Microstructure and properties of a laser fabricated burn-resistant Ti alloy

The response of a recently developed burn-resistant Ti alloy (Ti-25V-15Cr 2Al-0.2C, wt%) to direct laser fabrication has been assessed. The influence of laser processing conditions on the microstructure and on the tensile properties at room and at elevated temperatures and on the creep properties has been investigated. In contrast to Ti-6Al-4V the burn-resistant alloy has been found to form equiaxed, rather than columnar grains during laser fabrication for a very wide range of processing conditions. The factors which influence whether equiaxed grains or columnar grains are formed during laser fabrication are discussed and the influence of the laser process route on properties is discussed in terms of the microstructural differences found in laser fabricated and conventionally processed samples. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.