Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Y2O3 Reinforced Ti6Al4V Alloy Prepared via Laser Powder Bed Fusion

DONG Yangping; ZHAO Shuming; ZHU Jinyu; ZHANG Huihua; ZHAO Wentian; MA Guonan; ZHUANG Xinpeng; SUN Yulin; YANG Pengwei; ZHANG Qun; FAN Ziyu; ZHONG Liang; YANG Guang; LU Renyi; CAO Lei; MA Zhiyuan; WANG Feng

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.02.003

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Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (2) : 21-30. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.02.003

Process Technology in the Ordnance Industry

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Y₂O₃ Reinforced Ti6Al4V Alloy Prepared via Laser Powder Bed Fusion

DONG Yangping, ZHAO Shuming^*, ZHU Jinyu, ZHANG Huihua, ZHAO Wentian, MA Guonan, ZHUANG Xinpeng, SUN Yulin, YANG Pengwei, ZHANG Qun, FAN Ziyu, ZHONG Liang, YANG Guang, LU Renyi, CAO Lei, MA Zhiyuan, WANG Feng

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Abstract

Since the Ti6Al4V alloy exhibits insufficient mechanical properties during the laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) process, the work aims to introduce the rare earth oxide Y₂O₃ to improve its properties. The Ti6Al4V composite powder with different Y₂O₃ contents was prepared by mechanical ball milling, and the alloy pieces were formed by PBF-LB technology. The microstructure, phase composition and element distribution of the composite powder and the formed alloy were systematically analyzed through scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, electron backscatter diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The mechanical properties were evaluated through room temperature tensile tests, and the fracture mechanism was investigated by fracture analysis. Y₂O₃ uniformly adhered to the surface of the Ti6Al4V powder after ball milling. During the PBF-LB forming process, the Y₂O₃ significantly refined the original β grains and the size of α/α' martensite, and dispersed in the matrix in a nanoscale form, forming a semi-continuous relationship with the α-Ti matrix. When the mass fraction of Y₂O₃ was 0.2%, the tensile strength and yield strength of the alloy increased to 1 331 MPa and 1 208 MPa respectively. However, when the mass fraction of Y₂O₃ increased to 0.3%, the plasticity decreased. The fracture morphology changed from a ductile crack pit to a brittle fracture dominated by cleavage planes. Adding 0.2% Y₂O₃ can refine the original β grains and α/α' martensite structure, and achieve dispersion strengthening through nano-scale Y₂O₃ particles. However, when the Y₂O₃ content increases to 0.3%, the rare earth oxide particles agglomerate, causing local stress concentration, resulting in a significant decrease in material plasticity. This study provides theoretical and experimental basis for the quantitative modification of rare earth oxides in additive manufacturing titanium alloys.

Key words

Ti6Al4V alloy / Y₂O₃ / laser powder bed fusion / additive manufacturing / microstructure / mechanical properties

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DONG Yangping, ZHAO Shuming, ZHU Jinyu, ZHANG Huihua, ZHAO Wentian, MA Guonan, ZHUANG Xinpeng, SUN Yulin, YANG Pengwei, ZHANG Qun, FAN Ziyu, ZHONG Liang, YANG Guang, LU Renyi, CAO Lei, MA Zhiyuan, WANG Feng. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Y₂O₃ Reinforced Ti6Al4V Alloy Prepared via Laser Powder Bed Fusion[J]. Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering. 2026, 18(2): 21-30 https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.02.003

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