Surface hardness behaviour of Ti-Al-Mo alloys

The microhardness characteristics of various micro-constituents formed in the Ti-Al-Mo alloys have been investigated. Four alloys having compositions, Ti-40Al-2Mo, Ti-42Al-2Mo, Ti-40Al-6Mo and Ti-42Al-6Mo, have been chosen for this purpose. All of these were heat treated at 1300°C and 1400°C for 1 h and water quenched. All the specimens after above heat treatments have displayed load independent Vickers hardness values (VHN) around 300 g of applied load. The average surface hardness characteristic of the alloys is largely found to be dictated by the phases that are present. The microstructural specific VHN values vary between 600 and 750. The indentation behaviour, however, is governed by the morphologies and length scales of microstructures. The most remarkable finding of the present study pertains to the formation of shear bands around the periphery of the indenter for a finer basket weave microstructure in the Ti-40Al-2Mo. The cluster of finely located slip steps was clearly seen. Such a report is lacking in literature in this class of alloys.