Synthesis and high-temperature stability of titanium aluminide matrixin situ composites

Abstract

A premixture of elemental powders of titanium and aluminum was supplied as a spray material for the direct fabrication of titanium aluminide matrixin situ composites by means of reactive low-pressure plasma spraying with a nitrogen and hydrogen mixed plasma gas. The aluminum content varied from 10 to 63 wt.% in the premixtures. The matrix of sprayed layers consisted of three kinds of titanium aluminides—Ti3A1, TiAl, and TiAl3—which begin to form on a low-carbon steel substrate immediately after deposition. The formation of nitrides, which act as a reinforcement, occurs both during the flight of liquid droplets and on the substrate. The nitrogen content is approximately 4 to 5 wt.% in the sprayed intermetallic matrix composites, regardless of the aluminum content of the premixtures. The kinds of titanium aluminides andin situ nitrides developed depend on the aluminum content of the premixtures. The homogeneity of the distribution of aluminum and titanium in sprayed intermetallic matrix composites has been improved by vacuum annealing. The predominant TiAl phase that formed in the sprayed intermetallic matrix composites with a Ti-36 wt.% AI premixture increases in quantity through annealing. Although some minor nitrides disappear through annealing, the principal reinforcement, Ti2AlN, does not decompose, but increases in quantity. The hardness of sprayed intermetallic matrix composites varies with aluminum content of the premixtures, but is always greater than that of sprayed titanium aluminides containing no nitrides. Annealing does not reduce the hardness of sprayed intermetallic matrix composites. Sprayed and annealed intermetallic matrix composites with a Ti-36 wt.% Al premixture maintain their hardness of approximately 500 HV up to 800 K. Hence, reactive low-pressure plasma spraying offers a promising fabrication method for titanium aluminide matrixin situ composites, which are expected to excel in wear resistance applications at elevated temperatures.