Ultrasonic Characterization of the Elastic Constants in an Aging Ti-6Al-4V ELI Alloy

In this paper, we report the experimental data of the elastic properties of the young and shear modulus based on the variation in the ultrasonic velocity parameter during the microstructural evolution in a Ti-6Al-4V alloy with two varying microstructures, bimodal and acicular respectively. The two different initial microstructures, were treated thermally by aging at 515°C, 545°C and 575°C at different times from 1 min to 576hr to induce a precipitation process. Ultrasonic measurements of shear and longitudinal wave velocities, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image processing, optical microscopy (OM) and microhardness were performed, establishing a direct correlation with the measurements of the ultrasonic velocity and the elastic properties developed during the thermal treatment of the artificial aging. The results of the ultrasonic velocity show a very clear trend as the aging time progresses, which is affected by precipitation of Ti3Al particles inside the α phase. In this way, we can know, in a fast and efficient way, the elastic properties developed during the heat treatment of aging at long times, since the presence of these precipitates hardens the material microstructure affecting the final mechanical properties.