Application of Thermo-EMF Method during Titanium Sponge Blocks Preparation for Making Commercial Lots of Crushed Metal and for Alloys Production

摘要

It is possible to gain further noticeable expansion of titanium production and use by cutting its cost. The use of uncrushed titanium sponge blocks during titanium alloys production and application of a non-destructive testing for metal quality inspection can be employed for this purpose. During blocks preparation for alloy production non-destructive testing of titanium sponge quality includes a method of a thermoelectric coefficient measurement on the block surface. A special sample preparation is not required for this measurement and the coefficient can be measured at various points of the block. Interrelation between thermoelectric coefficient and titanium sponge impurities content and its Brinell hardness have been examined. It has been determined that basic mass of high quality titanium sponge with thermoelectric coefficient within the range from 6 to 8 μV/K has the hardness of 90-130 HB, but in the range from -4 to +4 μV/K titanium sponge is characterized as low-quality. On the basis of this determination an experimental sample of a hardometer has been developed. A process of the block preliminary treatment has been developed and commercially proved. This process includes quality control of the treatment by the thermoelectric coefficient. The process enables ranking the blocks by average hardness, making commercial lots of crushed titanium sponge, increasing the production of higher metal grades, raising the uniformity of made commercial lots.