Evolution of Texture from a Single Crystal Ti-6Al-4V Substrate During Electron Beam Directed Energy Deposition

Additive manufacturing of Ti-6Al-4V commonly produces 〈001〉β-fiber textures aligned with the build direction. We have performed wire-feed electron beam directed energy deposition on the {112}β plane of a single prior β-grain. The build initially grew epitaxially from the substrate with the preferred 〈001〉 growth direction significantly angled away from the build direction. However, continued layer deposition drove the formation of a 〈001〉β-fiber texture aligned with the build direction and the direction of the strongest thermal gradient.