PRODUCTION OF A SPHERICAL HYDRIDE-DEHYDRIDE TITANIUM POWDER

摘要

Production of today's titanium powders for the PM industry can be divided into two main groups. The higher cost spherical powders aimed at near net shape PM processes such as direct HIPping, additive manufacturing and metal injection molding. Then there are the lower cost non-spherical titanium powders, which are used to manufacture net shape preform's using press/CIP and sinter, direct powder rolling and plasma spraying processes. Today's Hydride-Dehydride (HDH) powders offer the titanium PM industry an intermediate powder product with limited powder flow and tap density. Reading Alloys has developed a spherical HDH titanium powder that incorporates a plasma atomization process step which produces a cost effective high tap density titanium powder. This free flowing powder also exhibits no satellites and/or particle agglomerates. This paper will outline the manufacturing route and key powder characteristics of a spherical hydride-dehydride titanium powder.