Effect of hydrogen on Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al

The effect of hydrogen on the physical and mechanical properties of the metastable β alloy Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al was examined. This study had three main goals. The first was to improve the understanding of the effects of hydrogen in the β phase. The second goal was to determine the effects of hydrogen on the specific alloy Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al. The third goal was to identify possible in-service problems that could occur in Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al and in similar alloys. The effects of hydrogen were examined in three different microstructures: beta-annealed and water-quenched (B/WQ), beta-annealed and furnace cooled (B/FC), and solution treated and aged (STA). The B/WQ microstructure was nominally all-β with some athermal omega phase while the B/FC and STA microstructures were α + β microstructures. Hydrogen concentrations from approx.0 to >30 at.% were used. Hydrogen was introduced into test specimens using either Sieverts charging or cathodic charging techniques. When the B/WQ microstructure was deformed, the β phase was transformed to orthorhombic α'' martensite. Hydrogen effects in the B/FC and STA microstructures were largely the result of hydride formation at α/β interfaces. The effect of hydride formation was observed as decreases in the reduction of area for tensile specimens