Novel intermetallic-reinforced near-α Ti alloys manufactured by spark plasma sintering

Near-α Ti alloys are ideal candidates for high-temperature aerospace, automotive and nautical propulsion systems due to their high strength, low density and good corrosion resistance. However, the maximum service temperature of the well-known near-α alloy Ti6242S is limited to about 540 °C. By adding, for example, intermetallic γ-TiAl based alloy particles to Ti6242S powder a significant increase in yield strength up to 650 °C can be achieved by means of spark plasma sintering, along with sufficient room temperature ductility. In this study, investigations on the underlying strengthening mechanisms were carried out. For this purpose, mechanical tests and detailed microstructural characterization were performed.