Recent advances in silicon containing high temperature titanium alloys

Silicon (Si), which exists in the form of solid solution and silicide, is an important component in high temperature titanium (Ti) alloys. The content of Si is often limited to less than 0.5wt.%, but powder metallurgy shows the potential for the preparation of titanium alloys with high Si content and high temperature. The addition of Si is beneficial to the improvement of strength, creep resistance and oxidation resistance of high temperature titanium alloy, but it will reduce the plasticity, especially the plasticity at room temperature. In this review, with particular stress on the influence of heat treatment and hot working process on the precipitation behavior of silicide, as well as on the effect of Si on the properties and strengthening mechanism of high temperature titanium alloys. The development direction of high temperature titanium alloy containing Si is to increase the content of Si and to control the precipitation behavior of silicide through reasonable process.