MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF TITANIUM-ALLOY PRODUCED IN THE NEWLYDEVELOPED BLENDED ELEMENTAL POWDER-METALLURGY PROCESS

A blended elemental titanium powder metallurgy process has been develo ped to offer low cost commercial products. The process employs hydride -dehydride (HDH) powders as well as Hunter sponge fines (SP) as raw ma terials. Mechanical properties of HDH products are comparable with tho se of SP products. A beta-rich alpha + beta alloy SP-700 (Ti-3.5Al-3V- 2Fe-2Mo) has been applied to the process and its products show superio r properties over Ti-6Al-4V: high sinterability, fine microstructure, excellent mechanical properties and good cold workability. Additions o f iron and molybdenum to the alloy contribute to the enhancement of si ntering and microstructure refinement, respectively. Sintered SP-700 p roducts have been applied to various commercial parts.