Fabrication, Thermo-Mechanical Processing and Characterization of a Ti-6% Al-1.5% V-1.0 Mo-0.5% Zr-0.1% C Alloy with Addition of Ru and Modifications of Small Amounts of V and Mo

ABSTRACTPseudo-α or near-α titanium alloys are being widely used in the power generation industry due to their stability at high temperature service, good mechanical characteristics and corrosion resistance. Particularly Ti-6% Al-1.5% V-1.0Mo-0.5% Zr-0.1% C alloy is mainly used in turbines components, heat exchangers and pipes for steam conduction, among others; these are subjected to critical conditions of temperature, abrasion and corrosive environments. A good performance of such devices depends on the chemistry and of the material processing story.Effects on microstructure and wear resistance with the addition of Ru and small variation of V and Mo amounts in the Ti-6% Al-1.5% V-1.0Mo-0.5% Zr-0.1% C alloy were analyzed. Three different alloys were melted in a vacuum induction furnace with a cooled copper skull under an argon protective atmosphere for this studyFour alloys were melted “Alloy 1” Ti-6% Al-1.5% V-1.0Mo-0.5% Zr-0.1% C-0.3% Ru, “Alloy 2” Ti-6%Al-0.5%V-1.6%Mo-0.5%Zr-0.1% C-0.3% Ru, “Alloy 3” Ti-6%Al-2.2%V-0.5%Mo-0.5%Zr-0.1%C-0.3%Ru. After melting, all alloys were homogenized at 1200°C for two hours, followed by hot rolling above β transition temperature with a reduction of 50% in thickness.All alloys were analyzed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Vickers Micro hardness (HV). Results shown that Mo and V variations modified the micro hardness by microstructure refinement. In contrast, the addition of Ru showed no microstructure modification.