Page 64 - MY STORY

extensive use of the precipitation hardening stainless

steels (like PH15-7MO and AM355) and the higher
temperature titanium alloys like Ti-6Al-4V. TIMET was
one of the key suppliers of titanium for this large military

program. My job was to work with the engineering staff,
as well as interfacing with the quality assurance (QA)
people.

One day I received a call from a high-level QA person at
NAA informing me that they were going to reject a large

quantity of our ¾”-thick Ti-6Al-4V plate. The stated
reason for rejection was that their ultrasonic scans of the

plate showed defects in the plate, and they wished to
return the entire lot for full credit (well over $100,000).
My concern was twofold. First, NAA’s procurement
specification did not contain a requirement for ultrasonic

inspection, and second – I was aware that ultrasonic
indications in titanium plate could be caused by a change

in grain flow direction as a result of the hot rolling
process, and had nothing to do with a “defect.” Keep in
mind that “indications” and “defects” are not the same

thing.