Patent ID: 8388776

Claim:
A method for the heat treatment of a work piece produced from a Ti alloy for obtaining a fine-grained structure by annealing the work piece above its β transus temperature (T β ) (β annealing) comprising the steps of: heating the work piece to a chosen temperature level (T H ) provided for holding above its β transus temperature (T β ) in a furnace; starting a predefined holding time of a chosen duration upon the work piece achieving the temperature level (T H ); holding the work piece at the temperature level (T H ) for the duration of the holding time; and subjecting the work piece to a cooling-off process, wherein the furnace has an adjusted furnace temperature (T F ) for heating the work piece to the temperature level provided for carrying out the holding which is at least 20° C. above the temperature level (T H ) of the work piece that determines the beginning of the holding time; wherein after the heating of the work piece to the temperature level (T H ) the furnace temperature is lowered to a lower furnace temperature; wherein after the heating of the work piece to the temperature level (T H ) the furnace temperature is lowered to the temperature level (T H ) that determines the beginning of the holding time.