Gravity dependence of CET in peritectic TiAl alloys
| Acronym: | GRADECET |
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| Project start: | 01.07.2010 |
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| Project end: | 31.05.2017 |
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| Programme: | European Space Agency, PRODEX |
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| Project number: | AO-2009-1105 |
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| Institute position in the project: | Partner |
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| Project leader at the institute: | Juraj Lapin |
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The present proposal responds to the ESA-AO2009 announcement of opportunity and the current ELIPS Research Plan, being dedicated to Materials Sciences. The alloys of interest are peritectic TiAl-based alloys that are excellent candidates for near net shape casting of light-weight structural components, like aero-engine blades. When solidifying these alloys, microstructure formation sensitively depends on the acceleration forces that commonly evolve during centrifugal casting. To advance knowledge in this emerging technology sector, the GRADECET team proposes to investigate the gravity dependence of microstructure formation and segregation in peritectic TiAl-based alloys: attention is directed to the columnar-to-equiaxed transition of the pro-peritectic, primary ?(Ti) phase and to the texture evolution during the peritectic reaction/transformation. A series of experiments are planed to be performed in ?g, 1g and hyper-g conditions, taking advantage of available instruments onboard sounding rockets and ESA’s large diameter centrifuge. The experiments will be supported by dedicated modelling on well selected scales, all converging into a multi-scale model of microstructure formation. A special work package was defined to measure self- and interdiffusion coefficients in the liquid phase of the selected alloys, as to provide sound data for modelling. Diffusion measurements will start onboard sounding rockets but will ideally continue onboard the ISS. The proposed research is judged ambitious but well targeted and in line with the team’s competence.
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