Effect of major alloying elements on microstructure and mechanical properties of a highly β stabilized titanium alloy

Four alloys with different alloying elements V and Cr content were prepared on the base of a highly beta stabilized Ti alloy (Ti40, Ti-25V-15Cr-0.2Si). Their properties and microstructures after heat treatment, thermal and creep exposure were tested. The results indicated that the effect of elements V and Cr on mechanical properties at room-temperature, creep behavior and microstructures is similar. With the increase of V and Cr content, their mechanical properties change slightly, while their creep resistance decreases and grains grow, which are mainly due to their characteristics of beta-stability elements and smaller atomic radius compared with that of titanium. On the contrary, the effect of elements V and Cr on thermal stability is quite different. With the increasing element V content or decreasing element Cr content the thermal stability becomes better, which is due to different solution characteristic of element V and Cr in titanium alloy. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.