Design, Processing, Microstructure, Properties, and Applications of Advanced Intermetallic TiAl Alloys

ABSTRACTAfter almost three decades of intensive fundamental research and development activities intermetallic titanium aluminides based on the -TiAl phase have found applications in automotive and aircraft engine industries. The advantages of this class of innovative high-temperature materials are their low density as well as their good strength and creep properties up to 750°C. A drawback, however, is their limited ductility at room temperature, which is reflected by a low plastic strain at fracture. This behavior can be attributed to a limited dislocation movement along with microstructural inhomogeneity. Advanced TiAl alloys, such as β-solidifying TNM™ alloys, are complex multi-phase materials which can be processed by ingot or powder metallurgy as well as precision casting methods. Each production process leads to specific microstructures which can be altered and optimized by thermo-mechanical processing and/or subsequent heat-treatments. The background of these heat-treatments is at least twofold, i.e. concurrent increase of ductility at room temperature and creep strength at elevated temperature. In order to achieve this goal the knowledge of the occurring solidification processes and phase transformation sequences is essential. Therefore, thermodynamic calculations were conducted to predict phase fraction diagrams of engineering TiAl alloys. After experimental verification, these phase diagrams provided the base for the development of heat treatments to adjust balanced mechanical properties. To determine the influence of deformation and kinetic aspects, sophisticated ex- and in-situ methods have been employed to investigate the evolution of the microstructure during thermo-mechanical processing and subsequent multi-step heat-treatments. For example, in-situ high-energy X-ray diffraction was conducted to study dynamic recovery and recrystallization processes during hot-deformation tests. Summarizing all results a consistent picture regarding microstructure formation and its impact on mechanical properties in TNM alloys can be given.

After almost three decades of intensive fundamental research and development activities, intermetallic titanium aluminides based on the ordered γ-TiAl phase have found applications in aircraft and automotive engine industry. The advantages of this class of innovative high-temperature materials are their low density and their good strength and creep properties up to 750°C as well as their good oxidation and burn resistance. Advanced TiAl alloys are complex multi-phase alloys which can be processed by ingot or powder metallurgy as well as precision casting methods. Each process leads to specific microstructures which can be altered and optimized by thermo-mechanical processing and/or subsequent heat treatments. The background of these heat treatments is at least twofold, i.e. concurrent increase of ductility at room temperature and creep strength at elevated temperature.

After more than 30 years of fundamental research and development activities intermetallic titanium aluminides based on the ordered γ-TiAl phase have found applications in aerospace and automotive industries. The advantages of this class of innovative high-temperature lightweight materials are their low density, their good strength and creep properties, as well as their oxidation resistance up to 750 °C. A drawback, however, is their limited ductility at room temperature, which is reflected by a low plastic strain at fracture. Advanced engineering TiAl alloys, such as the β-solidifying so-called TNM alloy with a nominal composition of Ti-43.5Al-4Nb-1Mo-0.1B (in atomic percent), are complex multi-phase materials which can be processed by ingot or powder metallurgy, precision casting methods as well as additive manufacturing. Each production process leads to specific microstructures which can be altered and optimised by thermomechanical processing and/or subsequent heat treatments, whereby the knowledge of the occurring solidification processes and phase transformation sequences is essential. Therefore, thermodynamic calculations were conducted to predict the phase fraction diagrams. After experimental verification, these phase diagrams provided the base for the development of heat treatments to adjust balanced mechanical properties. To determine the influence of deformation and kinetic aspects, sophisticated ex- and in situ methods have been employed. Finally, the application of TiAl alloys in aerospace is reported.

In-situ observation microstructure evolution and growth kinetics of lamellar γ phases in Ti44Al alloy during heat treatment

In the present study, the effect of grit blasting and subsequent heat treatment on the stress rupture properties of a third-generation nickel-based single-crystal superalloy SGX3 sheet was studied. It was found that the stress rupture life of alloy SGX3 sheet at 980 °C/250 MPa was reduced by about 60% by only vacuum heat treatment at 1100 °C for 200 h and further reduced by 20% and 70% respectively with grit blasting of 0.3 MPa/1 min and 0.5 MPa/2 min before heat treatment. The microstructure analysis results indicated that the degradation of stress rupture life of alloy SGX3 sheet by vacuum heat treatment was mainly attributed to the variation of γ/γ′ microstructure, i.e., the decrease in γ′ volume fraction and the coarsening of γ′ precipitates. Furthermore, such degradation by grit blasting and subsequent vacuum heat treatment should be attributed to the formation of cellular recrystallization with different thicknesses at the surface of alloy SGX3 sheet, which not only acts as the vulnerable site for cracks to initiate and propagate but also reduces the effective loading area.

The effect of subsequent heat treatment on the evolution behavior of second phase particles and mechanical properties of the Inconel 718 superalloy manufactured by selective laser melting

Ni-based single crystalline superalloys are used for high-pressure parts of aero-engines due to their superior mechanical properties and very good oxidation resistance at high temperature. However, shocks or unexpected mismatch in thermal contraction between molds and castings can occur during casting process and subsequent heat treatments, inducing plastic deformation of the alloy at low temperature. To mimic such events, a tensile plastic deformation is applied at room temperature on solutioned AM1 specimens and followed by standard aging heat treatments. Faster growth of the γ′ precipitates inside plastically deformed bands is obtained after full heat treatment with no lattice rotation or recrystallization. It has however been evidenced that the applied deformation has a detrimental impact on the creep properties, especially at high temperature (above 950 °C). It partly results from a highly localized failure process along former slip bands in which recrystallization is observed. The evolution of the microstructure during creep tests of prior deformed and nondeformed specimens has been thoroughly investigated to better identify under which conditions recrystallization occurs inside the bands during a creep test and by which mechanism.

Enhancing mechanical properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys: The impact of high strain rate compression and subsequent heat treatment on microstructural evolution

Microstructure and mechanical properties of fine grained uranium prepared by ECAP and subsequent intermediate heat treatment

Synthesis of Mo5SiB2 based nanocomposites by mechanical alloying and subsequent heat treatment

Purpose. Study of microstructure and phase content of Inconel 718 nickel-chromium-iron superalloy obtained via selective laser melting with subsequent hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and standard heat treatment with high-temperature homogenization and two-steps long term ageing. Research methods. Microstructure analysis and phase content investigation was carried out with optical and scanning electronic metallography on optical and electronic microscope respectively. Results. Material structure of in-built specimens are investigated that is characterized by layer-by-layer fusing in the form of arcuate lines with a presence of epitaxial growth of columnar dendrites. Strengthening of alloy is achieved after heat treatment, basically, due to intermetallic γ″- phase (with Ni3Nb type) precipitation. With metallographic investigation showed that active segregation of niobium in interdendritic spaces, provided due high crystallization rate during selective laser melting and subsequent heat treatment, lead to forming orthorhombic d- phase in alloy structure with lamellar morphology. HIP application before standard for Inconel 718 heat treatment, promotes more homogeneous structure. Scientific novelty. New data’s was obtained for phase state of Inconel 718 alloy after HIP and heat treatment. Fine structure of Ni-Cr-Fe-superalloy obtained via selective laser melting was studied. Practical value. Obtained results expands possibilities for Inconel 718 alloy application and allow to determine perspectives of practical usage of selective laser melting process for aviation parts production.

Titanium and its alloys have been widely used for orthopedic implants because of their good biocompatibility. We have previously shown that the crystalline titania layers formed on the surface of titanium metal via anodic oxidation can induce apatite formation in simulated body fluid, whereas amorphous titania layers do not possess apatite-forming ability. In this study, hot water and heat treatments were applied to transform the titania layers from an amorphous structure into a crystalline structure after titanium metal had been anodized in acetic acid solution. The apatite-forming ability of titania layers subjected to the above treatments in simulated body fluid was investigated. The XRD and SEM results indicated hot water and/or heat treatment could greatly transform the crystal structure of titania layers from an amorphous structure into anatase, or a mixture of anatase and rutile. The abundance of Ti-OH groups formed by hot water treatment could contribute to apatite formation on the surface of titanium metals, and subsequent heat treatment would enhance the bond strength between the apatite layers and the titanium substrates. Thus, bioactive titanium metals could be prepared via anodic oxidation and subsequent hot water and heat treatment that would be suitable for applications under load-bearing conditions.

Microstructure evolution during isothermal forging and subsequent heat treatment of Ti-17 alloy with a lamellar colony structure

Additively manufactured AlSi10Mg is often subject to a two-stage heat treatment, namely solid solution treatment followed by artificial aging, to achieve optimal properties. Before such heat treatments, slight surface plastic deformation may be applied to modify the surface quality and properties. However, gradients in microstructure and texture near the surface introduced by the plastic deformation may cause undesired microstructural and textural evolutions during subsequent heat treatment. In this work, we introduce plastic deformation in the surface layer in an SLM-manufactured AlSi10Mg sample by relatively low-draught cold rolling and we investigate the through-thickness variations in microstructure and texture in the deformed state and after heat treatment. The SLM-manufactured AlSi10Mg sample has a fine-scale microstructure and a weak texture, and is rather thermally stable during subsequent heat treatments. Applying 10% low-draught cold rolling to the SLM-manufactured AlSi10Mg sample is found to introduce a near Goss texture in the surface layer, while little change is observed in the center layer. After subsequent solution treatment and aging, abnormal grain growth occurred in the surface layer resulting in remarkable through thickness gradients in microstructure and texture.

Electrically active oxygen-related donors can be formed in Czochralski (Cz) Si either during crystal growth or during subsequent heat treatment; conventional n- or p-type dopant carrier concentrations are altered if these oxygen donors are present. Neutron transmutation doping (NTD) has been used to introduce a uniform concentration of 31P in Si. However, oxygen donors can also be formed in NTD Cz Si during the process of annealing to remove NTD radiation damage. In the present experiments, the carrier concentration of Cz and NTD Cz Si samples was determined as a function of the initial dopant, oxygen, and 31P concentration before and after isothermal or isochronal annealing. It is shown that low temperature (350–500°C) heat treatment can introduce a significant oxygen donor concentration in Cz Si and in NTD Cz Si that contains radiation-induced lattice defects. Intermediate temperature (550–750°C) heat treatment, which is intended to remove oxygen donors or lattice defects, can introduce other oxygen donors; annealing above 750°C is required to remove any of these oxygen donors. Extended (20 h) high-temperature (1000–1200°C) annealing can remove oxygen donors and lattice defects, but a significant concentration of oxygen donors can still be introduced by subsequent low temperature heat treatment. These results suggest that oxygen-related donor formation in NTD Cz Si at temperature below 750°C may serve to mask any annealing study of lattice defects. It is concluded that annealing for 30 min 750°C is sufficient to remove radiation damage in NTD Cz Si when the separate effects of oxygen donor formation are included.