Progress and status in wrought processing of titanium alloys

Abstract

1. Introduction All the main practical directions and methods of plastic deformation were developed in the 19th century in application for structural steels and in many respects were successfully adapted for titanium alloys taking into account their features: low thermal conductivity, high viscosity, tendency to sticking, gas saturation, hydrogen embrittlement, etc. At the moment, most of the methods: free forging, pressing, sorting and sheet rolling, drawing, etc., are very detailed for particular cases of geometries, mechanical properties and alloys classes. Manufacturers need only to optimize the processes of deformation using a reasonable choice and refinement of technological ranges, optimization of tools and workpieces, approaches to the development of the process. Despite partial repetitions and re-discoveries of already well-known progress, it did not stop, but simply moved to other levels and scales, and without becoming less interesting and succinct, although it may be, giving less ambitious results. 2. Results and discussion General situation Despite the potential threats from alternative technologies: powder technologies and additive technologies, according to [ 1 ], the forging business is growing steadily enough: 60% of surveyed companies stated growth in 2018 by + 5 ÷ 25%, and also in the forecast of growth in 2019 year at about the same pace (Fig. 1 a). For 5 years from 2014, relative stagnation of growth was observed only on the results of 2 years: 2014 and 2017. According to the prevalence of production, titanium alloys, of course, cannot compete with carbon , alloyed and stainless steel , which produce > 50% of forging companies. But titanium alloys are comparable in prevalence with Al and hi temperature alloys (Fig. 1b) , possibly due to use in the same aerospace region. In 2018, almost 20% decrease in the number of forging companies producing titanium and hi temperature alloys , even with the normalization of the results (Fig. 1 c). It is difficult to reconcile with the growing market for aerospace and it is possible that this result is due to the change of the spectrum of companies of choice, or a decrease of number of players due to market globalization wrought titanium alloys .