Microstructure control and mechanical properties from isothermal forging and heat treatment of Ti-22Al-25Nb (at.%) orthorhombic alloy

The microstructural evolution, creep, and tensile deformation behavior of an orthorhombic Ti-22Al-25Nb (at.%) alloy was investigated by thermo-mechanical processing, including common forging, isothermal forging, and heat treatment. Three different microstructures were obtained by varying the isothermal forging temperatures and heat-treatment schedule. Tensile-creep experiments were conducted from 650 to 700 °C and over a stress range of 100-200 MPa. The alloy tensile strengths at room temperature and 650 °C were also determined. As the isothermal forging temperature increases from 1040 °C to 1080 °C, three alloy microstructures result, including equiaxial, duplex, and bimodal-size lamellar orthorhombic microstructures. Of the three, the bimodal-size lamellar orthorhombic microstructures have the highest strength but worst ductility, whereas the equiaxial microstructures have the highest ductility but worst strength. The equiaxial microstructures have the worst creep resistance, whereas the duplex microstructures and bimodal-size lamellar orthorhombic microstructures have a similar creep resistance.