Microstructure and properties of titanium alloy produced in the newly developed blended elemental powder metallurgy process

A blended elemental titanium powder metallurgy process has been developed to offer low cost commercial products. The process employs hydride-dehydride (HDH) powders as well as Hunter sponge fines (SP) as raw materials. Mechanical properties of HDH products are comparable with those of SP products. A β-rich α + β alloy SP-700 (Ti-4.5A1-3V-2Fe-2Mo) has been applied to the process and its products show superior properties over Ti-6Al-4V: high sinterability, fine microstructure, excellent mechanical properties and good cold workability. Additions of iron and molybdenum to the alloy contribute to the enhancement of sintering and microstructure refinement, respectively. Sintered SP-700 products have been applied to various commercial parts.