In recent years, processing maps are being used to design hot working schedules for making near-net shapes in a wide variety of materials. In this paper, the results obtained on the characterization of hot working behavior of titanium and its alloys using the approach of processing maps are described. In commercial purity α titanium, dynamic recrystallization (DRX) domain occurs at 775°C and 0.001 s−1 with an efficiency of power dissipation [2m/(m+1) where m is the strain rate sensitivity of flow stress] of 43%. The DRX domain shifts to higher strain rates when the interstitial impurity content is lowered. In the near-α and α-β alloys like IMI 685, Ti–6Al–4V, the preform microstructure has a significant influence on the processing maps. For example, in the transformed β (Widmanstatten) preform microstructures, these alloys exhibit a domain of spheroidization at lower temperature and a domain of β superplasticity at higher temperatures, both occurring at slow strain rates. These domains merge at the β transus because of the occurrence of damage processes which lower the tensile ductility. On the other hand, processing maps on alloys with equiaxed preform microstructure exhibit a clear superplasticity domain in the α-β range and the β phase undergoes DRX with a power dissipation efficiency of ≈45–55%. Titanium materials in general, exhibit wide flow instability regimes due to adiabatic shear bands formation at higher strain rates and hence careful process design has to be adopted for successful forging and microstructural control.

Processing maps for hot working of titanium alloys

The hot deformation behavior of Ti–6Al–4V with an equiaxed α–β preform microstructure is modeled in the temperature range 750–1100°C and strain rate range 0.0003–100 s−1, for obtaining processing windows and achieving microstructural control during hot working. For this purpose, a processing map has been developed on the basis of flow stress data as a function of temperature, strain rate and strain. The map exhibited two domains: (i) the domain in the α–β phase field is identified to represent fine-grained superplasticity and the peak efficiency of power dissipation occurred at about 825°C/0.0003 s−1. At this temperature, the hot ductility exhibited a sharp peak indicating that the superplasticity process is very sensitive to temperature. The α grain size increased exponentially with increase in temperature in this domain and the variation is similar to the increase in the β volume fraction in this alloy. At the temperature of peak ductility, the volume fraction of β is about 20%, suggesting that sliding of α–α interfaces is primarily responsible for superplasticity while the β phase present at the grain boundary triple junctions restricts grain growth. The apparent activation energy estimated in the α–β superplasticity domain is about 330 kJ mol−1, which is much higher than that for self diffusion in α-titanium. (ii) In the β phase field, the alloy exhibits dynamic recrystallization and the variation of grain size with temperature and strain rate could be correlated with the Zener–Hollomon parameter. The apparent activation energy in this domain is estimated to be 210 kJ mol−1, which is close to that for self diffusion in β. At temperatures around the transus, a ductility peak with unusually high ductility has been observed, which has been attributed to the occurrence of transient superplasticity of β in view of its fine grain size. The material exhibited flow instabilities at strain rates higher than about 1 s−1 and these are manifested as adiabatic shear bands in the α–β regime.

Hot working of commercial Ti–6Al–4V with an equiaxed α–β microstructure: materials modeling considerations

The hot compressive deformation behaviors of a typical Ni-based superalloy are investigated over wide ranges of forming temperature and strain rate. Based on the experimental data, the efficiencies of power dissipation and instability parameters are evaluated and processing maps are developed to optimize the hot working processing. The microstructures of the studied Ni-based superalloy are analyzed to correlate with the processing maps. It can be found that the flow stress is sensitive to the forming temperature and strain rate. With the increase of forming temperature or the decrease of strain rate, the flow stress significantly decreases. The changes of instability domains may be related to the adiabatic shear bands and the evolution of δ phase(Ni 3 Nb) during the hot formation. Three optimum hot deformation domains for different forming processes (ingot cogging, conventional die forging and isothermal die forging) are identified, which are validated by the microstructural features and adiabatic shear bands. The optimum window for the ingot cogging processing is identified as the temperature range of 1010–1040 °C and strain rate range of 0.1–1 s −1 . The temperature range of 980–1040 °C and strain rate range of 0.01–0.1 s −1 can be selected for the conventional die forging. Additionally, the optimum hot working domain for the isothermal die forging is 1010–1040 °C and near/below 0.001 s −1 .

Hot deformation behavior and processing map of a typical Ni-based superalloy

Hot deformation and processing map of a typical Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy

A simple instability condition based on the Ziegler’s continuum principles as applied to large plastic flow, is developed for delineating the regions of unstable metal flow during hot deformation. It can be used for any type of the flow stress versus strain rate curve. This criterion has been validated using the flow stress data of IN 718 with microstructural observations. The optimum hot working conditions for the superalloy IN 718 are suggested based on the instability map.

On the development of instability criteria during hotworking with reference to IN 718

A new method of modeling material behavior which accounts for the dynamic metallurgical processes occurring during hot deformation is presented. The approach in this method is to consider the workpiece as a dissipator of power in the total processing system and to evaluate the dissipated power co-contentJ = ∫o σ e ⋅dσ from the constitutive equation relating the strain rate (e) to the flow stress (σ). The optimum processing conditions of temperature and strain rate are those corresponding to the maximum or peak inJ. It is shown thatJ is related to the strain-rate sensitivity (m) of the material and reaches a maximum value(J max) whenm = 1. The efficiency of the power dissipation(J/J max) through metallurgical processes is shown to be an index of the dynamic behavior of the material and is useful in obtaining a unique combination of temperature and strain rate for processing and also in delineating the regions of internal fracture. In this method of modeling, noa priori knowledge or evaluation of the atomistic mechanisms is required, and the method is effective even when more than one dissipation process occurs, which is particularly advantageous in the hot processing of commercial alloys having complex microstructures. This method has been applied to modeling of the behavior of Ti-6242 during hot forging. The behavior of α+ β andβ preform microstructures has been exam-ined, and the results show that the optimum condition for hot forging of these preforms is obtained at 927 °C (1200 K) and a strain rate of 1CT•3 s•1. Variations in the efficiency of dissipation with temperature and strain rate are correlated with the dynamic microstructural changes occurring in the material.

/pdf/modeling-of-dynamic-material-behavior-in-hot-deformation-3wt95ckgsf.pdf

Modeling of dynamic material behavior in hot deformation: Forging of Ti-6242

A new concept has been developed for the design of streamlined dies for the extrusion of “difficult-to-extrude” metal-matrix composite materials and P/M alloys. Based on this concept, CAD/CAM packages have been developed to facilitate the design and manufacture of these complex dies. The packages are interactive and user friendly and can help the user in arriving at an optimum design with relative ease within a short time. Use of 3- D graphics, hidden line removal, and shaded color aid the user in visualizing and understanding the complex die geometries. Two methods are presented for the manufacture of electrodes used for electro-discharge machining of dies. The first is by the use of a turnkey CAD/CAM system and the second is by the use of a special software known as CUTTER. Several electrodes (round to rounds, as well as round to shapes) have been machined using a three-axis vertical milling machine—the dies have been electrodischarge machined—and extrusion trials have been performed on several materials. The results have been very promising. It is concluded that streamlined dies have definite advantages over other dies when extruding difficult-to-extrude materials such as composites and P/M alloys.

D. R. Barker

Papers

Modeling of dynamic material behavior in hot deformation: Forging of Ti-6242

CAD/CAM of streamlined extrusion dies