Fabrication of titanium orthorhombic alloy spherical powders by mechanical alloying and plasma spheroidization for application in additive manufacturing processes

Abstract

The microstructural and phase evolution of the powders at different times of milling and after treatment in the flow of the thermal plasma were studied. The X-Ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy studies showed that increasing milling time up to 12 h improves chemical homogeneity of the powders and promotes the formation of B2/β-phase solid solution, while at shorter milling times the powders consist of a highly inhomogeneous layered structure with HPC- and BCC-crystal structures. The plasma spheroidization of irregular powders after MA resulted in highly-spherical powders of the orthorhombic alloy with a homogeneous chemical composition consisting of dendritic B2-phase. The fabricated spherical powders can be utilized in Additive Manufacturing processes to fabricate intermetallic components.