Defect analysis and 2D/3D-EBSD investigation of an electron beam melted Ti-6Al-4V alloy

A Ti-6Al-4V alloy was fabricated by electron beam melting and was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), 2-dimensional/3-dimensional electron backscattered diffraction (2D/3D-EBSD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The as-fabricated alloy shows a typical basketweave structure with thin α variants and residual β phase due to the high cooling rate. Six to seven variants are present inside a single β parent grain and each one of the {011} β planes are preferably occupied by only one α variant. The 3D-EBSD result shows detailed 3D configuration of individual α variants, various types of the α/α boundaries and the interaction between these variants. The dislocations formed during the cooling process are mainly 〈a〉 type, including the regularly spaced dislocations located near the interface boundary of α/β phase. These detailed microstructure and defect analysis provide fundamental information for tuning the mechanical properties of EBM processed Ti64 alloys.;A Ti-6Al-4V alloy was fabricated by electron beam melting and was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), 2-dimensional/3-dimensional electron backscattered diffraction (2D/3D-EBSD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The as-fabricated alloy shows a typical basketweave structure with thin α variants and residual β phase due to the high cooling rate. Six to seven variants are present inside a single β parent grain and each one of the {011} β planes are preferably occupied by only one α variant. The 3D-EBSD result shows detailed 3D configuration of individual α variants, various types of the α/α boundaries and the interaction between these variants. The dislocations formed during the cooling process are mainly 〈a〉 type, including the regularly spaced dislocations located near the interface boundary of α/β phase. These detailed microstructure and defect analysis provide fundamental information for tuning the mechanical properties of EBM processed Ti64 alloys.