Avoiding oxygen-induced early fracture in titanium with high strength via entangled grains through laser powder bed fusion

Titanium (Ti) samples with oxygen contents of 0.13% (weight %) (0.13%O-Ti), 0.18% (0.18%O-Ti) and 0.24% (0.24%O-Ti) are printed through laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) process. With increasing oxygen content, yield strength of L-PBF Ti under tensile testing increases without losing ductility, and becomes larger than that of conventionally produced Ti. Probably this is not resulted from even oxygen distribution, because nano-scale oxygen segregation is observed in 0.24%O-Ti through high-resolution scanning transmission electron micro-scopy (STEM). In order to get insight into fundamental mechanism of the oxygen-induced early fracture avoidance and high strength, tensile testing of L-PBF Ti is followed by quasi-in-situ electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD)/backscattered electron microscopy (BSEM). It is found that avoidance of the oxygen-induced early fracture and high strength are probably attributed to extensive entangled grains, which promotes formation of multiple slip systems and prevents the propagation of intergranular crack.

Automated summary

Increasing oxygen content enhances the yield strength of L-PBF Ti without sacrificing ductility, possibly due to the entangled grains and formation of multiple slip systems that prevent intergranular crack propagation.