Investigation of the Microstructure and Strengthening Mechanisms of Ti-6Cu-8Nb-xCr3C2 Alloy through Vacuum Sintering Process

• Published in: Archives of metallurgy and materials Vol. 67; no. 3; pp. 815 - 825
• Main Authors: Chang, Shih-Hsien, Weng, Chen-Yu, Huang, Kuo-Tsung, Liang, Cheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Polish; English
• Published: Warsaw Polish Academy of Sciences 2022
• Subjects: Biocompatibility; Chemical elements; Corrosion potential; Corrosion resistance; Creep rupture strength; Density; Dispersion hardening alloys; Dispersion strengthening; ebsd; Electrodes; Flexural strength; Grain growth; hardness; Intermetallic compounds; Mechanical properties; Microscopy; Niobium carbide; Polyvinyl alcohol; Powder metallurgy; Precipitation hardening; Sintering; Sintering (powder metallurgy); Solid solutions; Solution strengthening; Specific gravity; ti-6cu-8nb-cr3c2 alloy; Titanium alloys; Titanium base alloys; Titanium carbide; Transplants & implants; transverse rupture strength; Vacuum sintering
• ISSN: 2300-1909; 1733-3490; 2300-1909
• DOI: 10.24425/amm.2022.139671

This study mixes four different powders to produce Ti-6Cu-8Nb-xCr3C2 (x = 1, 3, and 5 mass%) alloys in three different proportions. The experimental results reveal that when 5 mass% Cr3C2 was added to the Ti-6Cu-8Nb alloys, the specimen possessed optimal mechanical properties after sintering at 1275°C for 1 h. The relative density reached 98.23%, hardness was enhanced to 67.8 HRA, and the transverse rupture strength (TRS) increased to 1821.2 MPa, respectively. The EBSD results show that the added Cr3C2 in situ decomposed into TiC and NbC during the sintering process, and the generated intermetallic compounds (Ti2Cu) were evenly dispersed in the Ti matrix. Furthermore, the reduced Cr atom acts as a β-phase stabilizing element and solid-solution in the Ti matrix. Consequently, the main strengthening mechanisms of the Ti-6Cu-8Nb-xCr3C2 alloys include dispersion strengthening, solid-solution strengthening, and precipitation hardening.