Effect of Er2O3 and Y2O3 on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti2AlNb alloy

Rare earth oxides can significantly refine the microstructure of the cast alloys and improve their mechanical properties. In this study, Er2O3 and Y2O3 particles were chosen to add into the Ti2AlNb-based alloy with vacuum non-consumable arc melting method. For the Er2O3 particles, it has obvious dissolution and re-precipitation characteristics during melting. While for the Y2O3 particles, they are more stable, and aggregated and grew up during melting. These two kinds of Er2O3 or Y2O3 both have obvious refinement effects on the B2 grains due to their heterogeneous nucleation. Specially, adding Er2O3 particles can promote the decomposition of the B2 and α2 phases and the increases of the O-phase content. But adding the Y2O3 particles can inhibits the B2 decomposition and just only promotes the α2 decomposition into the O-phase. Additionally, the TAC-Er2O3 ingot shows the worst mechanical properties at room-temperature due to its large size and grain boundary segregation of the Er2O3 reinforcements. Conversely, the TAC-Y2O3 alloy exhibits excellent strength and ductility whatever at room- and high- temperatures owing to its fine grain strengthening and effective strengthening of the second precipitated Y2O3 phases. •The evolution of rare earth oxides during the melting process of Ti2AlNb alloys was discussed.•The influence of rare earth oxides on the microstructure evolution of Ti2AlNb alloys was discussed.•The addition of Y2O3 simultaneously enhanced the room and high temperature tensile properties of the alloy.