On the suitability of applying thermographic methods for the rapid estimation of the fatigue limit of additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V

Abstract

The suitability of infrared thermography (IRT) for convenient and rapid estimation of the fatigue limit of Ti-6Al-4V produced by electron beam melting (EBM) under different conditions is assessed. Wrought material is included for comparison purposes. IRT-based methods result appropriate for machined and polished HIPed EBM specimens, as they are for wrought material, but not for other printed material conditions. This is interpreted in terms of the presence of the typical surface (roughness) and internal (lack-of-fusion and gas or keyhole pores) defects that hinder surface thermal manifestation, thus rendering IRT ineffective in non HIP treated EBM produced material.