EFFECTS OF ALUMINUM ON THE STABILITY OF THE BETA-PHASE IN BETA-TITANIUM ALLOYS

At present the development of beta-titanium alloys has reached a new s tage. Attempts over many years (since the end of the 1950s) to develop a universal industrial beta-titanium alloy have not been successful. At present, the use of beta-alloys is limited, although a great number of alloying systems have been tried. The creation of new beta-alloys requires an analysis of the data obtained. Investigators have come to a common opinion by analyzing the effect of beta-stabilizers and ''neu tral'' strengthening elements on the properties and structure of beta- titanium alloys. This cannot be said about the effect of aluminum. Man y investigators believe that the aluminum content in beta-titanium all oys should not exceed 3%. However, this has not been appropriately sub stantiated. This work concerns the effect of aluminum content on the s tability of the beta-phase and presents some concepts on alloying beta -titanium alloys.