Corrosion titanium aluminides

There has been relatively little work published on the reaction of titanium aluminides in atmospheres other than air or oxygen. Niu et al. [96] studied the reaction of Ti-25Al-llNb in a simulated combustion atmosphere (N2+1%02+ 0.5%SO2) with and without surface deposits of Na2S04-t- NaCl at temperatures between 600 and 800°C. Exposures in the absence of surface deposits resulted in reaction rates similar to those described above for simple oxidation. The rates in the presence of the deposits at 600 and 700 °C were initially rapid and then slowed markedly after 25 to 50 hours exposure. The rate at 800°C remained rapid with the kinetics being essentially linear. The major difference in the corrosion morphology at 800 °C was the presence of copious amounts of sulfides below the oxide scales. The authors postulate a mechanism of attack involving a combination of sulfidation-oxidation and scale-fluxing. 

Titanium aluminide alloys based on Ti3 A1 and TiAl are of interest as construction material for high temperature components particularly in aerospace industry. Good mechanical properties can be attained with alloys consisting of y-TiAl with 3 to 15 vol% a2-Ti3Al. The disadvantages are the low ductility and the inadequate oxidation resistance at service temperatures of 700-900°C [1]. A fundamental understanding of the oxidation behaviour is necessary in order to improve the corrosion resistance. The formation of the oxides on the alloy surface depends on the temperature, the oxygen partial pressure of the corrosive atmosphere, and the thermodynamic activities of Ti and A1 in the alloys. 

In industrial applications the environments usually contain more than one reactant. For example high temperature oxidation occurs in air by the combined attack of oxygen, nitrogen and quite frequently water vapour. However, most of the studies concerning the oxidation resistance are performed in dry oxygen or dry air. The oxidation behaviour of the intermetallic phases of theTi-Al system has recently received considerable attention. The influence of water vapour on the oxidation of titanium aluminides has not been studied intensively. There are only a few studies of the high temperature corrosion of titanium and its alloys. 

The present monograph was first written as a chapter for Volume 8 of the series Materials Sdence and Technology A Comprehensive Treatment , edited by Robert W. Cahn, Peter Haasen, and Edward J. Kramer (Volume Editor Dr. Karl Heinz Matucha). Its aim is to give an overview of intermetallics, which is both detailed and comprehensive and which includes the fundamentals as well as applications. The result is an extended, critical review of the whole field of intermetallics with an emphasis on those intermetallic phases which have already been applied as functional or structural materials or which are currently the subject of materials developments. A historical introduction and a discussion of the relationship between atomic bonding, crystal structure, phase stability and properties is followed by a discussion of the major classes of intermetallics. The titanium aluminides, nickel aluminides, iron aluminides, copper phases, A15 phases. Laves phases, beryllides, rare earth phases, and siliddes are reviewed. In particular, the crystal structures, phase diagrams, and physical properties as well as the mechanical and corrosion behavior are treated. The state of developments as well as prospects and problems are discussed in view of present and future applications. The publisher has decided to publish the review as a separate monograph in order to make it accessible to a wider audience. 

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