Effect of niobium addition on tensile properties and oxidation resistance of a titanium-based alloy

Previous research has inadequately elucidated the influence of Nb addition on the tensile properties and oxidation resistance of Ti-based alloys. Herein, the tensile properties and oxidation resistance of Ti–6Al–2Sn–4Zr–2Mo–0.1Si–1.0B–xNb (x = 0, 0.2, and 1.0) alloys were investigated. The oxidation resistance was significantly improved by Nb addition without significantly influencing the tensile properties. The substitution of Ti4+ by Nb5+ in TiO2 and promoted formation of a Sn-rich layer between the oxidation layer and substrate caused an increase in the oxidation resistance, thus highlighting the effectiveness of Nb addition in enhancing the oxidation resistance.