Effect of Radiofrequency Plasma Spheroidization Treatment on the Laser Directed Energy Deposited Properties of Low-Cost Hydrogenated-Dehydrogenated Titanium Powder

Abstract

Titanium for additive manufacturing presents a challenge in the control of costs in the fabrication of products with expanding applications compared with cast titanium. In this study, hydrogenated–dehydrogenated (HDH) titanium powder with a low cost was employed to produce spherical Ti powder using the radiofrequency plasma (RF) technique. The spherical Ti powder was used as the raw material for laser directed energy deposition (LDED) to produce commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti). Microstructural analyses of the powder revealed that RF treatment, not only optimized the shape of the titanium powder, but also benefited in the removal of the residual hydride phase of the powder. Furthermore, the LDED-HDH-RF-produced samples showed an excellent combination of tensile strength and tensile ductility compared to the cast and the LDED-HDH-produced samples. Such an enhancement in the mechanical properties was attributed to the refinement of the α grain size and the dense microstructure. The present work provides an approach for LDED-produced CP-Ti to address the economic and mechanical properties of the materials, while also providing insights into the expanding application of HDH titanium powder.