Effect of Cr addition on microstructures and nanohardness of rapidly solidified Ti–48Al alloy

In this present work, the microstructure and nanohardness of rapidly solidified Ti–48 at-Al alloy with various Cr additions were experimentally investigated using the single roller melt spinning technique. Ti–48Al alloy with various Cr additions were prepared by arc melting for comparison. In the arc melted alloy, the volume fraction of the interdendritic γ phase decreases, and the lamellar structure and the B2 phase increase with the increase in Cr addition. After rapid solidification, the Ti–48Al alloy consists of the γ phase and α₂ the phase, with the γ phase as the matrix. The α₂ phase exists as particles or in lamellar structure, which embed in the matrix. With 2 at-Cr addition, the alloy ribbons mainly consist of equiaxial α₂ grains and small particles of the B2 phase, with few lamellar structures occasionally found at the triple grain boundary. Increasing Cr content to 4 at-, the grain size of the B2 phase increases, and lamellar structures disappear. The change in nanohardness was discussed based on the microstructural observations. It shows a certain increase in the nanohardness as Cr content increases to 4 at-. This can be attributed to the changes in the microstructures.