Deformability of a Hydrogen-Alloyed Intermetallic VTI-4 Titanium Alloy

The effect of hydrogen content on the strain resistance of an intermetallic orthorhombic VTI-4 titanium alloy during upsetting tests at temperatures of 850 and 900°C is investigated. Alloying with up to 0.2 wt % hydrogen is found to decrease the initial deformation forces at 900°C by 30% compared to the initial alloy (from 370 to 250 MPa). A decrease in the deformation temperature by 50°C leads to a twofold increase in the specific deformation forces, to 700 MPa, and the appearance of plastic flow defects. The introduction of up to 0.2 wt % hydrogen into the VTI-4 alloy is shown to decrease the deformation temperature to 900°C at a strain of up to 50%.