Study on Mo Diffusion in Double Glow Plasma Surface Molybdenizing of Ti2AlNb

Ti2AlNb orthorhombic alloy is an attractive high temperature structural material for aero-industries due to its high specific strength and fracture toughness as well as excellent creep resistance. However, insufficient wear-resistance is the main drawback which restricts the actual uses of this alloy in many circumstances. A double glow plasma surface molybdenizing on Ti2AlNb alloy is carried out as an attempt to resolve this problem. This paper deals with the effects of key process parameters on the diffusion behavior of Mo. The composition distribution and microstructure of the alloying layer are analyzed by SEM, XRD and GDS. Micro-hardness distribution profile is measured along the distance from surface to center. The results indicate that both the temperature and the processing time have significant effects on the diffusion process. Finally, the diffusion coefficient at optimized temperature of 980°C is calculated through regression analysis.