Improving the corrosion resistance of titanium alloys is essential for their long-term performance in marine environments. This study investigates the effect of electron beam surface melting (EBSM) on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of a Ti-4Al-4Zr-2Sn-1.5Mo-Nb-V alloy. The EBSM induces the formation of a refined Widmanstätten microstructure, primarily composed of α′ martensite and residual β phase, due to the rapid solidification. Electrochemical tests indicate that the EBSM can significantly improve the corrosion resistance, and the sample processed by a beam current of 55 mA exhibits the best performance, with the smallest passivation current density (1.33 μA cm−2) and highest polarization resistance (0.34 MΩ cm2). This improvement induced by EBSM is attributed to the formation of a denser and more stable passive film, confirmed by a higher cation ratio (CR, defined as the ratio of <InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$C{f}_{(T{i}^{4+}+A{l}^{3+}+Z{r}^{4+}+S{n}^{4+})}$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mrow> <mi>C</mi> <msub> <mrow> <mi>f</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mo>(</mo> <mi>T</mi> <msup> <mrow> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mn>4</mn> <mo>+</mo> </mrow> </msup> <mo>+</mo> <mi>A</mi> <msup> <mrow> <mi>l</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mn>3</mn> <mo>+</mo> </mrow> </msup> <mo>+</mo> <mi>Z</mi> <msup> <mrow> <mi>r</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mn>4</mn> <mo>+</mo> </mrow> </msup> <mo>+</mo> <mi>S</mi> <msup> <mrow> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mn>4</mn> <mo>+</mo> </mrow> </msup> <mo>)</mo> </mrow> </msub> </mrow> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation> to <InlineEquation ID="IEq2"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$C{f}_{(T{i}^{3+}+T{i}^{2+}+Ti+Al+Zr+S{n}^{2+}+Sn)}$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mrow> <mi>C</mi> <msub> <mrow> <mi>f</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mo>(</mo> <mi>T</mi> <msup> <mrow> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mn>3</mn> <mo>+</mo> </mrow> </msup> <mo>+</mo> <mi>T</mi> <msup> <mrow> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mn>2</mn> <mo>+</mo> </mrow> </msup> <mo>+</mo> <mi>T</mi> <mi>i</mi> <mo>+</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mi>l</mi> <mo>+</mo> <mi>Z</mi> <mi>r</mi> <mo>+</mo> <mi>S</mi> <msup> <mrow> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mn>2</mn> <mo>+</mo> </mrow> </msup> <mo>+</mo> <mi>S</mi> <mi>n</mi> <mo>)</mo> </mrow> </msub> </mrow> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>, with values of 1.80 for the forged sample and 2.25 for the 55 mA sample) and reduced electrochemical activity. These findings highlight EBSM as a promising surface engineering strategy for advancing the durability of titanium alloys in aggressive chloride-containing environments.

Effect of electron beam surface melting on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of Ti-4Al-4Zr-2Sn-1.5Mo-Nb-V alloy

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2026年4月13日

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Menghao Zhong,
Baoxian Su,
Yinling Jin,
Ganggang Cui,
Zhiwen Li,
Jiachen Zhou,
Yong Yang,
Qingda Zhang,
Binbin Wang,
Qian Yang,
Yongsheng Yu,
Liang Wang,
Yanqing Su

摘要

Improving the corrosion resistance of titanium alloys is essential for their long-term performance in marine environments. This study investigates the effect of electron beam surface melting (EBSM) on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of a Ti-4Al-4Zr-2Sn-1.5Mo-Nb-V alloy. The EBSM induces the formation of a refined Widmanstätten microstructure, primarily composed of α′ martensite and residual β phase, due to the rapid solidification. Electrochemical tests indicate that the EBSM can significantly improve the corrosion resistance, and the sample processed by a beam current of 55 mA exhibits the best performance, with the smallest passivation current density (1.33 μA cm⁻²) and highest polarization resistance (0.34 MΩ cm²). This improvement induced by EBSM is attributed to the formation of a denser and more stable passive film, confirmed by a higher cation ratio (CR, defined as the ratio of $C{f}_{(T{i}^{4+}+A{l}^{3+}+Z{r}^{4+}+S{n}^{4+})}$ $C f_{(T i^{4 +} + A l^{3 +} + Z r^{4 +} + S n^{4 +})}$ to $C{f}_{(T{i}^{3+}+T{i}^{2+}+Ti+Al+Zr+S{n}^{2+}+Sn)}$ $C f_{(T i^{3 +} + T i^{2 +} + T i + A l + Z r + S n^{2 +} + S n)}$ , with values of 1.80 for the forged sample and 2.25 for the 55 mA sample) and reduced electrochemical activity. These findings highlight EBSM as a promising surface engineering strategy for advancing the durability of titanium alloys in aggressive chloride-containing environments.