The AB-type Ti-1.1-xRExFe0.8Mn0.2 (RE = Pr, Sm and Nd; x = 0, 0.01) alloys in cast are fabricated. The relationships of phase composition, surface morphology and crystal structure to the hydrogenation performances of the alloys are studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show that the as-cast Ti2.2Fe0.8Mn0.2 (TFM for short) alloy includes the base phase of TiFe phase and the second phases of TiFe2 phase and TiO phase. Backscatter electron (BES) images show that there is Ti segregation phase besides TiFe phase and TiFe2 phase in the TFM alloy. Substituting Ti with RE partly causes Ti phase to increase and RE phases to generate. The lowest activation temperature decreases from 573 K for the TiFe alloy to 423 K for the Ti2.2Fe0.8Mn0.2 (RE = Pr, Sm and Nd; x = 0, 0.01) alloys. Substituting Ti with RE partly makes the incubation time reduce from 5900 s for the TFM alloy to 3850, 3900 and 4050 s for the Prom, Smom and Ndom alloys, respectively. And it also is able to weaken the stability of the hydrides, while causes variable degrees of the hydrogenation capacity decrease. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.