Structurization Mechanism in the Growth of Titanium Alloys

Abstract

Additive manufacturing is a process of producing parts, involving incremental addition of material onto a flat or axial substrate. This manufacturing option is also called ‘growth’ because the product is formed by continuously building up layers of material until it is complete. Additive materials and techniques are modern and relevant. Employing these techniques, materials can be produced with various types of energy to fuse powders. The structurization mechanism is virtually unknown in this case. Using additive manufacturing techniques, samples were prepared from the VT1-0 alloy powder on a VT20 alloy substrate and from the VT20 alloy powder on a VT1-0 alloy substrate. The structures of samples cut out from different areas of the deposited material were studied and their microhardness was measured. The relationship between the structure and microhardness in the deposited material was shown. A structurization mechanism for titanium material through the deposition of titanium powder was proposed. A mechanism for the formation of pores in the metal was suggested. The structurization process was characterized by the redistribution of doping elements in the deposited metal and the substrate, as evidenced by changes in microhardness. The microhardness varied from the level characteristic of the substrate metal to the microhardness inherent in the deposited metal. The temperature gradient during the growth of a metal sample was uneven. This led to changes in the size of the structural components in the metal. The powder was fused layer by layer, with the formation of pores depending on the powder particle size. Larger particles formed larger pores compared to those formed by finer powders. The processes established in the experiments were consistent for both deposition options. The difference resided in the base metal, specifically its chemical composition. The proposed mechanism enhanced the general understanding of the structurization processes during additive growth (deposition) of titanium alloys from their powders.