A NEW HIGH-TEMPERATURE DEFORMATION STRENGTHENING AND TOUGHENING PROCESS FOR TITANIUM-ALLOYS

A new high-temperature deformation strengthening and toughening proces s for titanium alloys, which consists of near beta transus forging, ra pid water quenching, high-temperature toughening and low-temperature s trengthening treatment, has been developed. The materials processed by this method produce a new tri-modal microstructure, which shows a hig h low-cycle fatigue property, high fatigue-creep interaction life, hig h fracture toughness and a high service temperature without the decrea sing ductility and thermal stability. The fundamentals of the new proc ess and the strengthening and toughening mechanism have also been disc ussed. It is proved that the high-temperature deformation strengthenin g and toughening process is applicable not only to alpha-beta alloys, but also to alpha, near alpha and near beta titanium alloys.