The Effect of Oxygen on the Phase Composition and Heat Treatment Behavior of Ti-V Alloys
Titanium and its alloys possess high specific strength, excellent corrosion resistance and good biocompatibility [1] [2]. Since oxygen is an unavoidable impurity in such materials, it has been adopted as an alloying element in the development of low-cost titanium alloys. Therefore, it is important to investigate the role of oxygen in these alloys, especially in β-type alloys. In the present study, the effects of oxygen on the electrical resistivity, Vickers hardness and heat treatment behavior of a Ti-20mass%V alloy which is the lowest concentration for which the fully retained β phase is obtained were assessed. The electrical resistivity and Vickers hardness of solution-treated and quenched specimens increased with increasing oxygen content, due to the dissolution of oxygen into the β phase and solid solution hardening, respectively. Upon isothermal aging at 673 K, the addition of O accelerated a-phase precipitation. The addition of O was found to suppress the appearance of the athermal ω phase in the solution-treated and quenched state.