TB6 titanium alloy (Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al) shows potential as a viable alternative to traditional titanium alloys in the aviation industry due to its excellent overall properties. However, machining TB6 titanium alloy presents several challenges, including low machining efficiency, high tool wear, reduced machining accuracy, and poor surface finish. To overcome these challenges, researchers have developed new machining technologies, including jet electrochemical machining (Jet-ECM) and dynamic recrystallization.
Jet electrochemical machining (Jet-ECM)
Jet electrochemical machining is an advanced machining technique that utilizes electrochemical reactions in an electrolyte to remove material. In the machining of TB6 titanium alloy, the dissolution behavior of TB6 titanium alloy in sodium nitrate and sodium chloride electrolytes at different concentrations and temperatures was investigated. The optimal machining parameters were determined by analyzing key parameters, including electrolyte composition and concentration, machining voltage, electrolyte flow rate, and interelectrode gap (IEG). Experimental results show that under the conditions of 24 V voltage, 0.6 mm IEG, 2.1 L/min flow rate, and 15% sodium chloride electrolyte, a material removal rate of 10.062 g/min was achieved, with a surface roughness of 0.231 μm, a taper of 2.5, and an average overcut of 1.01 mm, demonstrating acceptable overall machining performance.
Dynamic Recrystallization Technology
Dynamic recrystallization is a key phenomenon in TB6 titanium alloy during hot deformation, improving its plasticity and machinability through microstructure refinement. Research has shown that dynamic recrystallization can occur in TB6 titanium alloy under appropriate β-phase hot deformation conditions. For example, dynamic recrystallization can occur in TB6 titanium alloy at temperatures between 850 and 900°C and strain rates between 0.001 and 1 s⁻¹, contributing to grain refinement and improved plasticity.
Adiabatic Shear Behavior of Microstructures under Detonation Loading
The microstructure and adiabatic shear behavior of TB6 titanium alloy under detonation loading were also investigated. Using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technology, researchers discovered that under ultra-high strain rate detonation loading, the α and β phase grain sizes of TB6 titanium alloy decreased, twinning occurred in the α phase, and the β phase underwent dynamic recrystallization in the central region of the ASB, reducing the grain size to 400 nm. These grains, mostly high-angle grain boundaries, exhibited the lowest dislocation density. These findings contribute to understanding the deformation mechanisms and failure modes of TB6 titanium alloy under extreme conditions.
These new technologies and findings provide new perspectives and solutions for the application of TB6 titanium alloy, helping to enhance its potential in aerospace applications.
The company boasts leading domestic titanium processing production lines, including:
German-imported precision titanium tube production line (annual production capacity: 30,000 tons);
Japanese-technology titanium foil rolling line (thinnest to 6μm);
Fully automated titanium rod continuous extrusion line;
Intelligent titanium plate and strip finishing mill;
The MES system enables digital control and management of the entire production process, achieving product dimensional accuracy of ±0.01μm.
