Papers by Author: Michael Oehring

Abstract: In recent years intermetallic γ-TiAl based alloys with additional amounts of the ternary bcc β Ti(Al,Nb) phase attracted increasing attention due to their improved workability at elevated temperatures. Depending on alloy composition and heat treatment the ductile high-temperature β phase can transform to several ordered phases at lower temperatures. However, currently available phase diagrams of these multiphase alloys are quite uncertain and the precipitation kinetics of some metastable phases is far from understood. In the present study various transformation pathways of the third phase were observed in situ by means of high-energy X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation. A Ti-45Al-10Nb (at.%) specimen was subjected to a temperature ramp of repeated heating cycles (700 °C - 1100 °C) with subsequent quenching at different rates. Depending on the quenching rate reversible transformations of the B2-ordered β_o phase to different ω-related phases were observed. The results indicate that the complete transformation from β_o to hexagonal B8₂-ordered ω_o consists of two steps which are both diffusion controlled but proceed with different velocities.

Abstract: Metal injection moulding (MIM) attracts growing interest as an economic net-shape manufacturing technique for the processing of titanium and titanium alloys. Even for titanium-aluminides, intended for high-temperature applications, MIM is seen as a reasonable technique to overcome processing problems with conventional methods. In this paper, basic requirements in terms of raw materials, facilities and processing in order to produce high performance components are presented. Main focus is laid on the well-known Ti-6Al-4V alloy. It is shown that the tensile properties of specimens after MIM processing can exceed the requirements given by ASTM standards even without performing an additional HIP process. For an oxygen content ranging from 0.15 to 0.33 wt% plastic elongation yields excellent 14%. Fatigue measurements performed by means of 4-point-bending tests show that grain size is more important than residual porosity in order to achieve a high endurance limit. This is shown by addition of boron powder which refines the microstructure dramatically. The modified alloy Ti-6Al-4V-0.5B yields an endurance limit of 640 MPa compared to 450 MPa of MIM parts made from standard alloy powder. Sintered components from Ti-45Al-5Nb-0.2B-0.2C (at%) powder made by inert gas atomising (EIGA technique) and processed by MIM exhibit a residual porosity of only 0.2% and tensile properties comparable to cast material.

Abstract: β solidifying γ titanium aluminide alloys exhibit fine and homogeneous microstructures in the cast condition, in particular if the alloys contain B as a grain refining agent. Following work in the literature [1], it is demonstrated that the grain refining effect due to B is solely attributed in such alloys to its effect on the solid-state β/α transformation. The results further show that grain refinement in these materials can be obtained by a simple heat treatment, even if the microstructure has been extensively coarsened through prior heat-treatment.

Abstract: High-energy X-rays and neutrons offer the large penetration depths that are often required for the determination of bulk properties in engineering material research. In addition, new sources provide very high intensities on the sample, which can be used not only for high spatial resolution using very small beams, but also for high time resolution in combination with a fast detector. This opens up possibilities for a wide range of specific engineering in situ experiments. Typical examples that are already widely used are heating or tensile testing in the beam. However, there are also more challenging experiments in the field of light metals, like e.g. friction stir welding, dilatometry, solidification, or cutting. Selected examples are presented.

Abstract: The processing of large or near-net shaped parts from g-TiAl alloys is extremely challenging. The forging of large-scale TiAl-parts is hampered by the unavailability of high-quality, chemical homogenous pre-material. However, using an innovative combination of forging and joining large discs of TiAl with excellent mechanical properties can be produced. Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) facilitates the production of near-net shaped parts of high-strength TiAl-alloys with strength comparable to the cast condition.