How to choose suitable titanium powder?

 

In the powder metallurgy process, choosing the right titanium powder is crucial to the performance and quality of the final product. Here are a few key factors to consider when choosing the right titanium powder:

 

1. Manufacturing process

1) Mechanical crushing method: The titanium powder produced is usually coarse in particle size, irregular in particle size, low in purity, and low in cost, which is suitable for industries such as fireworks and firecrackers.

2) Hydrogenation and dehydrogenation method: The titanium powder produced is usually irregular in particle size, poor in fluidity, controllable in particle size, high in purity, and low in cost, which is suitable for industries such as powder metallurgy, spraying, and electroplating.

3) Atomization method and plasma rotating electrode method: The titanium powder produced has high sphericity, good fluidity, narrow particle size distribution, and the highest purity, which is suitable for high-end applications such as additive manufacturing (3D printing) and aerospace.

 

2. Particle shape

1) Spherical powder: It has better fluidity and is suitable for processes that require precise molding such as metal injection molding (MIM) and 3D printing (additive manufacturing), and is used to manufacture high-precision and complex-shaped parts.

2) Irregular shaped powder: Although it has poor fluidity, it can provide higher molding density and is suitable for processes such as pressing molding.

 

3. Particle size

1) Fine powder (<45μm): Suitable for processes requiring high surface quality and fine structure, such as metal injection molding (MIM) or 3D printing (additive manufacturing), but it is difficult to process and is prone to oxidation and poor fluidity.

2) Medium particle size powder (45-150μm): It balances fluidity and pressing performance and is widely used in general PM products.

3) Coarse powder (>150μm): Suitable for pressing or sintering processes in powder metallurgy, suitable for manufacturing larger and thicker parts, but may result in uneven molding density.

 

4. Purity

1) For fields requiring high corrosion resistance and high strength, such as aerospace or medical devices, high-purity titanium powder (>99%) is usually required.

2) For some general industrial applications, the purity requirements can be appropriately reduced to save costs.

 

5. Oxygen content

1) The oxygen content of titanium powder affects the ductility and toughness of the material. Titanium powder with higher oxygen content is harder but more brittle; titanium powder with lower oxygen content has better plasticity.

2) For structural parts, the oxygen content is usually controlled at a low level to ensure its strength and ductility.

 

6. Bulk density and tap density

1) Bulk density: affects the filling efficiency of the powder during the molding process. Higher bulk density means that the powder can fill the mold more tightly.

2) Tap density: indicates the density of the powder after vibration or compaction, which affects the density and mechanical properties of the finished product.

 

7. Flowability

Good powder flowability helps to fill the mold evenly and reduce porosity and defects. When selecting, consider:

1) The shape and particle size distribution of the powder.

2) When necessary, the flowability can be improved by adding flow aids or adjusting processing parameters.

 

8. Alloy composition

Choose the right titanium alloy powder according to the performance requirements of the final product:

1) Pure titanium (Grade 1-4): Suitable for applications requiring high ductility and good corrosion resistance.

2) α alloy, β alloy, α+β alloy: Choose different types of alloy powders according to different mechanical property requirements. For example, α alloy is often used in fields requiring high strength and corrosion resistance, such as aerospace and medical implants. β alloy usually has higher toughness, plasticity and ductility, and is suitable for industrial equipment and automotive parts. α+β alloy combines the advantages of α and β to provide balanced performance.

 

9. Application scenarios

Choose titanium powder according to specific application scenarios:

1) Aerospace: High-strength, high-toughness and high-purity titanium powder is required to meet high-strength and lightweight requirements.

2) Medical devices: Biocompatibility and extremely high purity of titanium powder are required.

3) Automotive industry: Balance strength and cost, and choose the right titanium alloy powder.

4) Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing): Spherical powders with good fluidity are usually selected to achieve efficient manufacturing of precision components.

 

10. Consistency and Repeatability

Ensure that suppliers can provide titanium powders with consistent characteristics in different batches to ensure the stability of the production process and the repeatability of the final product.

 

11. Supplier Selection and Technical Support

Choose suppliers with good reputation and strong technical strength to ensure the stability of titanium powder quality and provide necessary technical support, such as material certification, process optimization suggestions, etc.

 

12. Testing and Verification

Before large-scale production, small batch tests are carried out to verify the performance of titanium powder in specific processes to ensure that it meets the performance requirements of the product.

 

Summary

Selecting the right titanium powder requires comprehensive consideration of the above factors. By deeply understanding the product requirements, communicating with suppliers and conducting sufficient test verification, it can be ensured that the selected titanium powder can meet the performance requirements of the powder metallurgy process and the final product.