Papers by Keyword: Titanium Alloy Powder

Abstract: Titanium alloy powders were prepared from titanium rods by plasma rotating electrode process (PREP). The effects of powder preparation technology on the morphology and properties of titanium alloy powders were studied by laser particle size analyzer, scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction, powder comprehensive property tester and oxygen nitrogen analyzer. The results shown that the titanium alloy powder prepared by PREP had uniform particle size distribution, sphericity >93% and oxygen content <1000 ppm. For TA1 powder, the phase’s structure was mainly composed of HCP-α phase, while the TC4 powder mainly composed of α' phase. During the preparation process, the particle size and sphericity of the alloy powder increased with the increase of electrode speed. The smaller the particle size and the higher the sphericity of the alloy powder, the larger the compacting density and bulk density, but the powders fluidity became worse. At the same time, the oxygen content of the titanium alloy powder increased with the decrease of the particle size, while the nitrogen content was not affected by the powder size. The oxygen content of the titanium alloy powder increased as the particle size became smaller, and the nitrogen content was not affected by the powder size.

Abstract: Nanostructured powder materials, or powders with increased amorphous ratio, can potentially lead to increased productivity during powder bed fusion, due to the hypothesis that nanostructured raw materials can be layer-sintered with lower specific energy, and consequently lower processing times when compared to commercial powders. Sintering of such materials can potentially be done faster, as compared to conventional powders. In addition, using nanostructured powders, or powders with high amorphous content, or even nanometric (nanosized particles) powders, can result in higher density and hardness values of the sintered part, using the same process parameters. The main issue with nanosized particles is their loss of flowability, which could be overcome by controlling the particle shape during manufacturing. This work presents our results concerning the manufacturing and characterization of titanium alloy powders, with potential use in additive manufacturing. The powders were manufactured using severe plastic deformation by mechanical milling from commercially available powders, with various rotation speeds, ball diameters, and milling periods, in order to obtain micrometric particles, but with nanometric or high amorphous content structures. The powders were further analyzed in terms of morphology, structure, and chemical composition.

Abstract: It has long been a goal to produce Ti Alloy powder directly to eliminate the standard processing of melting sponge, alloying, producing a billet/ingot and then reducing to powder by one of several techniques. The batch Kroll process where reaction occurs at the reactor wall interface from TiCl4 vapor and molten magnesium, limits the potential to directly form alloys. Any batch processing has the limitation of alloy compositional control from batch to batch. A unique continuous processing approach permits the gaseous mixing of chloride precursors with metallothermic reduction that directly produces an alloy powder in a size that is useable for standard powder metallurgy. Discussion will include producing Ti-6Al-4V and other alloy powder.

Abstract: Titanium and titanium alloys are the materials of choice for many industrial applications because of their attractive combination of low density, good mechanical properties, and high corrosion resistance, and titanium is the fourth most abundant metal in the earth crust (0.86 % by weight) behind aluminum, iron, and magnesium. However, titanium and titanium alloys are not widely. The reason for this is the high cost of titanium and titanium alloys! The cost gap for titanium and titanium alloys widens when they are used for fabricating components and structures. Consequently, much effort has been expended to reduce the cost of titanium and titanium alloys. In conjunction with the University of Waikato, Titanox Development Limited-New Zealand has been successful in creating a modified novel process to produce TiAl based alloy powders with different particle sizes and compositions at low cost. The process offers several benefits to the titanium industry the most significant one of which is that it displays the potential to significantly reduce the commercial production costs of Ti-Al based alloys. This paper describes the Titanox Development Limited technology in brief, and shows how it can economically produce titanium alloy powders for different industrial applications and making titanium alloys affordable. The process has been disclosed in a PCT (Patent Corporation Treaty) application which was approved in 2004 [1], and the related patent applications either have been approved or are being filed in different countries.