6AL-4V

Principal Design Features

This alpha-beta grade is the most widely available and heavily used of all the titanium grades. The alloy is heat treatable and combines excellent strength and corrosion resistance with weld and fabricability. Beta Transus (F +/- 25) 1830.

Applications

6-4 is widely used in the aircraft industry in a variety of turbine and “hot” structural applications. It is generally employed in applications up to 400 C(750 F).

Machinability

As a family, titanium and its alloys have developed a mystique as a nightmare to machine. This is simply not the case. Experienced operators have compared its characteristics to those found in 316 stainless steel. Recommended practice includes high coolant flow(to offset the material’s low thermal conductivity), slow speeds and relatively high feed rates. Tooling should be tungsten carbide designations C1-C4 or cobalt type high speed tools.

Forming

This alloy may be hot or cold formed. Popular methods include hydropress, stretch or drop-hammer. This material responds similarly to 300 series stainless steels.

Welding

Rated as “fair” in terms of weldability.

Heat Treatment

Solution treat at 904-954 C(1660-1750 F) for 2 hours followed by water quench.

Forging

Rough forge at 982 C(1800 F), finish at @ 968 C (1750 C).

Hot Working

Hot forming will reduce both the springback and required forming forces, and will increase the overall ductility of the material.

Cold Working

The cold working characteristics of this material are similar to those of austenitic stainless steels. In multiple forming operations, intermediate stress relieving is recommended to offset the alloy’s tendency to work harden. Post-work annealing is requ