Effects of TiO/Al ratio on microstructures and mechanical properties of TiAl base composites

Effects of TiO₂/Al ratio on the microstructures and mechanical properties of in situ Al₂O₃/TiAl based composites were investigated. The results indicate that the as-sintered products consist of grains of nearly lamellar ?₂ + ? structure with a dispersion of randomly oriented Al₂O₃ particles. A 43.9Ti-38.6Al-17.5TiO₂-nNb₂O₅ system was compared to 57.46Ti-36.78Al-5.76TiO₂-nNb₂O₅ system. The lamellar spacing of the products increases and the ?₂ phase volume decreases with decreasing TiO₂/Al ratio. For each system, as the volume of ?₂ phase increases, the average lamellar spacing decreases. Strength increases with an increasing TiO₂/Al ratio due to the amount of ?₂ phase. Al₂O₃ phase increases with increasing TiO₂/Al ratio. Toughness increases with decreasing TiO₂/Al ratio. When the Nb₂O₅ content is smaller than 6 wt.%, the lamellar spacing plays an important role in toughness than the Al₂O₃ content. When the Nb₂O₅ content is larger than 6 wt.%, the Al₂O₃ content exhibits significantly increases the values of toughness than lamellar spacing.