Effect of carbon on high temperature compressive and creep properties of β-stabilized TiAl alloy

Carbon is an important alloying element in improving high temperature mechanical properties of various metallic materials. The effects of carbon on high temperature mechanical properties of a beta-stabilized Ti-45Al-3Fe-2Mo (molar fraction, %) alloy were studied through compressive and creep tests. The results show that the carbon addition (0.5%, molar fraction) obviously enhances the high temperature compressive strength and creep resistance of the beta-stabilized Ti-45Al-3Fe-2Mo alloy. A lot of nano-scaled Ti3AlC carbides precipitate in the beta-stabilized alloy and these carbides pin the dislocations, and greatly increase the high temperature properties. At the same time, the carbon addition decreases the amount of. phase, refines the lamellar spacing, and causes solution strengthening, which also contribute to the improvement of the high temperature properties.