Effect of third-stage heat treatments on microstructure and properties of dual-phase titanium alloy

Abstract

Two-phase TC21 titanium alloy samples were solution-treated at 990◦ C (β phase zone) and cooled by furnace cooling (FC), air cooling (AC), and water quenching (WQ), respectively. The second solution stage treatment was carried out at 900◦ C (α + β phase zone), then aging treatment was performed at 590◦ C. The influence of the size and quantity of the α phase on the properties of the sample were studied. The experimental results showed as the cooling rate increased after the first solution stage treatment, wherein the thickness of primary layer α gradually decreased, and the tensile strength and yield strength gradually increased. After the second solution stage treatment, the tensile properties of samples increased due to the quantity of layers α increased. The aging treatment promoted the precipitation of the dispersed α phase and further improved the tensile strength. After the third solution stage treatments, the FC samples with more β-phase had the best comprehensive mechanical properties.