Electrical resistivity of an oxide dispersion strengthened niobium alloy (Nb-0.5 wt%TiO 2-ODS)

The precipitation of TiO 2 during aging of supersaturated Nb-Ti-O alloys was investigated using low-temperature electrical resistivity measurements. Aging temperatures were in the range comprised between 900 and 1100 °C. The four-probe method was used to determine the transport properties up to 5 K and the respective transition temperatures ( T c ) in several Nb-TiO 2 alloys with different oxygen contents. Transmission electron microscopy was also used to characterize these alloys before and after aging. It is believed that the decrease of the interstitial oxygen content in solid solution owing to the TiO 2 precipitation is the main responsible for the drop in the electrical resistivity in the normal state and for the slight changes on T c .