Effect of Electric Pulse Treatment on the Microstructure and Machining Performance of Ti-6Al-4V.

Electric pulse treatment can regulate the microstructure and mechanical properties of metals under low temperature in a very short time and this affects their machinability. In the work presented in this paper, Ti-6Al-4V was treated by an electric pulse, the influences of the electric pulse treatment on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy were explored, and the machinability of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy with electric pulse treatment was studied. The metastable β phase of the sample having electric pulse treatment at 2.98 A/mm² became less, resulting in a decrease in the hardness, the basket-like microstructure of the sample by electric pulse treatment at 3.98 A/mm² enhanced the plasticity. The cutting force, cutting temperature and workpiece surface roughness values of the Ti-6Al-4V having electric pulse treatment were significantly reduced, but the electric pulse treatment enhanced the workpiece surface layer plastic deformation, deepening the depth of the processing metamorphic layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]