Powder and wire melting of titanium alloys by electron beam

Abstract

This paper describes the influence of beam current on macro- and microstructure, phase composition and mechanical properties of electron beam melted (EBM) Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Numerical simulation is implemented to evaluate thermal fields during electron beam melting of titanium powder and wire. Computed tomography, optical and electron microscopy and mechanical testing were used to study the macro- and microstructure and the mechanical properties of samples produced by layer-upon-layer technique. We studied samples made of titanium alloys produced by the selective electron beam melting technique on the laboratory setup, designed and developed in “Research and Manufacturing Laboratory "Modern Manufacturing Technologies" at Tomsk Polytechnic University. We have found out how the thermal conditions of the electron beam melting of powder and wire influence the macro- and microstructure and mechanical properties of the resulting samples. Based on a comparative analysis of the structure and properties of the manufactured samples, it is possible to suggest the appropriate conditions for additive manufacturing by selective electron beam melting of titanium alloys.