Microstructure and mechanical properties of as-built and heat-treated electron beam melted Ti–6Al–4V

ABSTRACT

This paper investigates the effect of post-deposition heat treatment on porosity, microstructure, and mechanical properties of Ti–6Al–4V produced via an Electron Beam Melting process. Samples were studied in the conditions of as-built and heat treated at 920°C and 1030°C. The as-built samples were characterised by columnar β grains consists of α+β microstructure with Widmanstätten and colony morphologies were found. Heat treatment resulted in increased α lath width. The yield strength and ultimate tensile strength was greater in the as-built condition than wrought material. Porosity re-growth occurred after heat treatment but it did not affect the tensile properties. Greater ductility after heat treatment was attributed to the larger α lath width which increases effective slip length.

KEYWORDS:

• Additive manufacturing
• electron beam melting
• heat treatment
• microstructure
• tensile properties
• titanium alloys

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Mustafa Awd http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9404-0067

Xiang Zhang http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8454-3931