A general model for the crystal structure of orthorhombic martensite in Ti alloys

The present work develops a novel unified approach to describe the crystal structure of orthorhombic martensite (α′′) in Ti alloys independent of chemical composition. By employing a straightforward yet highly instructive solid sphere model for the basic tetrahedral structural unit the crystal structures involved in the β ↔ α′′/α′ martensitic transformation are categorized into several intermediate configurations. Importantly, a new metric is introduced, δ, which unambiguously characterizes the atomic positions inside the orthorhombic unit cell depending on unit-cell geometry. Furthermore, the exclusive use of relative quantities to describe unit-cell geometry and atom positions renders the approach developed herein independent of alloy content. In this way, shortcomings of commonly suggested structural metrics for α′′ are eliminated. Subsequently, the novel methodology is applied to analyse and compare the crystal structure of α′′ across a broad range of Ti alloys based on experimentally measured unit-cell parameters. From this analysis it emerges that a large fraction of structural configurations along the b.c.c.–Cmcm–h.c.p. transformation path is not observed in quenched alloys. The threshold between the not-observed and the remaining well observed configurations is identified with an ideal Cmcm crystal structure, relative to which the experimentally found α′′ is compressed along its c axis.

Microstructural and Thermo-Mechanical Characterization of Cast NiTiCu20 Shape Memory Alloy

Among NiTi-based alloys, one of the most promising and exploited alloys is NiTiCu, since the addition of Cu in substitution of Ni in the binary equiatomic NiTi has a significant influence on the martensitic transformation and the thermomechanical properties of the system. A high content of Cu improves the damping properties at the expense of phase homogeneity and workability. The present study focuses on an alloy with a high copper content, i.e., 20 at.%. For this specific composition, the correlation between the thermal treatments, microstructure, formation of secondary phases, and damping properties are investigated by several analyses. The microscopic observation, together with the compositional analysis, allowed the determination of four different phases in the alloy. Both the calorimetry and dynamic thermo mechanical measurements, which confirmed the high damping ability of the alloy, provided a characterization of the martensitic transition. Finally, the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis detected the different crystallographic structures (i.e., cubic austenite, orthorhombic martensite, and cubic (face-centered) NiTi2) and their orientation in the different phases. Therefore, the present work aims to improve the knowledge of the role of secondary phases in the optimization of the NiTiCu20 alloy as a valuable alternative to typical alloys used for damping purposes.

Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Tensile Property of Ti-6Al-6V-2Sn Alloy

The microstructure and tensile properties of Ti-6Al-6V-2Sn alloy heat-treated at different solution and aging temperatures has been systematically investigated. Specimens were solution-treated at 970 °C (above the β transus) and 920 °C (below the β transus), respectively, followed by water quenching. When the alloy is quenched from 970 °C, α’ (hcp) and α˝ (orthorhombic) martensite phases co-exist in the microstructure. When it is quenched from 920 °C, α´ martensite phase does not form, while equiaxial primary α (αp) phase and α˝ are found in the microstructure. The results also show that the strength of the alloy increases but the ductility deteriorates as the solution temperature becomes higher when the aging treatment is unchanged. This is because the volume fraction of equiaxial αp phase is lower but the volume fraction of the acicular secondary α (αs) phase is higher for higher solution temperature. When the alloy is aged at different temperatures after the solution treatment at 900 °C, the strength of the alloy decreases with the increase of aging temperature and the ductility shows the opposite trend as the size of the acicular αs becomes longer and its volume fraction is lower at higher aging temperature.

Continuous Electron Beam Post-Treatment of EBF3-Fabricated Ti–6Al–4V Parts

In the present study, the methods of optical, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy as well as X-ray diffraction analysis gained insights into the mechanisms of surface finish and microstructure formation of Ti–6Al–4V parts during an EBF3-process. It was found that the slip band propagation within the outermost surface layer provided dissipation of the stored strain energy associated with martensitic transformations. The latter caused the lath fragmentation as well as precipitation of nanosized β grains and an orthorhombic martensite α″ phase at the secondary α lath boundaries of as-built Ti–6Al–4V parts. The effect of continuous electron beam post-treatment on the surface finish, microstructure, and mechanical properties of EBF3-fabricated Ti–6Al–4V parts was revealed. The brittle outermost surface layer of the EBF3-fabricated samples was melted upon the treatment, resulting in the formation of equiaxial prior β grains of 20 to 30 μm in size with the fragmented acicular α′ phase. Electron-beam irradiation induced transformations within the 70 μm thick molten surface layer and 500 μm thick heat affected zone significantly increased the Vickers microhardness and tensile strength of the EBF3-fabricated Ti–6Al–4V samples.

Parameters Evolution of Orthorhombic Martensite Lattice in VT16 Titanium Alloy During Heating

.

Development of Low-Cost Titanium-Manganese Shape Memory Alloys

Ti alloys are attractive materials for such applications, they are expensive due to the costly alloying elements such as Nb or Mo. The present authors have adopted Mn as a low-cost alloying element, and melted Ti-7, 7.5 and 8 mass%Mn-1.5 and 3mass%Al alloys using a laboratory-scale arc furnace. All specimens prepared from bottom ingots were heat treated at 1223 K for 3.6 ks and quenched in ice water. In the 7 and 7.5Mn-Al alloys, the β phase and orthorhombic martensite were identified using X-ray diffraction. In the 8Mn-Al alloys, only the β phase was identified. In the 7, 7.5, and 8Mn-Al alloys, the electrical resistivity at room and liquid nitrogen temperature increased with increasing Al content due to dissolution of Al into the β phase, whereas the Vickers hardness decreased with increasing Al content due to decreasing formation of athermal omega by the addition of Al. Heat treatment at 673 K for 60 s almost completely returned deformed Ti-7 and 7.5Mn-3Al specimens to their original shapes, and heat treatment at 773 K for 60 s almost returned deformed Ti-8Mn-Al specimens to their original shapes.

Abnormal Behavior of Lattice Spacing of Titanium Orthorhombic Martensite

Samples of VT23 β-metastable titanium alloy quenched from temperatures in a range between critical and β-transus were studied in situ during heating on X-ray diffractometer. The anisotropy of orthorhombic martensite lattice was investigated. Abnormal behavior of «b» lattice spacing, which demonstrated a negative value of thermal expansion, has been revealed.