Effect of Fe Alloying on Phase Evolution, Microstructure, Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Ti64 Alloy via Laser Material Deposition
摘要
Being an effective eutectoid β-phase stabilizer, Fe alloying for Ti mitigates anisotropy (due to the growth of prior columnar β-grains) in the AM-build parts, along with superior solid solutionSolid solutions strengthening. This study investigates the effect of Fe alloying on the base Ti64Ti64 alloy using a laser material deposition method, at varying Fe concentrations up to 10%. CALPHAD-based non-equilibrium phase simulationsSimulation were conducted to predict the solidificationSolidification route and phases, which were studied in correlation to the XRD-phase analysis showing the evolution of β-Ti and TiFe phases with increasing Fe alloy concentration. Corresponding SEM-microstructuralMicrostructural features and elemental analysis well agree with the phase analysis results, showing reduced fine lamellar α-Ti along with increase in Fe concentration in the β-Ti matrix. The resulting hardnessHardness values were evaluated, showing the β-Ti matrix strengthening with an increase in Fe concentration, and at higher Fe alloying condition, a hardnessHardness value twice that of the Ti64Ti64 substrate was obtained. The reciprocating wear characteristics reveal the effect of Fe alloying in effectively addressing the poor tribological behaviourTribological behaviour of Ti64Ti64, showing a 30% improvement in the overall wear-resistance characteristic. Such studies would help to realize the impact of such low-cost β-eutectoid alloying for the laser processed TitaniumTitanium, which would benefit the extended industrialMetastable β-Ti applications of the laser-AM-processed Ti-alloys.