Influence of Heat Treatments on the Microstructure of a Multi-Phase Titanium Aluminide Alloy

Intermetallic titanium aluminides are employed in aircraft engines and automobile engines because of their low density and excellent high-temperature properties. Today's TiAl-based alloys are multi-phase alloys of a complex structure which mainly consist of gamma-TiAl, alpha(2)-Ti3Al and low fractions of a beta(o)-TiAl phase. An example of such an alloy is the so-called TNM alloy which exhibit a nominal composition of Ti-43.5Al-4Nb-1Mo-0.1B (in at %). In this alloy, solidification takes place via the B-phase, with the consequence of a fine-grained and nearly segregation-free microstructure. In spite of that, the cast microstructure also contains coarser grains which can act as crack initiators at room temperature and will reduce the deformation capability during tensile tests. Within the framework of this paper, heat treatment studies were conducted on a cast and hot isostatically pressed material with the primary aim of a microstructural homogenization in order to reduce the crack-initiating microstructural components and, hence, increase its fracture elongation at room temperature. In further heat treatments, microstructures with balanced mechanical properties were adjusted.