Structural and phase mechanism and rate of interaction between TiCu, [Ti.sub.3][Cu.sub.4], and [Ti.sub.2][Cu.sub.3] intermetallics and hydrogen. II. Destructive hydrogenation of intermetallics

The structural and phase mechanism and the rate of TiCu, [Ti.sub.3][Cu.sub.4], and [Ti.sub.2][Cu.sub.3] destructive hydrogenation (DH) are studied at 773 K under a hydrogen pressure of 1.0 MPa. The mechanism of destructive hydrogenation of the intermetallics consists in the formation of a hydrogen solid solution, selective hydrogenation of titanium, and subsequent formation of intermediate intermetallics and copper. The destructive hydrogenation products are nondestructive Ti[H.sub.1.9]-Cu matrix composites. The rate of TiCu, [Ti.sub.3][Cu.sub.4], and [Ti.sub.2][Cu.sub.3] destructive hydrogenation is limited by the rates of hydrogen dissociation on the intermetallic surface and the diffusion of titanium hydride. The products of TiCu, [Ti.sub.3][Cu.sub.4], and [Ti.sub.2][Cu.sub.3] destructive hydrogenation are recombined in vacuum and hydrogen atmosphere. Keywords: intermetallics, TiCu, [Ti.sub.3][Cu.sub.4], [Ti.sub.2][Cu.sub.3], phase mechanism, microstructure, destructive hydrogenation, recombination.