Influence of Supertransus Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Compressive Performance of Additively Manufactured Ti6Al4V (ELI)

Abstract:

Additive manufacturing (AM) has gained significant attention as a promising technique for producing complex-shaped components, particularly in the aerospace and biomedical industries. However, post-processing steps, such as heat treatment, can significantly influence the mechanical properties of additively manufactured parts. This research investigates the effect of supertransus heat treatment on the compressive behavior of Ti-6Al-4V (ELI) alloy produced through additive manufacturing. The specimens were subjected to a series of heat treatment cycles, including solution treatment and aging above the β-transus temperature range. Compressive tests were conducted on as-received and heat-treated samples to evaluate their mechanical properties and deformation behavior. Microstructure characterization was performed using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results revealed that the microstructure of the as-built material primarily consisted of columnar grains and acicular α' martensite. Significant variations in microstructure were observed in heat-treated samples, particularly with changes in the cooling rate. The microstructure changes closely correlated with the compressive properties of the heat-treated samples. The heat-treated samples showed a reduction in compressive strength compared to the as-received samples but exhibited improved elongation behavior. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of post-processing effects on the mechanical properties of additively manufactured materials, enabling the development of high-performance components for various applications.

• Periodical: Engineering Headway (Volume 22)
• Pages: 3-9
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-HthW87
• Online since: June 2025
• Authors: Mahendra Sukre, Anil Meena*
• Keywords: Additive Manufacturing, Compressive Property, Heat Treatment, Ti6Al4V ELI

References

[1] Ó. Teixeira, F.J.G. Silva, E. Atzeni, Residual stresses and heat treatments of Inconel 718 parts manufactured via metal laser beam powder bed fusion: an overview, International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology 113 (2021) 3139–3162.

DOI: 10.1007/s00170-021-06835-8

[2] N.T. Aboulkhair, M. Simonelli, L. Parry, I. Ashcroft, C. Tuck, R. Hague, 3D printing of Aluminium alloys: Additive Manufacturing of Aluminium alloys using selective laser melting, Prog Mater Sci 106 (2019).

DOI: 10.1016/j.pmatsci.2019.100578

[3] M. Kathiresan, M. Karthikeyan, R.J. Immanuel, A short review on SLM-processed Ti6Al4V composites, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering (2023). https://doi.org/10.1177/09544089231169380/SUPPL_ FILE/SJ-DOCX-3-PIE-10.1177_09544089231169380.DOCX.

DOI: 10.1177/09544089231169380

[4] Ó. Teixeira, F.J.G. Silva, L.P. Ferreira, E. Atzeni, A Review of Heat Treatments on Improving the Quality and Residual Stresses of the Ti-6Al-4V Parts Produced by Additive Manufacturing, Metals (Basel) 10 (2020).

DOI: 10.3390/met10081006

[5] S. Liu, Y.C. Shin, Additive manufacturing of Ti6Al4V alloy: A review, Mater Des 164 (2019).

DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2018.107552

[6] Rodney. Boyer, Gerhard. Welsch, E.W. Collings, Materials properties handbook : titanium alloys, ASM International, 1994.

[7] A. Mahmud, T. Huynh, L. Zhou, H. Hyer, A. Mehta, D.D. Imholte, N.E. Woolstenhulme, D.M. Wachs, Y. Sohn, Mechanical Behavior Assessment of Ti-6Al-4V ELI Alloy Produced by Laser Powder Bed Fusion, Metals (Basel) 11 (2021).

DOI: 10.3390/MET11111671

[8] S. Cao, Z. Chen, C.V.S. Lim, K. Yang, Q. Jia, T. Jarvis, D. Tomus, X. Wu, Defect, Microstructure, and Mechanical Property of Ti-6Al-4V Alloy Fabricated by High-Power Selective Laser Melting, JOM 69 (2017) 2684–2692.

DOI: 10.1007/s11837-017-2581-6

[9] A. Carrozza, G. Marchese, A. Saboori, E. Bassini, A. Aversa, F. Bondioli, D. Ugues, S. Biamino, P. Fino, Effect of Aging and Cooling Path on the Super β-Transus Heat-Treated Ti-6Al-4V Alloy Produced via Electron Beam Melting (EBM), Materials 15 (2022).

DOI: 10.3390/ma15124067

[10] Z. Zhao, J. Chen, H. Tan, G. Zhang, X. Lin, W. Huang, Achieving superior ductility for laser solid formed extra low interstitial Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy through equiaxial alpha microstructure, Scr Mater 146 (2018) 187–191.

DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2017.11.021

[11] H. Jaber, J. Kónya, K. Kulcsár, T. Kovács, Effects of Annealing and Solution Treatments on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ti6Al4V Manufactured by Selective Laser Melting, Materials 15 (2022).

DOI: 10.3390/ma15051978

[12] Y.C. Lin, Y. Tang, Y.Q. Jiang, J. Chen, D. Wang, D.G. He, Precipitation of Secondary Phase and Phase Transformation Behavior of a Solution-Treated Ti–6Al–4V Alloy during High-Temperature Aging, Adv Eng Mater 22 (2020).

DOI: 10.1002/adem.201901436

[13] C. de Formanoir, A. Brulard, S. Vivès, G. Martin, F. Prima, S. Michotte, E. Rivière, A. Dolimont, S. Godet, A strategy to improve the work-hardening behavior of Ti–6Al–4V parts produced by additive manufacturing, Mater Res Lett 5 (2017) 201–208.

DOI: 10.1080/21663831.2016.1245681

[14] T. Vilaro, C. Colin, J.D. Bartout, As-Fabricated and Heat-Treated Microstructures of the Ti-6Al-4V Alloy Processed by Selective Laser Melting, Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A 42A (2011).

DOI: 10.1007/s11661-011-0731-y

[15] Z. Lin, K. Song, B. Di Castri, W. Ya, X. Yu, Microstructure-gradient approach for effective determination of post-heat treatment temperature of an additive manufactured Ti-6Al-4V sample, J Alloys Compd 921 (2022).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.165630

[16] A. Muiruri, M. Maringa, W. Du Preez, Quasi-Static Mechanical Properties of Post-Processed Laser Powder Bed Fusion Ti6Al4V(ELI) Parts under Compressive Loading, Applied Sciences 12 (2022).

DOI: 10.3390/app12199552

[17] Y.C. Lin, X.Y. Jiang, C. jun Shuai, C.Y. Zhao, D.G. He, M.S. Chen, C. Chen, Effects of initial microstructures on hot tensile deformation behaviors and fracture characteristics of Ti-6Al-4V alloy, Materials Science and Engineering A 711 (2018) 293–302.

DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2017.11.044

[18] Z. Liang, Z. Sun, W. Zhang, S. Wu, H. Chang, The effect of heat treatment on microstructure evolution and tensile properties of selective laser melted Ti6Al4V alloy, J Alloys Compd 782 (2019) 1041–1048.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.12.051

[19] B.D. Venkatesh, D.L. Chen, S.D. Bhole, Effect of heat treatment on mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy, Materials Science and Engineering A 506 (2009) 117–124.

DOI: 10.1016/J.MSEA.2008.11.018

[20] R.R. Boyer, Titanium and Its Alloys: Metallurgy, Heat Treatment and Alloy Characteristics, in: Encyclopedia of Aerospace Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2010.

DOI: 10.1002/9780470686652.eae198

[21] X.Y. Zhang, G. Fang, S. Leeflang, A.J. Böttger, A. A. Zadpoor, J. Zhou, Effect of subtransus heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V alloy, J Alloys Compd 735 (2018) 1562–1575.

DOI: 10.1016/J.JALLCOM.2017.11.263