Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Grain-refinement mechanisms in titanium alloys

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Despite the importance of the prior-β grain structure in determining the properties of titanium-based alloys, there are few published studies on methods of controlling the size of these grains in commercial alloys. The existing research raises questions about the relative importance of solute elements in grain-refining mechanisms, particularly the common alloying elements of aluminum and vanadium. The effect of these elements was investigated by producing a series of castings in a nonconsumable arc-melting furnace, and the results were interpreted with the aid of available phase-diagram information and solute-based models of grain refinement. A small reduction in grain size was obtained with increasing solute additions; however, this was not expected from the theoretical analysis. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

TABLE I.
FIG. 1
FIG. 2
FIG. 3
FIG. 4
FIG. 5
FIG. 6
FIG. 7
TABLE II.
FIG. 8
FIG. 9
TABLE III.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. E.H. Kraft: 21st annual International Titanium Association conference and exhibition. Light Met. Age 64, 65 2006

    Google Scholar 

  2. J. Simpson: 22nd annual International Titanium Association (ITA) conference and exhibition, Oct. 1–3, 2006, San Diego, CA. Mater. Technol. 21, 240 2006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. D. Bhatnagar, A. Jancy, D.N. Bhatia, D. Giri M. Mamalingam: Future of titanium alloy castings. Foundry Trade J. 179, 249 2005

    Google Scholar 

  4. F.A. Crossley: Grain refinement of titanium alloys. U.S. Patent No. 4420 460, December 13, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  5. P.W. Early S.J. Burns: Improved toughness from prior beta grains in Ti-6Al-4V. Scripta Metall. 11, 867 1977

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. J. Yu, Z.J. Zhao L.X. Li: Corrosion fatigue resistances of surgical implant stainless steels and titanium alloy. Corros. Sci. 35, 587 1993

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. A. Balyanov, J. Kutnyakova, N.A. Amirkhanova, V.V. Stolyarov, R.Z. Valiev, X.Z. Liao, Y.H. Zhao, Y.B. Jiang, H.F. Xu, T.C. Lowe Y.T. Zhu: Corrosion resistance of ultra fine-grained Ti. Scripta Mater. 51, 225 2004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. C. Yao, E.B. Slamovich, T.J. Webster, J.I. Qazi H.J. Rack: Improved bone cell adhesion on ultrafine grained titanium and Ti–6Al–4V in Ceramic Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology III Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Ceramic Society Ceramic Transactions Indianapolis, IN 2004 239

  9. P.N. Comley: Manufacturing advantages of superplastically formed fine-grained Ti-6Al-4V alloy. J. Mater. Eng. Perf. 13, 660 2004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. F. Pitt M. Ramulu: Influence of grain size and microstructure on oxidation rates in titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V under superplastic forming conditions. J. Mater. Eng. Perf. 13, 727 2004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Y.V.R.K. Prasad, T. Seshacharyulu, S.C. Medeiros W.G. Frazier: Effect of prior β-grain size on the hot deformation behavior of Ti-6Al-4V: Coarse vs coarser. J. Mater. Eng. Perf. 9, 153 2000

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. G.V. Samsonov, V.A. Kashchuk A.I. Cherkashin: Effect of transition metals on the grain size of titanium. Metalloved. Term. Obrab. Met. 11, 30 1970

    Google Scholar 

  13. S. Tamirisakandala, R.B. Bhat, J.S. Tiley D.B. Miracle: Grain refinement of cast titanium alloys via trace boron addition. Scripta Mater. 43, 1421 2005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. S. Tamirisakandala, R.B. Bhat, J.S. Tiley D.B. Miracle: Processing, microstructure and properties of β titanium alloys modified with boron. J. Mater. Eng. Perf. 14, 741 2005

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. J. Zhu, A. Kamiya, T. Yamada, W. Shi K. Naganuma: Influence of boron addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of dental cast titanium alloys. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 339, 53 2003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. D.G. McCartney: Grain refining of aluminium and its alloys using inoculants. Int. Mater. Rev. 34, 247 1989

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. A.L. Greer, P.S. Cooper, M.W. Meredith, W. Schnider, P. Schumacher, J.A. Spittle A. Tronche: Grain refinement of aluminum alloys by inoculation. Adv. Eng. Mater. 5, 81 2003

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. M.A. Easton D.H. StJohn: An analysis of the relationship between grain size, solute content, and the potency and number density of nucleant particles. Metall. Mater. Trans. A 36, 1911 2005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. M.A. Easton D.H. StJohn: A model of grain refinement incorporating alloy constitution and potency of heterogeneous nuleant particles. Acta Mater. 49, 1867 2001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. D.H. StJohn, M.A. Qian, M.A. Easton, P. Cao Z. Hildebrand: Grain refinement of magnesium alloys. Metall. Mater. Trans. A 36, 1669 2005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Y.C. Lee, A.K. Dahle, D.H. StJohn J.E.C. Hutt: The effect of grain refinement and silicon content on grain formation in hypoeutectic Al-Si alloys. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 259, 43 1999

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. ASTM International. E 112: 96 Standard test methods for determining average grain size in Annual Book of ASTM Standards ASTM International Baltimore, MD 2005 267

    Google Scholar 

  23. M.G. Glavicic, P.A. Kobryn, T.R. Bieler S.L. Semiatin: An automated method to determine the orientatoin of the high-temperature beta phase from measured EBSD data for the low-temperature alpha-phase in Ti-6Al-4V. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 351, 258 2003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. J. Newman, D. Eylon J.K. Thorne: Titanium and titanium alloys in ASM Handbook: Casting ASM International Materials Park, OH 1990 824

    Google Scholar 

  25. R. Boyer: Titanium and titanium alloys in ASM Handbook: Metallography and Microstructures ASM International Materials Park, OH 1990 458

    Google Scholar 

  26. American Society for Metals Atlas of microstructures of industrial alloys, in Metals Handbook edited by T. Lyman, E. Boyer, J. Carnes, and P. Unterweiser American Society for Metals Materials Park, OH 1972

    Google Scholar 

  27. Alloy phase diagrams, in ASM Handbook ASM International Materials Park, OH 1990

  28. A.K. Dahle L. Arnberg: On the assumption of an additive effect of solute elements in dendrite growth. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 225, 38 1997

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. M.A. Easton D.H. StJohn: The effect of alloy content on the grain refinement of aluminium alloys in Light Metals: Proceedings of Sessions, TMS Annual Meeting The Metals Society Warrendale, PA 2001 927

  30. T.E. Quested A.L. Greer: Growth-restriction effects in grain refinement of aluminium. Proceedings of the technical sessions presented by the TMS Aluminum Committee at the 132nd TMS Annual Meeting, March 2–6, 2003, San Diego, CA. The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, 2003, pp. 945–952

  31. M.A. Easton D.H. StJohn: Partitioning of titanium during solidification of aluminium alloys. Mater. Sci. Technol. 16, 993 2000

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the CAST Cooperative Research Centre. CAST was established and is supported by the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Programme. The authors also thank Dr. Cameron Davidson from Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) for his technical assistance and Col. Macpherson from Dentaurum, Australia for equipment supply and training.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CAST Cooperative Research Centre, School of Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4067, Australia

    M.J. Bermingham, S.D. McDonald, M.S. Dargusch & D.H. StJohn

Authors
  1. M.J. Bermingham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S.D. McDonald
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M.S. Dargusch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D.H. StJohn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M.J. Bermingham.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bermingham, M., McDonald, S., Dargusch, M. et al. Grain-refinement mechanisms in titanium alloys. Journal of Materials Research 23, 97–104 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2008.0002

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2008.0002

Search

Navigation