Phase transformation and deformation behavior of a TiAl–Nb composite under quasi-static and dynamic loadings

Abstract

To improve the high-temperature deformability of TiAl intermetallics, a TiAl–Nb intermetallic matrix composite was prepared by powder metallurgy to try to introduce the deformable β phase. The microstructure and deformation behavior of the TiAl–Nb intermetallic matrix composite under quasi-static and dynamic conditions were systematically investigated. It is found that the microstructure of the composite is composed of a near-gamma TiAl matrix and Nb-rich regions. In the Nb-rich regions a coexistence of βo, ωo and γ phases was identified where ωo and γ phases were supposed to directly precipitate in the βo matrix. The ultimate tensile strength of the composite exhibits different temperature-dependent behaviors under quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions. It increases with temperatures up to 650 °C and then declines with temperature under quasi-static loading, while it does not decrease from 650 to 850 °C under the dynamic loading. In the deformed microstructures, the Nb-rich regions at all conditions are still composed of βo, ωo and γ phases, indicating that the solvus temperature of the ωo phase could be above 850 °C. Additionally, the TiAl matrix appears to not significantly contribute to the plastic deformation of the composite, where the propensity of dislocations and mechanical twins do not significantly change when varying loading conditions. However, the γ particles formed in Nb-rich regions contain substantial mechanical twins and dislocations under both quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions. Thus, the γ particles directly transformed from the βo phase exhibit better deformability than the γ phase in the matrix. This could be probably explained by a decreased stacking fault energy for the newly formed γ phase due to a decrease in Al fraction and a significant increase in Nb fraction. Meanwhile, twin intersections occurred in the γ particles, and the induced stress concentration in the intersection regions was relieved by lattice distortion and detwinning processes. This twin intersection behavior could be beneficial for improving the composite strength without sacrificing much ductility.