Abstract
Although Ti-6A1-4V displays extensive superplasticity at 1200 K, lower superplastic forming temperatures are desirable. A study was conducted with the goal of modifying the composition of the Ti-6A1-4V alloy to lower the optimum superplastic forming temperature. Computer modeling results and previous experimental data suggested that additions to Ti-6A1-4V of beta-stabilizing elements which have high diffusivity in the beta-phase would permit lower superplastic forming temperatures. A series of modified alloys with 2 wt pct additions of Fe, Co, and Ni was prepared for experimental evaluation. The modified alloys achieved desirable microstructures for superplasticity at 1088 K,i.e., the grain size was approximately 5 µm and roughly equal volume fractions of the alpha- and beta-phases were present at the deformation temperature. The superplastic properties of the modified alloys were measured at 1088 K and 1144 K. The modified alloys produced values of flow stress, strain rate sensitivity, and total elongation at 1088 K approaching those of the base Ti-6A1-4V alloy at its standard superplastic forming temperature of 1200 K. In addition to lowering the superplastic forming temperature, the β-stabilizing additions also increased room temperature strength levels above those normally found for Ti-6A1-4V. Based on the room temperature and elevated temperature tensile properties, addition of selected beta-stabilizing elements to Ti-6A1-4V simultaneously raises resistance to deformation at room temperature and lowers resistance to deformation at elevated temperatures. This reversal in behavior is explained by considering the effect of beta-stabilizer additions on the deformation mechanisms at room temperature and at elevated temperatures.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
D. Lee and W.A. Backofen:Trans. TMS-AIME, 1967, vol. 239, pp. 1034–40.
J. A. Wert:Superplastic Forming of Structural Alloys, N.E. Paton and C.H. Hamilton, eds., TMS-AIME, Warrendale, PA, 1982, pp. 69–83.
J. J. Kearns, J. E. McCauley, and F. A. Nichols:J. Nuclear Materials, 1976, vol. 61, pp. 169–84.
C. Hammond:Superplastic Forming of Structural Alloys, N. E. Paton and C.H. Hamilton, eds., TMS-AIME, Warrendale, PA, 1982, pp. 131–45.
D. J. Lloyd and D. M. Moore:Superplastic Forming of Structural Alloys, N.E. Paton and C.H. Hamilton, eds., TMS-AIME, Warrendale, PA, 1982, pp. 147–69.
N. Ridley:Superplastic Forming of Structural Alloys, N. E. Paton and C.H. Hamilton, eds., TMS-AIME, Warrendale, PA, 1982, pp. 191–207.
N.E. Paton and J.A. Hall: U.S. Patent 4,299,626, November 10, 1981.
C.H. Hamilton, A. K. Ghosh, and M.W. Mahoney:Advanced Processing Methods for Titanium Alloys, D. F. Hasson and C. H. Hamilton, eds., TMS-AIME, Warrendale, PA, 1982, pp. 129–44.
T. Chandra and D. M. R. Taplin:J. Materials Science, 1975, vol. 10, pp. 1642–43.
J. A. Wert and N. E. Paton:Proc. Sixth International Conference on the Strength of Metals and Alloys, R.C. Gifkins, ed., Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1982, pp. 727–32.
N.E. Paton and C.H. Hamilton:Metall. Trans. A, 1979, vol. 10A, pp. 241–50.
M. F. Ashby and R. A. Verrall:Acta Met., 1973, vol. 21, pp. 149–63.
F. Dyment:Proc. of the Fourth International Conference on Titanium, H. Kimura and O. Izumi, eds., TMS-AIME, Warrendale, PA, 1980, pp. 519–28.
Metals Handbook, eighth edition,Metallography, Structure and Phase Diagrams, ASM, Metals Park, OH, 1973, vol. 8, pp. 252-340.
G.B. Gibbs, D. Graham, and D.H. Tomlin:Phil. Mag., 1963, vol. 8, pp. 1269–81.
J.F. Murdock, T. S. Lundy, and E. E. Stansbury:Acta Met., 1974, vol. 12, pp. 1033–39.
R. R. Wells:Welding Journal (Welding Research Supplement), 1976, vol. 55, pp. 20–s to 27–s.
N. Furushiro, H. Ishibashi, S. Shimoyama, and S. Hori:Proc. of the Fourth International Conference on Titanium, H. Kimura and O. Izumi, eds., TMS-AIME, Warrendale, PA, 1980, pp. 993–1000.
M. E. Rosenblum, P. R. Smith, and F. H. Froes:Proc. of the Fourth International Conference on Titanium, H. Kimura and O. Izumi, eds., TMS-AIME, Warrendale, PA, 1980, pp. 1015–24.
W. R. Cribb:Scripta Met., 1979, vol. 12, pp. 893–98.
A. K. Ghosh and C. H. Hamilton:Metall. Trans. A, 1982, vol. 13A, pp. 733–43.
C. H. Hamilton, G. W. Stacker, J. A. Mills, and H. Li:Superplastic Forming of Titanium Structures, AFML-TR-76-62, April 1976.
J.C. Williams:Titanium Science and Technology, R.I. Jaffee and H. M. Burte, eds., Plenum Press, New York, NY, 1973, pp. 1433–94.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wert, J.A., Paton, N.E. Enhanced superplasticity and strength in modified Ti-6AI-4V alloys. Metall Trans A 14, 2535–2544 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02668895
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02668895