The thermomechanical processing of titanium and Ti-6Al-4V thin gage sheet and plate

A new method for producing low-cost titanium powder, the Armstrong Process, has proven to be a scalable process. The process, which reduces TiCl₄ vapor in a molten stream of sodium to produce pure titanium and NaCl, can also be used to in-situ manufacture Ti-6Al-4V alloy powder. Armstrong Process titanium and Ti-6Al-4V powders were used to produce plate by vacuum hot pressing. Also, thin gage sheet was produced by cold rolling solid-phase sintered titanium and Ti-6Al-4V powder compacts. Chemical analysis and mechanical testing revealed that processed Armstrong titanium and Ti-6Al-4V sheet and plate had compositions and properties similar to those of grade 2 titanium and grade 5 Ti-6Al-4V. For more information, contact John D.K. Rivard, Strategic Analysis, 3811 N. Fairfax Drive Suite 700, Arlington VA 22202; e-mail jrivard@sainc.com.