Isothermal and Near Isothermal Processing of Titanium Alloys

T. Raghu; I. Balasundar; M. Sudhakara Rao

doi:10.14429/dsj.61.321

T. Raghu Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Hyderabad
I. Balasundar Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Hyderabad
M. Sudhakara Rao Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Hyderabad

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.61.321

Keywords: Isothermal processing, near-isothermal processing, forging process, multi-axial isothermal forging, Titanium alloys, aeroengine components, metal-forming techniques, superplastic materials, structural materials

Abstract

Isothermal and near isothermal forging are specialized metal processing techniques which are used for producing critical aeroengine components out of advanced materials such as titanium alloys. The process can be used to produce net / near net shape components leading to optimum utilization of materials. As titanium alloys are highly sensitive to temperature and strain rate, these processes help to deform them under slow and controlled strain rates. Further, these processes can be combined with other conventional and non conventional metal forming processes to refine the microstructure. For example, multiaxial isothermal forging coupled with pack rolling can be used to produce thin sheets out of titanium alloys with submicron grain size. The refined structure exhibits superplastic characteristics at low temperatures and high strain rates. This lower temperature superplastic characteristic can be exploited to establish technologies for producing various components. The paper throws light on the capabilities of isothermal forging process and its variants.

Defence Science Journal, 2011, 61(1), pp.72-80, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.61.321

Author Biographies

T. Raghu, Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Hyderabad

Dr T. Raghu received his BE (Metallurgy) from Regional Engineering College, Durgapur in 1984 and MTech (Met. Engg.) and PhD (Mechanical Alloying) from Indian Institute of Technology(IIT) Bombay, Mumbai in 1986 and 1998, respectively. His research interests include: Bulk metal processing, powder processing by mechanical alloying, thermomechanical processing, structure property correlations and severe plastic deformation of materials.

I. Balasundar, Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Hyderabad

Mr I. Balasundar received his BE (Met. Engg.) from University of Madras in 1998. Currently pursuing his PhD in the Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, IIT Bombay, Mumbai. His research interests include: Thermo-mechanical processing and severe plastic deformation of materials, process modeling (dynamic materials modeling), and simulation (Finite element analysis), structure property correlations.

M. Sudhakara Rao, Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Hyderabad

Mr M. SudhakaraRao received his BTech (Mech. Engg.) from NagarjunaUniversity in 1997 and MTech (Mech. Engg.) from Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai in 1999. Currently pursuing PhD in the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, IIT Madras, Chennai. His research interests include: Severe plastic deformation of materials, die design, and computer aided engineering.