Intermetallic Ti-xAl-8Nb（x = 41,43,45,47,49;at%） alloys were solidified unidirectionally upwards with a constant temperature gradient of G=3.8 K·mm^（-1）at wide range of growth rates of v=10-400 μm·s^（-1）using a Bridgman directional solidification（DS） furnace.Microstructural parameters including the primary dendrite arm spacing（λ_1）,secondary dendrite arm spacing（λ_2）,dendrite tip radius（R） and mushy zone depth（d） were measured statistically.The values of λ_1,λ_2,R and d decrease as the growth rate increases for a given composition（x）.The values of λ_1,λ_2,R and v increase with the increase in x value,while the value of d firstly increases and then decreases with the increase in x value for a given v.The relationships between λ_1,λ_2 and R were analyzed by the linear regression.The average growth rate exponent of λ_1 is 0.29,which is in accordance with the previous experimental observations,and that of λ_2 is close to the previous experimental results,while those of R and d are lower than the results in other alloy systems.In addition,theoretical models for λ_1,λ_2 and R were compared with the experimental observations,and a comparison of the present experimental results with the theoretical models and previous experimental results was also made.
Li-Wei ZhangJun-Pin LinXiang-Jun XuJian-Ping HeXian-Fei DingXiao-Ou Jin
Microstructure instabilities of the fully lamellar Ti-45Al-8.5Nb-（W,B,Y） alloy were investigated by SEM and TEM after long-term thermal cycling（500 and 1000 thermal cycles） at 900 °C. Two major categories of microstructure instability were produced in the alloy after the thermal cycling： 1） The discontinuous coarsening implies that grain boundary migrations are inclined to occur in the Al-segregation region after the long-term thermal cycling, especially after 1000 thermal cycles. Al-segregation can be reduced during the process of long-term thermal cycling as a result of element diffusion; 2） The α2 lamellae become thinner and are broken after 1000 thermal cycles caused by the dissolution of α2 lamellae through phase transformation of α2→γ. The γ grains nucleate within the α2 lamellae or（α2＋γ） lamellae in a random direction.
A TiAl alloy from pulverized rapidly solidified ribbons with the composition of Ti-46Al-2Cr-4Nb-0.3Y（mole fraction,%） was processed by spark plasma sintering（SPS）.The effects of sintering temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties were studied.The results show that the microstructure and phase constitution vary with sintering temperature.Sintering the milled powders at 1200 ℃ produces fully dense compact.Higher sintering temperature does not improve the densification evidently.The dominant phases are γ and α2 in the bulk alloys sintered at 1200 ℃.With higher sintering temperature,the fraction of α2 phase decreases and the microstructure changes from equiaxed near γ grain to near lamellar structure,together with a slight coarsening.The bulk alloy sintered at 1260 ℃ with refined and homogeneous near lamellar structure reveals the best overall mechanical properties.The compressional fracture stress and compression ratio are 2984 MPa and 41.5%,respectively,at room temperature.The tensile fracture stress and ductility are 527.5 MPa and 5.9%,respectively,at 800 ℃.
γ-TiAl alloys,including two categories（the conventional TiAl and the high Nb-containing TiAl（high Nb-TiAl））,are technologically intriguing because of their applications at high temperatures.Specifically,the service temperature of the high Nb-TiAl alloys is 60-100℃higher than that of conventional TiAl alloys.Recently developed TiAl alloys,for example TNB,TNM,β-γ alloys,belong to the high Nb-TiAl alloys,displaying similar behavior in phase transformation,strengthening,oxidation at high temperatures,and relationships between composition,microstructure,and mechanical properties.This work presents an in-depth review of the high Nb-TiAl alloys regarding the advances in phase diagram,formation mechanism of the new γ_1 phase,microsegregation induced by adding a high content of alloying element Nb,and the mechanism of the B2/ω phase formation.Some challenges in developing the high Nb-TiAl alloys are also discussed.
In the present study, Ti-45Al-(6, 7, 8)Nb(at%) and Ti-45Al-8Nb-0.5(Mn, Si, Y, B) alloys were prepared by arc melting and casting into Zr O2(Y2O3 stabilized) ceramic moulds to study the effect of alloying elements Nb and Mn, Si, Y, B on the interfacial reaction between casting Ti Al alloys and ceramic moulds by SEM, and the elements' distribution in the interface reaction layer by line scanning. The results showed that with an increase in Nb content, the interfacial reaction weakened and the thickness of the reaction layer decreased gradually. The interface reaction thickness of the alloys with Nb content of 6, 7, 8at% were 60, 34 and 26 μm, respectively. Clearly, the addition of 8at% Nb to Ti-45 Al is the best for the thickness of the reaction layer. The addition of Nb would form a Nb-rich film in the reaction layer, which could reduce the solubility of oxygen in the interface, and suppress further diffusion of oxygen to the matrix. If the same content of Mn, Si, Y, or B alloying elements were added respectively to Ti-45Al-8Nb, the thickness of the interface reaction layer from large to small was as follows: Mn>Si>Y>B. The interface reaction thickness increased after 0.5at% Mn added, had no obvious change after 0.5at% Si addition, and decreased after adding 0.5at% Y or B. The introduced elements, which formed a protective film or/and promoted the formation of a dense aluminum oxide layer, would be of benefit to the resistance of interfacial reaction.
Liang YangWen-bin KanYou-wei ZhangChun-ling BaoShi-bing LiuJun-pin Lin
