ECONOMICAL PRODUCTION OF TITANIUM-ALUMINIDE AUTOMOTIVE VALVES USING COLD-WALL INDUCTION MELTING AND CENTRIFUGAL CASTING IN A PERMANENT-MOLD

alpha/gamma-titanium-aluminide is a very suitable material for engine valves in the automobile industry. This lightweight, high temperature material has many advantages over 21-2N stainless steel. Of course the cost of TiAl-valves must be competitive. The existing production rout e for titanium alloys is not applicable for the valve production becau se of economic reasons. We have developed a new cost saving process co nsisting of melting, alloying using a cold crucible furnace and centri fugal casting in a preheated permanent mold in a single step. The pres ent article describes the new process along with the most recent resul ts. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.