Synthesis, characterization and hydrogen sorption properties of a Body Centered Cubic 42Ti–21V–37Cr alloy doped with Zr7Ni10

•A single melt and a co-melt process were used to dope 42Ti–21V–37Cr alloy with Zr7Ni10.•Two intergranular phases were found in the single melt sample, while only one was present in the co-melt alloy.•Thermodynamic parameters of both single melt and co-melt alloys are similar.

The morphology, crystal structure, and hydrogenation properties of the alloy 42Ti–21V–37Cr doped with 4 wt.% of Zr7Ni10 were investigated. Two doping schemes were used: (i) a single melt method, where all the components were melted together; (ii) a co-melt method where 42Ti–21V–37Cr alloy and Zr7Ni10 were first melted separately and thereafter re-melted together. The single melt alloy was a multi-phase compound, made of two intergranular phases within a Ti-, V-, Cr-rich matrix. One intergranular phase was Ti-, Zr-, Ni-rich and the other one Ti-rich. The co-melt alloy was a two phase material; a Ti-, V-, Cr-rich matrix and an homogeneously distributed Ti-, Zr-, Ni-rich intergranular phase.Both single melt and co-melt samples have a faster and more complete first hydrogenation (activation) than the undoped 42Ti–21V–37Cr. Activation is complete in less than 3 min for both doped alloys and their thermodynamics parameters are similar.