Microstructure and mechanical behavior of cast Ti-6Al-4V with addition of boron

The effect of boron (between 0.06 and 0.11 wt%) on the microstructure, hardness and compression properties of cast Ti-6Al-4V was investigated. Compression properties were examined in the temperature range from room temperature to 1000°C. It was found that the addition of boron refines the as-cast microstructure in terms of prior beta grain size and alpha colony size. This microstructural refinement led to an increase in compressive yield strength from room temperature up to 700°C. Three different strain rates (0.001, 0.1 and 1 s−1) were evaluated during compression testing from which it was found that the compressive yield strength decreased with decreasing strain rate from 600°C up to the beta transus temperature.