Mechanical response of titanium tri-aluminide intermetallic alloy

The bulk titanium tri-aluminide intermetallic alloy was fabricated via foil reactive sintering using Ti and Al foils in the vacuum. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results demonstrated that the original Ti and Al foils were fully reacted and the only synthesized product is monolithic intermetallic Al3Ti. The basic physical properties of the fabricated intermetallic, such as Young's modulus and Poisson ratio, were determined using an ultrasonic wave measurement technique, and the compressive mechanical responses under both quasi-static and high strain rates were studied using universal load frame and modified split Hopkinson pressure bar system, respectively. The experimental results indicated that intermetallic Al3Ti exhibits brittle features, and its compressive strength was sensitive to strain rate. Moreover, the strain rate hardening behavior under high rate range is stronger than that under quasi-static deformation conditions.