Fabrication of gradient material by electron beam smelting based on scanning track control

Abstract

A new electron beam (EB) control system was developed in a general vacuum EB machine by equipping it with an industrial control computer, programmable logic control (PLC), deflection coil, data acquisition card, power amplifier, etc. In this control system, the scanning track and energy distribution of the EB could be edited off-line, adjusted in real-time, and controlled on-line. Ti-Mo gradient material (GM) with high temperature resistance was fabricated using electron beam smelting (EBS) control. The smelting pro cesses include three steps such as preheating, smelting, and homogenizing. The results show that GM prepared by using smelting technology has fine appearance, and has good integrated interface with Ti alloy. The Mo and Ti elements are gradual diversification in the interface of the gradient material. The microstructure near the Ti alloy base metal is α+β basket-waver grain, and the microstructure near GM is single phase of β solid solution.

Keywords

electron beam smelting (EBS), scanning control system, gradient material (GM)