Ati Properties, Inc.

Jean-Philippe Thomas

Robin M Forbes Jones

Ramesh S Minisandram

John V Mantione

Richard Lee Kennedy

David Jeffrey Bryan

Joseph F Perez

Edward A Kosol

Jason P Floder

R Mark Davis

George J Smith, Jr

Scott Oppenheimer

Peter Lipetzky

Urban J De Souza

Urban J DeSouza

Robert Mark Davis

Methods of refining the grain size of titanium and titanium alloys include multiple upset and draw forging. Titanium and titanium alloy workpieces are heated to a workpiece forging temperature within a workpiece forging temperature range in the alpha+beta phase field. The workpiece may comprise a starting cross-sectional dimension. The workpiece is upset forged in the workpiece forging temperature range. After upsetting, the workpiece is multiple pass draw forged in the workpiece forging temperature range. Multiple pass draw forging may comprise incrementally rotating the workpiece in a rotational direction followed by draw forging the workpiece after each incremental rotation. Incrementally rotating and draw forging the workpiece is repeated until the workpiece comprises substantially the same starting cross-sectional dimension.

Processing routes for titanium and titanium alloys

A method of processing a non-magnetic alloy workpiece comprises heating the workpiece to a warm working temperature, open die press forging the workpiece to impart a desired strain in a central region of the workpiece, and radial forging the workpiece to impart a desired strain in a surface region of the workpiece. In a non-limiting embodiment, after the steps of open die press forging and radial forging, the strain imparted in the surface region is substantially equivalent to the strain imparted in the central region. In another non-limiting embodiment, the strain imparted in the central and surface regions are in a range from 0.3 inch/inch to 1 inch/inch, and there exists no more than a 0.5 inch/inch difference in strain of the central region compared with the strain of the surface region of the workpiece. An alloy forging processed according to methods described herein also is disclosed.

Non-magnetic alloy forgings

Forge lubrication processes are disclosed. A solid lubricant sheet is placed between a workpiece and a die in a forging apparatus. Force is applied to the workpiece with the die to plastically deform the workpiece. The solid lubricant sheet decreases the shear factor for the forging system and reduces the incidence of die-locking.

Lubrication processes for enhanced forgeability

Methods of refining the grain size of a titanium alloy workpiece include beta annealing the workpiece, cooling the beta annealed workpiece to a temperature below the beta transus temperature of the titanium alloy, and high strain rate multi-axis forging the workpiece. High strain rate multi-axis forging is employed until a total strain of at least 1 is achieved in the titanium alloy workpiece, or until a total strain of at least 1 and up to 3.5 is achieved in the titanium alloy workpiece. The titanium alloy of the workpiece may comprise at least one of grain pinning alloying additions and beta stabilizing content effective to decrease alpha phase precipitation and growth kinetics.

Methods for processing titanium alloys

An endplate for a hot isostatic pressing canister comprises a central region, and a main region extending radially from the central region and terminating in a corner about a periphery of the endplate. The thickness of the endplate increases along the main region, from the central region to the corner, defining a taper angle. The corner includes an inner surface comprising a radiused portion by which the main region smoothly transitions into the lip. A hot isostatic pressing canister including at least one of the endplates also is disclosed, along with a method of hot isostatic pressing a metallurgical powder using the hot isostatic canister.

Endplate for hot isostatic pressing canister, hot isostatic pressing canister, and hot isostatic pressing method

Forge lubrication processes are disclosed. A solid lubricant sheet is placed between a workpiece and a die in a forging apparatus. Force is applied to the workpiece with the die to plastically deform the workpiece. The solid lubricant sheet decreases the shear friction factor for the forging system and reduces the incidence of die-locking.

Thermomechanical processing of high strength non-magnetic corrosion resistant material

Methods of refining the grain size of titanium and titanium alloys include thermally managed high strain rate multi-axis forging. A high strain rate adiabatically heats an internal region of the workpiece during forging, and a thermal management system is used to heat an external surface region to the workpiece forging temperature, while the internal region is allowed to cool to the workpiece forging temperature. A further method includes multiple upset and draw forging titanium or a titanium alloy using a strain rate less than is used in conventional open die forging of titanium and titanium alloys. Incremental workpiece rotation and draw forging causes severe plastic deformation and grain refinement in the titanium or titanium alloy forging.

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Charlotte, NC, United States of America

Jean-Philippe Thomas