Comparative study for microstructural characterisations and properties of Ti-Y powders produced by vacuum induction gas atomization cold crucible process

Abstract

Ti-based alloy powder is an excellent candidate as an additive manufacturing material, owing to its high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. However, molten Ti is highly reactive with ceramic crucibles. Thus, only crucible-free techniques can be used, limiting the manufacturing. In this study, Ti-Y, CP-Titanium powder was manufactured using the vacuum induction gas atomization cold crucible (VIGA-CC) process, without using any master alloy; moreover, its properties were elucidated. Characterisations were performed to comparatively analyse the surface morphology, impurity content and mechanical properties of the synthesised powder. It was found that the powder had a uniform composition and was refined by the yttrium addition. The VIGA-CC process, by which alloy powders with various compositions can be prepared, is expected to expand the list of target alloys that can be used in additive manufacturing processes.

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of SLS and mFFF Additive Manufacturing Techniques for the Production of a Metal Specimen

“…In this process, the metal is melted in a furnace and then atomized into droplets using high-pressure gas. These droplets are then directed into a cooling chamber filled with inert gas, where they rapidly solidify, forming metal powder particles with fine sizes (<100 μm), high sphericity, and excellent flowability [ 47 , 48 , 49 ].…”

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment and Cost Analysis of the Production of Ti6Al4V-TiC Metal–Matrix Composite Powder by High-Energy Ball Milling and Ti6Al4V Powder by Gas Atomization

“…Currently, Gas Atomization (GA) is the leading processing method to produce metal powders for AM [20]. During this process, liquid metal melted in a furnace is sprayed into droplets by a pulverisation of high-pressurised gas, which fall into a cooling chamber under inert gas protection to solidify, form, and obtain metal powder particles with fine sizes (<100 µm), high sphericity, and flowability [21][22][23]. In the route of nanostructured materials production, a better alternative to the aforementioned method is High Energy Ball Milling (HEBM), a simple and powerful process to produce them [24].…”