Heat-Treated Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of TC4 Alloy

The effects of heat treatment process on the microstructure and mechanical properties of TC4 alloy were investigated. The double shear and tensile tests were carried out by using the 12mm diameter standard specimens after solution treatment at 520°С for 1.5h and water quenching, followed by aging at 480-540°С for 8h. The microstructure and facture surface were analyzed using the equipment of metallurgical microscope and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that TC4 alloy show the best comprehensive performances after solution treatment at 940°С for 1.5h, aging at 520°С for 8h; the tensile specimens display a typical ductile fracture with oval dimples of various sizes; the microstructures with clear grain boundary and obvious lamellar structure are observed at room temperature. It indicates that the excellent comprehensive properties can be obtained by controlling the grain size of primary α phase and the morphology structure and amount of the secondary α phase at optimized aging temperature.