Influence of Electric Pulse Heat Treatment on the Dynamic Mechanical Behavior of TC6 Titanium Alloy

Abstract

In order to improve the dynamic mechanical properties of TC6 titanium alloy, the effect of electric pulse heat treatment on the dynamic properties and microstructures of TC6 has been investigated in this paper. It was observed that the secondary α phase was successfully controlled through rapid temperature rising and proper temperature holding by the electric pulse. Compared with traditional heat treatment methods, the electric pulse treatment can obviously refine the grains of secondary α phase. In addition, the refined second α phase distributed uniformly with fine equiaxed and lamellar shapes. As a result, this refined second α phase will resist the expansion of cracks and promote the coordination deformation of grains. According to the dynamic compression test results, it can be found that the adiabatic shear susceptibility of the microstructure obtained from the electric pulse treatment obviously decreased. On the other hand, the dynamic ductility and absorbed energy were much higher than that of the microstructure (equiaxed, bi-modal and basket weave structures) obtained from traditional heat treatments.