The effect of strain rate on the compressive deformation behavior of a sintered Ti6Al4V powder compact

The high strain rate (220–550 s−1) and quasi-static (0.0016 s−1) compression deformation behavior of a sintered Ti6Al4V powder compact was investigated. The compact was prepared using atomized spherical particles (100–200 μm) and contained 38 ± 1% porosity. The deformation sequences of the tested samples were further recorded by high speed camera and analyzed as a function of strain. The failure of the compact, which was found to be similar in the studied high strain rate and quasi-static strain rate testing regimes, occurs through particle decohesion along the surface of the two cones in a ductile (dimpled) mode consisting of void initiation and growth and by void coalescence in the interparticle bond region. The effect of strain rate was to increase the flow stress and compressive strength of the compact while the critical strain corresponding to the maximum stress was shown to be strain rate independent.