Revealing the microstructure evolution and excellent ductility of near-α Ti–6Al–3Nb–2Zr–1Mo alloy via spark plasma sintering using pre-alloyed spherical powders

Utilizing pre-alloyed spherical powders in powder metallurgy to prepare multi-component titanium alloys offers a promising strategy, which can improve energy transfer and microstructure uniformity and thereby achieve excellent mechanical properties. In this work, Ti–6Al–3Nb–2Zr–1Mo (Ti-6321) alloys...

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Main Authors: Yuting Hu, Yaming Shi, Yuqin Zhang, Yehua Jiang, Junsheng Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Materials Research and Technology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425005022
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author Yuting Hu
Yaming Shi
Yuqin Zhang
Yehua Jiang
Junsheng Wang
author_facet Yuting Hu
Yaming Shi
Yuqin Zhang
Yehua Jiang
Junsheng Wang
author_sort Yuting Hu
collection DOAJ
description Utilizing pre-alloyed spherical powders in powder metallurgy to prepare multi-component titanium alloys offers a promising strategy, which can improve energy transfer and microstructure uniformity and thereby achieve excellent mechanical properties. In this work, Ti–6Al–3Nb–2Zr–1Mo (Ti-6321) alloys were fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) using pre-alloyed spherical powders. The effects of sintering temperature and powder particle sizes on the microstructure evolution, dislocation motion, and mechanical properties were systematically investigated. The results indicate that the microstructure changes from the martensite morphology of spherical powder at 875 °C to a mixture of α lamellae, fine equiaxed α grains, and β-phase particle chains at 900 °C, and then to coarse Widmanstätten microstructure at 925 °C. With the increase in sintering temperature, the elongation of Ti-6321 alloy shows an upward trend and then decreases, while the tensile strength remains relatively constant. Notably, the alloys exhibit excellent ductility (elongation ≥14.9%) and a certain level of tensile strength at 900 °C. This trend is consistent across alloys with powders of different particle sizes. Fundamentally, the certain strength and excellent ductility were attributed to two main factors. The plastic deformation of spherical powders promotes dislocation formation, while β phase particle chains obstruct dislocation motion, thereby maintaining alloy strength. Low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) that run through equiaxed grains provide movement channels for plugged dislocations, acting as carriers of plastic deformation by amplifying dislocation glide. This work offers valuable insights into efficient preparation of multi-component titanium alloys and a new approach to employing spherical powders composed of diverse particles.
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spelling doaj-art-11b878d2c5964fd38c615d4d0e4a1f1d2025-08-20T03:02:04ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-03-01356247626010.1016/j.jmrt.2025.02.255Revealing the microstructure evolution and excellent ductility of near-α Ti–6Al–3Nb–2Zr–1Mo alloy via spark plasma sintering using pre-alloyed spherical powdersYuting Hu0Yaming Shi1Yuqin Zhang2Yehua Jiang3Junsheng Wang4Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650031, PR China; National-local Joint Engineering Research Center for Technology of Advanced Metallic Solidification Forming and Equipment, Kunming, 650093, PR ChinaEngineering Technology Research Center of Titanium Products and Application of Yunnan Province, Chuxiong, 651209, PR ChinaFaculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650031, PR China; National-local Joint Engineering Research Center for Technology of Advanced Metallic Solidification Forming and Equipment, Kunming, 650093, PR China; Engineering Technology Research Center of Titanium Products and Application of Yunnan Province, Chuxiong, 651209, PR China; Corresponding author. Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650031, PR China.Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650031, PR China; National-local Joint Engineering Research Center for Technology of Advanced Metallic Solidification Forming and Equipment, Kunming, 650093, PR ChinaEngineering Technology Research Center of Titanium Products and Application of Yunnan Province, Chuxiong, 651209, PR China; Corresponding author.Utilizing pre-alloyed spherical powders in powder metallurgy to prepare multi-component titanium alloys offers a promising strategy, which can improve energy transfer and microstructure uniformity and thereby achieve excellent mechanical properties. In this work, Ti–6Al–3Nb–2Zr–1Mo (Ti-6321) alloys were fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) using pre-alloyed spherical powders. The effects of sintering temperature and powder particle sizes on the microstructure evolution, dislocation motion, and mechanical properties were systematically investigated. The results indicate that the microstructure changes from the martensite morphology of spherical powder at 875 °C to a mixture of α lamellae, fine equiaxed α grains, and β-phase particle chains at 900 °C, and then to coarse Widmanstätten microstructure at 925 °C. With the increase in sintering temperature, the elongation of Ti-6321 alloy shows an upward trend and then decreases, while the tensile strength remains relatively constant. Notably, the alloys exhibit excellent ductility (elongation ≥14.9%) and a certain level of tensile strength at 900 °C. This trend is consistent across alloys with powders of different particle sizes. Fundamentally, the certain strength and excellent ductility were attributed to two main factors. The plastic deformation of spherical powders promotes dislocation formation, while β phase particle chains obstruct dislocation motion, thereby maintaining alloy strength. Low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) that run through equiaxed grains provide movement channels for plugged dislocations, acting as carriers of plastic deformation by amplifying dislocation glide. This work offers valuable insights into efficient preparation of multi-component titanium alloys and a new approach to employing spherical powders composed of diverse particles.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425005022Near-α titanium alloyPre-alloyed spherical powdersSpark plasma sinteringMicrostructureDuctility
spellingShingle Yuting Hu
Yaming Shi
Yuqin Zhang
Yehua Jiang
Junsheng Wang
Revealing the microstructure evolution and excellent ductility of near-α Ti–6Al–3Nb–2Zr–1Mo alloy via spark plasma sintering using pre-alloyed spherical powders
Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Near-α titanium alloy
Pre-alloyed spherical powders
Spark plasma sintering
Microstructure
Ductility
title Revealing the microstructure evolution and excellent ductility of near-α Ti–6Al–3Nb–2Zr–1Mo alloy via spark plasma sintering using pre-alloyed spherical powders
title_full Revealing the microstructure evolution and excellent ductility of near-α Ti–6Al–3Nb–2Zr–1Mo alloy via spark plasma sintering using pre-alloyed spherical powders
title_fullStr Revealing the microstructure evolution and excellent ductility of near-α Ti–6Al–3Nb–2Zr–1Mo alloy via spark plasma sintering using pre-alloyed spherical powders
title_full_unstemmed Revealing the microstructure evolution and excellent ductility of near-α Ti–6Al–3Nb–2Zr–1Mo alloy via spark plasma sintering using pre-alloyed spherical powders
title_short Revealing the microstructure evolution and excellent ductility of near-α Ti–6Al–3Nb–2Zr–1Mo alloy via spark plasma sintering using pre-alloyed spherical powders
title_sort revealing the microstructure evolution and excellent ductility of near α ti 6al 3nb 2zr 1mo alloy via spark plasma sintering using pre alloyed spherical powders
topic Near-α titanium alloy
Pre-alloyed spherical powders
Spark plasma sintering
Microstructure
Ductility
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425005022
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