Influence of Beta Stability on Hydrogen Diffusion in Various Beta Titanium Alloys

Abstract:

The prediction of the applicability range of beta titanium alloys in hydrogen containing environments and the systematic study of hydrogen effects on the microstructure during heat treatment require reliable information about the hydrogen diffusion coefficient DH in the respective titanium alloy. Up to now the little information available on hydrogen diffusivity in commercial titanium alloys indicates a higher hydrogen diffusion coefficient in beta titanium alloys as compared to alpha and alpha + beta titanium alloys. In the present study, the hydrogen diffusion coefficients were determined systematically by means of electrochemically charging the half length of thin titanium rods and subsequent annealing, thereby enabling hydrogen diffusion. The Matano technique was applied in order to identify any effect of hydrogen concentration on DH. The hydrogen diffusion coefficients determined were correlated with results from microstructure examination applying optical and electron microscopy. Since molybdenum and vanadium are the most important beta-stabilizing alloying elements, binary titanium alloys of the Ti–Mo and the Ti–V systems at various contents of the respective alloying element were systematically studied in addition to commerical beta titanium alloys. The results of the experiments revealed the strong effect of beta stability and phase composition on hydrogen diffusion.