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Influence of ageing heating rates on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-5553 alloy
Abstract
The Ti-5553 alloy, a high-strength β-titanium alloy, is increasingly recognised for its exceptional mechanical properties, making it a preferred material for critical aerospace applications. This thesis examines the effects of varying ageing heating rates on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the forged Ti-5553 alloy, focusing on hardness, tensile properties, and fatigue performance. Following solution treatment at 810°C, the alloy was aged at 610°C with heating rates of 1°C/min, 5°C/min, 10°C/min, and 15°C/min. Detailed microstructural analysis was conducted using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X ray Spectroscopy (EDX). The microstructural examination revealed that different ageing heating rates caused only minor variations in the alloy's bimodal microstructure. Slower ageing heating rates produced a relatively fine, homogeneously distributed primary α phase within the β grains, while faster rates resulted in a slightly coarser bimodal microstructure. Chemical homogeneity analysis confirmed a consistent distribution of critical elements, with α stabilisers concentrated in the primary α phase and β stabilisers in the β phase, ensuring stable phase compositions across all samples. The observed slight microstructural changes were reflected in the alloy's mechanical properties. Hardness across different ageing heating rates varied between 357.4 HV and 372.6 HV. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) declined from 1307.2 MPa at 1°C/min to 1264.5 MPa at 15°C/min, while ductility improved from 15.6% to 17.1% over the same range. The alloy demonstrated good fatigue resistance at lower stress amplitudes and ageing heating rates, enduring over 10 million cycles at 337.5 MPa under the 1°C/min condition. However, fatigue life decreased with higher stress amplitudes and ageing heating rates, highlighting the alloy's sensitivity to more extreme conditions. In summary, while the varying ageing heating rates resulted in only minor changes to the microstructure, these alterations had some impact on the mechanical properties of the Ti-5553 alloy. These findings highlight the importance of precise microstructural control in optimising the alloy's performance, especially in applications where achieving a balance between strength, ductility, and fatigue resistance is crucial.
Type
Thesis
Type of thesis
Series
Citation
Date
2024-09-15
Publisher
The University of Waikato
Supervisors
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