| Description |
Within the last few years, research into the mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V produced by the newly discovered hydrogen sintering and phase transformation (HSPT) process has been completed. By utilizing a unique phase transformation, it is possible to acquire mechanical properties from a powder metallurgy approach that rival wrought titanium products. It is still unknown, however, how this unique microstructure performs at elevated temperatures and how it responds to some typical heat treatments. When it comes to powder metallurgy products, it is possible to produce a near net shape part that can then be thermomechanically worked into the final product. This saves significant material and energy costs when compared to traditional forging methods. The main objective of this research is to determine the viability of HSPT Ti-6Al-4V as a base material for further hot working. Hot compression tests were carried out on three powder metallurgy produced microstructures to see the effects of hot deformation and varying temperature on the morphology of said microstructures. The flow curves of the compression tests also reveal how the base microstructure affects the stress required to deform at a specific temperature. Additionally, hot isostatic press (HIP) was performed on the as-sintered HSPT microstructure at varying temperatures. HIP is a common technique that is performed to close residual porosity within a material without changing its shape, as open porosity is a common mechanical defect that afflicts most products produced via powder iv metallurgy. The goal was to not only observe the most effective temperature for pore closure in HSPT, but also to witness the effects of high temperature and pressure on the final microstructure. |
