Comparisons of high temperature oxidation behavior between reactive-sintered and melted Ti-45at.%Al-1.6at.%Mn intermetallics

Abstract

In order to investigate high temperature oxidation behavior, isothermal oxidation experiments for Ti-45at.%Al-1.6at.%Mn intermetallics prepared by both reactive sintering and melting were carried out in both oxygen and air environments at temperatures of 900, 1000 and 1100°C. In the oxygen environment, reactive sintered Ti-45at.%Al-1.6at.%Mn was found to have excellent oxidation resistance due to the formation of a continuous A12O3 layer at temperatures up to 1100°C; however, when melted it showed very poor oxidation resistance at and above 1000°C. Weight gains of the melted specimen after 12 hours, especially at the temperature of 1000°C and 1100°C, were nearly 12 times that of the reactive sintered one. In air, the reactive-sintered intermetallics showed a poorer oxidation resistance man did that in the oxygen environment. Especially, the weight gains in air were 6 times larger than the weight gains in oxygen when oxidized at 1100°C for 12 hours.