EFFECTS OF RARE EARTH ER2O3 ON MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF TITANIUM FOAMS BY POWDER METALLURGY

Titanium foams containing different content of rare earth Er2O3 were prepared by conventional powder metallurgy using carbamide particles as a space holder. The porosity of titanium foams was measured by Archimedes' method, simultaneously microstructure was observed by SEM and the mechanical properties were investigated by compressive tests. The effects of Er2O3 on microstructure and mechanical properties of titanium foams were investigated. The results indicated that, when the doping content of rare earth is less than 0.75wt..%, the mechanical properties increase with increasing doping content. However, the mechanical properties slightly reduce with the doping content further increased. In addition, it was found that there is no correlation between the titanium framework density and rare earth Er2O3 in terms of quantitative analysis.