Effect of heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy produced by powder metallurgy

Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy produced via powder metallurgy was submitted to heat treatment under various conditions and the effects on microstructure and elastic modulus were investigated. Heat treatment was performed using temperatures above and below α/β transus combined with different cooling rates – furnace cooling and water quenching. Microstructure and phases were analyzed employing scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Elastic Modulus was determined using a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). The results indicated that α phase precipitation and elastic modulus values increased after heat treatment performed using temperature below α/β transus. However, when it was performed above α/β transus and using higher cooling rate, a decrease in elastic modulus was observed despite higher α phase precipitation, indicating that the microstructural modifications observed via SEM, due to the presence of martensitic α phase, influenced on elastic modulus values.