Phase transformation and mechanical properties of Ti-12.1Mo-1Fe alloy with nano-sized precipitation

Abstract

Microstructural characterization and aging hardening behaviors of a new designed Ti-12.1Mo-1Fe alloy during solution treatment and aging were investigated in the present study. It is well known that when β-Ti alloys are generally under solution treatment or aging, α phases and ε phases appear or disappear dependent on heat treatment temperature and holding time. It is very necessary to understand the phase transformation phenomenon and to control the microstructure because these phases can control the drastic changes of the mechanical and physical properties of these alloys. According to the calculated [Mo]eq value and the microstructural observation, the β-transus temperature was about 780°. After the solution treatment, this alloy was composed of the β-phase and the microstructure mainly consisted of the equiaxed β grains with the average size of 25 μm. ε phases which were precipitated during aging process, played a more important role to the hardening effect than α phases. The highest hardness value of Ti-12.1Mo-1Fe alloy showed in the condition of the aging temperature of 450°. The hardening due to ε-phase precipitation can lead to a high hardness about 480 Hv but the coarse α-phase result in hardness below 300 Hv.