Titanium alloys are presently being considered as structural materials in a variety of aerospace applications, including the National Aerospace Plane (NASP) and the High Speed Civil Transport. Ternary additions (Nb, V, Ta) are frequently used to make these materials more ductile at room temperature. However, the alloys remain susceptible to various forms of hydrogen degradation or embrittlement. Continuing studies aim to determine the effects of these various ternary additives on hydrogen absorption into the alloy, and to characterize any redistribution of additives that may occur as a function of hydrogen charging/discharging cycles at various temperatures an pressures. The goal is to determine if additives exist which might act as a catalytic barrier to hydrogen dissociation at the surface of the alloy, or in some other way diminish the uptake of hydrogen in the material.
| Mail: | Dr. Richard Smith |
|
Department of Physics |
| Montana State University | |
| Bozeman, MT 59717 |
| E-mail: | smith@physics.montana.edu |
| Phone: | (406) 994-6152 |
| FAX: | (406) 994-4452 |
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