A novel hot pack rolling of high Nb-TiAl sheet from cast ingot

High-Nb containing (6-10 at.%) TiAl alloys exhibit excellent high-temperature strength and oxidation resistance. However, they are difficult to be fabricated into sheet in comparison with the conventional TiAl alloys. In the present work, the hot-deformation behavior of a high Nb-TiAl alloy (Ti-45Al-8.5Nb-0.2W-0.2B-0.03Y) was investigated. Hot-rolling process was optimized and carried out directly from the PAM (Plasma Arc Melting) ingot without the hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and hot forging. The hot-rolled sheets were successfully manufactured with dimensions up to 360 mm × 100 mm × 3.5 mm. The microstructure of as-rolled sheet is a typical “near gamma” characteristic with an average grain size about 15 μm. In the view of breakdown the lamellar colonies of high Nb-TiAl alloy ingot, the direct hot-rolling process has advantage over hot can forging and extrusion. Moreover, mechanical properties at room and high temperatures were also tested. Noteworthily, the as-rolled high Nb-TiAl alloy shows superplasticity above 950 °C at relatively high strain rate of 5 × 10−4.