Generation of Microstructural Gradients for Improved Mechanical Properties via Thermo-Hydrogen Treatment of the Metastable Beta Titanium Alloys Beta C^TM and Ti 10V-2Fe-3Al

Institut für Werkstofftechnik, Universität Siegen, Germany

Abstract

Structural components must be lightweight and produced resource-saving while still fulfil the increasing durability and reliability requirements. One approach to fulfil these requests is a temporary hydrogen charging of Ti-alloys, which generates lattice distortion and hydrides. The volume difference between hydride precipitates and the alloy matrix results in localized plastic deformation. This triggers recrystallization and enables a finer microstructure as attainable by a conventional heat treatment. The study aims at an elaboration of a thermo-hydrogen treatment that establishes a change in grain size and/or an alteration in distribution and morphology of strengthening secondary α precipitates as a function of the distance to surface (microstructural gradient). The gradient is based on a gradient of the hydride volume fraction. Generally, THT design requires kinetic (temperature dependency of the hydrogen diffusion coefficient D_H) in addition to thermodynamic (H/β-Ti-alloy interaction) data, which has been obtained for Ti 3Al-8V-6Cr-4Mo-4Zr and Ti 10V-2Fe-3Al. Subsequent to a solution treatment the variation of hydrogenation time and temperature is operated to establish comparably slight microstructural gradients on these materials. For further investigations it is concluded that materials with less alloying elements ((α+β)-Ti-alloys (e.g.,Ti 6Al-4V)) than these β-Ti-alloys can satisfy the requirements to generate steeper microstructural gradients even better.