Achieving ultra-high strength rapidly in Ti-3Al-8V-6Cr-4Mo-4Zr alloy processed by directed energy deposition
Kun Zhang, Wen Hao Kan, Yuman Zhu, Samuel Chao Voon Lim, Xiang Gao, Chun Kit Sit, Chunguang Bai, Aijun Huang
Abstract
This work investigates the viability of fabricating Ti-3Al-8V-6Cr-4Mo-4Zr (Beta-CTM) using laser-based and powder-fed directed energy deposition. To determine an appropriate ageing strategy, heat treatments were conducted at 440 °C and 480 °C over different periods of time and their effectiveness were determined through hardness testing. After identifying an optimal ageing treatment, tensile properties were investigated on the samples in the as-built and aged conditions. The microstructure, hardness and tensile properties of the as-built sample was found to resemble that of a conventionally-manufactured and solution-treated alloy. However, as compared to conventionally-manufactured Ti-3Al-8V-6Cr-4Mo-4Zr subjected to the same ageing temperature, the ageing process was much quicker with the DED-processed alloy because of its high dislocation density. Furthermore, the latter can also achieve much higher strength while also having comparable ductility. To achieve a similar ageing response and tensile behavior, conventionally-manufactured Ti-3Al-8V-6Cr-4Mo-4Zr would require cold-working prior to ageing. Carbon additions were also investigated to further accelerate the ageing response and to refine the β grain size. While the ageing response was much quicker and a much harder alloy can be produced, the carbon amount added was insufficient for β grain refinement, which resulted in reduced ductility without a change in strength.