Effect of Fe Content on the As-Cast Microstructures of Ti–6Al–4V–xFe Alloys

In this work, the evolution of the solidification microstructures of Ti–6Al–4V–xFe (x = 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9) alloys fabricated by levitation melting was studied by combined simulative and experimental methods. The growth of grains as well as the composition distribution mechanisms during the solidification process of the alloy are discussed. The segregation of the Fe element at the grain boundaries promotes the formation of a local composition supercooling zone, thus inhibiting the mobility of the solid–liquid interface and making it easier for the grains to grow into dendrites. With the increase in Fe content, the grain size of the alloy decreased gradually, while the overall decreasing trend was mitigated. The segregation of Fe was more obvious than that of Al and V, and the increase in Fe content had less effect on the segregation of Al and V.