Deformation and microstructure of titanium chips and workpiece

In order to improve the machinability of titanium alloys, a better understa nding of the chip formation process is needed. Microstructure alanalysis of chips produced at high cutting speeds can lead to an estimate of temperatu res and the deformation state in the chips if structural changes can be obs erved. Two-dimensional cross-sectional analyses are performed by means of o ptical microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To study the deformation state of the finished workpiece, a scratch-grid method in combination with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used. The results of the different analyses for Ti6Al4V are presented in this paper and are c ompared with a finite element simulation of an orthogonal cutting process.