The effect of hydrogen on phase transformation and mechanical properties of a β containing γ–TiAl based alloy

• Hydrogen softens Ti–45Al–5Nb-0.8Mo-0.3Y alloy deformed at high temperature.
• Hydrogen increases B2 phase.
• Hydrogen induces twinning and stacking faults of γ phase.
• Hydrogen impedes formation of ωo and α2 phase.

The effect of hydrogen on phase transformation and mechanical properties of the unhydrogenated Ti–45Al–5Nb–0.8Mo–0.3Y (in at.%) alloy and Ti–45Al–5Nb–0.8Mo–0.3Y alloy with 1.5 at.% hydrogen addition is investigated in the temperature range 1323–1473 K with a strain rate of 0.01 s−1. The results show that the flow stresses of the hydrogenated alloy are lower than those of the unhydrogenated alloy. H as an interstitial atom occupies B2 phase tetrahedral interstice. The clearance radius of tetrahedron of B2 phase is decreased by approximately 4.6% after B2→ωo transformation. So, H can impede such phase transformation by means of impeding the decrease of clearance radius of tetrahedron. The volume fractions of B2 phase of the hydrogenated alloy are more than those of the unhydrogenated alloy under all deformation conditions due to hydrogen-stabilized β phase. The lower flow stress of the hydrogenated alloy compared with the unhydrogenated alloy is mainly attributed to hydrogen-increased B2 phase, hydrogen-induced twinning and stacking faults of γ phase, and hydrogen-impeded formation of ωo and α2 phases.