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Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Wire and Arc Additive Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V

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Abstract

Wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is a novel manufacturing technique in which large metal components can be fabricated layer by layer. In this study, the macrostructure, microstructure, and mechanical properties of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy after WAAM deposition have been investigated. The macrostructure of the arc-deposited Ti-6Al-4V was characterized by epitaxial growth of large columnar prior-β grains up through the deposited layers, while the microstructure consisted of fine Widmanstätten α in the upper deposited layers and a banded coarsened Widmanstätten lamella α in the lower layers. This structure developed due to the repeated rapid heating and cooling thermal cycling that occurs during the WAAM process. The average yield and ultimate tensile strengths of the as-deposited material were found to be slightly lower than those for a forged Ti-6Al-4V bar (MIL-T 9047); however, the ductility was similar and, importantly, the mean fatigue life was significantly higher. A small number of WAAM specimens exhibited early fatigue failure, which can be attributed to the rare occurrence of gas pores formed during deposition.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Cranfield Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre (IMRC) for funding the project, with the original funding being provided by EPSRC and Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast, Northern Ireland, who also carried out the tensile and fatigue testing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Welding Engineering and Laser Processing Centre, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, U.K.

    Fude Wang (Senior Research Fellow), Stewart Williams (Professor) & Paul Colegrove (Senior Lecturer)

  2. School of Materials, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, U.K.

    Alphons A. Antonysamy (Materials Lead)

  3. Additive Manufacturing R&D Centre, GKN Aerospace, Bristol, BS34 9AU, U.K.

    Alphons A. Antonysamy (Materials Lead)

Authors
  1. Fude Wang
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  2. Stewart Williams
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  3. Paul Colegrove
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  4. Alphons A. Antonysamy
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fude Wang.

Additional information

Manuscript submitted February 2, 2012.

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Wang, F., Williams, S., Colegrove, P. et al. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Wire and Arc Additive Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V. Metall Mater Trans A 44, 968–977 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-012-1444-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-012-1444-6

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