Research on development and application of titanium and zirconium alloys

It can be said that titanium and zirconium are new metals from the viewpoint of the history of metals, but both have grown to the materials supporting modern industries, titanium alloys in aerospace and ocean development, and zirconium alloys in nuclear power application. However, the properties of both alloys have not yet been clarified. In this study, the synthesis of TiNi and its properties, precipitation hardening type titanium alloys, and the effect of oxygen on the mechanical properties of both alloys were examined. TiNi is the typical intermetallic compound which shows the peculiar properties. The method of its synthesis by diffusion was examined, and it was clarified that it is useful as a structural material and also as a functional material. Precipitation hardening type alloys have not been developed in titanium alloys, but in this study, the feasibility of several alloy systems was found. Both titanium and zirconium have large affinity to oxygen, and the oxygen absorbed in the manufacturing process cannot be reduced. The tensile property of both alloys was examined in wide temperature range, and the effect of oxygen was clarified. (Kako, I.)