B. Swale, Aeromet International plc, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom; E. Crist, RMI Titanium Company, Niles, OH
The application of Superplastic Forming (SPF) to the manipulation of Titanium 6Al 4V alloy is firmly established. Complex lightweight sheet metal shapes are regularly produced and built into Airframe and Jet Engine structures reducing component part count and weight. Complementary enabling processes have also been established to guarantee design integrity. The process however, operates close to or at the top end of thermal capability and can be classed as aggressive. Presses and tooling are cycled from 0°C to 900°C. Each time the press load is applied to seal the tooling for the SPF cycle the tooling is subjected to isothermal forging. Exposure of the Titanium sheet to the 900°C temperature produces a brittle oxide layer, which has to be removed chemically. The chemical removal process can induce hydrogen, which then has to be extracted in a vacuum environment. Recognizing these restrictions which gather high cost the metal producers have been developing a "Fine Grain" Titanium 6Al 4V which offers the advantage of being SPF formed at 760°C. This paper describes the material characteristics and the revolutionary benefits of "Fine Grain" materials. "Fine Grain" material will offer cost reduction and environmental benefits and can be applied to airframe and engine products today.