Microstructure and Texture Evolution During Sub-Transus Thermo-Mechanical Processing of Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B Alloy: Part II. Static Annealing in (α + β) Regime

The first part of this study describes the evolution of microstructure and texture in Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B alloy during sub-transus rolling vis-à-vis the control alloy Ti-6Al-4V. In the second part, the static annealing response of the two alloys at self-same conditions is compared and the principal micromechanisms are analyzed. Faster globularization kinetics has been observed in the Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B alloy for equivalent annealing conditions. This is primarily attributed to the α colonies, which leads to easy boundary splitting via multiple slip activation in this alloy. The other mechanisms facilitating lamellar to equiaxed morphological transformations, e.g., termination migration and cylinderization, also start early in the boron-modified alloy due to small α colony size, small aspect ratio of the α lamellae, and the presence of TiB particles in the microstructure. Both the alloys exhibit weakening of basal fiber (ND||〈0001〉) and strengthening of prism fiber (RD||〈 $ 10\bar{1}0 $ 〉) upon annealing. A close proximity between the orientations of fully globularized primary α and secondary α phases during α → β → α transformation has accounted for such a texture modification.     

Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B钛合金的热压缩变形行为

作为一种新型合金,Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B合金显示了较好的塑性成形能力及应用前景。通过真空感应凝壳熔炼方法制备了Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B合金铸锭,随后在850～985℃的温度范围内和0.001～1 s^-1的应变速率范围内对Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B合金进行热压缩测试。运用真应力-真应变曲线研究了合金的流动行为。利用光学显微镜(OM)、扫描电镜(SEM)和电子背散射衍射技术(EBSD)对合金显微组织进行了表征。研究结果显示,Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B合金的流动应力对温度和应变速率都是敏感的,且温度对流动应力的影响比应变速率大。与基体合金相比,Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B合金具有更高的应力指数和应变激活能,这归因于分布在晶界处的TiB增加了原子扩散的阻力,减慢了热变形动态软化过程。热压缩过程中,初生α相发生了明显的球化,球化过程也受变形温度和应变速率的影响。由于TiB与基体之间的应变不匹配导致了高应变速率下合金基体的开裂,随后裂纹沿着定向排列的TiB粒子扩展,因此Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B合金的热加工过程应在低应变速率下进行。     

Processing,Microstructure, and Mechanical Properties of B4C ― TiB2 Particulate Sintered Composites. Part I. Pressureless Sintering and Microstructure Evolution

Pressureless sintering of boron carbide ceramics containing 0-25 vol. % TiB₂ phase, produced via an in-situ chemical reaction between B₄C, TiO₂, and elemental carbon, was studied in the isothermal and constant-heating-rate regimes. The presence of TiB₂ results in a decrease in activation energy for sintering from 717 kJ/mol at 0 vol. % TiB₂ to 266 kJ/mol at 25 vol. % TiB₂. Ceramic bodies of B₄C TiB₂ particulate composites with relative densities of up to 99% were sintered without pressure at temperatures of 2050-2100°C. Grain boundary diffusion is the primary mechanism of TiB₂ particle coarsening. TiB₂ particle size is bimodal depending on whether the particle is confined within a B₄C grain or located on the grain boundary. Densification behavior of the B₄C TiB₂ system is identical at different heating rates in the temperature range of 1800-2150°C.     

Processing,Microstructure, and Mechanical Properties of B4C ― TiB2 Particulate Sintered Composites. Part II. Fracture and Mechanical Properties

The fracture response of pressureless sintered boron carbide ceramics containing 5-25 vol.% TiB₂ phase produced via the in-situ chemical reaction between B₄C, TiO₂ and elemental carbon was studied. Both strength and fracture toughness depend on TiB₂ volume fraction, reaching their maximum values of 500 MPa and 4.6 MPa·m^1/2, respectively, at 15 vol.% TiB₂. The observed increase in strength and fracture toughness was ascribed to the interaction between the propagating crack front and local thermal mismatch stress associated with TiB₂ particles. Induced circumferencial microcracking and crack impedance are discussed as the major toughening mechanisms. Spontaneous circumferencial microcracking due to thermal mismatch stress in TiB₂ particles was found to occur when the particle size exceeds its critical value. The theoretical interpretation of spontaneous circumferencial microcracking, toughening via induced microcracking, and crack impedance was justified experimentally.     

Ti-6Al-4V-0.1B合金热压缩过程中温度和应变速率对变形行为和组织演化的影响

Tamirisakandala等报道了通过在Ti-6Al-4V合金中添加0.1%硼,使合金的β晶粒尺寸由1 700μm减小为200μm。然而截至目前,对于添加硼的Ti-6Al-4V合金在热机械加工过程中的变形行为和显微组织演化还不是很清楚。为此,印度学者ShibayanRoy等人对添加硼的Ti-6Al-4V合金进行了热压缩试验,研究了变形温度和应变速率对变形行为和组织     

Microstructure,Texture, and Mechanical Properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis> Solution-Treated and Aged Metastable <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis> Titanium Alloy,Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-3Cr

The current study describes the aging characteristics and mechanical properties of a metastable β titanium alloy Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-3Cr. The aged microstructures consist of fine α-phase precipitates (lath morphology) in equiaxed β grains. The sizes of the α-phase precipitates increase with the increasing aging temperature. The β ST WQ and 823 K (550 °C)-aged material exhibits maximum hardness due to precipitation hardening. The low- and high-temperature aging conditions result in strong c-type basal and prismatic textures in the α-phase, respectively. The β-phase of the alloy aged at low temperature reveals the presence of texture with moderate intensity. In contrast, high-temperature-aged material exhibits very strong β-phase texture. The strengths of the alloy under β ST WQ- and 923 K (650 °C)-aged conditions are the maximum and minimum along TD and RD, while the ductility values are the maximum and minimum along the RD and TD direction samples, respectively. The flow curves follow typical Holloman equation along three sample directions, and the work hardening rate curves display two distinctive regimes, namely, stage I and stage II. The yield locus plots of the β ST WQ and aged materials exhibit the presence of anisotropy.     

Differential scanning calorimetry study and computer modeling of <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis> ⇒ <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis> phase transformation in a Ti-6Al-4V alloy

The relationship between heat-treatment parameters and microstructure in titanium alloys has so far been mainly studied empirically, using characterization techniques such as microscopy. Calculation and modeling of the kinetics of phase transformation have not yet been widely used for these alloys. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been widely used for the study of a variety of phase transformations. There has been much work done on the calculation and modeling of the kinetics of phase transformations for different systems based on the results from DSC study. In the present work, the kinetics of the β ⇒ α transformation in a Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy were studied using DSC, at continuous cooling conditions with constant cooling rates of 5 °C, 10 °C, 20 °C, 30 °C, 40 °C, and 50 °C/min. The results from calorimetry were then used to trace and model the transformation kinetics in continuous cooling conditions. Based on suitably interpreted DSC results, continuous cooling-transformation (CCT) diagrams were calculated with lines of isotransformed fraction. The kinetics of transformation were modeled using the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami (JMA) theory and by applying the “concept of additivity.” The JMA kinetic parameters were derived. Good agreement between the calculated and experimental transformed fractions is demonstrated. Using the derived kinetic parameters, the β ⇒ α transformation in a Ti-6Al-4V alloy can be described for any cooling path and condition. An interpretation of the results from the point of view of activation energy for nucleation is also presented.