Analysis of grain growth in a two-phase gamma titanium aluminide alloy

Microstructure evolution during annealing of a wrought near-gamma titanium aluminide alloy, Ti-45.5Al-2Nb-2Cr (at. pct), in the temperature range 1200 degrees C to 1320 degrees C was investigated. The mean grain size of the alpha phase as well as the volume fraction and size of the gamma particles were evaluated as a function of annealing temperature and time. Isothermal annealing at temperatures above the alpha transus, T alpha = 1300 degrees C, led to rapid grain growth of the alpha phase, the kinetics of which could be described by a simple power-law type expression with a grain growth exponent p = 2.3. Alpha grain growth was significantly retarded during annealing at subtransus temperatures (1200 degrees C < T less than or equal to 1300 degrees C) by the pinning influence of gamma-phase particles. Limiting grain size values predicted by computer simulation models applicable for high-volume fractions of precipitates/particles were in good agreement with experimental findings. The kinetics of alpha grain growth in the presence of gamma particles were analyzed, and the results showed that a grain growth exponent of p approximate to 2.6 could satisfactorily account for the experimental results.