Primary solidification phase and lamellar orientation in directionally solidified Ti-45Al-7Nb alloy

Primary solidification phase and lamellar orientation are investigated in Ti-45Al-7Nb alloy at very high ratio of temperature gradient to growth rate (G/v) by a liquid-metal-cooled directionally solidified method. It shows that Ti-45Al-7Nb alloy solidifies with primary a phase. Longitudinal (parallel to growth direction) microstructure shows that a dendrites in solid-liquid mushy zone are discontinuous and transverse microstructure of α dendrites is worm-like feature. Growth direction of a phase is about 80° away from 〈0001〉 _α direction, and close to 〈112̄ 0〉 _α direction. The corresponding lamellar orientation is aligned at the angle of about 10° to growth direction, which is consistent with α-dendrite growth direction according to Blackburn orientation relationship. Therefore, due to the altered growth direction of α phase, the lamellar orientation in Ti-45Al-7Nb alloy is controlled at the G/v ratio of 5×10 ⁹ K·sm ^-2.