Obtaining а homogeneous high-temperature strength alloy (Nb-21Ti-5Al-10Cr-7Mo) at. % by pressing and sintering a mixture of powders

Multicomponent high temperature strength alloys of the Nb-Ti-Al system, alloyed with Cr, Zr, Mo and Si, with a specific gravity of 6.3 - 7.4 g/cm3, have proven extremely promising in aviation and space technology. However, their physical and chemical features are associated with the high activity of the components, with a significant difference in melting temperatures (from Tmel. Mo – 2617 °C to Tmel. Al – 660 °C) and different specific gravity (from 10.2 g/cm3- Mo up to 2.7 g/cm3- Al), is a big problem for their production. The long crystallization interval of cast alloys of this system, thermophysical features of their crystallization, determine the possibility of formation of dendritic structures, the development of dendritic liquation and segregation of low- or high-temperature intermetallics and eutectics, the tendency to the formation of crystallization cracks, which reduces the operational characteristics of cast alloys. In this regard, it became necessary to investigate the possibilities of obtaining an alloy by the method of powder metallurgy. The purpose of this work was to obtain a homogeneous alloy, to study changes in the grain structure, phase transformations and mechanical properties of the material at various stages of processing in the process of obtaining a homogeneous alloy structure by powder metallurgy methods. The need to protect powder components from oxidation, formation of nitrides, carbides during technological operations at temperatures above 200 °C (high-purity argon) has been established. The optimal duration of intensive grinding of a mixture of powders and granules of raw materials has been worked out, which makes it possible to control the uniformity of the size of the particles of the mixture components, porosity and homogeneity of the alloy. The optimal duration of grinding is 30 minutes, during which the most homogeneous mixture in terms of particle size is formed. The optimal annealing mode was established, which ensures the achievement of homogenization of the alloy, phase transformations at the boundaries of the contact of component particles, and changes in grain sizes. Microstructural and X-ray structural analysis of the samples was carried out, their microhardness and grain dispersion were determined. Keyword: high-temperature strength niobium alloys, physical and chemical features, powder metallurgy, homogeneity, microstructure, mechanical properties, phase composition.