Variation of Hardness with Microstructure Evolutions in Metastable β Titanium Alloy TIMETAL®LCB

Abstract

Microstructure evolutions and hardness variation during aging in metastable β titanium alloy TIMETAL®LCB have been examined. In as-quenched specimen after solution treatment, athermal ω phase formed. Isothermal ω phase formed during aging at 623 K, and α phase formed after precipitation of isothermal ω phase during aging at 673 and 773 K. Alpha phase nucleated at isothermal ω phase, and had the orientation relationship with β and ω, (111)β//(0001)ω//(1120 )α and [10 1 ]β//[1120 ]ω//[0001]α . During aging at 873 K, α phase formed without isothermal ω phase. Hardness increased with increasing aging time and decreasing aging temperature, partly because number density of isothermal ω or α precipitates increased with increasing aging time and decreasing aging temperature.