TITANIUM ALLOY DEVELOPMENT FOR AM UTILIZING GAS ATOMIZATION

A new gas atomizer using induction skull melting has been utilized to produce a series of standard ASTM titanium alloys and new research alloys. The utilization of titanium scrap to produce a more cost effective end product is explored. The effect that various types of scrap have on the resulting oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen levels is studied. In addition, the segregation and oxidation of volatile elements such as, aluminum, vanadium and tin are studied using chemical analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive techniques. The microstructure and inclusion level are characterized in the as atomized powder. Shape, porosity and inclusion analysis of the various grades of powder are performed via standard metallographic and image analysis techniques.