Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of TiAl-Based Alloys Prepared by High-Energy Ball Milling and Hot-Pressing Sintering

Abstract

TiAl-based alloy with a composition of Ti-47%Al-3%Cr (mole fraction) was prepared by high-energy ball milling and hot-pressing sintering. The relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-47%Al-3%Cr alloy was studied by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical testing. The results showed that the TiAl-based alloy with high density and uniform microstructure could be obtained by high-energy ball milling and hot-pressing sintering. The compactibility and sintering densification of the element powder could be promoted efficiently by high-energy ball milling. The main phase TiAl and few phases Ti3Al were observed in the hot pressing sintering bulk samples. In addition, the microstructure changed with ball milling times, as a result, the mechanical properties changed with the microstructure. The finer the microstructure was, the higher the strength at room temperature became. After the element powder was milled for 20 hours and hot-pressing sintered at 1300 °C for 2 hours, TiAl-based alloys were found to have good room temperature mechanical properties with the compressive strength of 2870 Mpa and the relative compressive ratio of 27.3%. Keywords: TiAl-based alloys; hot-pressing sintering; microstructure; mechanical properties