RESUMO
Protective oxide layers on Ti-6Al-3Mo-2Nb-2Sn-2Zr-1.5Cr (TC21) alloy with equiaxed microstructure considerably influence micro-hardness and hot corrosion resistance. The present work's thermal oxidation of TC21 alloy was performed at 600, 700, and 800 °C for 5, 20, and 50 h durations. Hot corrosion methods in NaCl and NaCl + Na2SO4 salt media were applied to raw (unoxidized) and oxidized samples at 600 and 800 °C for 50 h. Hot corrosion was conducted at 600 °C for 5 cycles with 10-h steps. The best oxide layer thickness was observed at 800 °C, which increased with increased oxidation time and temperature. The surface hardness of the oxide layer at 800 °C was 900 ± 60 HV0.05 owing to the formation of TiO2 and Al2O3 phases. Raw material hardness was 342 ± 20 HV0.05, increasing threefold due to thermal oxidation. In the case of NaCl, weight loss dominated all samples except at 800 °C for 5 h. In the case of NaCl + Na2SO4, weight gain occurred at 600 and 800 °C for 5 h. Weight loss occurred for the raw samples and those processed at 800 °C for 20 and 50 h, where the oxide layer flaked off. Surface hardness increased upon hot corrosion testing because of the formation of brittle phases, such as TiO2 and Na4Ti5O12. Samples that oxidized at 800 °C for 5 h had the highest hardness and corrosion resistance.
RESUMO
In the current study on TC21 Ti-alloy (6.5Al-3Mo-1.9Nb-2.2Sn-2.2Zr-1.5Cr), the thermal oxidation formed oxide layers that considerably influenced mechanical properties (hardness and wear). TC21 specimens were oxidized at 600, 700, 800, and 900 °C for 5, 20, and 50 h. NaCl-induced hot corrosion testing was carried out on raw (un-oxidized) and oxidized specimens at 600 and 800 °C for 50 h. The cyclic testing was performed at 600 °C for durations of 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 h. The average thickness of the layer grew with increasing oxidation time and temperature. A thin oxide layer (average 0.16 µm) was generated by oxidation at a temperature of 600 °C for a duration of 5 h, and at 800 °C, a large oxide layer of 10.8 µm thickness was formed. The most significant surface hardness of 1000 ± 150 HV0.05 was produced for the layer oxidized at 900 °C. On the other hand, the lowest hardness of 360 ± 150 HV0.05 was recorded for the raw materials. Best wear resistance had been achieved for specimens oxidized at 800 °C. During NaCl hot corrosion test, the weight loss of the raw specimen was 6.4 mg/cm2 due to the flaking off of the corrosion product. However, for specimens oxidized at 600 °C for 50 h, weight loss after corrosion testing was 0.54 mg/cm2, less than that of the specimen before corrosion. Oxidized specimens at 800 °C exhibited the best mechanical characteristics and corrosion resistance.
