Ex Situ Development of Y-Ti-O Nano Clusters

Abstract

A high density nanoscale clusters of Y–Ti–O exhibit superior creep strength and potential for high resistance to radiation damage. X-Ray Diffraction is used to determine the formation of the complex nanoclusters (NCs). The formation of Y2TiO5 NCs takes place during heat treatment of mechanically milled (MM) titanium and Yttria, and also it forms the mixture of Y2Ti2O5 and Y2Ti2O7 NCs during the high temperature soaking of MM iron, MM titanium and yttria. The microstructure of the hot consolidated mixture of MM iron, MM titanium and yttria were obtained through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The back scattered electron mode is used to show the contrast between different elements in the microstructure. The increase in soaking temperature increases the size of the nanocluster, which decrease the volume fraction and number densities. A large population of nanoclusters precipitates during the heat treatment at high soaking temperature.