Abstract
Superplastic forming (SPF) of Ti-6Al-4V has traditionally been performed at 900 °C. Although SPF equipment and dies have been developed to withstand this high temperature, their life is limited and maintenance is high. In addition, the formed sheets need chemical milling after processing to remove a significant layer of alpha case, and parts require hand polishing due to a rough die surface caused by high temperature oxidation. The recent development of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy with a grain size of around 1 µm has led to the possibility of superplastic forming at a much lower temperature than regular Ti-6Al-4V. In addition, the forming speed can be increased. This work looks at some of the SPF attributes of fine-grain titanium, in particular, the optimum forming temperature, the thinning characteristics, alpha case formation, and forming speeds. The authors also address manufacturing advantages, such as die life, equipment needs, and operator comfort. Some prototype and preproduction aircraft components on Boeing airplanes are presented. The results show that the new fine-grain material could significantly lower the cost of SPF Ti-6Al-4V part production for the aerospace industry.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A Arieli and A Rosen, Superplastic Deformation of Ti-6Al-4V Alloy, Metall. Trans. A, Vol 8A, 1977, p 1592
A.K. Ghosh and C.H. Hamilton, Influences of Material Parameters and Microstructure on Superplastic Forming, Metall. Trans. A, Vol 13A, 1982, p734
P.N. Comley, Aerospace Part Production Using SP700, Mater. Sci. Forum, Vol 357–359, 2000, p 41–46.
G.A. Salishchev, R.M. Galeyev, O.R. Valiakhmetov, R.V. Safiullin, R.Y. Lutfullin, O.N. Senkov, F.H. Froes, and O.A. Kaibyshev, Development of Ti-6Al-4V Sheet with Low Temperature Superplastic Properties, Mater. Proc. Technol., Vol 116, 2001, p 265–268
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Comley, P.N. Manufacturing advantages of superplastically formed fine-grain Ti-6Al-4V alloy. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 13, 660–664 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1361/10599490421259
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1361/10599490421259