Effect of the processing conditions on density, strength and microstructure of Ti-12Mo alloy fabricated by PIM process

Abstract

To examine the applicability of the powder injection molding (PIM) process to the Ti alloy system, a basic study was performed using premixed powder. A Ti-12Mo alloy, in which the B phase is stable, was selected as test material because of its high corrosion resistance and strength. It was shown that the relative densities of the PIM compacts were more than 2% higher than those of the PM (traditional powder metallurgy) compacts, beside the PIM compacts showed higher strengths than the PM compacts compared under the same sintering conditions. The compacts showed the maximum strength at 94% in theoretical density, in both the PIM and PM process. It was also shown that the TiC precipitates strengthened the PIM compacts when they were fine and uniformly precipitated. The PIM process showed to be successfully applicable to premixed Ti-12Mo powder.