Microstructural characterization and mechanical behaviors of Ti-xNb alloys (x = 34–44.at%) fabricated by spark plasma sintering: The role of sintering temperature and Nb content

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Nb on the microstructure and mechanical behavior of Ti-xNb alloys (x = 34–44 at%) fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The effects of SPS temperature (1050–1350 °C) on Ti-40Nb were evaluated to determine the optimal temperature for sintering Ti-xNb alloys. Ti-40Nb sintered at 1250 °C and 30 MPa performed best. The Ti-xNb alloys underwent sintering at 1250 °C and 30 MPa. Results revealed that Nb content did not significantly affect the microstructure of Ti-Nb alloys. The hardness, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and bending strength of alloys initially increased as Nb content rose from 32 to 40 at%, but then decreased when Nb was further raised to 44 at%. The relative density played the main role in determining the mechanical performance of samples. Among the samples, Ti-40Nb exhibited favorable mechanical properties in terms of hardness, UTS, Young’s modulus, and bending strength.