Massive Transformation in Titanium-Silver Alloys and Its Effect on Their Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Behavior

In order to investigate the relationship between phase/microstructure and various properties of Ti-xAg alloys, a series of Ti-xAg alloys with Ag contents ranging from 5 to 20 wt% were prepared. The microstructures were characterized using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). All of the Ti-xAg alloys showed a massive transformation from the β-Ti to α_m phase, which has a different crystal structure from that of the matrix phase, but it has the same composition as the matrix α-Ti phase. As a result of solid-solution strengthening of α-Ti and massive transformation phase, the Ti-xAg showed better mechanical properties than the commercially pure titanium (cp-Ti). Electrochemical results showed that the Ti-xAg alloys exhibited improved corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance than cp-Ti.