Thermal expansion of liquid Ti–6Al–4V measured by electrostatic levitation

The liquid density of Ti–6Al–4V was measured over a temperature range from 1661to1997K that included undercooling by as much as 280K. The sample was levitated in an electrostatic levitator and video imaging technique was used to capture the volume changes as a function of temperature. Over the temperature range the liquid density can be expressed by ρliq(T)=4123−0.254 (T−Tm)kg∕m3, where the melting temperature Tm is 1943K. The corresponding volume expansion coefficient is αliq=6.05×10−5K−1 near Tm.