Effect of Nb Doping on High Temperature Oxidation Resistance of Ti-Al Alloyed Coatings

Ti-Al alloyed coatings with different Nb doping contents were fabricated on TC4 titanium alloy by laser surface alloying to improve high temperature oxidation resistance of the alloy. Structures and high temperature oxidation behaviors of the alloyed coatings were analyzed and tested by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and box-type resistance furnace. The results show that the alloyed coatings consist of TiAl and Ti₃Al, and no niobium compound are formed in Ti-Al-Nb alloyed coatings. The alloyed coatings are uniform and exhibit excellent metallurgical bonding with the substrates. A large amount of surface cracks and a few penetrating cracks are formed in Ti-Al alloyed coating without Nb doping, while no obvious cracks are formed in Ti-Al alloyed coating with Nb doping. The oxidation mass gains of all the alloyed coatings were significantly lower than those of the substrate. The alloyed coatings with Nb doping exhibit more excellent high temperature oxidation resistance due to the beneficial machanism of Nb doping. The mechanism of Nb doping on improving high temperature oxidation resistance of Ti-Al alloyed coatings includes reducing the defect concentration of TiO₂, refining oxide grains and promoting the formation of Al₂O<sub>3