Cost-Effective PM Ti Compositions and Processing

Titanium is the material of choice for critical and advanced applications (e.g. biomedicine and aerospace) due to both its excellent properties and high cost. Creative fabrication techniques and synthesis of alternative compositions are both aspects that could be considered to achieve more cost-affordable Ti products for its wider adoption in cost-driven industries. The aim of this work is to analyse the potential of manufacturing newly designed Ti alloys via combining near-net shape powder metallurgy processing and low-cost alloying elements. Demonstration of the feasibility and validity of the different methods proposed are addressed using diverse classes of Ti-based materials including alpha, alpha + beta, and high strength metastable beta Ti alloys. The characteristics of the microstructural features (residual porosity and phases) can be changed to adjust the mechanical response depending on the requirements. Evidences are provided that through appropriate processing these newly design cost-effective compositions could be used for structural engineering applications.