Properties of Titanium Zirconium Molybdenum Alloy after Exposure to Indium at Elevated Temperatures

Titanium zirconium molybdenum (TZM) is a high strength at high temperature alloy with favorable properties for use in high temperature structural applications. Use of TZM in high pressure, gas-containing autoclave systems was recently demonstrated for the ammonothermal method. Use of indium (In) in the system is desired, though there is a general lack of literature and understanding on the corrosion and impact of In on the mechanical properties of TZM. This study reports for the first time the mechanical properties of TZM after exposure to metallic In at temperatures up to 1000 °C. Static corrosion testing of TZM in In were performed at 750 °C and 1000 °C for 14 days. A microstructure analysis was performed suggesting no visible alteration of the grain structure. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) was performed to investigate compound formation between In and the primary constituents of TZM yielding no measurable reactions and hence no noticeable compound formation. X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) line scans across the TZM-In interface revealed no measurable mass transport of In into the TZM matrix. These results were confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Given the apparent inertness of TZM to In, mechanical properties of TZM after exposure to In were measured at test temperatures ranging from 22 °C to 800 °C and compared to unexposed, reference TZM samples from the same material stock. Tensile properties, including ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and total elongation, were found to be comparable between In-exposed and unexposed TZM samples. Impact fracture toughness testing (Charpy) performed at temperatures ranging from −196 °C to 800 °C showed that TZM is unaffected upon exposure to In. Tensile testing indicated ductile behavior at room temperature (slow strain rate) whereas impact testing (high strain rate) suggested a ductile to brittle transition temperature between 100 °C and 400 °C. Given these results, TZM appears to be a promising candidate for use as a force bearing material when exposed to In at high temperature.