Study of oxide layers in creep of Ti alloy

Abstract

The present study is about the effect of oxide layers in creep of Ti-6Al-4V alloy, in different atmospheres (air, nitrogen and argon). Ti-6Al-4V alloy was treated during 24 hours in a thermal treatment furnace at 600°C in different atmospheres (argon, nitrogen and air). The samples were analyzed by High Resolution X-Ray Diffraction, Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and microhardness test. The polished samples of Ti-6Al-4V allloy were treated during 24 hours at 600°C and the oxidation behavior in each case using argon, nitrogen and air atmospheres was observed. The oxidation was more aggressive in air atmosphere, forming TiO2 film in the surface. The oxidation produced a weight gain through the oxide layer growth and hardening by oxygen dissolution. Ti-6Al-4V alloy specimens also were produced in order to test them in creep, at 250 MPa and 600ºC, with argon, nitrogen and air atmospheres. When the Ti-6Al-4V alloy was tested under argon and nitrogen atmospheres oxidation effects are smaller and the behavior of the creep curves shows that the creep life time was better in atmospheres not so oxidant. It is observed a decreasing of steady state creep in function of the oxidation process reduction. It is shown that, for the Ti-6Al-4V alloy, their useful life is strongly affected by the atmosphere that is submitted, on account of the oxidation suffered by the material.