The Prediction of Microstructural Development During TIMETAL~R 6-4 Billet Manufacture

摘要

Primary processing of titanium alloys involves multiple processing stages, during which time the microstructure evolves along with process conditions. Optimisation of process routes for structural improvement can lead to a substantial cost reduction in widely used aerospace alloys like TIMETAL~R 6-4. Numerical models which describe the microstructural evolution during the thermo-mechanical processing of TIMETAL~R 6-4 billet have been developed jointly by TIMET and QinetiQ through the UK DTI Aeronautics Research Programme. These microstructural models, which include routines for the prediction of the α/β phase proportions, the α phase morphology and the α/β phase distribution, have been successfully validated with production material. Development and validation of the microstructure and the DEFORM-3D cogging models will be discussed, with specific reference to two TIMETAL~R 6-4 processing routes.