Effect of high-density electropulsing on microstructure and mechanical properties of cold-rolled TA15 titanium alloy sheet

The specimens cut from the cold-rolled TA15 titanium alloy sheet at 0 degrees, 45 degrees and 90 degrees to the rolling direction are treated by high-density electropulsing (maximum current density J(max) = 4.8-5.4 x 10(3) A/mm(2), period t(p) = 110 mu s). The mechanical properties before and after the electropulsing treatment are examined by using uniaxial tensile test. The morphologies of the microstructure and the fracture surface of the cold-rolled and the electropulsed specimens are observed using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experimental results indicate that the electropulsing treatment gave a significant increase in total elongation of TA15 sheet. The difference of the mechanical properties between the 0 degrees, 45 degrees and 90 degrees direction specimens is almost diminished. The research results show a remarkable advantage of the electropulsing treatment for cold-rolled TA15 sheet. The mechanism of the microstructure evolution under electropulsing is discussed. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.