Mechanical properties of submicron-grained TiAl alloys prepared by mechanical alloying

Ti-48 at. % Al powders of the metastable hexagonal-closed-packed solid solution with a grain size of 15 nm were prepared by mechanical alloying. The powders were consolidated to a density of greater than 99.5% by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) at 800 °C. After HIP the material exhibits a globular microstructure of the equilibrium phases α2 and γ with a mean grain size of 150 nm. Microhardness measurements show a Hall–Petch type [E. O. Hall, Proc. Phys. Soc. B 64, 747 (1951); N. J. Petch, J. Iron Steel Inst. 174, 25 (1953)] dependence on grain size. Room temperature compression tests reveal low ductility, but high fracture strengths ≥1800 MPa. On increasing the test temperature the yield strength drops sharply in the temperature range 600–800 °C to very low values. The results indicate that submicron-grained TiAl alloys can be deformed at much lower temperatures than coarse-grained material, making them suitable as precursors for net shaping, in particular if high deformation ratios are required.