Short-term creep properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy subjected to surface plasma carburizing process

The aim of this study was to investigate the short-time creep behavior of Ti-6Al-4V by plasma carburizing, which was performed at 725 °C for 6 h in a 50% Ar – 45% H2 – 5% CH4 gas mixture. Nano and microhardness testing, optical microscopy, TEM, X-ray diffraction and optical profilometry were used to characterize the samples. Furthermore, short-term creep tests were performed under a constant tensile load in air at 600 °C using a dead-weight-creep-rupture machine. The carburizing treatment resulted in a compound layer measuring approximately 1.7 μm in thickness with a hardness of 815 HV and a composition of TiC0.66. The creep properties of the “Widmanstätten + carburized” specimens were improved relative to those of untreated specimens. TEM and fracture analysis indicated creep deformation process attributed mainly to α phase deformation and fracture by intergranular decohesion.