Surface plastic deformation distribution and microstructural evolution in the compound rolling of Ti–50Al billet

Compound rolling, which uses two different roller profiles to create plastic strain variation in the surface of a material, is described in this study. Based on the local load theory, equipment for the plastic deformation on the surface of the rectangular billet has been produced. The compound rolling behavior of Ti–50Al billet has been studied using this equipment. In order to study the deformation distribution of compound rolling, the flow net method for strain measurement has been employed. The deformation differences between compound rolling and flat rolling have been investigated with the commercial finite element method (FEM) code DEFORM-3D. The microstructure and the hardness from the surface to the center of the Ti–50Al billet developed through compound rolling has been characterized. These results indicate that the compound rolling technique results in severe plastic deformation near the surface with limited strain towards the center of the billet. This can result in compound microstructures, with fine recrystallized grains in the near surface region and the original directionally solidified microstructures in the center, and improve the hardness on the surface of the billet significantly.