Titanium metal is widely used in the aerospace industry due to its advantages of high strength and low density. However, compared with metals such as steel and aluminum, its thermal processing costs are relatively high and economically disadvantaged. Researchers from Florida International University in the United States have discovered a fast and effective low-temperature titanium alloy processing method, which reduces the heat required by 50%, which provides greater potential for the research of new titanium-based composite materials.
Researchers used powder metallurgy manufacturing methods, simultaneously applying low temperature (up to 650℃) and high pressure (up to 555 MPa) in spark plasma sintering (SPS), and finally obtained high-density parts, which are in mechanical properties and structural functions . The above is similar to high temperature treated titanium alloy parts. This discovery is attributed to the "high pressure assisted mass transfer and induced plastic deformation mechanism" during alloy processing. Researchers observed through electron microscopy that at low temperatures, the pressure on the alloy powder particles exceeded its plastic limit and promoted its densification.
Titanium matrix composite materials are considered to be more advantageous for processing at low temperatures. The research results not only provide an alternative method for high-temperature titanium processing, but also provide favorable conditions for the development of titanium matrix composite materials.