Microstructure and properties of Ti-6Al-4V fabricated by low-power pulsed laser directed energy deposition

Thin-wall structures of Ti-6Al-4V were fabricated by low-power pulsed laser directed energy deposition. During deposition, consistent with prior reports, columnar grains were observed which grew from the bottom toward the top of melt pool tail. This resulted in a microstructure mainly composed of long and thin prior epitaxial β columnar grains (average width ≈200 μm). A periodic pattern in epitaxial growth of grains was observed, which was shown to depend upon laser traverse direction. Utilizing this, a novel means was proposed to determine accurately the fusion boundary of each deposited layer by inspection of the periodic wave patterns. As a result it was applied to investigate the influence of thermal cycling on microstructure evolution. Results showed that acicular martensite, α' phase, and a small amount of Widmanstätten, α laths, gradually converted to elongated acicular α and a large fraction of Widmanstätten α laths under layer-wise thermal cycling. Tensile tests showed that the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation of Ti-6Al-4V thin wall in the build direction were 9.1%, 17.3% and 42% higher respectively than those typically observed in forged solids of the same alloy. It also showed the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the transverse tensile samples both were ˜13.3% higher than those from the build direction due to the strengthening effect of a large number of vertical β grain boundaries, but the elongation was 69.7% lower than that of the build direction due to the uneven grain deformation of β grains.     

增材制造Ti-6Al-4V钛合金低周疲劳性能研究进展

金属增材制造技术可用于大型、复杂高性能钛合金结构件的制备,在航空航天等领域具有显著的优势和巨大的发展潜力。虽然增材制造Ti-6Al-4V合金构件的强度已经能够超过锻件,但它仍存在内部孔隙、熔合不良、粗大的柱状晶及残余拉应力等问题,使其在疲劳性能上与锻件具有一定的差距。本文在介绍直接能量沉积、选区激光熔化和电子束选区熔化3种代表性增材制造技术的原理及特点的基础上,简述了3种工艺制备Ti-6Al-4V合金构件的微观组织、静态力学性能及低周疲劳性能的研究进展,重点讨论了打印方向、缺陷、显微组织和表面处理对低周疲劳性能的影响。分析了增材制造Ti-6Al-4V合金构件低周疲劳性能、拉伸性能与微观组织之间的内在关系,并对提高构件低周疲劳性能的方法和推动其广泛应用的发展方向进行展望。     

Microstructural banding of directed energy deposition-additively manufactured 316L stainless steel

The microstructures of 316L stainless steel created by rapid solidification are investigated by comparing the similar microstructures of individual hatches of directed energy deposition additive manufacturing(DED-AM) and those of single, laser surface-melted tracks formed on a solid plate. High recoil pressure,which is exponentially dependent on the laser beam power density, induces convection of the melt pool,which causes formation of microstructural bands in the as-solidified microstructure. The microstructural bands are associated with changes in the chromium concentration and are a significant component of the inhomogeneous microstructure of DED-AM.     

The effect of laser energy input on the microstructure,physical and mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloys by selective laser melting

Selective laser melting is an advanced manufacturing process which can control the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of as-manufactured products via various processing parameters. In this study, the porosity/relative density, surface quality, microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated on the selective laser melted Ti-6Al-4V alloy specimens fabricated with a wide range of laser energy inputs. It was found that the microstructure of selected laser melted Ti-6Al-4V alloys is typical of acicular martensites α′. Quantitative analysis reveals that the relative density, martensitic lath size and microhardness increase with the laser energy input. The surface quality is also substantially affected by the energy input.     

Effect of mean stress on fretting fatigue of Ti-6Al-4V on Ti-6Al-4V

Fretting fatigue tests of Ti‐6Al‐4V on Ti‐6Al‐4V have been conducted to determine the influence of stress amplitude and mean stress on life. The stress ratio was varied from R=−1 to 0.8. Both flat and cylindrical contacts were studied using a bridge‐type fretting fatigue test apparatus operating either in the partial slip or mixed fretting regimes. The fretting fatigue lives were correlated to a Walker equivalent stress relation. The influence of mean stress on fretting fatigue crack initiation, characterized by the value of the Walker exponent, is smaller compared with plain fatigue. The fretting fatigue knockdown factor based on the Walker equivalent stress is 4. Formation of fretting cracks is primarily associated with the tangential force amplitude at the contact interface. A simple fretting fatigue crack initiation metric that is based on the strength of the singular stress field at the edge of contact is evaluated. The metric has the advantage in that it is neither dependent on the coefficient of friction nor the location of the stick/slip boundary, both of which are often difficult to define with certainty a priori.     

Critical review of the state of the art in multi-material fabrication via directed energy deposition

Directed energy deposition (DED) is an additive manufacturing technique that employs laser melting to permit for the free form manufacturing of components from many input materials from powder or wire form of feedstock. The nature of DED processes and advancements thereof has led to research that has been aimed at leveraging this additive manufacturing technology for the fabrication of high-value metallic alloys in addition to the exploration of multi-material composites and components – many of which are only possible to produce via DED. Herein, a critical review of the present body of research regarding DED of multi-materials is presented. Assessed are the developing research trends, design methodologies, common issues and challenges, as well as identification of the areas where further research should be directed.     

Thermomechanical Behavior of Ti-6Al-4V Alloy

Ti-6Al-4V, among the Ti alloys, is the most widely used. In the present work, the behavior of Ti-6Ak-4V alloy has beeninvestigated by the uniaxial hot isothermal compression tests and a series of dilatometric experiments were also carried out todetermine the transformation temperatures at different cooling rates. Specimens for hot compression tests were homogenizedat 1050℃ for 10 min and then quickly cooled to different straining temperatures from 1050 to 850℃. Cooling rates were chosenfast enough to prevent high temperature transformation during cooling. Compression tests were conducted at temperaturesfrom 1050 to 850℃ in steps of 50℃ at constant true strain rates of 10~(-3) or 10~(-2) s~(-1). The apparent activation energy forcompression in two-phase region was calculated 420 kJ·mol~(-1). Partial globularization of cr phase was observed in the specimendeformed at low strain rates and at temperatures near the transformation zone and annealed after deformation.     

熔体自生陶瓷激光直接能量沉积增材制造研究进展EI北大核心CSCD

熔体自生陶瓷是一种原料经熔化凝固获得组织组成的新型陶瓷材料,原子共用的洁净高强度结合界面使其具有接近熔点的优异高温力学性能及组织稳定性,在未来高推重比航空发动机及重型燃气轮机热端部件领域展现了巨大的应用潜力。激光直接能量沉积技术能够有效克服熔体自生陶瓷传统制备方法在周期、能耗及结构复杂度等方面的局限,为直接增材制造熔体自生陶瓷构件提供了新的解决方案,成为国内外研究热点。本文在介绍激光直接能量沉积技术工艺原理的基础上,总结了国内外利用该技术制备的不同熔体自生陶瓷的微观组织特征及其主要力学性能,并综合论述了目前针对微观组织及开裂行为调控所开展的主要研究。基于现有研究进展,对该领域的发展趋势和需要进一步解决的关键科学问题进行了探讨,指出抑制开裂与改善组织性能是目前面临的首要问题,材料和新工艺的发展是突破现有瓶颈、推动熔体自生陶瓷激光直接能量沉积技术发展和应用的关键。     

A finite element analysis of fretting fatigue crack growth behavior in Ti-6Al-4V

There is a need for methodology(ies) to analyze the crack growth behavior under fretting fatigue condition since its experimental determination is a challenging task. A finite element sub-modeling method was used to estimate the crack propagation life in titanium alloy, Ti-6Al-4V specimens. Two contact geometries, cylinder-on-flat and flat-on-flat, were analyzed. The computed crack propagation lives were combined with the results of an experimental study where total fatigue lives were measured. The combined numerical-experimental approach provided the crack initiation lives. The crack propagation life increased with increasing applied cyclic bulk stress in similar manner for both contact geometries. Almost 90% of the fretting fatigue life was spent during the crack nucleation and initiation phases in the high cycle fatigue regime. A parametric study was also conducted to investigate the effects of contact load, coefficient of friction and tangential force on the crack growth behavior. The crack propagation life decreased with increase of these three parameters. This decrease was similar for the contact load and the tangential force in both contact geometries, however, the decrease in the case of coefficient of friction was relatively more in the cylindrical pad than in the flat pad.     

Modeling the fatigue crack growth behavior of Ti-6Al-4V by considering grain size and stress ratio

Ti-6Al-4V is a commonly used titanium base alloy in aerospace applications. The increasing demand for damage-tolerant designs of such components necessitates a detailed knowledge of its crack growth behavior. The aim of this research was the characterization and phenomenological modeling of long crack growth behavior with respect to microstructure and stress ratio. Therefore, the long crack propagation was characterized for eight different heat treatment conditions and four stress ratios. For comparison, physically short crack growth tests were also performed. The long crack growth threshold was found to be dominated by roughness-induced crack closure, and the fracture surface roughness is controlled by the primary α-grain size. The reason for this correlation is a near-threshold crack propagation mode, which is dominated by the transcrystalline fracture of α-grains. This correlation was used to model the crack growth threshold with respect to microstructure. A linear relation was determined between the stress ratio and the threshold value, which was also found in this approach. Further presented models cover the crack growth behavior in the near-threshold (Stage I) and mid-growth rate regions (Stage II).     

Behaviour of fatigue cracks emanating from circular notches in Ti-6Al-4V under bending

This paper is aimed at evaluating the behaviour of small cracks emanating from notches in the Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy. Pulsating four point bending tests were performed at a nominal stress ratio of 0.1 and a frequency of 15 Hz on prismatic specimens with a central hole. The conditions of initiation and early propagation of fatigue cracks were investigated at two relatively high nominal stress levels corresponding to 56.6 and 100% of the 0.2% yield stress of the material. Microstructural effects were discussed. To this purpose a specific device based on the ‘in situ’ detection of cracks by photomicroscopy was developed. Corresponding results were analysed quantitatively considering the effect of the yielded region at the notch tip by elastic–plastic finite element modelling. Furthermore, information regarding the sites of fatigue crack initiation and propagation path were discussed on the basis of careful fractographic analysis of the specimens. The importance of the two phase α, β microstructure on the material damage was highlighted and correlated to the observed oscillations in the crack growth rate. Mechanically and microstructurally long cracks were correlated by linear‐elastic fracture mechanics.     

Targeted heat treatment of additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V for controlled formation of Bi-lamellar microstructures

Laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) was utilized to produce specimens in Ti-6Al-4V,which were subjected to a bi-lamellar heat treatment,which produces microstructures consisting of primary α-lamellae and a fine secondary α-phase inside the inter-lamellar β-regions.The bi-lamellar microstructure was obtained as (i)a direct bi-lamellar heat treatment from the asbuilt condition or (ii) a bi-lamellar heat treatment preceded by a β-homogenization.For the bi-lamellar treatment with β-homogenization,cooling rates in the range 1-500 K/min were applied after homogenization in β-region followed by inter-critical annealing in the α + β region at various temperatures in the range 850-950 ℃.The microstructures were characterized using various microscopical techniques.Mechanical testing with Vickers hardness indentation and tensile testing was performed.The bi-lamellar microstructure was harder when compared to a soft fully lamellar microstructure,because of the presence of fine α-platelets inside the β-lamellae.Final low temperature ageing provided an additional hardness increase by precipitation hardening of the primary α-regions.The age hardened bi-lamellar microstructure shows a similar hardness as the very fine,as-built martensitic microstructure.The bi-lamellar microstructure has more favorable mechanical properties than the as-built condition,which has high strength,but poor ductility.After the bi-lamellar heat treatment,the elongation was improved by more than 250 ％.Due to the very high strength of the as-built condition,loss of tensile strength is unavoidable,resulting in a reduction of tensile strength of～18 ％.     

Correlation of fatigue properties and microstructure in investment cast Ti-6Al-4V welds

The effect of microstructural characteristics on high-cycle fatigue properties and fatigue crack propagation behavior of welded regions of an investment cast Ti-6Al-4V were investigated. High-cycle fatigue and fatigue crack propagation tests were conducted on the welded regions, which were processed by two different welding methods: tungsten inert gas (TIG) and electron beam (EB) welding. Test data were analyzed in relation to microstructure, tensile properties, and fatigue fracture mode. The base metal was composed of an alpha plate colony structure transformed to a basket-weave structure with thin platelets after welding and annealing. High-cycle fatigue results indicated that fatigue strength of the EB weld was lower than that of the base metal or the TIG weld because of the existence of large micropores formed during welding, although it had the highest yield strength. In the case of the fatigue crack propagation, the EB weld composed of thinner platelets had a faster crack propagation rate than the base metal or the TIG weld. The effective microstructural feature determining the fatigue crack propagation rate was found to be the width of platelets because it was well matched with the reversed cyclic plastic zone size calculated in the threshold ΔK regime.     

Dynamic compressive behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V alloy processed by electron beam melting under high strain rate loading

This paper documents an investigation into the compressive deformation behaviour of electron beam melting(EBM) processing titanium alloy(Ti-6A1-4V) parts under high strain loading conditions.The dynamic compression tests were carried out at a high strain rate of over1×10~3/s using the split Hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB)test system and for comparison the quasi-static tests were performed at a low strain rate of 1×10~3/s using a numerically controlled hydraulic materials test system(MTS) testing machine at an ambient temperature.Furthermore,microstructure analysis was carried out to study the failure mechanisms on the deformed samples.The Vickers micro-hardness values of the samples were measured before and after the compression tests.The microstructures of the compressed samples were also characterized using optical microscopy.The particle size distribution and chemical composition of powder material,which might affect the mechanical properties of the specimens,were investigated.In addition,the numerical simulation using commercial explicit finite element software was employed to verify the experimental results from SHPB test system.     

Microstructural influences on the growth of small cracks in Ti-6Al-4 V

ABSTRACT The effects of microstructure on the growth of small cracks in Ti-6Al-4 V under fatigue loading are presented. The small crack growth is compared with large crack growth. Two large crack tests were performed at a stress ratio of 0.4 and a frequency of 15 Hz. For small crack growth tests, double edge notch specimens were loaded under constant amplitude at four maximum stresses with a stress ratio of 0.4 and a frequency of 15 Hz. A plastic replication technique was used to monitor the small fatigue crack growth rate. The microstructure consists of bands of α and β phases. The present study indicates that the crack growth direction and shape are dependent upon the grain size and grain orientations, and that the crack growth rate seems to be affected by the spacing of α-rich and β-rich bands. Small cracks are propagated at stress intensity factors well below the large crack threshold stress intensity factor.     

The life evaluation by linear cumulative damage rule for cold dwell fatigue of Ti-6Al-4V alloy

Low cycle fatigue (LCF) life at ambient temperature of Ti alloys is well known to decrease with stress dwell. This phenomenon, called cold dwell fatigue (CDF), is influenced by the peak stress, dwell time, and microstructure. For this study, the CDF life was evaluated by the linear cumulative damage rule. The influence of test conditions and microstructure on the linear cumulative damage rule was also verified. By the linear cumulative damage rule, when creep damage is calculated using the time exhaustion rule, theCDF damage was evaluated by the inequality of D_Total = (D_F, D_C) ≤ (0.01, 10^?6). However, the CDF damage can be evaluated in the range of D_Total = 0.6–1.2 when creep damage was calculated using the ductile exhaustion rule. Results indicate that the evaluation was almost independent of the dwell time, peak stress, and microstructure, so it is also a versatile method for evaluating CDF responses.     

Growth mechanism of the tubular TiB crystals in situ formed in the coatings laser-borided on Ti-6Al-4V alloy

Coatings containing borides were fabricated on titanium alloy by laser boriding treatment. SEM images indicate that some rod-like TiB crystals with a hollow core (filled with α-Ti before etched) are formed in the coatings. The formation of rod-like hollow TiB is attributed to the following aspects: first, because the chemical composition in some areas in the laser melt pool is hypoeutectic and in some other areas is hypereutectic due to the boron atoms dissolved in the melt distributing unevenly during rapid solidification, β-Ti firstly crystallizes as primary phases in the hypoeutectic areas of the melt pool and acts as a heterogeneous nucleus for TiB to crystallize on it, and second, because the bond between B-B is stronger than that between Ti-B and between Ti-Ti. TiB grows along the B-B zig-zag chain as well as normal to the direction of the B-B zig-zag chain to form a tubular structure with a β-Ti core in it.     

Plain fatigue and fretting fatigue behaviour of plasma nitrided Ti-6Al-4V

Fatigue tests with and without fretting against unnitrided fretting pads were conducted on unnitrided and plasma nitrided Ti-6Al-4V samples. Plasma nitrided samples exhibited higher surface hardness, higher surface compressive residual stress, lower surface roughness and reduced friction force compared with the unnitrided specimens. Plasma nitriding enhanced the lives of Ti-6Al-4V specimens under both plain fatigue and fretting fatigue loadings. This was explained in terms of the differences in surface hardness, surface residual stress, surface roughness and friction force between the unnitrided and nitrided samples.     

Improving fatigue performance of Ti-6Al-4V alloy via ultrasonic surface rolling process

The effect of a gradient nanostructured (GNS) surface layer obtained by ultrasonic surface rolling process (USRP) on the fatigue behavior of Ti-6Al-4 V alloy has been studied in this paper. Microstructure, surface topography, surface roughness and residual stress measurements were performed to characterize the surface under different conditions. Rotating bending fatigue tests were carried out to evaluate the fatigue behavior of different treatments. The results present a remarkable fatigue performance enhancement for the Ti-6Al-4 V alloy with a GNS surface layer obtained by application of USRP with respect to the untreated condition, notwithstanding its considerable surface roughness due to severe ultrasonic impacts and extrusions. Mechanical surface polishing treatment further enhances the beneficial effects of USRP on the fatigue performance. The significantly improved fatigue performance can mainly be ascribed to the compressive residual stress. Simultaneously, the GNS surface layer and surface work hardening have a synergistic effect that accompanies the effect of compressive residual stress.     

Relative performance of hydrogenated, argon-incorporated and nitrogen-incorporated diamond-like carbon coated Ti-6Al-4V samples under fretting wear loading

Hydrogenated diamond-like carbon (DLC) (H-DLC), argon-incorporated DLC (Ar-DLC) and nitrogen-incorporated DLC (N-DLC) coatings were deposited on flat rectangular Ti-6Al-4V samples. The DLC coatings were characterised by Raman spectroscopy and nanoindentation. Fretting wear tests were conducted on uncoated and DLC coated samples with an alumina ball as the counterbody. As the Ar-DLC and N-DLC coatings had relatively more sp² network compared to the H-DLC coating, they exhibited lower values of hardness and elastic modulus. At both loads of 4.9 N and 14.7 N, all DLC coated specimens showed lower values of tangential force coefficient (TFC), wear volume and specific wear rate compared to the uncoated samples. While the Ar-DLC coated sample exhibited the lowest TFC, wear volume and specific wear rate at 4.9 N load, the N-DLC coated specimen exhibited the lowest TFC, wear volume and specific wear rate at 14.7 N load.