Direct consolidation of TiAlX alloy from elemental powder mixture

Abstract

Intermetallic compounds based on near [gamma] TiAl composition have drawn research attention due to their high specific strength, creep resistance and oxidation resistance required for elevated temperature application. Of the two approaches which produce the intermetallic compound, ingot metallurgy and powder metallurgy, the latter route has the merit of good room temperature tensile ductility because of the fine grain size. To obtain a full density by the powder metallurgical approach, however, is not always an easy task. Reactive sintering alone, for example, does not yield a full density in this alloy system. Recently, Kim et al. showed that a combination of low temperature extrusion and reactive sintering in a hot isostatic press was a viable route to obtain the full density. An alternative, less expensive way, is presented in this paper. In previous work, the authors reported the production of a full density Ni[sub 3]Al intermetallic compound through a direct hot extrusion of blended elemental powder mixture. In the present work, the authors attempted to extend the method to TiAl-X alloys and obtained a promising result.