High temperature deformation behavior of a nanocrystalline titanium aluminide

Abstract

Gamma titanium intermetallic alloys are potentially attractive for elevated temperature applications. The room temperature ductility and fracture toughness have been improved considerably by the addition of ternary and quaternary elements. The synthesis of nanocrystalline materials has provided further avenues for possible improvement in the mechanical properties. The exciting prospect of low temperature superplasticity in nanocrystalline materials has been discussed. Recently, nanocrystalline {gamma}-TiAl alloys have been synthesized by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) of mechanically alloyed (MA) Ti-47.5 Al-3 Cr (at.%) powders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility of observing low temperature superplasticity in this nanocrystalline alloy. By determining the stress exponent for flow, it should be possible to comment on the micromechanism of deformation in a nanocrystalline intermetallic alloy. A number of studies have shown that superplasticity is possible in {gamma}-TiAl alloys and it is important to establish whether the scaling law extends to nanocrystalline {gamma}-TiAl regime or the flow behavior changes.