Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microstructural Strengthening and Plastic Degradation of Ti–6Al–4V Induced by Laser Ablation

  • Published:
Metals and Materials International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Laser weapons play an important role in the modern high-tech war. And such laser weapon is based on the principle of thermal damage to 'burn' enemy equipment, such as missiles, drones, etc. To investigate the interaction mechanism between laser and common aerospace materials, the microstructure evolution and mechanical response of titanium alloys after laser ablation were studied in detail. The results indicate that in addition to the laser-induced failure zone (ablation area), a significantly large heat-affected zone exists, where the microstructure and mechanical characteristics change. Along the radial direction of the ablation area, the microstructure evolves from coarse lamellar microstructure to needle-like α/α′ with β grain boundary, then to the bimodal microstructure of prior α and secondary α, and finally to the matrix that is mostly made of equiaxed α. Moreover, it is found that needle-like α, refinement grains and high oxygen content are the main reasons for the increase of microhardness. And the oxygen content above the acceptable level and severe segregation of solute elements may be the reasons that finally lead to the indentation cracks. The findings may offer ideas for the design of defensive Ti alloys, as well as the application in laser repair techniques.

Graphical Abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

The raw/processed data required to reproduce these findings is all included in the tables and figures.

References

  1. L. Shi, Y. Pei, Q. Yun, Y. Ge, Chin. J. Aeronaut. 36, 442–454 (2022)

  2. C. Peng, F. Lu, C. Xing, in Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Intelligent Human-Machine Systems and Cybernetics (IHMSC), Hangzhou, 26-27 August 2017 (IEEE, New York, 2017), pp. 302–307

  3. C. Lyu, R. Zhan, Def. Technol. 18, 678–688 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. J. Stupl, G. Neuneck, Security Challenges 1, 135–153 (2005)

  5. J.A. Holbrook, D.L. Reyes, A systems approach towards high energy laser implementation aboard navy ships, Master’s Thesis, Naval Postgraduate School (2007)

  6. J. Stupl, G. Neuneck, SCI Glob. Secur. 18, 1–60 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. C. Cao, Hangkong Xuebao/Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica 29, 701–706 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  8. E. Chikarakara, S. Naher, D. Brabazon, Surf. Coat. Technol. 206, 3223–3229 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Y. Sun, G. Luo, J. Zhang, C. Wu, J. Li, Q. Shen, L. Zhang, J. Alloys Compd. 741, 918–926 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. J. Xu, J. Zhu, J. Fan, Q. Zhou, Y. Peng, S. Guo, Vacuum 167, 364–373 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. A. Gupta, C.J. Bennett, W. Sun, Eng. Fail. Anal. 140, 106494 (2022)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. S. Ningthemba Singh, A.B. Deoghare, Eng. Fail. Anal. 148, 107208 (2023)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. D. Zhang, L. Wang, H. Zhang, A. Maldar, G. Zhu, W. Chen, J.-S. Park, J. Wang, X. Zeng, Acta Mater. 189, 93–104 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. T. Marazani, D.M. Madyira, E.T. Akinlabi, Procedia Manuf. 35, 897–902 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. H. Wang, Q. Chao, H.S. Chen, Z.B. Chen, S. Primig, W. Xu, S.P. Ringer, X.Z. Liao, Acta Mater. 235, 118104 (2022)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. H. Zhao, C. Zhao, W. Xie, D. Wu, B. Du, X. Zhang, M. Wen, R. Ma, R. Li, J. Jiao, C. Chang, X. Yan, L. Sheng, Materials 16, 66 (2023)

    Google Scholar 

  17. C.P. Ma, Y.C. Guan, W. Zhou, Opt. Lasers Eng. 93, 171–177 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Y. Li, X. Cheng, Y. Guan, J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 83, 1–6 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. X.D. Ren, W.F. Zhou, F.F. Liu, Y.P. Ren, S.Q. Yuan, N.F. Ren, S.D. Xu, T. Yang, Appl. Surf. Sci. 363, 44–49 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. M.Z. Ge, Y. Tang, Y.K. Zhang, Y. Wang, Surf. Coat. Technol. 444, 128671 (2022)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Y. Fu, N. Guo, B. Zhu, X. Shi, J. Feng, J. Mater. Process. Technol. 275, 116372 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. S. Bashir, M.S. Rafique, A.A. Ajami, C.S. Nathala, W. Husinsky, K. Whitmore, Appl. Phys. A 127, 66 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. J.J.J. Nivas, E. Allahyari, A. Vecchione, Q. Hao, S. Amoruso, X. Wang, J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 48, 180–185 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. S. Xu, Y. Chen, H. Liu, X. Miao, X. Yuan, X. Jiang, Optik 212, 66 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. N. Maharjan, W. Zhou, Y. Zhou, Y. Guan, Appl. Phys. A 124, 66 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. J. Zhao, Z. Zhu, Y. Xu, X. Song, Y. Wang, H. Peng, Y. Wang, J. Zuo, X. Shu, A. Yin, Appl. Sci. 10, 4657 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. S. Zhao, R. Zhang, Y. Chong, X. Li, A. Abu-Odeh, E. Rothchild, D.C. Chrzan, M. Asta, J.W. Morris Jr., A.M. Minor, Nat. Mater. 20, 468–472 (2021)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. M. Yan, W. Xu, M.S. Dargusch, H.P. Tang, M. Brandt, M. Qian, Powder Metall. 57, 251–257 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Y. Chong, M. Poschmann, R. Zhang, S. Zhao, A.M. Minor, Sci. Adv. 6, 4060 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. T. Ahmed, H.J. Rack, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 243, 206–211 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. W.J. Davids, H. Chen, K. Nomoto, H. Wang, S. Babu, S. Primig, X. Liao, A. Breen, S.P. Ringer, Acta Mater. 215, 117131 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Y. Wang, G. Yang, S. Zhou, C. Sun, B. Li, D. An, S. Zhang, S. Xiu, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 861, 144266 (2022)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. J. Luo, H. Wang, C. Xi, H. Zhai, Y. Gu, C. Zhang, Ceram. Int. 47, 4914–4924 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. R. Henry, N. LeRoux, I. Zacharie-Aubrun, J.-M. Gatt, C. Langlois, S. Meille, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 860, 144261 (2022)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. H. Wang, Q. Chao, L. Yang, M. Cabral, Z.Z. Song, B.Y. Wang, S. Primig, W. Xu, Z.B. Chen, S.P. Ringer, X.Z. Liao, Mater. Res. Lett. 9, 119–126 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. S.M. Kelly, S.L. Kampe, Metall. Mater. Trans. A 35, 1869–1879 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. J.W. Elmer, T.A. Palmer, J. Wong, J. Appl. Phys. 93, 1941–1947 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. L.E. Murr, E.V. Esquivel, S.A. Quinones, S.M. Gaytan, M.I. Lopez, E.Y. Martinez, F. Medina, D.H. Hernandez, E. Martinez, J.L. Martinez, S.W. Stafford, D.K. Brown, T. Hoppe, W. Meyers, U. Lindhe, R.B. Wicker, Mater. Charact. 60, 96–105 (2009)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Y. Liu, W. Ouyang, H. Wu, Z. Xu, L. Sheng, Q. Zou, M. Zhang, W. Zhang, J. Jiao, J. Mater. Process. Technol. 300, 66 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Y. Chao, Y. Liu, Z. Xu, W. Xie, L. Zhang, W. Ouyang, H. Wu, Z. Pan, J. Jiao, S. Li, G. Zhang, W. Zhang, L. Sheng, J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 156, 32–53 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. S. Sahoo, O. Licata, B. Mazumder, S. Roy, J. Alloys Compd. 907, 164511 (2022)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Y. Chong, T. Bhattacharjee, N. Tsuji, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 762, 138077 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Y. Chong, T. Bhattacharjee, J. Yi, S. Zhao, N. Tsuji, Materialia 8, 100479 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Y. Chong, G. Deng, S. Gao, J. Yi, A. Shibata, N. Tsuji, Scr. Mater. 172, 77–82 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. C. Moussa, M. Bernacki, R. Besnard, N. Bozzolo, IOP Conf. Ser. Mater. Sci. Eng. 89, 012038 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. M. Song, S. Han, D. Min, G. Choi, J. Park, Scr. Mater. 59, 623–626 (2008)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. X. Shi, X. Wang, B. Chen, J. Umeda, A. Bahador, K. Kondoh, J. Shen, Mater. Des. 227, 111797 (2023)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. W. Shi, S. Lu, J. Shen, B. Chen, J. Umeda, Q. Wei, K. Kondoh, Y. Li, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 830, 142321 (2022)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. X. Wang, Y. Zhang, W. Han, Acta Mater. 227, 117686 (2022)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. X. Wang, S. Lu, B. Chen, U. Junko, Y. Shibutani, K. Kondoh, J. Shen, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 832, 142449 (2022)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. A. I. Kahveci The Effects of Oxygen on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ti–6Al–4V Alloy (Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, 1989)

  52. H. Conrad, Prog. Mater. Sci. 26, 123–403 (1981)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. L. Tang, J. Fan, H. Kou, B. Tang, J. Li, Materials 13, 66 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  54. H. Wang, Q. Chao, X.Y. Cui, Z.B. Chen, A.J. Breen, M. Cabral, N. Haghdadi, Q.W. Huang, R.M. Niu, H.S. Chen, B. Lim, S. Primig, M. Brandt, W. Xu, S.P. Ringer, X.Z. Liao, Mater. Today 61, 11–21 (2022)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. J. Shen, B. Chen, J. Umeda, J. Zhang, Y. Li, K. Kondoh, Mech. Mater. 148, 103519 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate the experimental assistant from the Analytical & Testing Center of Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Yu Zhang and Xianzhe Shi have contributed equally to the work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, 710072, China

    Yu Zhang, Xianzhe Shi, Zhiqin Du, Yahui Yang, Yulong Li & Jianghua Shen

  2. Aviation Key Laboratory of Science and Technology On Structure Impact Dynamics, Aircraft Strength Research Institute of China, Xi’an, 710065, China

    Yu Zhang & Xiaochuan Liu

  3. Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Impact Dynamics and Its Engineering Applications, Xi’an, 710072, China

    Yulong Li & Jianghua Shen

Authors
  1. Yu Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xianzhe Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhiqin Du
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yahui Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xiaochuan Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yulong Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Jianghua Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jianghua Shen.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no potential competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, Y., Shi, X., Du, Z. et al. Microstructural Strengthening and Plastic Degradation of Ti–6Al–4V Induced by Laser Ablation. Met. Mater. Int. 30, 895–908 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12540-023-01558-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12540-023-01558-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation