Thermal effects of continuous laser treatment on Ti-6 Al(wt%)-4V(wt%) titanium alloy

A titanium alloy Ti-6 Al(wt%)-4V(wt%) was treated in air by Nd:YAG laser radiation (wavelength of 1.064 %m) in continuous mode. Targets were irradiated globally with different levels of energy (accumulated fluence) at constant power. Different focal lengths and beam displacement velocities were used. Cross section microstructural observations were carried out by scanning electron microscopy. Backscattered electron imaging reveals microstructural modifications in samples. A structural phase transformation of beta (bcc) to alpha prime (hcp) phase was observed. The depth of the transformed zone observed by phase transformation is dependent on the treatment parameters. Conformity between micros…