Effect of hydrogen on the mechanical properties of quenched titanium alloys

Summary

• 1. Hydrogen embrittlement of α+β titanium alloys is much more pronounced after quenching than after standard annealing.

  The decrease in the ductility of the α+β titanium alloys is particularly sharp during aging at room temperature, but not immediately after quenching.

• 3. Quenched α+β titanium alloys must be subjected to mechanical tests after no less than 1 month at room temperature.

• 4. The maximum acceptable amount of hydrogen in quenched α+β titanium alloys is less than in the annealed alloys: 0.005% for the VT3-1 alloy and 0.015–0.02% for the VT6 alloy.

• 5. The instability of the quenched VT3-1 and VTS alloys' saturated hydrogen is due to the decomposition of the solid solution supersaturated with hydrogen.