Influence of High-Energy Pulse Current on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructures of Ti-6Al-4V Alloy

This study reported the effect of the high-energy pulse current on the mechanical properties and microstructure evolution of Ti-6Al-4V alloy in the compression deformation process. The electroplastic compression (EC) of Ti-6Al-4V alloy was performed with discharge voltages of 50 and 70 V and strain rates of 0.01 and 0.03 s⁻¹, respectively. The results show that the mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy greatly change under the influence of the high-energy pulse current. Metallographic examination and x-ray diffraction are performed to observe the microstructural evolution of the alloy. An obvious dynamic globularization occurs at the later stage of the EC process even though the temperature of the samples is relatively low. An phase change also occurs during the EC process. The microstructural evolution of Ti-6Al-4V alloy during the EC process is mainly attributed to the thermal and athermal effects of electropulsing, which promotes the dislocation motion and nucleation rate of dynamic globularization.