Phase transformation in Ti6Al4V

Ketan Khamgaonkar
• Very slow cooling rate from high up in the α+β region or above the β
transus (995±20) temperature then β phase transforms as globular type α

• Upon increasing the cooling rate the α nucleation is enhanced on the

prior β grains

• The length and the width of the alpha platelets determined by the
cooling rate

• If the cooling rate fast enough for the nucleation of α to occur inside the
prior β grains

• At certain cooling rate the cooling rate is fast enough to start the
nucleation of alpha inside the beta grains leads to basketweave structure

• The martensite exists in two forms α’ having hexagonal structure and α’’
having orthorhombic structure

• The type and amount of α’ & α’’ formed depends chemical composition
of β phase
• if vanadium content exceeds 15% vanadium in the β phase it gets stabilised and retained
up to room temperature

• If the composition of β is lower than this(around 10±2) it transforms to retain the BCC
structure and partly transforms to soft orthorhombic phase α’’
Equiaxed microstructure a result of recrystallization
Lamellar structure result of cooling from above the transus region
Fine cooling leads to needle like structure
Hardening effect of martensite is very slight
Start of transformation depends upon the chemical homogeneity
Solutionising heat treatment decides the amount of primary alpha present

Extended annealing leads to coarser structure

Solutionising is heat treating just below the beta transus