Gamma Ti-Al Alloy Production for Aerospace Applications

Gamma-TiAl alloys are potential replacements for nickel alloys and conventional titanium alloys in hot sections of turbine engines, as well as in orbital platform vehicles. The combination of high specific stiffness and good oxidation resistance at intermediate temperatures can provide significant weight savings. However, they have a limited plasticity at room temperature and the tendency to brittle fracture. Powder metallurgy is a near net shape process that allows the parts production with complex geometry at low costs. An improved plasticity of the Ti-Al alloys is received by adding alloying elements and by microstructure modification. An alloy of two-phase structure Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb (at.%) was investigated using the blended elemental technique. Samples were produced by mixing of initial metallic powders followed by uniaxial and cold isostatic pressing with subsequent densification by sintering between 1100-1400°C, in vacuum. It was shown that the samples presented a two-phase structure consisting of lamellar colonies of alternating layers of gamma and alpha-2 phase, with high porosity.