Influence of the Nb Content on the Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Ti-Nb Alloy
Author of the article: SHANGJinjin1,2, WU Yulun2, YANG Ce2, LEI Qiang1,2, LI Binqiang2, LIU Xianghong3, ZENG Weidong1
Author's Workplace:1. State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China; 2. Western Superconducting Technologies Co., Ltd., Xi'an 710018, China; 3. Northwest Institute for Non-ferrous Metal Research, Xi'an 710016, China
Key Words:Ti-Nb alloy; niobium content; vacuum arc remelting; microstructure; mechanical properties
Abstract:
Ti-Nb alloys are widely used in aerospace, medical, and superconductivity applications because of their excellent
properties, such as shape memory effects, corrosion resistance, nontoxicity, and superconductivity. Ti-Nb alloys with
compositions ranging from 35 wt.% to 55 wt.% were prepared via vacuum arc remelting and hot rolling processing to
elucidate the influence of the Nb content on the microstructural evolution and mechanical behavior. The results demonstrate
that the microstructure of the solution-treated Ti-35Nb alloy consists of equiaxed grains with a grain size of approximately
50~100 μm, accompanied by stress-induced martensite within the grains. The tensile curve exhibits a distinct double-yield
phenomenon, with an ultimate tensile strength of 650 MPa but a relatively low yield strength of 225 MPa. As the Nb
content increases to 45 wt.%~55 wt.%, the alloy undergoes significant grain refinement, coupled with enhanced β-phase
stability, which suppresses martensitic transformation. Consequently, the tensile curves display no double-yield behavior,
and the strength and ductility of the alloy match well. The incorporation of Nb improves the comprehensive mechanical
performance through three mechanisms: β-phase stabilization, solid-solution strengthening, and grain refinement.