Feedstock characterization with thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy – Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) of titanium alloy for metal injection molding technique

Abstract

This paper presents the feedstock characterization of Ti-6Al-4V feedstock with Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy – Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The characterization of TGA result shows that there are three component of binders were used in feedstock. The temperature was investigated in the temperature range 50-900 0C with heating rate 10 0C/min and holding time at 900 0C for 5 minutes. There are two sigmoids shows stearic acid decompose starts at 195 0C and finish at 310 0C, paraffin wax decompose starts at 210 0C and finish at 320 0C, and polypropylene decompose starts at 320 0C and finish at 475 0C. Microstructural characterization of Ti-6Al-4V feedstock shows that binder paraffin wax covers Ti-6Al-4V‘s surface well with magnification 100,000 x.