Method of making low cost Ti-6A1-4V ballistic alloy

Abstract

The present invention relates to a low cost process for providing equivalent or superior ballistic resistance performance compared to standard Ti-6Al-4V alloys. The present inventions process involves increasing the oxygen content of Ti-6Al-4V beyond the conventional limit of 0.20% maximum reported for prior art compounds and subsequently thereafter heating the oxygen rich titanium alloy at temperatures within the beta phase field for further processing. Additionally, the present invention provides a novel Ti-6Al-4V alloy composition which exhibits improved tensile and yield strength properties. Titanium compositions of the present invention exhibit improved ballistic properties compared to titanium compositions previously disclosed in the art. The novel Ti-6Al-4V composition of the present invention is obtained by modifying the alloy composition limits to 5.5 to 6.75% Al, 3.5 to 4.5% V, 0.20 to 0.30% O.sub.2, <0.50% Fe and 0.50% other unavoidable impurities; and then heating the alloy composition to temperatures within the beta-phase field for further processing. Titanium alloys having the above composition are extremely useful as armor plates.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.