Author: Xiaowei Feng (Tianjin University) - In energy and chemical equipment, as the need for material safety and reliability under extreme conditions grows, developing advanced high-strength materials is crucial. Titanium alloys, with excellent specific strength, high-temperature stability, and corrosion resistance, hold great potential in energy equipment like storage devices and high-pressure vessels. But traditional homogeneous materials' performance mismatch under complex alternating loads limits their reliability. This study used 3D printing to prepare TC4/TC11 gradient titanium alloy for energy equipment. Digital image correlation and scanning electron microscopy analyzed its full strain field and microscopic defect propagation under tensile loading. Results show that the TC4/TC11 gradient structure, through heterogeneous deformation induced (HDI) strengthening, boosts the interface region's strength. The strain-gradient-driven accumulation of geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs) suppresses crack initiation. Secondary alpha phase refinement and grain boundary strengthening reduce microcrack propagation risks, enhancing the material's resistance to sudden failure under extreme loads. Although specimens fractured on the TC4 side, the gradient interface had no delamination or performance mutation, validating its reliability under tensile load. This study provides important basis for the design of gradient materials in energy equipment. Further exploration is needed in the future to investigate the impact of material composition gradient design on fatigue life and environmental aging resistance, to promote the large-scale application of titanium alloys in energy and chemical systems.
