Einfluss von Kalzium und Fluor auf die Eigenschaften von Gamma-Titanaluminden - Auswirkungen eines neuen Herstellungs-/Recyclingverfahrens

Gamma titanium aluminides are high-performance materials that are produced through a complex process chain resulting in significant production costs. In an alternative winning process, titanium oxide together with oxides of other alloying elements and aluminum are reduced to a metal phase by metallothermic reduction. In subsequent deoxidation by an active CaF₂ slag titanium aluminides can be obtained directly from the oxide precursors in an economic way. In addition, IME conceives a process for recovering the considerable amount of scrap that accumulates during the conventional process route. The main objectives of the proposed project are to investigate the influence of the inevitable concomitant elements calcium and fluorine on the oxidation behavior and on the mechanical properties of titanium aluminides quantitatively and to analyze the respective mode of action.

The mode of action of calcium in titanium aluminides has been almost completely unexplored. In contrast, fluorine has been found to have a very favorable influence on the oxidation resistance in near-surface regions. For the first time in the project fluorine should be examined as an alloying element in titanium aluminides. Therefore a process window must be identified in which calcium and fluorine have a positive effect on the mechanical properties and the oxidation behavior. Major scientific discoveries of considerable practical relevance for this modern class of materials are expected.