Experimental Study and Microstructure Analysis of Aviation Component by Isothermal Forging Process

Abstract

The isothermal forging process of a typical aviation component with complex shape of high ribs and thin webs was simulated based on the finite-element method, aiming to obtain a set of optimal process parameters. According to the simulation results, the aviation component was successfully formed with a good surface quality by the isothermal forging process. Metallographic analysis shows that recrystallization took place all over the cross section of the forging. The grain size of different areas is basically the same. As indicated by the transmission electron microscope micrographs, dislocations at the surface of the forging have almost the same distribution as those at the core, whereas the dislocations at the surface of the billet by hot forging process are much denser than those at the core. Moreover, the precipitates in the forging by the isothermal forging process were basically of the same small size. On the contrary, larger precipitates were formed at the grain boundaries than in the matrix of the billet through the hot forging process. In one word, uniform grain size and homogeneous distribution of dislocations and precipitates were found in the aviation component by the isothermal precise forging process.