Microstructural Evolution of Localized Shear Bands Induced during Explosion in Ti-6Al-4V Alloy

Microstructures of the localized shear bands generated during explosion with a thick-walled cylinder specimen in Ti-6AI-4V alloy, were characterized by TEM and SEM. The results show that the twinning is a major mode of deformation, and the distortion-free grains in the bands with the size of 10μm in diameter were proposed to be the re-crystallization during dynamic explosion. The further observations show that the α→α2 phase transformation may occur in the bands, and this kind of transformation could be confirmed by its dark field image and electron diffraction analysis. Analysis shows that there is specified orientation between the α and α2 Phases.

Fretting Fatigue Improvement of Ti6Al4V by Coating and Shot Peening

Ion beam enhanced deposition (IBED) was employed to increase the fretting fatigue resistance of Ti6AI4V. CrN and TiN hard coatings were applied on the base material and shot peening was combined with the hard coatings to study the duplex effect on fretting fatigue resistance. The IBED coatings exhibited a good bonding strength. They did not spall off even after shot peening. However, an optimum composition of CrN showed better fretting fatigue resistance than that of TiN with the same processing parameters.

Effects of Process Parameters on the Temperature Field in Ti-6Al-4V Alloy Blade Precision Forging Process

Blade precision forging is a high temperature and large plastic deformation process. Process parameters have a great effect on temperature distribution in billet, so in this paper, by taking a Ti-6Al-4V alloy blade with a tenon as an object, the influence of process parameters on the temperature distribution in precision forging process was investigated using 3D coupled thermo-mechanical FEM （finite element method） code developed by the authors. The results obtained illustrate that： （1） the gradient of temperature distribution increases with increasing the deformation degree; （2） with increasing the initial temperature of the billet, the zones of high temperature become larger, and the gradient of temperature distribution hardly has any increase; （3） friction factors have little effect on the distribution of temperature field; （4） with increasing upper die velocity, temperature of the billet increases while the temperature gradient in billet decreases. The results are helpful to the design and optimization of the process parameters in precision forging process of Ti-alloy blade.

Effect of Heat Treatment Processes on Microstructure and Mechanical Behavior of TC21 Titanium Alloy

The effect of heat treatment on microstructure and tensile properties as well as wear behavior on TC21 (Ti-6Al-2Sn-2Zr-3Mo-1Cr-2Nb-Si, wt.%) Ti-alloy was investigated. The samples were solution treated at 900°C for 15 min followed by furnace cooling to 800°C with a cooling rate 1°C/min and holding for 20 min, then the samples cooled down to room temperature either using water quenching (WQ) or air cooling (AC). Consequently, aging treatment was applied at 575°C for 4 hr. The microstructure feature showed a secondary α phase (αs) precipitated in residual β phase due to the step cooling from 900°C to 800°C inside furnace as well as the aging treatment. The highest wear rate was obtained for WQ samples due to increasing in volume fraction of αp (58%). However, the lowest wear rate was reported for WQ + Aging samples due to the high hardness. Optimum mechanical properties of the studied TC21 Ti-alloy were obtained for AC + Aging condition. A better combination of hardness, tensile properties, and wear resistance was achieved for AC + Aging samples, although their wear resistance was found to be slightly lower than that of WQ + Aging samples.

Laser Coating Quality of Bioceramic on Ti-Alloy Produced by Powder Preplacing Technique

A powder preplacing technique was adopted in the process of laser cladding of hydroxyapatite on Ti-alloy substrate. A flocculated and a dispersed powder states in the form of slurry were designed in order to investigate the effects of powder states on coating quality. It is found that the quality of laser coating was closely related to the state of preplaced powder. A flocculated state resulted in a loose green coating and a porous final laser coating,while a dispersed state resulted in dense-packed green coating and a high quality of laser coating. This suggests that a selection and consideration of the powder state is required for quality control of laser cladding with powder preplacing approach.

Study on J-integral with SENB specimens in a condenser material

A series of tests was performed with three-point single-edge-notched-bend (SENB) specimens in a condenser material (Titanium alloy). Results show that the J-integral values of welded joint and HAZ are obviously smaller than those of the base metal. It signifies that the welding process can result in a reduced toughness of Titanium alloy and the effect of crack orientation on toughness value is not negligible for engineering applications. Besides, the J-integral values of L-T direction specimens are much higher than those of L-S ones. The J-integral values of rolled ring are:JC-R>JC-L>JL-R.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of cast and heat treated Ti-6.55Al-3.41Mo-1.77Zr alloy

α＋βtitanium alloy with a composition of Ti-6.55Al-3.41Mo-1.77Zr （mass fraction,%） was cast into bars in a graphite mould using vacuum induction skull melting furnace （ISM）. The cast bars were hot swaged at 700 °C and then heat treated by two different regimes which resulted in fine and coarse lamella structures, respectively. The grain size of the as-cast structure was estimated to be 660 μm and the swaged samples obtained a very fine grain size in the range of 50 μm. The overall best combination of hardness, tensile properties, and wear resistance of theα＋βtitanium alloy was achieved by heat treating the samples at 1050 °C for getting fine lamellar structure. The maximum compression strength was reported for the heat treated samples at 800 °C with coarse lamella structure. The minimum wear rate was reported for the heat treated samples with fine lamellar structure and the maximum wear rate was obtained for as-cast samples due to its coarse and heterogeneity microstructure.

Baosteel's progressive advance in manufacturing high performance alloys

Backed by over 50 years time-tested experience in alloys manufacturing,Baosteel Special Steels play the leading role in the development and production of high performance alloys in China.The key alloys we produce for the domestic and foreign top-end market cover the Ti-alloys,and structural steels.The alloy melting processes include VIM,VAR,ESR,EB &PAM,EAF,AOD,VOD,LF,VD and the casting processes include IC,CC.The metal forming processes involve forging & isothermal forging,hot &cold rolling,extruding,drawing,and sheet metal operations.The production capability has been further strengthened by our unparalleled production lines and state-of-the-art facilities, comprehensive product analysis,superior quality assurance to national and international standards and all-round customer service.

Determination of Phase Transformation for TC21 Ti-Alloy by Dilatometry Method

The α + β ? β phase transformation kinetics of TC21 Ti-alloy during continuous heating and cooling were studied using a dilatometric technique. Dilatometric heating curve exhibited that two characteristic reflection points can be observed with increasing the heating temperature. Ts referred to the initial transformation temperature of α + β → β and Tf referred to the final transformation temperature of α + β → β. Ts was reported at 720°C, whereas the corresponding Tf was obtained at 950°C. The initial and final transforming temperatures by the first derivative curve were reported at 730°C and 955°C, respectively, which are close to the values obtained in the dilatometric heating curve. Dilatometric cooling curve showed that the starting temperature of β → β + α phase transformation was 880°C;however, the corresponding finishing temperature was 670°C. The starting and finishing temperatures using the first derivative curve were obtained at 665°C and 885°C, respectively. The first derivative for the studied dilatometric heating and cooling curves showed that the starting and finishing temperatures of α + β ? β phase transformation were more accurate and objective. Results show the α + β → β transformation heating curve exhibits a typical S-shaped pattern.

Fatigue Performance of Heat Treated TC21 Ti-Alloy

TC21 is considered a new titanium alloy that is used in aircraft applications as a replacement for the famous Ti-6Al-4V alloy due to its high strength. The effect of single and duplex stage heat treatments on fatigue behavior of TC21 Ti-alloy (Ti-6Al-2Sn-2Zr-3Mo-1Cr-2Nb-0.09Si, wt.%) was investigated. Two heat treatment cycles were applied on as-received TC21 Ti-alloy. The first cycle was called single stage heat treatment (SSHT). The other cycle was named duplex stage heat treatment (DSHT). Typical microstructures of SSHT & DSHT composed of primary equiaxed α phase, residual β phase and secondary α phase (αs). Secondary α phase was precipitated in the residual β phase due to low cooling rate using air cooling and aging treatment. Morphology of α phase does not change after solution treatments, while their volume fraction and grain size were changed. SSHT showed the highest fatigue strength of 868 MPa due to high tensile strength, hardness and existing of high percentages of residual β phase in the microstructure. However, DSHT reported lower fatigue strength of 743 MPa due to increasing grain size of α phase. The fracture surface of fatigue samples showed cleavage ductile fracture mode for both heat treatment cycles.

Influence of Plastic Deformation and Aging Process on Microstructure and Tensile Properties of Cast Ti-6Al-2Sn-2Zr-2Mo-1.5Cr-2Nb-0.1Si Alloy

In the present work, titanium alloy with a composition of Ti-6.5Al-3Mo-1.9Nb-2.2Sn-2.2Zr-1.5Cr (TC21) was subjected to plastic deformation and aging processes. A Plastic deformation at room temperature with 2%, 3% and 4% stroke strain was applied on the studied samples. Then, the samples aged at 575°C for 4 hr. By applying different plastic deformation ratios, the structure revealed an elongated and thin β-phase embedded in an α-phase. Secondary α-platelets were precipitated in the residual β-phase. Maximum hardness (HV440) was obtained for 4% deformed + aged samples. Minimum hardness (HV320) was recorded for the as-cast samples without deformation. The highest ultimate tensile strength of 1311 MPa was obtained for 4% deformed + aged samples due to presence of high amount of dislocation density as well as precipitation of secondary α-platelets in the residual β-phase. The lowest ultimate tensile strength of 1020 MPa was reported for as-cast samples. Maximum elongation of 14% was registered for 4% deformed + aged samples and minimum one of 3% was obtained for as-cast samples. Hence, strain hardening + aging can enhance considerably the elongation of TC21 Ti-alloy up to 366% and 133% in case of applying 4% deformation + aged compared to as-cast and aged samples without applying plastic deformation, respectively.

In-situ microstructural investigations of the TRIP-to-TWIP evolution in Ti-Mo-Zr alloys as a function of Zr concentration

Aiming at overcoming the strength-ductility trade-off in structural Ti-alloys,a new family of TRIP/TWIP Ti-alloys was developed in the past decade(TWIP:twinning-induced plasticity;TRIP:transformationinduced plasticity).Herein,we study the tunable nature of deformation mechanisms with various TWIP and TRIP contributions by fine adjustment of the Zr content on ternary Ti-12 Mo-xZr(x=3,6,10)alloys.The microstructure and deformation mechanisms of the Ti-Mo-Zr alloys are explored by using in-situ electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD)and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).The results show that a transition of the dominant deformation mode occurred,going from TRIP to TWIP major mechanism with increasing Zr content.In the Ti-12 Mo-3 Zr alloy,the stress-induced martensitic transformation(SIM)is the major deformation mode which accommodates the plastic flow.Regarding the Ti-12 Mo-6 Zr alloy,the combined deformation twinning(DT)and SIM modes both contribute to the overall plasticity with enhanced strain-hardening rate and subsequent large uniform ductility.Further increase of the Zr content in Ti-12 Mo-10 Zr alloy leads to an improved yield stress involving single DT mode as a dominant deformation mechanism throughout the plastic regime.In the present work,a set of comprehensive in-situ and ex-situ microstructural investigations clarify the evolution of deformation microstructures during tensile loading and unloading processes.

Compressive deformation-induced hierarchical microstructure in a TWIPβTi-alloy

The deformation mode of{332}<113>twinning(hereafter called 332T)has often been observed under the plastic flow in metastableβtitanium alloys with body-centered cubic(BCC)structure,which contributes to improving the mechanical performance.Herein,we report a structure of compressive deformation-induced primary 332T with hierarchical and/or heterogeneous composite sub-structure in a Twin-Induced Plasticity(TWIP)βTi-alloy under uniaxial compression.The detailed structural characterization after compressive deformation revealed that the sub-structure,including secondary 332T and secondary{112}<111>twinning,formed inside the 332T structure,which constitutes a hierarchical and/or heterogeneous structure at micro-and nano-scale and consequently contributes to the high strength,large ductility and enhanced strain-hardening behavior.

Plastic wrinkling model and characteristics of shear enforced Ti-alloy thin-walled tubes under combination die constraints and differential temperature fields

Plastic wrinkling predictions and shear enforced wrinkling characteristics of Ti-alloy thin-walled tubes under combination die constraints have become key problems urgently in need of solutions in order to improve forming quality in their shear bending processes under differential temperature fields. To address this, a wrinkling wave function was developed by considering their shear bend deformation characteristics. Based on this wave function and the thin shell theory, an energy prediction model for this type of wrinkling was established. This model enables consideration of the effects of shear deformation zone ranges, material parameters, loading modes, and friction coefficients between tube and dies on the minimum wrinkling energy. Tube wrinkling sensitive zones(WSZs) can be revealed by combining this wrinkling prediction model with a thermalmechanical coupled finite element model for simulating these bending processes. The reliability of this wrinkling prediction model was verified, and an investigation into the tube wrinkling characteristics was carried out based on the experimental conditions. This found that the WSZs are located on either a single side or both sides of the maximum shear stress zone. When the friction coefficients between the tube and the various dies coincide, the WSZs are located on both sides.The larger the value of the tube inner corner radius and/or the smaller the value of the outer cornerradius, the smaller the wrinkling probability. With an increase in the value of the moving die displacement, the wrinkling probability increases at first, and then decreases.