Papers by Author: Brian Gabbitas

Abstract: Blended Elemental Powder Metallurgy is a very attractive method for producing titanium alloys, which can be formed near net shape and have freedom in composition selection. However applications are still limited due to affordability. In this paper, we will discuss a possible cost-effective route, combining vacuum sintering, extrusion, and heat treatment, to produce titanium alloys with similar or better mechanical properties than that of ingot metallurgy titanium alloys. The as-processed material with an oxygen content of 0.34 ± 0.005 wt.% was subjected to heat treatments such as β annealing plus ageing and α+β annealing without ageing to attain a typical lamellar/Widmanstätten/basketweave type structure with a large variation in terms of the microstructural features such as grain size, colony size, inter-lamellar spacing, thickness of grain boundary α, and size of individual lamellar. From mechanical property data attained here, it was apparent that annealing in high α-β region gave a much better combination of mechanical properties: yield strength (860-902 MPa), ultimate tensile strength (1060-1084 MPa) and ductility/plastic strain (11.5-13.6%). The hardness values of heat treated material varied between 346-376 Vickers hardness (36.8-44.5 Rockwell hardness).

Abstract: This research focuses on the development of low cost powder metallurgy (PM) Ti alloys suitable for application in PM thermomechanical processing with mechanical properties comparable to those of wrought Ti6Al4V alloy. The alloy systems studied are Ti3Al2V, Ti5Fe and Ti3.2Fe1Cr0.6Ni0.1Mo (Ti5SS). The alloy mixtures were produced by blending Ti HDH powders with Al40V, 316SS master alloy powders or elemental Fe powder. The blended powders were further consolidated using various methods: high vacuum sintering (HVS), induction sintering (IS), powder compact forging (PCF) and powder compact extrusion (PCE). It is found that, PM Ti3Al2V and Ti5Fe alloy processed by PCE or PCF followed by recrystallization annealing (RA) achieved tensile properties comparable with wrought Ti6Al4V alloy. Tensile properties such as yield strength (YS) of 910MPa, UTS of 1010MPa and 15% elongation to fracture for Ti3Al2V alloy are reported. Ti5Fe alloy gives YS and UTS of 870MPa and 968MPa respectively, combined with 20.3% elongation to fracture. The tensile results are related to the microstructure developed during the consolidation processes. The oxygen contamination as a result of the high temperature processing is also reported.

Abstract: Blended Elemental Powder Metallurgy (BE-PM) is a very attractive method for producing titanium alloys, which can be near-net shape formed with compositional freedom. However, a minimization of oxygen pick-up during processing into manufactured parts is a big challenge for powder metallurgy of titanium alloys. In this paper, different approaches for preparing titanium alloy parts by powder compact extrusion with 0.05-0.1wt.% of oxygen pick-up during manufacturing are discussed. The starting materials were a powder mixture of HDH titanium powder, other elemental powders and a master alloy powder. Different titanium alloys and composites, such as Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-4Al-4Sn-4Mo-0.5Si, Ti-5Al-5V-5Mo-3Cr, and Ti-5Al-5V-5Mo-3Cr-5vol%TiB, with different profiles such as round and rectangular bars, a wedge profile, wire and tubes have been successfully manufactured on a laboratory and pilot-plant scale. Furthermore, a possible route for scaling up the titanium processing capabilities in the University of Waikato has also been discussed.

Abstract: Powder compact forging in combination with induction sintering, a field assisted sintering technique (FAST), was used to produce commercially pure (CP) Ti and Ti-13V-11Cr-3Al parts. Green powder compacts with high relative density were manufactured by cold compaction and warm compaction, respectively. During the powder compact forging process, CP titanium powder was consolidated completely to produce a near net shaped top cover for a diving helmet with full density and good mechanical properties. Also, a Ti-13V-11Cr-3Al alloy was fully consolidated into a cylinder using blended elemental powders. As a comparison, raw titanium powder with different oxygen contents was used to make a Ti-13V-11Cr-3Al powder compact forging. Using a starting powder with low oxygen content, a forged cylinder with good mechanical properties was produced.

Abstract: Powder compact extrusion (PCE) is an innovative way of processing titanium and titanium alloys to produce good-quality material with a wide range of compositions, microstructures and mechanical properties. This paper explores PCE processing of Ti-6Al-4V alloy prepared from a blended powder mixture, containing elemental hydride-dehydride (HDH) titanium powder and master alloy (60Al-40V) powder. The warm pressed compacts of blended powders were sintered using a vacuum sintering furnace prior to β extrusion. The resulting material was used to measure the performance under high strain rate and tri-axial stress state using Charpy v-notch testing. A comparison was made of the microstructure after vacuum sintering and hot extrusion in addition to oxygen measurements to determine the degree of oxygen pickup during each processing stage. A comprehensive study of fracture surfaces in selected samples was carried out using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Based on the results, it is clear that certain samples picked up varying amounts of interstitial impurities during processing and as a consequence a significant number of micro-cracks were observed in lamellar type microstructures. The oxygen content of all as-extruded samples was between 0.34-0.44 wt.% with resultant impact toughness in the range of 10-14 J. The best impact toughness attained for the lowest oxygen as-extruded rods was 20% lower than the literature values for wrought material. In terms of fracture behaviour, ductile dimples, cleavage facets and cracks passing through lamellar structures were observed in all samples. However, the quantity of these fracture features varied significantly in each sample.

Abstract: In this paper, pure titanium rods, with high strength and ductility, were prepared by vacuum sintering titanium powder compacts at 1300oC for 2h and then hot extruding the as-sintered titanium billets at 900oC in air. The microstructure and property changes, after vacuum sintering and hot extrusion, were investigated. The results showed clear evidence of porosity in the microstructure of as-sintered titanium billet and tensile testing of as-sintered material gave yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and ductility values of 570MPa, 602MPa and 4%, respectively. After extrusion at 900oC, no obvious pores could be seen in the microstructure of as-extruded titanium rod, and the mechanical properties were significantly improved. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and the ductility reached 650MPa, 705MPa and 20%, respectively, which are much higher than values for CP titanium (grade 4), with a yield strength of 480MPa, ultimate tensile strength of 550MPa and ductility of 15%. The fracture characteristics of as-sintered and as-extruded titanium rods have also been investigated.

Abstract: Both open die and closed die powder compact forging can be used for the consolidation of Ti and pre-alloyed Ti 6Al 4V powders produced by a hydride-dehydride (HDH) process. The approach used is initial cold or warm compaction into cylindrical shapes, or into a specific pre-form shape appropriate for achieving a particular final forged shape. The economic benefit is near net-shape processing with minimum machining required after forging. Manufacturing costs are also minimised by forging a compact, with a sufficiently high enough density, in air, without a protective atmosphere. The challenge, from a manufacturing point of view, is the operation of a manufacturing route which gives rapid and qualified compaction to meet production demands and batch sintering to achieve a high enough density prior to final forging to shape. In addition to this the final product has to have the right level of mechanical properties. This paper reviews some key findings from powder compact production, through to sintering and forging. These will be presented in terms of alpha-beta phase distribution in the microstructure, the degree of porosity, heat treatment and their effects on mechanical properties.

Abstract: Titanium alloys have a number of features which make them attractive for use in aerospace, marine and chemical engineering, biological engineering, etc., due to their advantage of low density, high strength, and excellent corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. In this paper, Ti-6Al-4V (Ti-64) rods were prepared by vacuum sintering titanium alloy powder compacts at 1300°C for 2h and then hot extruding the as-sintered Ti-64 alloy billets at 1150°C in air. The microstructure and property changes, after vacuum sintering and hot extrusion, were investigated. The results showed clear evidence of porosity and a coarse lamellar microstructure in as-sintered Ti-64 alloy billets. Tensile testing of as-sintered material gave yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and ductility values of 850MPa, 985MPa and 2%, respectively. After extrusion at 1150°C, no obvious pores could be seen in the microstructure of as-extruded Ti-64 alloy rods and the lamellar microstructure was significantly refined, and the mechanical properties were significantly improved. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and the ductility reached 1130MPa, 1245MPa and 4.5%, respectively. Compared with the mechanical properties of Ti-64 alloy rod prepared by extruding a hot pressed Ti-64 alloy billet (1300°C for 5min, argon protective atmosphere) in air, the ductility of the Ti-64 alloy rod studied here is lower. The fracture characteristics of as-sintered and as-extruded Ti-64 alloy rods have also been investigated.

Abstract: The purpose of this work is to investigate the microstructure and tensile strength of Ti6Al4V pre-alloyed powders produced by a direct metal laser sintering technique. Traditionally, Ti6Al4V products for biomedical applications were produced through hot working or machining of wrought semi-finished products. A change in the production route for manufacturing Ti6Al4V products, from the more traditional methods to an additive manufacturing route, requires an investigation of microstructure and mechanical properties because these are strongly influenced by the production route. The microstructure obtained through rapid solidification during laser sintering shows a very fine α+β lamellar morphology. There is also evidence of martensite which was expected due to high solidification rate of the liquid pool from a temperature above the β-transus during the laser sintering process. Structurally, good mechanical properties which are comparable to the bulk material were obtained.

Abstract: The study involves a special class of composites called interpenetrating phase composites (IPCs). The Ti(Al,O)/Al2O3 composite was produced using high energy mechanical milling of a mixture of TiO2 and Al followed by a high temperature self-propagating reaction. Characteristics of the feedstock powder were improved by treating it with an organic binder. The feedstock powder was thermally sprayed on to a substrate using high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) and air plasma spraying methods. The spraying methods resulted in coatings with significantly different microstructures. Compared with plasma sprayed coating, the coating produced by a HVOF spraying method showed a much finer and densely packed microstructure.