Phase evolution and alloying mechanism of titanium aluminide nanoparticles

The evolution of phase composition of titanium aluminide nanoparticles synthesized by the flow-levitation method was systematically investigated by adjustment of the evaporating temperature of the mixed metallic droplet and the X-ray diffraction spectrum. Their alloying mechanism was analyzed according to the variation of phase composition. ε(h, l)-TiAl3, γ-TiAl and α2-Ti3Al phases are gradually formed in TiAl alloy nanoparticles with the increasing of evaporating temperature of the mixed droplet. The alloying reaction is possible to perform between the small clusters of Ti and Al during the cooling process with high cooling rate. And the alloying mechanism can be explained based on the Gibbs free energy of alloying reaction of Ti and Al small clusters.