Study of transformations and microstructural modification in Ti-LCB and T-555 alloys using Differential Scanning Calorimetry

The aerospace industry is the single largest market for titanium products primarily due to the exceptional strength to weight ratio, elevated temperature performance and corrosion resistance. Titanium applications are most significant in jet engine and airframe components that are subject to high temperatures. The studied Ti-LCB and Ti-555 titanium alloys must present good properties to fatigue damage as they are located in a low-pressure compressor. In order to avoid this damage, an optimized alloy microstructure is required. In our case, the optimal microstructure would be a beta matrix in which small alpha particles are uniformly distributed, obtained after a combination of thermomechanical and thermal treatments. The understanding of the mechanisms ruling the microstructure evolution is achieved through the study of phase transformations versus temperature. During heating, the ωath phase is transformed into the ωiso phase, allowing itself the appearance of the α phase. Then this α phase is transformed progressively into the β phase, and the structure becomes totally β when the transus temperature is reached. Therefore, a thermal analysis tool such as DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) was used in order to characterise the phase transformations of the material during imposed controlled temperature programs.