Alpha stabilized black titanium alloys

Abstract

A titanium alloy having a Ti—Zr—X—Y formulation, wherein the X component is a Group V or Group VI metal and the Y component is an alpha stabilizer selected from aluminum, tin, silicon, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen, where the titanium alloy is capable of being blackened in an air, oxygen, or oxygen containing environment. The alloy may have a yield strength of at least 100 ksi. The Y component may be oxygen above 1300 ppm. The Zr content may be greater than 22 weight percent. The alloy may have a lightness index of 46 or less on the CIELAB scale.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A titanium alloy comprising a Ti—Zr—X—Y formulation,
 wherein X is a Group V or Group VI metal and Y is an alpha stabilizer selected from, aluminum, tin, silicon, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen; and, 
 wherein said titanium alloy is capable of being blackened in an air, oxygen, or oxygen containing environment. 
 
     
     
         2 . The titanium allow of  claim 1 , wherein said alloy has a yield strength of at least 100 ksi. 
     
     
         3 . The titanium alloy of  claim 1 , wherein Y is oxygen and an oxygen level of said alloy is above 1300 ppm. 
     
     
         4 . The titanium alloy of  claim 1 , wherein a Zr content is greater than 22 weight percent. 
     
     
         5 . The titanium alloy of  claim 1 , wherein a Zr content is greater than 25 weight percent. 
     
     
         6 . The titanium alloy of  claim 1 , wherein a Zr content is between 20 and 35 weight percent, said alloy further comprising aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . The titanium alloy of  claim 1 , wherein said titanium alloy has a lightness index of 42 or less on the CIELAB scale. 
     
     
         8 . The titanium alloy of  claim 1 , wherein said titanium, alloy has a lightness index of 46 or less on the CIELAB scale. 
     
     
         9 . The titanium alloy of  claim 1 , wherein an aluminum equivalent of said alloy is less than approximately 10. 
     
     
         10 . The titanium alloy of  claim 1 , wherein a transus temperature of said alloy exceeds 610° C. 
     
     
         11 . The titanium alloy of  claim 1 , wherein Y is oxygen and an oxygen level of said titanium is between 1300 ppm and 4000 ppm. 
     
     
         12 . The titanium alloy of  claim 1 , wherein an oxygen level of said titanium is between 1500 ppm and 3000 ppm. 
     
     
         13 . The titanium alloy of  claim 1 , wherein said alloy is 22 to 35 wt % Zr, 0 to 10 wt % Nb, 0 to 10 wt % Mo, 0 to 6 wt % Cr, 0 to 6 wt. % V, 0 to 5% wt % Al, 0 to 6% Sn, 0.13 to 0.40 wt % O, with the balance titanium. 
     
     
         14 . The titanium alloy of  claim 1 , wherein said alloy is one of:
 Ti-30Zr-2Mo-1.5Sn-0.18O,   30Zr-2Mo-1.5Sn-0.26O,   Ti-30Zr-4Mo-1.5Sn-0.18O,   30Zr-4Mo-1.5Sn-0.26O,   Ti-35Zr-10Nb-0.24O,   Ti-35Zr-10Nb-1Al-0.15O,   Ti-35Zr-10Nb-2.5Al-0.23O,   Ti-30Zr-10Nb-0.2O,   Ti-30Zr-10Nb-2Al-0.21O,   Ti-30Zr-10Nb-1Al-0.3O,   Ti-30Zr-10Nb-0.5Al-0.22O,   Ti-30Zr-10Nb-1.5Sn-0.20O,   Ti-30Zr-10Nb-3Sn-0.28O,   Ti-30Zr-10Nb-6Sn-0.20O,   Ti-30Zr-3Cr-1.5Sn-0.25O, and   Ti-30Zr-6V-1.5Sn-0.25O.   
     
     
         15 . A titanium alloy comprising a Ti—Zr—X—Y formulation;
 said alloy capable of being blackened in an air, oxygen, or oxygen containing environment to a lightness value of 48 or lower on the CIELAB color space; 
 wherein, Y is an alpha stabilizer selected from aluminum, tin, silicon, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen; 
 wherein, X is a beta stabilizer selected from niobium, chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium. 
 
     
     
         16 . The titanium alloy of  claim 15 , wherein when X is niobium, said alloy has a transus temperature of approximately 640° C. or greater; and when X is chromium, molybdenum, or vanadium, said alloy has a transus temperature of approximately 610° C. or greater.