Tensile and fatigue properties of two titanium alloys as candidate materials for fusion reactors

Titanium alloys have been identified as candidate structural materials for the first wall, the blanket and the magnetic coil structures of fusion reactors. Titanium alloys are interesting materials because of their high specific strength and low elastic modulus, their low swelling tendency and their fast induced radioactivity decay. Other attractive properties are an excellent resistance to corrosion and good weldability, even in thick sections. Furthermore titanium alloys are suitable for components exposed to heat loads since they have a low thermal stress parameter. Titanium alloys with an a structure are believed to have a good resistance against radiation embrittlement and alpha + beta alloys should possess the best tolerance to hydrogen embrittlement. Two classical industrially available alloys in the two families, the Ti5Al2.4Sn and the Ti6Al4V alloys have been used in this study. The tensile properties between room temperature and 450 degreesC are reported. A low cycle fatigue analysis has been performed under strain control at total strain ranges between 0.8% and 2% and at a temperature of 350 degreesC. The microstructure of both alloys was investigated before and after both types of deformation. Both alloys exhibit excellent mechanical properties comparable to or better than those of ferritic martensitic steels. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.