Quantifying the effect of oxygen on micro-mechanical properties of a near-alpha titanium alloy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

Authors

  • Hazel Garner
  • Radecka
  • Fox
  • Rugg
  • Jon Wade
  • David Armstrong
  • Michael Moody
  • Paul Bagot

External Organisational units

  • University of Oxford
  • Rolls-Royce Plc

Abstract

Titanium alloys are widely used in the aerospace industry, yet oxygen ingress can severely degrade the mechanical properties of titanium alloy components. Atom probe tomography (APT), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and nanoindentation were used to characterise the oxygen-rich layer on an in-service jet engine compressor disc, manufactured from the titanium alloy TIMETAL 834. Oxygen ingress was quantified and related to changes in mechanical properties through nanoindentation studies. The relationship between oxygen concentration, microstructure, crystal orientation and hardness has been explored through correlative hardness mapping, EPMA and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). It has been found that the hardening effects of microstructure and crystallography are only significant at very low-oxygen concentrations, whereas interstitial solid solution hardening dominates by order of magnitude for higher oxygen concentrations. The role of microstructure on oxygen ingress has been studied and oxygen ingress along a potential α/β interface was directly observed on the nanoscale using APT.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2529-2544
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Materials Research
Volume36.2021
Issue number12
Early online date11 Jan 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Jun 2021