Isothermal oxidation behavior of As-deposited and HIPed Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy processed using Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion

Abstract

This work focuses on oxidation behavior of Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion (EB-PBF) processed Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb at elevated temperatures. Two different sample conditions were considered: As-deposited (AD) and post-processed by hot isostatic pressing (HIPed). The oxidation studies were carried out at 750 °C, 850 °C, and 950 °C for 30, 60, and 100 h. The oxidized samples were analyzed for oxide layer growth and kinetics using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Raman Spectroscopy, and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) techniques. Results indicate that oxide layers are composed of alternative bands of TiO<inf>2</inf> and Al<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf>. These oxide layers spalled at 850 °C and 950 °C after an exposure of 100 h. The HIPed samples exhibited superior oxidation resistance when compared to AD samples, with an oxidation rate constant of 0.134 mg2 cm4 h?1 at 950 °C (100 h). The presence of homogenized microstructure with large nano-scale lamellar colonies aided in uniform oxide layer growth. EB-PBF samples exhibit fine fully lamellar microstructure due to the rapid heating and cooling cycles. Hence EB-PBF (AD and HIPed) samples exhibited better oxidation resistance when compared to conventionally processed Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.