Effect of hafnium addition on solidification structure of cast Ti-46Al alloys

To investigate the effect of hafnium addition on the solidif ication structure, Ti-46Al alloys with nominal compositions of Ti-46Al-xHf (x = 0, 3, 5, 7) (at.%) were arc-melted into small ingots in an argon atmosphere. The characteristics of the macrostructures and microstructures were studied using a linear intercept method, OM, SEM (BSE), XRD and TEM. The results showed that the ingots with Hf have near lamellar microstructure in columnar and dendrite morphology. The hafnium concentration has a strong effect on the columnar spacing refi nement. Increasing Hf from 0 to 7 (at.%), the columnar spacing can be reduced from～1000 to～400 μm. Constitute phases of the ingots are α2, a small amount of B2 and c. Most of the B2 phases, richer in Hf and leaner in Al and Ti, exist on the node of the dendrite core in block shape and a little across the lamellar colonies in stick shape. The c phases exist on the boundaries of lamellar colonies in small cellular shape. There also exists a segregation of Hf on the columnar and dendrite core. Particularly, both the α- and β-phase form from the melt as prior phases. The possible phase sequencing during solidif ication and solid-state transformations with Hf is given in this paper.

To investigate the effect of hafnium addition on the solidification structure, Ti-46AI alloys with nominal compositions of Ti-46AI-xHf （x = 0, 3, 5, 7） （at.%） were arc-melted into small ingots in an argon atmosphere. The characteristics of the macrostructures and microstructures were studied using a linear intercept method, OM, SEM （BSE）, XRD and TEM. The results showed that the ingots with Hf have near lamellar microstructure in columnar and dendrite morphology. The hafnium concentration has a strong effect on the columnar spacing refinement. Increasing Hf from 0 to 7 （at.%）, the columnar spacing can be reduced from - 1000 to-400 μm. Constitute phases of the ingots are a2, a small amount of B2 and 7. Most of the B2 phases, richer in Hf and leaner in AI and Ti, exist on the node of the dendrite core in block shape and a little across the lamellar colonies in stick shape. The 7 phases exist on the boundaries of lamellar colonies in small cellular shape. There also exists a segregation of Hf on the columnar and dendrite core. Particularly, both the a-and ,β-phase form from the melt as prior phases. The possible phase sequencing during solidification and solid-state transformations with Hf is given in this paper.