GRAIN STRUCTURE CONTROL OF TITANIUM ALLOYS PRODUCED BY WIRE-FEED ELECTRON BEAM ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING USING ULTRASONIC INDUCTION

The formation of samples based on Ti ‒ 6Al ‒ 4V titanium alloy by wire-feed electron beam additive manufacturing is associated with the formation of a coarse-grained columnar structure consisting of a primary β-phase. This is accompanied by rapid solidification and a high temperature gradient. To prevent the formation of large columnar grains in samples based on Ti ‒ 6Al ‒ 4V alloy, a method of ultrasonic treatment in wire-feed electron beam additive 3D printing was proposed and implemented. A comprehensive analysis of the results of obtaining samples based on Ti ‒ 6Al ‒ 4V titanium alloy was carried out to determine the most optimal approach in terms of defect-free performance and achieving a suitable structure. The effect of ultrasonic treatment and linear energy on the grain structure was studied using metallographic studies. The size of the structural characteristics in the samples with and without ultrasound has been evaluated. The structure of the samples based on Ti ‒ 6Al ‒ 4V titanium alloy is characterized by a two-phase state: a tightly packed hexagonal α-phase and a volume-centered cubic β-phase. It was noticed that large primary β-grains became narrower, and the average grain size decreased from 5.2 to 3.1 mm, the effect on grain length was insignificant. The key factor affecting the grain structure is the acoustic cavitation effect that occurs in the melt bath under ultrasonic action. Compared with samples without ultrasonic treatment, the tensile strength, yield strength and elongation in samples based on Ti ‒ 6Al ‒ 4V titanium alloy printed when an ultrasonic transducer was applied to the substrate increased by 50, 20 MPa and 4 %. It was revealed that samples without ultrasonic treatment, oriented horizontally relative to cultivation, show higher mechanical properties characteristics than samples with ultrasonic treatment, oriented vertically relative to cultivation. Further development of the studied ultrasonic treatment technology may make it possible to adjust the microstructure and textural characteristics of volumetric parts obtained by additive manufacturing.

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