In situ synchrotron high-energy X-ray diffraction analysis on phase transformations in Ti-Al alloys processed by equal-channel angular pressing

Mixtures of 47-Al and 53-Ti powders (atomic %) have been consolidated using back pressure equal-channel angular pressing starting with both raw and ball-milled powders. In situ synchrotron high-energy X-ray diffraction studies are presented with continuous Rietveld analysis obtained upon a heating ramp from 300 K to 1075 K performed after the consolidation process. Initial phase distributions contain all intermetallic compounds of this system except Al, with distribution maxima in the outer regions of the concentrations (α-Ti, TiAl₃). Upon annealing, the phase evolution and lattice parameter changes owing to chemical segregation, which is in favour for the more equilibrated phases such as γ-TiAl, α₂-Ti₃Al and TiAl₂, were followed unprecedentedly in detail. An initial δ-TiH₂ content with a phase transition at about 625 K upon heating created an intermediate Β-Ti phase which played an important role in the reaction chain and gradually transformed into the final products.