Evolution of mechanical properties of Ti6242S alloy after oxidation in air at 560°C: influence of solid salts deposits

Titanium alloys are widely used in aerospace applications due to their good ratio of weight versus mechanical properties. When exposed to air at 560°C, Ti6242S titanium alloy presents very good oxidation resistance: a very thin oxide layer forms at its surface and oxygen dissolution inside the metallic material is rather limited. However, in real functioning conditions of the plane, near seas or oceans, the atmosphere contains NaCl, that can crystallise at the surface of hot parts. An active corrosion mechanism is established in these conditions, with catastrophic effect on the material behaviour at high temperature: very thick and brittle oxide scales and very important damaging of the metal outer part. Another issue is the formation of Na2SO4 specie by reaction of NaCl with kerosene combustion gases (SO2/SO3), leading to mixed NaCl/Na2SO4 deposits. The effect of exposure conditions on the mechanical properties of titanium alloy Ti6242S was evaluated through tensile tests performed on the raw alloy and after oxidation in air at 560°C of the specimens: without any deposit, with NaCl solid deposit, with NaCl/Na2SO4 solid deposit. The evolution of mechanical properties was interpreted in connexion with the microstructural modifications that occur during the high temperature ageing.