Influence of heat treatment on the microstructure and hydrogen storage properties of Ti10V77Cr6Fe6Zr alloy

The as-cast Ti10V77Cr6Fe6Zr alloy was heat-treated at 1373 K for 8 h or 1523 K for 5 min and then quenched in water. The influence of heat treatment on the microstructure and hydrogen storage properties of Ti10V77Cr6Fe6Zr alloy was investigated systematically. The results show that all of the as-cast and heat-treated alloys consist of BCC main phase and C14 Laves secondary phase. After heat treatment, the phase abundance of BCC enhances and the plateau region of P–C–T curve is flattened, but the hydrogen absorption capacity is decreased. However, the alloy heat-treated at 1523 K for 5 min achieves a enhanced hydrogen desorption capacity of 1.82 wt.% at 333 K against 0.1 MPa, which is higher than 1.44 wt.% hydrogen desorption capacity of the as-cast alloy.

► The as-cast Ti10V77Cr6Fe6Zr alloy with a BCC main phase and a little C14 Laves secondary phase was prepared by levitation induction melting.
► The as-cast Ti10V77Cr6Fe6Zr alloy was heat-treated at 1373 K for 8 or 1523 K for 5 min and then quenched in water.
► After heat treatment, the content of C14 Laves phase decreases and the hydrogen desorption plateau is flattened distinctly.
► The sample heat-treated at 1573 K for 5 min has the best overall hydrogen storage properties.