The thermomechanical processing of titanium and Ti-6Al-4V thin gage sheet and plate

A new method for producing low-cost titanium powder, the Armstrong Process, has proven to be a scalable process. The process, which reduces TiCl₄ vapor in a molten stream of sodium to produce pure titanium and NaCl, can also be used to in-situ manufacture Ti-6Al-4V alloy powder. Armstrong Process titanium and Ti-6Al-4V powders were used to produce plate by vacuum hot pressing. Also, thin gage sheet was produced by cold rolling solid-phase sintered titanium and Ti-6Al-4V powder compacts. Chemical analysis and mechanical testing revealed that processed Armstrong titanium and Ti-6Al-4V sheet and plate had compositions and properties similar to those of grade 2 titanium and grade 5 Ti-6Al-4V. For more information, contact John D.K. Rivard, Strategic Analysis, 3811 N. Fairfax Drive Suite 700, Arlington VA 22202; e-mail jrivard@sainc.com.     

Ti-6Al-4V合金的轧制与组织性能

采用光学显微镜、透射电镜和拉伸试验等手段,研究了多道次两向轧制和单向轧制对不同原始状态(热轧态、水淬态和空冷态)Ti-6Al-4V合金显微组织和力学性能的影响。结果表明,热轧态Ti-6Al-4V合金的组织为片状α相+β相+少量等轴α相,水淬态Ti-6Al-4V合金形成了针状马氏体组织,空冷态Ti-6Al-4V合金形成了网状组织。Ti-6Al-4V合金适宜的两向轧制温度为700 ℃,此时合金中可见颗粒状β相弥散分布在α基体上。两向轧制Ti-6Al-4V合金的抗拉强度和屈服强度从高至低顺序为:水淬态>热轧态>空冷态,且轧向强度要高于横向;相较于单向轧制,两向轧制明显降低了Ti-6Al-4V合金板材拉伸性能的各向异性,且水淬态Ti-6Al-4V合金的轧向和横向强度差异最小,700 ℃轧制Ti-6Al-4V合金的主要细化机制为位错细化。     

粉末冶金Nb-35Ti-6Al-5Cr-8V合金组织演变及其力学行为

采用粉末冶金法对不同球磨时间的Nb-35Ti-6Al-5Cr-8V合金机械合金化粉末塑变行为,热压烧结材料的微观组织结构和力学行为进行了研究。研究结果表明：塑性良好的Nb-35Ti-6Al-5Cr-8V粉末随着球磨时间增加首先变形为大尺寸的片状、后经持续的加工硬化破碎成絮状;热压烧结能够制备微观组织可控晶粒细化的Nb-35Ti-6Al-5Cr-8V合金,合金由单一的Nbss相构成,Ti、Al、Cr、V元素固溶引起Nb晶格尺寸减小0.0685 ?;随着球磨时间增加合金晶粒明显细化进而显著提高了合金的维氏硬度和室温压缩强度,其变化符合材料硬度和强度的Hall-Petch规律。粉末冶金制备Nb-35Ti-6Al-5Cr-8V合金的各项力学性能明显优于熔铸法制备合金。     

氢对Ti-6Al-4V合金微观组织的影响

采用累计流量法对供应态Ti-6Al-4V合金进行了固态置氢,运用OM、XRD、TEM分析等方法研究了Ti-6Al-4V合金固态置氢后的微观组织状态及演变过程。结果表明:供应态Ti-6Al-4V合金的置氢量低于0.30%(质量分数,下同)时,置氢使得Ti-6Al-4V合金中的α相减少、β相增加;置氢量达到0.30%时,置氢Ti-6Al-4V合金中有δ氢化物(TiH2相)形成;β-Ti(H)共析转变生成α-Ti和δ氢化物时主要以切变方式进行;置氢Ti-6Al-4V合金的相变温度最多下降了180°C,与Ti-6Al-4V合金在置氢过程中的相体积比变化和共析转变有密切关系。     

机械合金化制备纳米晶Ti-6Al-4V合金

采用机械合金化制备Ti-6Al-4V粉末。结果表明:采用机械合金化可以制备纳米晶Ti-6Al-4V合金粉,其反应机理以扩散为主,该固态反应是缺陷能和碰撞能共同作用的结果;随球磨时间延长,部分V固溶于Ti中形成置换固溶体Ti(V),球磨过程中没有中间相生成。球磨40 h后都能获得纳米晶,60 h的粉末为纳米晶和非晶的混合物,晶粒尺寸小于60 nm;60 h后晶粒尺寸变化缓慢。球磨后Ti、Al、V的原子比近似为90:6:4,与Ti-6Al-4V元素成分一致。     

Influence of spark plasma sintering on microstructure and wear behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V reinforced with nanosized TiN

Ti-6Al-4V/TiN composites were successfully consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS). TiN addition to Ti-6Al-4V was varied from 1% to 5% (volume fraction). The effect of TiN addition on the densification, microstructure, microhardness and wear behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V was studied. Experimental results showed reduction in sintered density of the compacts from 99% to 97% with increase in TiN content. However, an increase in microhardness value was recorded from HV_0.1 389 to HV_0.1 488. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the intensity of diffraction peaks of TiN phase in the composites increased also with formation of small amount of secondary Ti₂N phase. SEM analysis of SPS sintered nanocomposites possessed a refinement of α/β phase microstructure in Ti-6Al-4V with the presence of uniformly dispersed TiN particles. The worn surface of the composite showed improved abrasive wear resistance with non-continuous grooves as compared to the sintered Ti-6Al-4V without TiN addition.     

采用氢化-脱氢（HDH）钛粉和氢化钛粉制备MIMTi-6Al-4V合金

以HDH钛粉制备MIM Ti-6Al-4V合金的过程为参照,对使用氢化钛粉为原料制备P/M模压钛合金以及MIM钛合金的工艺过程进行了探索.使用HDH钛粉制备的MIM Ti-6Al-4V合金抗拉强度为819 MPa,拉伸样延伸率为7%;使用氢化钛粉制备的P/M模压Ti-6Al-4V合金拉伸样抗拉性能高于850 MPa;使用氢化钛粉为原料制备MIM Ti-6Al-4V合金,顺利实现了脱氢-脱脂过程.     

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Injection Molding of Ti-6Al-4V Powders for High-Performance Titanium Parts

Both experimental and numerical analysis of powder injection molding (PIM) of Ti-6Al-4V alloy were performed to prepare a defect-free high-performance Ti-6Al-4V part with low carbon/oxygen contents. The prepared feedstock was characterized with specific experiments to identify its viscosity, pressure–volume–temperature and thermal properties to simulate its injection molding process. A finite-element-based numerical scheme was employed to simulate the thermomechanical process during the injection molding. In addition, the injection molding, debinding, sintering and hot isostatic pressing processes were performed in sequence to prepare the PIMed parts. With optimized processing conditions, the PIMed Ti-6Al-4V part exhibits excellent physical and mechanical properties, showing a final density of 99.8%, tensile strength of 973 MPa and elongation of 16%.     

Orientation Dependence of the Micro-Pillar Compression Strength in an Electron Beam Melted Ti–6Al–4V Alloy

An α/β two-phase Ti-6 Al-4 V alloy was fabricated by electron beam melting to obtain a basketweave structure.The orientation dependence of the mechanical properties of Ti-6 Al-4 V alloy was studied by micro-pillar compression and post-mortem transmission electron microscopy analysis.The results indicate that different grains have different mechanical responses,and the possible attributions were discussed.Besides the orientation effect,due to the limited volumes of micropillars,the size of the a phases,dispersion of the β phases,and the presence of the free dislocation path also affect the mechanical properties of the micropillars to a large extent.Although no direct link was discovered between the mechanical properties and the parent βorientations,this work provided a promising method to further study the anisotropic mechanical behavior in Ti-6 Al-4 V alloy.     

Dehydrogenation of Hydrogenated Ti-6Al-4V Alloy

对未置氢及置氢Ti-6Al-4V合金进行了TG/DSC试验,研究了置氢钛合金的除氢行为。结果表明,当温度超过600℃时,置氢钛合金的失重规律与未置氢钛合金具有较大的差别。当加热温度在600~900℃之间时,置氢钛合金的失重随着氢含量的增加而增加。这是由于置氢合金中的亚稳相发生了分解。不考虑合金氧化的影响,置氢钛合金的最大失重与合金中的氢含量一致。置氢钛合金的最佳除氢温度为750℃。对于不同氢含量的置氢钛合金,其除氢工艺是相同的。     

Effect of Annealing Treatments on the Microstructure,Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Behavior of Direct Metal Laser Sintered Ti-6Al-4V

An experimental investigation on the effects of post-annealing treatments on the microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of direct metal laser sintered Ti-6Al-4V alloys has been conducted. The microstructure and phase evolution as affected by annealing treatment temperature were examined through scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. The tensile properties and Vickers hardness were measured and compared to the commercial Grade 5 Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Corrosion behavior of the parts was analyzed electrochemically in simulated body fluid at 37 °C. It was found out that the as-printed parts mainly composed of non-equilibrium α′ phase. Annealing treatment allowed the transformation from α′ to α phase and the development of β phase. The tensile test results indicated that post-annealing treatment could improve the ductility and decrease the strength. The as-printed Ti-6Al-4V part exhibits inferior corrosion resistance compared to the commercial alloy, and post-annealing treatment can reduce its susceptibility to corrosion by reducing the two-phase interface area.     

Oxygen effects on the mechanical properties and lattice strain of Ti and Ti-6Al-4V

The effects of oxygen on the mechanical properties and the lattice strain of commercial pure CP) Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloys are discussed here in terms of the Vickers hardness, tensile strength and elongation. The Vickers hardness and tensile strength of the CP Ti and the Ti-6Al-4V alloys increased with an increase in the oxygen concentration. On the other hand, the elongation of the CP Ti decreased considerably as the oxygen concentration increased, while that of the Ti-6Al-4V alloys gradually decreased as the oxygen concentration increased. Thus, the oxygen concentration has a greater effect on the mechanical properties of CP Ti compared to its effects on the Ti-6Al-4V alloy. This can be explained in terms of the difference in the solid solution effect of oxygen between the CP Ti and the Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Where, the mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy were previously affected by an earlier lattice expansion caused by an increment in the c/a ratio of the Ti-6Al-4V during the Al and V alloying process.     

Rolling of Plates and Sheets from As-Cast Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B

Trace boron addition (~0.1 wt.%) to conventional titanium alloys reduces the as-cast prior-beta grain size by an order of magnitude to about 200 μm, a grain size typically observed after ingot breakdown. In this study, the feasibility of producing plate and sheet by hot rolling of as-cast Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B (wt.%) was evaluated. Starting from an initial thickness of 25 mm, as-cast Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B was successfully rolled to 2 mm sheet in a multistep rolling process. As-cast Ti-6Al-4V (without boron addition) rolled under similar conditions exhibited severe cracking. Tensile properties of the sheets and plates made from the boron-containing alloy met or exceeded AMS 4911 specifications for Ti-6Al-4V plates and sheets produced by conventional processing route. The process of making plate and sheet stock from cast titanium alloy ingots, without recourse to expensive ingot breakdown, can significantly reduce the number of expensive and time-consuming processing steps for making titanium alloy components, thereby enhancing the affordability and expanding the range of titanium applications.     

热循环温度对Ti-6Al-4V合金组织和力学性能的影响

对上限温度为500、650、800℃高温短时热循环200次后的Ti-6Al-4V合金室温力学性能和组织进行了研究。结果表明:循环温度对合金强度影响较为明显,循环温度的升高使合金抗拉强度降低;分析认为:温度高于650℃,实验合金组织中β相逐渐分解碎化,β相含量减少和α晶粒逐渐长大是强度降低的主要原因。     

Tensile Properties and Microstructures of Laser-Formed Ti-6Al-4V

The room temperature tensile properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy prepared under two different processing routes were evaluated and compared. One group of samples was prepared by conventional casting-forging-rolling into flat plates. The other group was prepared by using Triton??s Laser Free-Form Fabrication (LF3)? processes, i.e., a laser was used to melt pre-alloyed powders of the required metallic composition as they were dropped onto a moveable substrate programmed to move in such a manner as to form a solid alloy plate. Five populations of Ti-6Al-4V were evaluated: a standard wrought form, an as-deposited form, a machined as-deposited form, a heat-treated as-deposited form, and a machined as-deposited and heat-treated form. The poorest mechanical properties occurred with the rough surfaces, likely due to existing microcracks and stress concentrations. The LF3? as-deposited material had mechanical properties comparable to, if not higher than, the mechanical properties of the wrought material. Further evaluations of the laser-formed material for complex spacecraft piece parts were warranted, specifically in regards to improving the surface finish of the materials.     

Ti-6Al-4V钛合金固体渗硼法表面改性

对TC4钛合金(Ti-6Al-4V)进行表面渗硼使其表面硬度显著提高.渗硼温度为1000℃到1050℃,渗硼时间为5 h到20h.文内测量和比较了渗硼后钛合金表面的微结构、形貌、相组成等性质,研究了渗硼过程中Ti,Al,V,B等元素的扩散行为.在低温短时间渗硼时,渗硼层厚度仅0.8μm,而在高温长时间渗硼时,渗硼层厚度可达15 μm.实验证明,渗硼层由TiB和TiB2两相组成,并且它们的含量随渗硼温度提高而增加.渗硼层表面主要含TiB2,其显微硬度可达2200 HV0.01,渗硼层内表层主要含TiB,其显微硬度为1100 HV0.01.渗硼层的硬度远高于TC4钛合金的硬度.     

Ti及Ti-6Al-4V的水基凝胶注模成形研究

将凝胶注模工艺应用于金属Ti及Ti-6Al-4v合金粉末的坯体成形，研究了高固相含量的Ti粉和Ti-6Al-4V合金粉末的料浆的制备。结果表明，用凝胶注模工艺制备出了固相含量为54φ%的钛合金粉末料浆和形状复杂的坯体；粉末的颗粒形状是影响料浆固相含量的重要因素，球形粉末配制成的浆料固相含量最高，近球形次之，片状最低；分散剂柠檬酸铵也可以显著提高浆料的固相含量。     

The effects of hydrogen on fatigue crack growth behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-4.5Al-3V-2Mo-2Fe alloys

The fatigue crack growth rates (FCGRs) of Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-4.5Al-3V-2Mo-2Fe alloys were determined in gaseous hydrogen, air, and a soft vacuum. In hydrogen and at a stress ratio of 0.1, the deflected crack path associated with the localized brittle fracture of the α-phase could account for the reduced FCGR of Ti-6Al-4V. At a higher stress ratio of 0.5, hydrogen embrittlement enhanced cracking and alleviated the effect of crack deflections in Ti-6Al-4V specimens, resulting in the FCGR in hydrogen similar to that in air. In contrast, the FCGR of Ti-4.5Al-3V-2Mo-2Fe was insensitive to both the environment and stress ratio.     

Heat-treated microstructure and mechanical properties of laser solid forming Ti-6Al-4V alloy

The effects of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of laser solid forming (LSF) Ti-6Al-4V alloy were investigated. The influences of the temperature and time of solution treatment and aging treatment were analyzed. The results show that the microstructure of LSFed samples consists of Widmanstätten α laths and a little acicular in columnar prior β grains with an average grain width of 300 µm, which grow epitaxially from the substrate along the deposition direction (Z). Solution treatment had an important effect on the width, aspect ratio, and volume fraction of primary and secondary α laths, and aging treatment mainly affects the aspect ratio and volume fraction of primary α laths and the width and volume fraction of secondary α laths. Globular α phase was first observed in LSFed samples when the samples were heat treated with solution treatment (950°C, 8 h/air cooling (AC)) or with solution treatment (950°C, 1 h/AC) and aging treatment (550°C, above 8 h/AC), respectively. The coarsening and globularization mechanisms of α phase in LSFed Ti-6Al-4V alloy during heat treatment were presented. To obtain good integrated mechanical properties for LSFed Ti-6Al-4V alloys, an optimized heat treatment regimen was suggested.     

Ti-6Al-4Mo合金中的相成分分析

分析了Ti-6Al-4Mo钛合金在β相区加β相变点下双重退火及β相变点下单一再结晶退火状态后α相与β相中的微区成分。结果表明,两种退火处理后,Mo在β相中都强烈富集,在α相中贫化;而Al在β相中贫化,在α相中富集。随着退火温度的降低,α相中的Al、Mo元素含量基本不变,但Al在β相中的浓度呈降低的趋势,Mo在β相中浓度增加。单一再结晶退火后,α相与β相之间有明显的过渡界面。界面能谱结果显示,在由α相向β相过渡过程中,Al含量变化很小,而Mo含量变化很大。