TITANIUM AND 1TS ALLOYS

PROPERTIES

AND

HEAT

TREATMENT

OF

Ti-

Fe

AND

Ti - Fe - At ALLOYS
V. N.

Mofseev

UDC

620.17:621.78:669.295'7h546.72

We i n v e s t i g a t e d b i n a r y a l l o y s of the T i - Fe s y s t e m containing 0.5, 2, 4, 9, 12, and 15% F e and a l s o T i - F e a l l o y s with 3% At. The a l l o y s w e r e p r e p a r e d f r o m t i t a n i u m sponge (Vb=38 kg/mm2), e l e c t r o l y t i c iron, and A-00 a l u m i n u m . The a l l o y s w e r e m e l t e d in a vacuum a r c f u r n a c e with c o n s u m a b l e e l e c t r o d e s and p o u r e d in ingots 120 m m in d i a m e t e r weighing about 6 kg. The c h e m i c a l c o m p o s i t i o n of the ingots is given in Table 1. Rods 12 m m in d i a m e t e r w e r e p r e p a r e d f r o m the ingots. The i n i t i a l f o r g i n g t e m p e r a t u r e s w e r e in the ]3-region (1050~ and the finishing t e m p e r a t u r e s in the a + l ? - r e g i o n (800-750~ with d e f o r m a t i o n at l e a s t 50% at t e m p e r a t u r e s below the c++ fi-.~fl t r a n s f o r m a t i o n . A l l o y s of t i t a n i u m with 12 and 15% F e with and without aluminum f r a c t u r e d in the g r a i n b o u n d a r i e s during hot working. The b r i t t l e n e s s of t h e s e a l l o y s containing a l a r g e amount of i r o n is e v i d e n t l y due to e u t e c t o i d d e c o m position. The m e c h a n i c a l p r o p e r t i e s in t e n s i o n w e r e d e t e r m i n e d with G a g a r i n s a m p l e s p r e p a r e d f r o m the r o d s 12 mm in d i a m e t e r . H i g h - t e m p e r a t u r e heat t r e a t m e n t s w e r e conducted on the blanks (annealing and quenching), and aging on the finished s a m p l e s . The h a r d n e s s was m e a s u r e d on p o l i s h e d m i c r o s e c t i o n s of the r o d s 12 m m in d i a m e t e r . %, kg F . . . . v - - ~ ..... -+ + /ram+ / / ~ .... i ' - F i g u r e 1 shows the v a r i a t i o n of the m e c h a n i c a l p r o p e r t i e s with I i '-'~z ,g-~":~% I the i r o n content for the annealed T i - F e and T i - F e - A l a l l o y s . The a l l o y s w e r e annealed 1 h at 800 and 900~ and cooled in the f u r n a c e at ! :>ff ) / / / z I I \\[ the r a t e of 2-4 d e g / m i n .
58 IJ ~ ' -i-|

With i n c r e a s i n g i r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s the s t r e n g t h i n c r e a s e s and the p l a s t i c i t y d e c r e a s e s . A l l o y s with 3% AI have a h i g h e r s t r e n g t h than the b i n a r y T i - F e a l l o y s . An i n c r e a s e of annealing t e m p e r a t u r e from 800 to 900~ is a c c o m p a n i e d by slight changes in the s t r e n g t h and p l a s t i c i t y of the T i - Fe and T i - F e - A I a l l o y s . The m e c h a n i c a l p r o p e r t i e s of the a l l o y s a f t e r w a t e r quenching f r o m 700-1000~ with holding 1 h, a r e shown in Fig. 2. In the T i - Fe
TABLE 1

+e ~ - - . - + - - - - - ' - - - 4 - - ~

Ingot No.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Composition, %
Fe AZ
-

0,56
2,10 4,00 8,80 11,23 15,60 0,56 2,06 4,00

o,5

t? % F e

Fig. 1. V a r i a t i o n of m e c h a n i cal p r o p e r t i e s with i r o n content of T i - F e and T i - F e - A I a l l o y s a n n e a l e d at 800 (1) and 900~ (2). @ - - @ ) T i - F e ; e--o) ri- Fe-AI.

10 11 12

8,55 11,15 14.65

-----2,87 2,92 2,91

2,88

2,99

2,75

Note: T h e i m p u r i t i e s w e r e 0.04-0.06% S i , 0 . 0 3 - 0 . 0 4 % C, 0 . 0 8 - 0 . 0 9 % O; and 0 . 0 1 -

0.02% N.

T r a n s l a t e d f r o m M e t a l l o v e d e n i e i T e r m i c h e s k a y a Obrabotka Metallov, No. 5, pp. 2-7, May, 1969.

335

%, o0,z, kg/mm2
_ ---]

3,

730 120 r~O 10O 9O 8O

7O 60 5O ~0

r
50'
~0 'SJ :Z')

~5~ 1.~o r30 ~20 710

lo~O ,

'

. --

10 0

[-60 50

gO eJb

O0 3t;'
ZO

eel
50 700 800 e

70

o,~ __
900" lOOO700 800 900 1000 700

CO
800 gO0
1000 700

800

gO0

0
~

g
Quenching temperature

Fig. 2. Mechanical p r o p e r t i e s of T i - F e and T i - F e - A 1 alloys in r e lation to quenching t e m p e r a t u r e , a) 0.5% Fe; b) 2% Fe; c) 4% Fe; d) 9% Fe; e) 0.5% F e + 3 % AI; f) 2% F e + 3 % A 1 ; g) 4% F e + 3 % AI;

h) 9% Fe+ 3% At.

and T t - F e - A I alloys not quenched to /?-phase (0.5 and 2.0% Fe) an i n c r e a s e of quenching t e m p e r a t u r e in the (~ + fi-reg[on induces a slight i n c r e a s e of the strength and d e c r e a s e of plasticity, which is due to the f o r m a t i o n of m a r t e n s i t i c a ' - p h a s e . An i n c r e a s e of the quenching t e m p e r a t u r e in the fi-region is a c c o m p a n i e d by a reduction of strength and plasticity as the r e s u l t of intensive growth of m t c r o g r a i n s . In alloys with 4% Fe an i n c r e a s e of the quenching t e m p e r a t u r e s h a r p l y r e d u c e s the plasticity, evidently due to the f o r m a t i o n of w-phase in alloys of the c r i t i c a l composition, t . e . , in alloys where the m a r t e n s t tic t r a n s f o r m a t i o n t e m p e r a t u r e is close to r o o m t e m p e r a t u r e . In alloys of s u p e r c r i t i c a l composition with 9% Fe the /3-phase is fixed by w a t e r quenching and in the alloy with aluminum a c e r t a i n quantity of w-phase is fixed in quenching f r o m high t e m p e r a t u r e s . The alloys with 12 and 15% Fe a r e brittle a f t e r quenching. By c o m p a r i s o n with titanium alloys containing other 3-stabilizing elements, in the T i - F e and T i - F e - A I alloys t h e r e is only slight m a r t e n s [ t i c decomposition of the m e t a s t a b l e /%phase under s t r e s s , which is manifest in the g r e a t e r difference between the ultimate strength and yield strength o f s a m p t e s quenched f r o m the c r i t i c a l t e m p e r a t u r e . A slight effect of /?-phase decomposition during d e f o r m a t i o n of the s a m p l e s was noted only in the Ti - 3 % A1-2% Fe alloy quenched f r o m 850~ The effect of different quenching and aging conditions on the m e c h a n i c a l p r o p e r t i e s of the alloys was also determined. The s a m p l e s w e r e w a t e r quenched f r o m t e m p e r a t u r e s 50~ below and above the (~ +/3 :~- fi-region, but not below 730~ (Fig. 3). The s a m p l e s w e r e aged at 300, 400, 500, and 600~ for 0.25, 1, 4, 16, and 64 h with subsequent cooling in a i r .

336

30 I I l illllL~OO'~llII~llS~O'~ia ,.. wai'& I

o~~ w ~ . ~
g 3~ 27 23 N f5
11

I J IIIIIIH I IIIIJlJl II111

38 I I IIIlllll ~ [~JJlll~ I Il!lllU I IHI

[I !!!!!!! !!J!JF!! J!!!!

30 30 26 22 78
I ri-gFr ~

L... ~ I ]ltltll h,,~t~l[lll~

I II ~l-[]]]lln

l Illl I I[ll

,water

"

4film (llil

02 38 3O 50 .2 38 ' 3' 0

o c Aging time

~I

518

Fig. 3. Effect of quenching temperature and aging conditions on the hardness of Ti- Fe and Ti- Fe-AL alloys.

shown

The hardness in Fig. 3.

of the Ti-Fe

and Ti-Fe-AI

alloys in relation to the quenching and aging conditions is

In alloys of subcritical composition, containing up to 4% Fe, the hardness after quenching is high due to the presence of the martensitic ~'-phase. Subsequent aging at 300-600~ is accompanied by considerable reduction of the hardness due to the transformation of ~'-phase to the equilibrium ~ +fi-condition, or a slight increase of hardness due to precipitation hardening. In alloys of supercritical composition, containing over 4% Fe, the soft metastable fi-phase is fixed by quenching. Subsequent aging is accompanied by its decomposition and precipitation hardening, coalescence of the dispersed particles, and softening, which is most notable at 500 and 600~ In alloys of the critical composition, containing about 4% Fe, the ~'-, /3-, and w-phases may be fixed, depending on the quenching temperature and the aluminum content. Therefore subsequent aging may be accompanied by an increase or decrease of hardness. Figure 4 shows the variation of the mechanical properties of rods quenched below the (~ +/3 ~ S-region in relation to the aging temperature (16 h). from temperatures 50~

337

Ob,

kg/mm2

s,r ~,
MI@ 2 quench'ed from 820~
\

"alloy 1 qu ~ns
120
fig ~

'from 850~

lO0 go 80 70 60,q 5O 40

~~.

\ O0 3~ 20

1SO

Alloy7 quenched Trom 880~

alloy queneied
~rom 850~

130 120
110 ' 100 #8 80

/)tt
Alloyi0 ---- quenched from 760~ i \ \

/,
100 400 900 600

[ [ 5g 03 I 30 20
1o

80
0

.~gO *OO 500 600 0

3r

400 5#g 600 #

309 ,~00 ggO ~

Aging temperature Fig. 4. Effect of aging t e m p e r a t u r e on the mechanical p r o p e r t i e s of T i - Fe and T i - F e - A I alloys quenched from the ~ +/?-region.

Fig. 5. M i c r o s t r u c t u r e of T i - Fe alloys after different heat t r e a t m e n t s ( 500). a) Ti + 2% Fe quenched from 820~ 1 h, water; b) Ti + 2% Fe, quenched from 920~ 1 h, water; c) Ti+ 4% Fe, quenched from 790~ 1 h, water; d) Ti+4% Fe, quenched from 890~ t h, w a t e r ; e) Ti + 4% Fe, quenched f r o m 890~ 1 h, water, aged at 600~ 16 h.

338

o b, kg/mm2
,~

20~

/20

~ ~"'~-'
/550

00 20 8%

~ 550

fo o/J y 4,

4,50"~ 9 a

P 72 0,5 2 4, b g re%

Fig. 6. Variation of s h o r t - t e r m strength at different t e m p e r a t u r e s with the Fe content of T i - F e (a) and T i - F e - A I alloys (b). 9 Annealed; 9 8) quenched.

As can be seen, the ultimate strength of T i - Fe and T i - F e - A I alloys in the t h e r m a l l y hardened c o n dition i n c r e a s e s with the Fe content. With 9% Fe the alloys a r e e m b r i t t l e d a f t e r quenching and aging. The u l t i m a t e strength is highest in the alloys aged at t e m p e r a t u r e s around 400~ Metallographic examination of the alloys showed that the c h a r a c t e r of the s t r u c t u r a l changes in r e l a tion to the composition and heat t r e a t m e n t is s i m i l a r to that in alloys of titanium with other fi-stabilizing e l e m e n t s (Cr, Mn, Mo, etc.). After w a t e r quenching f r o m the ~ +fi-region, the m i c r o s t r u c t u r e of alloys of s u b c r i t i c a l composition consists of a f i n e - g r a i n e d m i x t u r e of ~ - , fl-, and a ' - p h a s e s (Fig. 5a), while a f t e r quenching f r o m the /?-region it c o n s i s t s of l a r g e grains of a ' - p h a s e in the boundaries of d e c o m p o s i n g figrains (Fig. 5b). The m i c r o s t r u c t u r e of alloys of s u p e r c r i t i c a l composition quenched f r o m the c~ +/?-region consists of a fairly fine m i x t u r e of c~+ f i - p h a s e s (Fig. 5c), while a f t e r quenching f r o m the fi-region it c o n s i s t s of r e l a t i v e l y l a r g e grains of m e t a s t a b l e fl-phase (Fig. 5d). Subsequent aging at 300-600~ induces no substantial changes in the s t r u c t u r e of the quenched alloys of s u b c r i t i c a l composition, or alloys of s u p e r c r i t i c a l composition quenched f r o m the c~+ fi-region. Aging of the alloys of s u p e r c r i t i c a l composition quenched f r o m the fi-region is a c c o m p a n i e d by d e c o m position of the fi-phase with the o c c u r r e n c e of d i s p e r s e d p a r t i c l e s of a - p h a s e , which is c l e a r l y visible on the m i c r o g r a p h s (Fig. 5e). The m e c h a n i c a l p r o p e r t i e s of annealed and t h e r m a l l y hardened T i - Fe and T i - F e - A I alloys w e r e d e t e r m i n e d at 450 and 550~ i . e . , t e m p e r a t u r e s at which the precipitation hardening alloys weaken (Fig. 6). In the b i n a r y T i - Fe alloys containing up to 9% Fe the s h o r t - t e r m strength at 450 and 550~ is low by c o m p a r i s o n with the strength at r o o m t e m p e r a t u r e . With i n c r e a s i n g Fe concentrations in the T i - F e alloys the s h o r t - t e r m s t r e n g t h at 450 and 5500C i n c r e a s e s . In the alloy with 12% Fe the s h o r t - t e r m strength in the t h e r m a l l y hardened condition i n c r e a s e s s h a r p ly at 450 and 550~ The s h o r t - t e r m strength at 550~ is even somewhat higher than that at 450~ P r o b a b l y this is due to the eutectoid decomposition under s t r e s s in the alloy with 12% Fe at 450~
and particularly at 550~ in Ti- Fe alloys with 3% AI the short-term in the binary Ti- Fe alloys. strength in the thermally hardened strength at 550~ condition is higher than

In the alloys with 4 and 9% Fe the short-term also due to the eutectoid decomposition at 550~

is also higher than at 450 ~ C, which is

339