Industrial applications of the superplastic forming by using Infra-Red heater

Abstract : The superplastic forming is used in aeronautics in order to manufacture titanium parts with complex shapes. Regarding to others forming processes, it is important to save costs of superplastic forming. Using Infra-Red lamps to heat directly the blank is an economic way to raise the temperature as the heating time is cut to a few minutes instead of 24 hours. The tool core is not completely heated anymore, leading to greater efficiencies. Radiative flux model was developed and complex thermomechanical simulations have been used as a predicting tool of the infra-red lamps power. The lamps power is adjusted throughout the forming step in order to obtain an optimized flux and thus to ensure a homogeneous temperature of the blank during the superplastic forming. Through these simulations, several TA6V sheets with a size of 500x500 mm2 were successfully formed by using this technology. The microstructure is not affected by the quick heating phase. Secondly, an aircraft part with a size of 1500x1000 mm2 were likewise formed which demonstrates the efficiency of the IR heating for the industrial superplastic forming.