Microstructure and tensile properties of Y2O3-dispersed titanium produced by arc melting

Y2O3-dispersed titanium with Y2O3 content ranging between 0.3 and 0.7 wt% was produced by an arc-melting technique starting from Ti and Y2O3. Compositional and microstructural characterization was performed by XRD, SEM and TEM for as-cast, forged and recrystallized samples. A uniform nanodispersion of Y2O3 particles with sizes <100 nm was found for all the alloys. These particles coarsened and tended to be aligned as the Y2O3 content rose and the alloy was forged, and their shape became more spherical after cold rolling and subsequent recrystallization. TEM observations also revealed that dislocations were pinned by Y2O3 particles. Tensile tests were performed at 298 K for forged alloys and at 298, 498 and 773 K for recrystallized alloys. The Y2O3 nanodispersion effectively strengthened these materials.