Insights into the microstructure and corrosion behavior of in-situ synthesized TiC/Ti-6Al-3Nb-2Zr-1Mo composites

Herein, the microstructure and corrosion behavior of in-situ synthesized TiC/Ti-6Al-3Nb-2Zr-1Mo composites are thoroughly investigated. An orientation relationship exists between TiC and α-Ti: (020)TiC∥(0−111)α and [100]TiC∥[1−10−1]α, and the interface of TiC and α-Ti is completely coherent. Moreover, the corrosion resistance of TiC/Ti-6Al-3Nb-2Zr-1Mo composites is higher than that of Ti-6Al-3Nb-2Zr-1Mo alloy, which indicates that the comprehensive impact of solid solution strengthening resulting from the interstitial C, second phase (TiC) strengthening, galvanic corrosion between TiC and matrix, and shedding effect is beneficial to the improvement in corrosion performance. In addition, the corrosion mechanism of TiC/Ti-6Al-3Nb-2Zr-1Mo composites is systematically illustrated.