Electromagnetic forming tests were done at room temperature to reveal the influence of hydrogen content on the compressive properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy at high strain rate. Microstructure was observed to reveal the mechanism of hydrogen-enhanced compressive properties. The experimental results indicate that hydrogen has favorable effects on the compressive properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy at high strain rate. Compression of Ti-6Al-4V alloy first increases up to a maximum and then decreases with the increase of hydrogen content at the same discharge energy under EMF tests. The compression increases by 47.0% when 0.2% (mass fraction) hydrogen is introduced into Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The optimal hydrogen content for cold formation of Ti–6Al–4V alloy under EMF was determined. The reasons for the hydrogen-induced compressive properties were discussed.
An interesting phenomenon of cooling-rate induced brittleness in Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5 bulk metallic glass （BMG） was reported. It was found that the as-cast BMG specimens exhibited a brittle-ductile transition when the larger specimens were machined into smaller specimens through removing the cast-softening surface layer by layer. After compression tests, the as-machined small specimens, owing to the absence of the cast-softening surface, displayed highly dense and intersecting shear bands, and extensive plastic deformation. This is in contrast to the catastrophic failure and low deformability in the as-cast large specimens. More free volume was detected in the smaller as-fractured specimens, by differential scanning calorimetry, which may be attributed to the occurrence of strain softening and increased plasticity. Compared with the relatively smooth fracture surface in the smaller specimens, the larger specimens showed more diverse features on the fracture surface due to their graded structures.
The hydrogen absorption characteristics and microstructural evolution of TC21 titanium alloy were investigated by kinetic model analysis, optical microscopy （OM） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The results show that the hydrogen absorption reaction occurred during the hydrogen absorption process of TC21 titanium alloy can be divided into two different stages according to the hydrogen absorption kinetics. After hydrogenation, the microstructure of TC21 titanium alloy changes obviously. Just a little hydrogen will change the contrast of transformedβphase. The contrast ofα phase darkens when the hydrogen content in TC21 titanium alloy exceeds 0.5% （mass fraction）. The phase/grain boundaries become ambiguous or even vanished, andβ phase becomes the main phase instead ofα phase when the hydrogen content reaches 0.625%. Moreover,α phase disappears when the hydrogen content reaches 1.065%. Additionally, the XRD analysis shows that α＇ martensite and FCCδ hydride appear in the hydrogenated alloy. According to the microstructures and XRD analysis, the schematic diagrams of hydrogen diffusion process in TC21 titanium alloy were established.
Wear properties of the nonhydrogenated, hydrogenated 0.5 wt%, and dehydrogenated Ti6Al4V alloys were studied through dry sliding wear tests using an M-200 type pin-on-disk wear testing machine in ambient air at room temperature to reveal the effects of hydrogen on wear properties of Ti6Al4V alloy. Morphology and chemical element of worn surface were investigated by means of scanning electron microscope （SEM） and energy dispersive spectroscopy （EDS）. Results show that hydrogen decreases the wear resistance of Ti6Al4V alloy. Wear rate of the Ti6Al4V alloy increases after hydrogenation. Wear rate increases by 244.3 % when 0.5 wt% hydrogen is introduced into a Ti6Al4V alloy. Wear rate of the dehydrogenated Ti6Al4V alloy recovers. Wear mechanisms of the nonhydrogenated, hydrogenated, and dehydrogenated Ti6Al4V alloys are determined. The nonhydrogenated Ti6Al4V alloy is controlled by oxidative wear. The hydrogenated Ti6Al4V alloy is dominated by abrasive wear. Wear mechanism of the dehydrogenated Ti6Al4V alloys is a mixture of oxidative wear and abrasive wear.
