The behavior of 3d electrons and defects in TiAl-based alloys containing V and Cu studied by positron annihilation.

Information of defects and 3d electrons in transition metals (Ti, V, Cu) and TiAl-based alloys (Ti₅₀Al₅₀, Ti₅₀Al₄₈V₂, Ti₅₀Al₄₈Cu₂) can be extracted from the positron lifetime and coincidence Doppler broadening spectra. The results show that the 3d electron signals for the transition metals Ti, V and Cu increase with the number of 3d electrons. The 3d electron signal and the electron density for binary TiAl alloy are relatively low due to the (Ti)3d-(Al)3p interactions. The addition of V and Cu atoms to TiAl alloy leads to the increase in the electron densities in bulk and the defects on grain boundaries simultaneously, as well as the enhancement of the 3d electron signal. The 3d electron signal in the spectrum of Ti₅₀Al₄₈Cu₂ alloy is higher than that of Ti₅₀Al₄₈V₂ alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]