Microstructural evolution and hardness of TiAl3 and TiAl2 phases on Ti–45Al–2Nb–2Mn–1B by plasma pack aluminizing

The surface of Ti-45Al-2Nb-2Mn-1B (at%) titanium aluminide was aluminized in a so called plasma pack aluminizing by packing the substrate in a mixture of aluminum copper alloy and application of an 18 kHz pulsed DC glow discharge plasma in argon gas. The plasma energy provided the necessary heat for melting and mutual diffusion of titanium and aluminum at the surface of titanium aluminide alloy in less than 1 h without any further heat treatment. The microstructure and hardness of different phases on the surface of Ti-45Al-2Nb-2Mn-1B alloy were characterized using optical and electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), EDX analysis and Vickers microhardness tests.