Grain refinement of titanium alloys

Abstract

A process for casting titanium alloy based parts includes the steps of melting a quantity of titanium alloy to form a molten titanium alloy; adding to the molten titanium alloy a quantity of boron in an amount of about 0.2 weight percent to about 1.3 weight percent of the molten titanium alloy to form a molten boron modified titanium alloy; and casting a boron modified titanium alloy based part.

1 . A process for casting boron modified titanium alloy based parts, comprising:
 melting a quantity of titanium alloy to form a molten titanium alloy;   adding to said molten titanium alloy a quantity of boron in an amount of about 0.2 weight percent to about 1.3 weight percent of said molten titanium alloy to form a molten boron modified titanium alloy; and   casting a boron modified titanium alloy based part.   
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein adding further comprises forming said molten boron modified titanium alloy containing at least one boride particle in a solute form. 
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein adding comprises adding at least one of: AlB 12 , TiB 2  and TiB. 
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein melting comprises melting at least one of:
 Ti-5.8Al-4Sn-3.5Zr-0.7Nb-0.5Mo-0.35Ti-0.06C;   Ti-6Al-4V;   Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo; and   Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-6Mo.   
   
   
       5 . A process for making wrought titanium alloy based parts, comprising:
 melting a quantity of titanium alloy to form a molten titanium alloy;   adding to said molten titanium alloy a quantity of boron in an amount of about 0.2 weight percent to about 1.3 weight percent of said molten titanium alloy to form a molten boron modified titanium alloy;   casting a boron modified titanium alloy based ingot using said molten boron modified titanium alloy;   processing said boron modified titanium alloy based ingot to form a boron modified titanium alloy based billet;   processing said boron modified titanium alloy based billet to form a wrought titanium alloy based part.   
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein melting comprises melting Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-6Mo. 
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein adding further comprises forming said molten boron modified titanium alloy containing at least one boride particle in a solute form. 
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein adding comprises adding at least one of: AlB 12 , TiB 2  and TiB. 
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein melting comprises melting at least one of:
 Ti-5.8Al-4Sn-3.5Zr-0.7Nb-0.5Mo-0.35Ti-0.06C;   Ti-6Al-4V;   Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo; and   Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-6Mo.   
   
   
       10 . A titanium alloy comprising about 0.2 weight percent to about 1.3 weight percent boron. 
   
   
       11 . The titanium alloy of  claim 10 , wherein the boron comprises at least one boride or a dissolved boron or both said at least one boride and said dissolved boron. 
   
   
       12 . The titanium alloy of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one boride comprises at least one of the following: AlB 12 , TiB 2  and TiB. 
   
   
       13 . The titanium alloy of  claim 10 , wherein the titanium alloy comprises at least one of:
 Ti-5.8Al-4Sn-3.5Zr-0.7Nb-0.5Mo-0.35Ti-0.06C;   Ti-6Al-4V;   Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo; and   Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-6Mo.