Effects of Processing on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ti-6Al-4V Fabricated using Electron Beam Melting (EBM): Orientation and Location

Electron beam melted (EBM) titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) samples were built and characterized (qualitative prior-β grain size, quantitative α lath thickness, monotonic tensile, Vickers microhardness) to determine the effect of location and orientation on microstructure and properties. Samples of vertical orientation, compared to horizontal, were found to have 30% lower elongation. Orientation within the x-y plane as well as location were found to have less than 3 % effect on mechanical properties, and it is possible a second order effect of thermal mass contributed to these results.