Effect of oxide layers formed by thermal oxidation on mechanical properties and NaCl-induced hot corrosion behavior of TC21 Ti-alloy

Abstract

In the current study on TC21 Ti-alloy (6.5Al–3Mo–1.9Nb–2.2Sn–2.2Zr–1.5Cr), the thermal oxidation formed oxide layers that considerably influenced mechanical properties (hardness and wear). TC21 specimens were oxidized at 600, 700, 800, and 900 °C for 5, 20, and 50 h. NaCl-induced hot corrosion testing was carried out on raw (un-oxidized) and oxidized specimens at 600 and 800 °C for 50 h. The cyclic testing was performed at 600 °C for durations of 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 h. The average thickness of the layer grew with increasing oxidation time and temperature. A thin oxide layer (average 0.16 µm) was generated by oxidation at a temperature of 600 °C for a duration of 5 h, and at 800 °C, a large oxide layer of 10.8 µm thickness was formed. The most significant surface hardness of 1000 ± 150 HV0.05 was produced for the layer oxidized at 900 °C. On the other hand, the lowest hardness of 360 ± 150 HV0.05 was recorded for the raw materials. Best wear resistance had been achieved for specimens oxidized at 800 °C. During NaCl hot corrosion test, the weight loss of the raw specimen was 6.4 mg/cm2 due to the flaking off of the corrosion product. However, for specimens oxidized at 600 °C for 50 h, weight loss after corrosion testing was 0.54 mg/cm2, less than that of the specimen before corrosion. Oxidized specimens at 800 °C exhibited the best mechanical characteristics and corrosion resistance.