase to either martensite, tempered martensite, or Widmanstätten alpha + beta. The effect of microstructure and texture on tensile properties and on fracture toughness was investigated. In addition, yield locus diagrams were constructed in order to study the texture strengthening effect. The yield strength was found to be strongly dependent on the thickness and Burgers relationship of the transformed beta phase surrounding the alpha grains. A texture hardening effect as large as 60 pct was found for the basal-texture material but only 15 pct for the transverse texture material. These variations are asso-ciated with differences in deformation behavior.     

Microstructure and creep behavior of an orthorhombic Ti-25Al-17Nb-1Mo alloy

Microstructural evolution during three heat-treatment schedules and the terminal microstructures in an orthorhombic alloy of Ti-25Al-17Nb-1Mo were observed and analyzed with optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The creep behavior of the alloy with three different microstructures (a coarse-lath, fine-lath, and fine equiaxed microstructure) was studied over a temperature range of 600 °C to 750 °C and over a stress range of 150 to 400 MPa in air. The steady-state creep rates, apparent stress exponents, and apparent creep activation energies of the various samples have been determined. The results show that creep behaviors in the alloy are strongly influenced by microstructure. The effect on creep by some of the microstructural features, such as the multivariants within the coarse laths and the interfaces of the laths and the equiaxed grains, is also discussed.     

The effect of microstructure on the deformation modes and mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-2Nb-1Ta-0.8Mo: Part I. Widmanstätten structures

An alpha + beta Ti-6Al-2Nb-lTa-0.8Mo alloy with an initial Widmanstätten structure was thermally treated to produce a wide range of microstructures. The effects of individual microstructural parameters on deformation behavior and mechanical properties were investigated. The results show that the Widmanstätten colony boundaries are major barriers to slip. However, the slip distance can be decreased to a distance equal to the thickness of acicular alpha by transforming the beta phase in the Widmanstätten structure to martensite by quenching from 950°C. The decrease in slip distance is accompanied by a 25 pct increase in yield strength with no loss in ductility. A large decrease in ductility occurs after excursions above the beta-transus. The development of both equiaxed beta grains during heating in the beta phase field and continuous grain boundary alpha during cooling in the alpha + beta phase field leads to strain localization along prior beta grain boundaries.     

退火温度对Ti-6Al-3Nb-2Zr-1Mo合金组织及力学性能的影响

研究了退火温度对Ti-6Al-3Nb-2Zr-1Mo合金组织和力学性能的影响。结果表明:随着退火温度升高,初生α相含量降低,2°～15°小角度晶界逐渐减少;退火温度较高时,退火过程中发生了α相→β相→α相的相变,<0001>//横向织构消失。随着退火温度升高,Ti-6Al-3Nb-2Zr-1Mo合金屈服强度逐渐降低,抗拉强度、延伸率先升高后降低。退火温度升高后,片层组织比例升高,裂纹扩展功占冲击吸收功的比例增大,材料韧性提升。     

Creep behavior of Ti-25Al-10Nb-3V-1Mo

A study has been made of the role of microstracture in room-temperature tensile properties as well as elevated-temperature creep behavior of an advanced Ti₃Al-base alloy, Ti-25Al-10Nb-3V-lMo (atomic percent). Creep studies have been performed on this alloy as a function of stress and temperature between 650 °C and 870 °C, since the use of conventional titanium alloys has generally been restricted to temperatures below 600 °C. A pronounced influence of microstructure on creep resistance was found. Generally, the β solution-treated colony-type (slow-cooled or SC) microstructure showed superior creep resistance. This improved creep resistance in β/SC is accompanied by lower room-temperature tensile strength and ductility. Study of the stress dependence of steady-state creep rate indicates that increasing temperature caused a gradual decrease in the stress exponentn and a transition in creep mechanism at 870 °C, depending on applied stress level. Transmission electron microscopy observations of deformed dislocation structures developed during steady-state creep and room-temperature tensile tests, as well as the corresponding fracture modes, were used to interpret properties as a function of temperature. Finally, creep behavior of the present Ti₃Al alloy was found to be superior to that of conventional near-α titanium alloys. WONSUK CHO, formerly with Carnegie Mellon University, is Senior Research Staff Member, Kia Technical Center, Yeoeuido, P.O. Box 560, Seoul, Korea. JAMES WILLIAMS, formerly Dean of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University.     

Microstructure characterization and creep deformation of an Al-10 Wt Pct Ti-2 Wt Pct Cu nanocomposite

The creep behavior of a cryomilled Al-10Ti-2Cu nanocomposite has been studied at temperatures of 533, 588, and 644 K at initial applied stresses ranging from 55 to 117 MPa. Although the strain rates fall within the 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁹ S⁻¹ regime, we observe no evidence of threshold-type creep behavior in this material. We attribute this to the unique microstructure of the present material combined with the mechanism of dislocation slip in ultrafine grain size materials. In particular, the very fine AIN precipitates present within the microstructure are ineffective as obstacles to dislocations during high-temperature deformation. The coherent nature of these fine particles along with their extremely small size prevents a strong dislocation-particle attraction. The inability of the activation energy for self-diffusion in Al to successfully collapse the present creep data onto a single slope combined with the fact that the true activation energy for creep exceeds the value for lattice self-diffusion are both features found in materials containing second-phase particles, which deform simultaneously with the matrix during high-temperature deformation. In the present case, these particles are likely to be Al₃Ti.     

Elevated temperature tensile behavior of Ti-25AI-10Nb-3V-1Mo

The effects of microstructure and temperature on tensile and fracture behavior were explored for the titanium aluminide alloy Ti-25Al-10Nb-3V-lMo (atomic percent). Three microstructures were selected for study in an attempt to determine the role of the individual microstructural constituents in this α₂ + B2 alloy. Tensile testing of both round and flat specimens in vacuum indicated a change in deformation behavior from 25 °C to 450 °C. Observations suggested that this change in deformation behavior occurred within the α₂ phase. Failure initiation at 450 °C and above was by a ductile process and was associated with the B2 phase. Above 600 °C and at high strains, plastic deformation occurred predominantly in the B2 phase. Strain localization was observed above 600 °C and found to be due to the lower work-hardening rate of the B2 phase. Strain localization at slip band intersections with prior β grain boundaries resulted in rapid strain accumulation in the B2 phase. Alignment of secondary α₂ laths with the tensile axis at high deformation levels appeared to inhibit shear band localization between voids due to a lack of participation of the α₂ phase in deformation. Formerly Materials Scientist, Materials Directorate, Wright Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH 45433, is Program Manager, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Boiling AFB, Washington, DC 20332. Formerly Professor, Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, is Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720.     

Ti－24Al－14Nb－3V－0．5Mo合金拉伸变形显微组织的研究

用透射电子显微镜研究了Ｔｉ３Ａｌ－Ｎｂ（Ｔｉ－２４Ａｌ－１４Ｎｂ－３Ｖ－０．５Ｍｏ）合金拉伸变形显微组织，利用双倾技术和双束条件下不可见判据，分析了合金中具有ＤＯ１９结构的α２相在拉伸过程中的变形机制。     

Low temperature creep of Ti-6 Al-4 V

Creep tests were conducted at 295 K on Ti-6 Al-4 V in the solution treated and aged (4 h at 815 K) condition, and in the as-welded condition. Some aged specimens were tested after pre-straining. Creep stresses ranged from 40 to 90 pct of the aged material yield strength. Results showed that creep was of the primary or transient kind in all cases, and was much greater in welded than in aged material. In general, pre-strains reduced creep, although a strain larger than 10^-3 was needed to do this at the highest creep stress. Activation areas A* were between 10 and 20 b², and thus were similar to tensile results on titanium and its alloys. The microstructural rationale applied to Ti-5 Al-2.5 Sn in earlier work, based on the character of dislocation sources, proved successful in understanding the effects of prestrain in this work. Formerly with Sandia Laboratories, Livermore, Calif.     

Changes in microstructure during primary creep of a Ti-47Al-2Nb-1Mn-0.5W-0.5Mo-0.2Si alloy

Cast gamma titanium aluminides are gaining acceptance as potential replacements for superalloy and steel components in many applications. One particular alloy with W, Mo, and Si additions has shown exceptional primary creep resistance. Quantitative microscopic comparisons were made between microstructures in undeformed and deformed regions in creep specimens deformed to strains between 0.1 and 1.5 pct strain, using optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM) techniques. As-hot isostatically pressed (“hipped”) and heat-treated (1010 °C for 50 hours) conditions were compared. The as-hipped specimen had a higher lamellar volume fraction, and it crept more than 100 times faster. The lamellar spacing in the lamellar grains systematically decreased by 15 to 35 pct, with increasing stress, during the first 0.1 to 2 pct strain. Precipitates containing W, Mo, and/or Si were observed in the deformed gage and undeformed grip sections of the heat-treated specimens. Precipitation is nucleated by heat treatment, but, during creep deformation, a more homogeneous and faster growth process occurs in the gage section than in the aged but undeformed grip section. The gage section had a 35 pct higher precipitate volume fraction, but their average size was smaller. A lower volume fraction of lamellar grains and the presence of precipitates account for the excellent creep resistance in the heat-treated alloy. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium “Fundamentals of Gamma Titanium Aluminides,” presented at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 10–12, 1997, Orlando, Florida, under the auspices of the ASM/MSD Flow & Fracture and Phase Transformations Committees.     

A Study on Alpha-Case Depth in Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo

Isothermal oxidation experiments in air were performed on Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo (Ti-6242) with a bimodal microstructure in the temperature range 811 K to 922 K (538 °C to 649 °C) for up to 500 hours, and α-case depths were quantified using metallography. Alpha-case depth followed a parabolic variation with time. Alpha-case depths in excess of 10 μm formed above 811 K (538 °C) and 100-hour exposures. An activation energy of 244 kJ/mol was estimated for diffusion of oxygen in the α phase of Ti-6242.     

Superplastic deformation of Ti-6Al-4V alloy

The alloy Ti-6-Al-4V deforms superplastically in the temperature range 750 to 950° The most important factor which is responsible for superplastic behavior was found to be the very fine grain size. Strain rate has no direct effect on superplasticity, however when the strain rate is very low (approximately 2 × 10 s), prolonged exposure to high temperature causes grain growth and early failure. The strain rate sensitivity factorm = 0.5 and the apparent activation energyAH = 45,000 cal/mole, which is approximately the same as the activation energy for grain boundary self diffusion of titanium. Both values are independent of strain rate within the range 10 - 2.5 × 10 s. All the experimental points fall in a straight line when plotted as log (εkTd* ²/D_gbGb³) vs log (σ/G) with a slopen = l/m = 2. This is in excellent agreement with the theory of grain boundary sliding accommodated by dislocation motion.     

冷却速度对Ti3Al-10Nb-3V-1Mo合金组织的影响

用秀射龟镜研究了Ｔｉ３Ａｌ－１０Ｎｂ－３Ｖ－１Ｍｏ合金在１１７０℃加热１ｈ，以不同速度冷却后的显微组织结构。结果表明，Ｗ，Ｑ．组织由单一Ｂ２相组成，Ａ．Ｃ．组织由Ｂ２相基体组成，Ｂ２相晶粒内开始第二相的析出。