Ati Properties, Inc.

R Mark Davis

Robin M Forbes Jones

Richard Lee Kennedy

Ramesh S Minisandram

John V Mantione

Jean-Philippe Thomas

Matthew J Arnold

Urban J De Souza

Urban J DeSouza

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

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.

Various non-limiting embodiments of the present invention relate to methods of processing titanium alloys wherein the alloys are subjected to deformation above the beta transus temperature (T) of the alloys. For example, one non-limiting embodiment provides a method of processing an alpha+beta or a near-beta titanium alloy comprising deforming a body of the alloy at a first temperature (T) that is above the Tof the alloy; recrystallizing at least a portion of the alloy by deforming and/or holding the body at a second temperature (T) that is greater than T; and deforming the body at a third temperature (T), wherein T&#x2267;T&#x3e;T; wherein essentially no deformation of the body occurs at a temperature below Tduring the method of processing the titanium alloy.

Methods of beta processing titanium alloys

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Marshville, NC, United States of America

R Mark Davis