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Microstructure of Ti45Al5Nb after Cathodic Charging

Article  in  Advanced Materials Research · January 2010

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.95.87

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Advanced Materials Research Vol. 95 (2010) pp 87-90
© (2010) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland
doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.95.87

Microstructure of Ti–45Al–5Nb after cathodic charging

E. Barel, 1,a G. Ben-Hamu, 1,b and D. Eliezer 1,c

1
Department of Materials Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
a
eliba79@walla.com, b guyben@bgu.ac.il, c deliezer@bgu.ac.il

Keywords: Gamma titanium aluminide; Cathodic charging.

Abstract
Gamma titanium aluminide material, cast Ti–45Al–5Nb (at.%), was electrochemically
precharged with hydrogen in the cathodic charging mode at a current density of 50
mA/cm2 for times ranging from 6 to 48 h. XRD and microstructure investigations by
means of electronic microscopy were used for analyzed the influence of hydrogen on
the microstructure.

Introduction
Intermetallic alloys based on gamma titanium aluminide are now regarded as
promising candidates for high temperature applications, such as for aerospace, marine
and automotive engine components, over conventional titanium alloys, due to their
high specific strength and modulus. Their oxidation resistance is good, especially at
intermediate and high temperatures; oxidation resistance can be obtained up to 800oC.
[1-6]. One critical application of titanium aluminide is in combustion engines in
aerospace vehicles, where exposure to a hydrogen environment is a result of hydrogen
use as a fuel component. Other applications are in the chemical industry such as
chemical storage tanks for acid or hydrogen, where their exposure to hydrogen is
unavoidable [7]. It is well known that titanium alloys are susceptible to hydrogen,
which causes embrittlement leading to the deterioration of the properties of the alloys
[8]. Takasaki et al. noted that for a Ti–42Al–11Nb (at. %) alloy, the yield strength
increased with increasing quantities of hydride, but the ultimate tensile strength,
ductility and fracture toughness decreased [9]. Hence, the quantity of hydrogen that a
titanium alloy can absorb during service is a major measure of the ability of the alloy
to retain good properties. In the present work, hydrogen effusion experiments were
carried out on advanced titanium aluminide, cast Ti–45Al–5Nb (at. %), samples
cathodically charged with hydrogen for various times to study the effect of hydrogen
on the microstructural changing.

Experimental Procedure
As-received samples were cut into circle slice (disc) shape samples with 7.3 mm
diameter and 1.2 mm thickness. The two faces of the disc area were exposed to the
electrolyte. The samples’ surface oxides were removed by grinding and mechanically
polishing up to 1 µm, followed by rinsing with acetone and ethanol. Electrochemical
(cathodic) charging was performed at room temperature, in a H2SO4:NaAsO2:H2O (15
ml: 0.05 gr/l: 100 ml) electrolyte using a constant current density of 50 mA/cm2, for

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88 Corrosion, Processes and Advanced Materials in Industry

times ranging from 6 to 48 h. The influence of hydrogen on the microstructure of

titanium-aluminide (Ti–45Al–5Nb at. %) was investigated by means of X-ray
diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy.

Results and Discussion

The as-cast Ti–45Al-5Nb (Fig. 1) microstructure consists of two phases: 2-Ti3Al and
-TiAl in the lamellar platelets or lamellar with some fine single grains that can be
seen in the lamellar colony boundaries; this type of microstructure used to be called
the nearly-fully-lamellae (NFL) phase.

Figure 1. SEM micrograph of as-cast gamma alloy (Ti-45Al-5Nb at. %) before

cathodic-charging.

The effect of high hydrogen fugacity charging on the microstructure of gamma

titanium-aluminide (Ti–45Al–5Nb) was investigated by X-ray diffraction and electron
microscopy. In samples which were cathodically hydrogen charged for up to 6 h, no
visible change was noted on the charged surface compared to the surface in the
uncharged state. After severe charging, such as 12 h and 48 h, the sample had suffered
extensive corrosion while the remain of the sample was covered with a black layer;
this damage could be seen with the naked eye. Takasaki et al. [10] and Sundaram et al.
[11] reported similar damages.
SEM examination revealed hydrogen charging induced crack formation after a 12 h
charging time, as presented in Figure 2, while 48 h of charging produces corrosion
pits which form a porous surface.
 Advanced Materials Research Vol. 95 89

(a) (b)

Figure 2. SEM micrographs of gamma titanium-aluminide (Ti–45Al–5Nb) specimen

after electrochemical hydrogenation (H2SO4:NaAsO2 solution, 50 mA/cm2, 12 h),
with magnification of: (a) ×150, (b) ×1000.

X-ray diffraction patterns of titanium-aluminide (Ti–45Al–5Nb) alloy specimens

electrochemically hydrogenated at room temperature, for 6, 12 and 48 h, are presented
in Figure 3. It can be clearly seen that for the charging current density of 50 mAcm-2
used in this research, hydride formation is barely detected after 6 h of hydrogen
charging. After prolonged precharging, many -peaks are missing, whereas 2 almost
completely disappeared; this behavior can be attributed to corrosion attack as
aforementioned.

Figure 3. X-ray diffraction patterns of uncharged, 6h, 12h and 48h electrochemically
hydrogenated gamma titanium-aluminide (Ti-45Al-5Nb) after cathodic charging.
 90 Corrosion, Processes and Advanced Materials in Industry

Summary
1.Two kinds of corrosion occurred on gamma titanium aluminide at low room
temperature: hydrogen attack/embrittlement and dealuminification.
2.SEM investigations revealed hydrogen-induced cracking in these specimens after
12 h of cathodic charging.
3.The alloy exhibits low resistance to hydrogen embrittlement at room temperature
in an electrochemical environment.
4.A hydride based on (TiAl)Hx formed in Ti–45Al–5Nb alloy after 6 h of cathodic
charging.

Reference
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[2] D. Eliezer, F.H. Froes, C.J. Suryanarayana, Met. 43 (1991) 59-62.
[3] R.L. Fleischer, D.M. Dimiduk, H.A. Lipsitt, Ann. Rev. Mater. Sci.19 (1989) 231.
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