Optimized Heat Treatment Cooling Strategy for TC21 Titanium Alloy: A Hybrid Air-Cooling and Water-Cooling Approach

Zhibo Yang; Tongyang Zhao; Changhui Liang

doi:10.54097/md5k7f48

Authors

Zhibo Yang
Tongyang Zhao
Changhui Liang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/md5k7f48

Keywords:

TC21 Titanium Alloy, Heat Treatment, Cooling Process, Microstructure, Mechanical Properties

Abstract

TC21 titanium alloy is widely utilized in the aerospace industry due to its exceptional strength, toughness, and damage tolerance. However, traditional heat treatment processes often lead to microstructural instability and unsatisfactory mechanical properties, particularly in large-scale forged components. This study focuses on optimizing the cooling process during heat treatment by developing a hybrid “air-cooling + water-cooling” method. Experimental results indicate that this optimized process significantly enhances the microstructural uniformity and mechanical performance of TC21 titanium alloy. Compared to conventional cooling methods, the proposed approach effectively mitigates core performance deficiencies, improves strength and ductility balance, and reduces microstructural inconsistencies. This study provides technical support for the application of TC21 titanium alloy in critical aerospace components and serves as a reference for optimizing heat treatment processes in high-performance titanium alloys.

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