Influence of zirconium alloying layer on properties of TC11 alloy.

Zirconium (Zr) alloying layer was formed in the TC11 surface by using the double glow plasma surface alloying technique. The microstructure, surface hardness and oxidation resistance of the alloying layer were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, respectively. The results showed that the alloying layer consisted of a compact and homogeneous Ti-Zr mutual diffusion layer, and the surface alloying elements all displayed gradient distributions. The zirconium alloying layer enhanced the surface hardness by solution strengthening. The improvement of TC11 oxidation resistance was due to the formation of compact and uniform oxide scales, which was consisted of ZrO₂ as the major phase and TiO₂ as the minor phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]