Effect of welding processes on joint characteristics of Ti–6Al–4V alloy

Abstract

Although Ti–6Al–4V alloys show reasonable weldability characteristics, the joint properties are greatly influenced by the welding processes. Microstructures and tensile and impact properties of welded Ti–6Al–4V alloy were evaluated for high vacuum electron beam welding, CO₂ laser beam welding and gas tungsten arc welding. The resultant tensile and impact properties of the welded joints are correlated with the weld metal microstructure and hardness. The results indicate that the electron beam welding is more suitable for Ti–6Al–4V sheet welding and the welding seam without defects can be obtained. The full penetration butt welds are obtained by gas tungsten arc welding process, but they have many drawbacks such as wide weld seam, big deformation and coarse grains. Laser beam welding has many advantages such as the narrowest weld seam, the least deformation and the finest grains, but it should be studied again for the reasons of unstable welding technologies and strict condition.     

Stitch welding of Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloy by fiber laser

Stitch welding of plate covered skeleton structure of Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloys has a variety of applications in aerospace vehicle manufacture. The laser stitch welding of Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloys was carried out by a 4 kW ROFIN fiber laser. Influences of laser welding parameters on the macroscopic geometry, porosity, microstructure and mechanical properties of the stitch welded seams were investigated by digital microscope, optical microscope, scanning electron microscope and universal tensile testing machine. The results showed that the three-pipe nozzle with gas flow rate larger than 5 L/min could avoid oxidization, presenting better shielding effect in comparison with the single-pipe nozzle. Porosity formation could be suppressed with the gap between plate and skeleton less than 0.1 mm, while the existing porosity can be reduced with remelting. The maximum shear strength of stitch welding joint with minimal porosity was obtained by employing laser power of 1700 W, welding speed of 1.5 m/min and defocusing distance of +8 mm.     

Effect of cryogenic and aging treatments on low-energy impact behaviour of Ti–6Al–4V alloy

The objective of this study is to examine the effects of cryogenic and aging treatments on the impact strength and mechanical properties of Ti–6Al–4V alloy. To accomplish that objective, cryogenic treatment (CT), aging treatment (AT) and cryogenic treatment followed by aging treatment (CAT) were conducted on Ti–6Al–4V alloy. Impact tests were performed on heat-treated and untreated samples using different impactor nose geometries (hemispherical, 60° and 90° conical) to determine the effect of impactor nose geometry on the damage characteristic. The findings showed that energy absorption increased and areas of damage decreased as a result of heat treatment in all treated samples. The highest energy absorption was observed in the CAT samples, due to the increase in energy absorption, the smallest damaged area occurred in the CAT sample, and the largest deformation was seen in the untreated samples. Additionally, it was seen that the damaged area and deflection were strongly dependent on impactor nose geometry. The maximum deflection and narrowest deformation area were seen with 60° conical nose geometry. The deformation area increased with increasing impactor nose angle.     

Mechanical properties of friction welded joint between Ti–6Al–4V alloy and Al–Mg alloy (AA5052)

Abstract

The present paper describes the mechanical properties of a friction welded joint between Ti–6Al–4V alloy and Al–Mg alloy (AA5052). The Ti–6Al–4V/AA5052–H112 joint, made at a friction speed of 27.5 rev s^?1, friction pressure of 30 MPa, friction time of 3.0 s, and forge pressure of 60 MPa, had 100% joint efficiency and fractured in the AA5052–H112 base metal. The Ti–6Al–4V/AA5052–H34 joint, made under the same friction welding conditions, did not achieve 100% joint efficiency and it fractured in the AA5052–H34 base metal because the AA5052–H34 base metal had softened under friction heating. The joints made at low friction speed or using short friction time showed fracture at the welded interface because a sufficient quantity of heat for welding could not be produced. However, the joints made at high friction speed or using long friction time were also fractured at the welded interface: in this instance, the welded interface also had an intermetallic compound layer consisting of Ti₂Mg₃Al₁₈. The Ti–6Al–4V/AA5052–H34 joint made at a friction speed of 27.5 rev s^?1 with friction pressure of 150 MPa, friction time of 0.5 s, and forge pressure of 275 MPa had 100% joint efficiency and fractured in the AA5052–H34 base metal, although the AA5052–H34 side softened slightly. In conclusion, the Ti–6Al–4V/AA5052–H112 joint and Ti–6Al–4V/AA5052–H34 joint had 100% joint efficiency and fractured in the AA5052 base metal when made under the friction welding conditions described above.     

Probing into diffusion bonding of laser surface treated γ-Ti–Al alloy/Ti–6Al–4V alloy

Abstract

In this work, a novel diffusion bonding technique combining the laser surface treatment (LST) with the diffusion bonding is used to join a γ-Ti–Al alloy with a Ti–6Al–4V alloy. By using the LST and subsequent heat treatment, a layer with a fine grain structure can be obtained on their surface of the two alloys. The diffusion bonding behaviour between γ-Ti–Al alloy and Ti–6Al–4V alloy with or without LST under the different bonding conditions is investigated. The result reveals that LST can improve the diffusion bonding behaviour of the two alloys, and the three point bending strength of the joints can be promoted. The sound bonding between the two alloys with the LST is achieved at 1173 K under 80 MPa in 2 h.     

Large gap joining of Ti–6Al–4V alloy with mixed powder interlayers

Abstract

Titanium based brazing alloys containing chromium, iron, copper, and nickel as β stabilisers have been studied for joining the titanium alloy Ti–6Al–4V. Two of these alloys were selected for use in producing large gap joints. The first brazing alloy, Ti–12Zr–14Cr–12Cu–12Ni (type 1), can be used to braze Ti–6Al–4V below its β transus temperature. Joints of thickness up to 150 μm can be made in a normal brazing cycle without prolonged holding. The interlayer consists of a β titanium alloy with no precipitation of intermetallic compounds. The second brazing alloy, Ti–12Zr–14Cr–6Fe–5Cu–5Ni (type 2), has to be brazed above the β transus temperature of Ti–6Al–4V. Its powders were mixed with pure titanium and Ti–6Al–4V powders and the mixture was used as the joining interlayer. Interlayers 5 mm in thickness were used to produce joints for microstructural examination and mechanical testing. It was found that residual pores in the interlayers were related to the amount of the brazing alloy in the interlayer. A fully dense interlayer could be obtained with 60 wt-% brazing alloy in the interlayer. The as bonded joints revealed tensile strength equal to 50% of that of the base metal. Diffusional treatment of the joints improved the joint efficiency to about 70%, compared with the base metal.     

Corrosion behaviour of Ti DLC deposition on prenitrided 316L stainless steel and Ti–6Al–4V alloy

Abstract

316L and Ti–6Al–4V are widely used as biomaterials and materials of various mechanical components. In biomedical applications, they are used to manufacture coronary and pulmonary stents, hip prosthesis, screws and external fixations. However, Cr, Al and V are released from the alloys to the body environment and these ions mix into the blood stream. Release of even small amounts of these ions may cause local irritation of the tissues surrounding the implant. This situation may be prevented by applying suitable surface treatments to the biomaterials. The overall objective of the present paper is to examine the corrosion properties of duplex treated (nitrided and with a diamond-like carbon coating) 316L stainless steel and Ti–6Al–4V alloy. Diamond-like carbon films were deposited on nitrided samples using closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering system. The corrosion behaviour of duplex treated samples was tested using the potentiodynamic method in ringer’s solution at 37°C. The corrosion resistance of duplex treated samples was significantly improved in comparison with the uncoated and single treated samples. In addition, the corroded surfaces were investigated by SEM where small pits were observed on all samples.     

Formation of adiabatic shear band and deformation mechanisms during warm compression of Ti–6Al–4V alloy

Adiabatic shear band(ASB) was narrow region where softening occurred and concentrated plastic deformation took place. In present study, the effects of height reduction and deformation temperature on ASB were investigated by means of optical microscopy(OM) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM). And the deformation mechanisms within the shear band were discussed thoroughly with the help of transmission electron microscopy(TEM). There is a critical strain for the formation of ASB during warm compression of Ti–6Al–4V alloy. The width of ASB increases with height reduction increasing. Elongated alpha grains within shear band grow up with deformation temperature increasing. Some ultrafine grains that confirm the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization are observed within shear band during warm compression of Ti–6Al–4V alloy.     

Improving the tribological properties of Ti–6Al–4V alloy by nitrogen-ion implantation

The tribological properties of N⁺₂-ion-implanted Ti alloy (Ti–6Al–4V) were studied by performing lubricated ball-on-disk tests against steel balls. The friction coefficients of N⁺₂-ion-implanted disks ranged from 0.05 to 0.2, which were lower than that of the unimplanted disk. N⁺₂-ion implantation reduced the volumetric wear rate of the disks as well as that of the steel balls. Moreover, the seizure limit of N⁺₂-ion-implanted disk was increased. These improvements were remarkable for doses above 2.5×10¹⁷ ions cm⁻². However, N⁺₂-ion implantation did not monotonously improve the tribological properties with increasing ion dose. The results were not simply attributed to an increase in the surface microhardness by N⁺₂-ion implantation. Surface analysis revealed that the structure consisted of titanium oxide on titanium, and titanium nitrides were formed by N⁺₂-ion implantation. The observed transition in the tribological properties of Ti–6Al–4V alloy was discussed in terms of surface structure produced by N⁺₂-ion implantation.     

Development and tensile properties of Ti–40Al–10V alloy

A Ti–40Al–10V (at%) intermetallic compound has been developed using vacuum arc remelting and hot-isostatic pressing (HIP), followed by isothermal hot-forging (IHF). The alloy, composed mainly of B2 and γ phases with equiaxial grains of several μm in average diameter and a small amount of α₂ phase with equiaxial grains of smaller size, shows excellent tensile properties; it has an elongation larger than 6% on average and yield strength larger than 700 MPa at low (ambient temperature) to intermediate temperatures, although the strength decreases rapidly at temperatures higher than 600°C.     

A study of the microstructural evolution during selective laser melting of Ti–6Al–4V

Selective laser melting (SLM) is an additive manufacturing technique in which functional, complex parts can be created directly by selectively melting layers of powder. This process is characterized by highly localized high heat inputs during very short interaction times and will therefore significantly affect the microstructure. In this research, the development of the microstructure of the Ti–6Al–4V alloy processed by SLM and the influence of the scanning parameters and scanning strategy on this microstructure are studied by light optical microscopy. The martensitic phase is present, and due to the occurrence of epitaxial growth, elongated grains emerge. The direction of these grains is directly related to the process parameters. At high heat inputs it was also found that the intermetallic phase Ti₃Al is precipitated during the process.     

Optimization of Ti6Al4V titanium alloy laser–arc hybrid weld parameters

This article reports the results of a study aimed at using statistical methods to optimize the parameters for laser–arc hybrid butt welding of Ti6Al4V titanium alloy sheets with a thickness of 3.0 mm. The study has examined the effects of the hybrid welding process parameters, such as laser beam power, arc pulse frequency, arc length, arc current, wire speed, laser and arc relative positions, and weld speed. Microstructure has been studied using light microscopy and morphological analysis of weld bead cross sections. This article reports the results of energy and morphological tests.     

High-Temperature Oxidation Kinetics and Behavior of Ti–6Al–4V Alloy

Owing to the high-temperature reactivity of titanium, the oxidation and alloying of titanium during hot working processes is an important variable. The oxidation behavior of Ti–6Al–4V alloy in air was investigated at various temperatures between 850 and 1100 °C for different times. The oxidation kinetics were determined by isothermal oxidation weight gain experiments. The results showed that the oxidation kinetics approximately obeyed a parabolic law. The activation energy of oxidation was estimated to be 199 and 281 kJ mol^?1 when temperature was above and below the beta transformation temperature (T _β), respectively. A model to predict oxidation extent was established based on experimental observations. The oxide scales mainly consisted of TiO₂ with a small amount of Al₂O₃ and TiVO₄. The alpha case was defined as solid solution formed because of oxygen diffusion into the substrate. The difference in the morphology and the formation mechanism of the alpha case at different temperature ranges was mainly owing to the participation of the grain boundary and grain orientation of the nucleation site.     

Effects of temperature and initial microstructure on the equal channel angular pressing of Ti–6Al–4V alloy

Equal channel angular pressing of Ti–6Al–4V alloy was successfully carried out isothermally above 600 °C. The equiaxed microstructure presented more uniform material flow than the Widmanstätten microstructure, which was discussed in relation to flow softening behavior of the two microstructures.     

Effect of micro-textured tools on machining of Ti–6Al–4V alloy: An experimental and numerical approach

In this work, an attempt is made to reduce the detrimental effects that occurred during machining of Ti–6Al–4V by employing surface textures on the rake faces of the cutting tools. Numerical simulation of machining of Ti–6Al–4V alloy with surface textured tools was employed, taking the work piece as elasto-plastic material and the tool as rigid body. Deform 3D software with updated Lagrangian formulation was used for numerical simulation of machining process. Coupled thermo-mechanical analysis was carried out using Johnson-cook material model to predict the temperature distribution, machining forces, tool wear and chip morphology during machining. Turning experiments on Ti–6Al–4V alloy were carried out using surface textured tungsten carbide tools with micro-scaled grooves in preferred orientation such as, parallel, perpendicular and cross pattern to that of chip flow. A mixture of molybdenum disulfide with SAE 40 oil (80:20) was used as semi-solid lubricant during machining process. Temperature distribution at tool–chip interface was measured using an infrared thermal imager camera. Feed, thrust and cutting forces were measured by a three component-dynamometer. Tool wear and chip morphology were captured and analyzed using optical microscopic images. Experimental results such as cutting temperature, machining forces and chip morphology were used for validating numerical simulation results. Cutting tools with surface textures produced in a direction perpendicular to that of chip flow exhibit a larger reduction in cutting force, temperature generation and reduced tool wear.     

Comparison of the corrosion resistance of an Al–Cu alloy and an Al–Cu–Li alloy

ABSTRACT

In this study, the corrosion mechanisms of the AA2024-T3 and the AA2098-T351 were investigated and compared using various electrochemical techniques in 0.005?mol?L^?1 NaCl solution. The severe type of corrosion in the AA2098-T351 was intragranular attack (IGA) although trenching and pitting related to the constituent particles were seen. On the other hand, the AA2024-T3 exhibited severe localised corrosion associated with micrometric constituent particles, and its propagation was via grain boundaries leading to intergranular corrosion (IGC). Electrochemical techniques showed that the corrosion reaction in both alloys was controlled by diffusion. The non-uniform current distribution in both alloys showed that EIS was not a proper technique for comparing the corrosion resistance of the alloys. However, local electrochemical techniques were useful for the evaluation of the corrosion resistance of the alloys.     

Lattice parameters of Ti–4Al–2V alloy with thermal oxidation

In this study, the effect of thermal oxidation on the lattice parameters of Ti–4Al–2V alloy was studied.Samples were oxidized at 450, 600 and 650 °C for 1–7 h in electric furnace under air atmosphere. The lattice parameters were determined using the Cohen method as a function of oxidation time at each temperature. The lattice parameters of as-received alloy are calculated as a = 0.29289 nm and c = 0.46652 nm. The thermal oxidation at 450 °C results in a gradual increase in a-parameter, whereas it goes through a maximum at higher temperatures(600 and 700 °C). The results show that these maximums are reduced to an approximately constant value after a long-time oxidation. The c-parameter generally increases over the whole treatment condition. It is believed that these variations could be due to the dissolution of oxygen atoms in octahedral sites of hcp lattice of titanium.     

Physical simulation of microstructural evolution in linear friction welded joints of Ti–6Al–4V alloy

Abstract

The novel shear compression specimen was used to simulate the microstructural evolution in linear friction welding joints of Ti–6Al–4V alloy. Similar formation mechanisms of microstructures and microtextures were found in the linear friction welding joints and shear compression specimen. Accordingly, the shear compression test was proved to simulate the microstructural evolution and the thermomechanical conditions that occurred in linear friction welding joint. Furthermore, the strain rate in linear friction welding was estimated to exceed the value of 70?s^??1.     

Grain refining action of Al–5Ti–C and Al–TiC master alloys with Al–5Ti master alloy addition for commercial purity aluminium

Al–Ti–C master alloys have a great potential as efficient grain refiners for aluminium and its alloys. In the present work, the Al–5Ti–C, Al–TiC and Al–5Ti master alloys have been successfully prepared by a method of liquid solidification reactions. While the Al–5Ti–C master alloy consists of some strip- or needle-like TiAl₃, and in addition to TiC particles in the Al matrix, the Al–TiC master alloy revealed the presence of only TiC particles, and the Al–5Ti master alloy consists of only some blocky TiAl₃ particles. A united refinement technology by Al–5Ti–C+Al–5Ti and Al–TiC+Al–5Ti master alloys was put forward in this paper. The blocky TiAl₃ particles in Al–5Ti master alloy can not only improve the grain refinement efficiency of Al–5Ti–C and Al–TiC master alloys but also reduce the consumption because the blocky TiAl₃ particles improve the grain refinement efficiency of TiC particles in Al–5Ti–C and Al–TiC master alloys.