In Phase I of the proposed program the team of ADMA Products Inc. Twinsburg OH and the University of Idaho, Moscow, ID will demonstrate the ability to produce low cost plates of Ti-6AL-4V using a powder approach with acceptable properties including ballistic behavior. At leastfour powder types will be evaluated which are potentially low cost and can also be used for the Laser Rapid Prototyping approach to titanium component fabrication. Tentatively these are (1) crushed machine turnings which will be crushed after hydrogenation, (2) CaH2 reduced TiO2, (3) powder produced by a displacement reaction (mechanical alloying) from a TiO2 or TiCl4 precursor and (4) Russian spherical plasma rotating electrode process powder. Plates will be fabricated using a low-cost loose powder sintering approach, in some cases using the thermohydrogen processing approach to enhance processability and refine the final microstructure. These plates will be evaluated for microstructureand mechanical properties, and samples supplied to the Army for ballistic testing. In a Phase I option oxygen level and microstructure will be varied, and fabricated plates evaluated. If Phase II is funded, a component tentatively selected as the Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer, MIA2 tank, will be produced using the optimum approach from Phase I.
Benefits:The research is designed to result in production of titanium Components for Army systems as the MIA2 tank which have mechanical properties at least equivalent to current parts, but at considerably lower cost.
