Microstructure and compression properties of Cr-40Ti-20Nb ternary alloy prepared by arc melting

The ternary alloy Cr-40Ti-20Nb was successfully prepared by vacuum non-consumable arc melting. The alloy solidified microstructure and compression behavior were investigated by using optical microscope (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) as well as scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that the solidified microstructure of the ternary alloy Cr-40Ti-20Nb was mainly composed of Laves phase Cr ₂(Nb, Ti) and Ti solid solution. As the solidification position was varied from the top to the bottom of the arc-melting ingot, the microhardness of the ternary alloy was measured ranging from 6112 to 7350 MPa, less than that of the Laves phase Cr ₂Nb by a factor of 20%. Moreover, the compression yield strengths of the ternary changed from 1334 to 1524 MPa at room temperature, close to that of the multi-component alloy Cr-12Nb-4Re-2Al. According to these experimental results, Ti additions not only change the solidified microstructures of the Laves-phase Cr ₂Nb alloy, but also remarkably improve the plasticity of the Laves phase Cr ₂Nb alloy.