Consolidation of Cristal Metals Powder of Titanium and Its Alloys by Microwave Energy to Near-Net Shape

摘要

Cristal Metals Inc. has been producing titanium and its alloys using titanium tetrachloride and chlorides of alloying elements. The chlorides are mixed with sodium in a reactor at high temperature to produce the titanium powder product, which consists of ag-glomerates of small primary crystallites with a highly irregular morphology. The objective of this study was to characterize the powder and determine the suitability of its consolidation to near-net shape by microwave energy. The results indicate that the use of microwave energy to sinter titanium powder produced from Cristal Metal powder is a cost-effective and energy-efficient method to achieve dense compacts of titanium. The in-depth heating permits rapid processing times that preserve the fine grain structure in the final product, resulting in excellent mechanical properties. The composition, size, morphology of the powder and its modification, and the ovrall effects on the final density after microwave sintering as well as the resulting microstructure and mechanical properties will be discussed.