Open AccessEffect of postprocessing thermal treatments on electron‐beam powder bed–fused Ti6Al4V
Author(s) -
Soundarapandiyan Gowtham,
Khan Raja,
Johnston Carol,
Chen Bo,
Fitzpatrick Michael
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
material design & processing communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2577-6576
DOI - 10.1002/mdp2.168
Subject(s) - cathode ray , materials science , thermal , titanium alloy , electron , beam (structure) , metallurgy , optics , physics , nuclear physics , alloy , thermodynamics
Electron‐beam powder‐bed‐fusion additive manufacturing was used to build Ti6Al4V blocks. Postfabrication thermal treatments were applied to modify the mechanical properties. The postfabrication treatments included hot isostatic pressing and solution treatment and ageing. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the as‐built and postthermally treated material were characterised. The postfabrication treatments were found to be effective in homogenising the microstructure and reducing the number of defects/pores, which improved the material Charpy impact toughness and fatigue life with some reduction in the material's strength. Based on the present results, as well as data from previous literature studies, the reduction in material strength after the postthermal treatment is likely to be caused by the combined effect of α‐lath coarsening and the low oxygen content of the powder feedstock.