Ti-48Al-2Nb-0.7Cr-0.3Si Titanium aluminide for automotive applications processed by Electron Beam Melting

γ-TiAl alloys are a family of intermetallic compounds that thanks to their unique properties represent an attractive alternative to Ni-based superalloys for high temperature automotive structural applications. [1] The Electron Beam Melting (EBM) additive manufacturing technology is well known and considered for the processing of TiAl alloys, in particular for the aerospace application [2]. In this work, carried out within the European project TIALCHARGER, TiAl-based powders of Ti-48Al-2Nb-0.7Cr-0.3Si for automotive application, were used to fabricate specimens and prototypes of turbocharger turbines by Electron Beam Melting [3]. Thanks to the freedom in design given by EBM, hollow turbine wheels were produced bringing to a further reduction of the component weight. The produced components were characterized in terms of chemical composition, residual defects and microstructure. Furthermore, heat treatments were set up in order to obtain the desired microstructure for the application. After all, some brazed joints between the steel shaft and TiAl wheel processed by EBM were produced and characterized in order to verify the feasibility of the component