The influence of silver on the structure and mechanical properties of (TiAl)-based intermetallics

The influence of silver on the structure and mechanical properties of sputt er-deposited Ti-Al-Ag films with an aluminium content close to 48 at.% and 0 < at.% Ag < 3 was investigated A new tensile test procedure has been deve loped to evaluate the ductility of the films. The results show that the as- deposited films are metastable formed, essentially, by an extended alpha-Ti solid solution. Annealing at 600 degrees C gives rise to the formation of gamma-TiAl intermetallic compound. Silver does not lead to structural modif ications of the TiAl system nor influences significantly its ductility. How ever, a hardness increase of the as-deposited films with silver contents up to 1.6 at.% is observed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserve d.