Formation of Microcrystalline Structure in Large-Scale Ingots of Ti Alloy Ti-6Al-4V during the Complex Loading

TL;DR

This paper presents a new combined loading method for manufacturing large Ti-6Al-4V ingots, resulting in homogeneous microstructures with refined grains and consistent properties across the ingot.

Contribution

A novel combined loading process for large-scale Ti-6Al-4V ingots producing uniform microstructure and mechanical properties.

Findings

Homogeneous macrostructure achieved in large ingots.

Microstructure consists of alpha plus beta phases with 10 μm grain size.

No significant microstructural variation between central and peripheral regions.

Abstract

A new method of combined loading was developed for manufacturing large - scale ingot of alpha-beta titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V with the diameter of the gauge 120 mm and the length 300 mm. The process includes torsion with simultaneous tensile deformation, followed by a single compression and drawing of the ingot in alpha-beta temperature phase fields. Ingot structure and mechanical property evaluation was performed after deformation and post-deformation heating. The ingots had completely homogeneous macrostructure. The ingot microstructures were alpha plus beta with a mean grain size of d=10 m. There has not been any significant difference in microstructure of central and periphery areas in the cross section of the ingot.