The traditional technology that is used in the production of titanium articles includes the operations of vacuum-arc melting, casting the billet, double remelting of the billet, turning the billet and heating it to 900 - 1200 deg C in a protective atmosphere, and hot extrusion, which may be preceded by forging (1). An important aspect is the protection of the billet against gas saturation during heating, since the intensive absorption of hydrogen and oxygen by titanium at temperatures above 550 - 600 deg C and of nitrogen at temperatures above 800 - 850 deg C leads to degradation of the deformability of the billet and degradation of the mechanical properties of the product (2, 3). Also important is the prevention of adhesion of the billet to the surface of the tool, which is achieved by the use of separating/lubricating coatings (4).The goal of this study was to determine the possibility of obtaining monolithic titanium rods using a non-billet technology from crushed titanium sponge and, in contrast with (5), without vacuum sintering of the briquets and without forging and vacuum annealing of the billets prior to their hot extrusion into rods. This technology variant is most economical in producing general-purpose titanium articles with the usual properties and chemical composition of the sponge that is used, which are not governed by any special requirements.
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