The effect of La on the synthesis and properties of a W-Ti alloy

Highlights: • Synthesis of W-Ti alloy dispersed with in-situ La oxides is developed. • Formation of La oxides can be influenced by secondary ball milling. • A complex LaTiO₃/TiO₂ oxide is found as interaction of La₂O₃/TiO₂. • Material behavior is strongly affected by La-Ti-O oxides. - Abstract: A new method for the synthesis of tungsten-titanium alloys dispersed with in-situ RE-oxides was developed. In this paper, the addition of the rare earth element lanthanum in W-Ti alloys has been investigated. The results suggested that La plays an important role in influencing the formation of dispersed oxides, which can further change the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of the W-Ti alloys. A complicated oxide particle was found in this study and has been identified as the LaTiO₃/TiO₂ structure, which could be associated with the interaction between La₂O₃ and TiO₂ during mechanical alloying. Nanoindentation was further used to measure local variations in the mechanical properties of the alloys, which could correspond to interfaces between the dispersed oxides and the tungsten matrix where the bond strengths are different form the bulk alloy.