Stereological characterization of tic carbides in bottom skull after melting of ti-6al-4v-0,5c alloy in vacuum induction furnace

This paper presents the microstructural characteristics of skull formed during melting of Ti-6Al-4V alloy with 0.5 wt% content of carbon in vacuum induction furnace using water-cooled copper crucible. The microstructure of ingot obtained as a result of skull melting is comprised of TiC carbides evenly distributed in the matrix, which consists of lamellar precipitations of α and β phases. The depth of carbon penetration towards the bottom skull was determined. At the plane section area of bottom skull, three clearly visible zones with diverse area fraction and sizes of carbides that occur in them were found. The effect of area fraction of carbides on hardness of individual zones at the bottom skull with reference to hardness of obtained ingot was also characterized.