Influence of cyclic thermal treatments on the oxidation behavior of Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo alloy

Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo is one of the most common titanium alloys for aerospace industry. This alloy experiences oxidation phenomenon at elevated temperatures. In the present study, cyclic thermal treatments were performed in air at 500, 593 and 700 °C, up to 500 cycles, in order to determine the oxidation kinetics and to analyze the oxide scale and alpha-case formation. Moreover, results were compared to those achieved under isothermal conditions to elucidate differences between both thermal conditions. In this sense, metallographic techniques and X-ray diffraction, together with a detailed advanced characterization of the microstructure by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and Focus Ions Beam, were used to analyze surface oxidation evolution. Results pointed out that cyclic treatments induced a strong increase of the weight gain compared to isothermal treatments. The analysis of the oxide scale revealed the formation of not only rutile, as isothermal treatments, but also anatase. Thickness of the oxide scale was higher for cyclic conditions, while alpha case did not exceed values reached by isothermal treatments and even became lower at 500 °C.