Producing metallic articles by reduction of nonmetallic precursor compounds and melting
A metallic article is produced by furnishing one or more nonmetallic precursor compound comprising the metallic constituent element(s), and chemically reducing the nonmetallic precursor compound(s) to produce an initial metallic particle, preferably having a size of no greater than about 0.070 inch, without melting the initial metallic particle. The initial metallic particle is thereafter melted and solidified to produce the metallic article. By this approach, the incidence of chemical defects in the metal article is minimized. The melted-and-solidified metal may be used in the as-cast form, or it may be converted to billet and further worked to the final form.
1. A method for producing a metallic article comprising as constituents titanium and at least one alloying metal, comprising the steps of
furnishing a mixture of at least two nonmetallic precursor compounds together comprising the metallic constituents of the metallic article;
chemically reducing the mixture of nonmetallic precursor compounds to produce an initial metallic particle, without melting the initial metallic particle;
melting and solidifying a plurality of the initial metallic particles to produce a cast ingot;
converting the cast ingot into a billet; and thereafter,
fabricating a gas turbine engine disk article from the billet.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of chemically reducing includes the step of
chemically reducing the nonmetallic precursor compound to produce an initial metallic particle having a size of no greater than about 0.070 inch.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of chemically reducing includes the step of
chemically reducing the mixture by contact with a liquid selected from the group consisting of a liquid alkali metal and a liquid alkaline earth metal.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of chemically reducing includes the step of
producing the initial metallic particle having a size of from about 0.001 inch to about 0.5 inch.
5. A method for producing a metallic gas turbine engine disk article comprising as constituents titanium and at least one alloying metal, comprising the steps of
furnishing a mixture of at least two nonmetallic precursor compounds comprising titanium and together comprising metallic constituent of the metallic gas turbine engine disk article;
chemically reducing the mixture of nonmetallic precursor compounds to produce an initial metallic particle having a size of no greater than about 0.070 inch, without melting the initial metallic particle;
melting and solidifying a plurality of the initial metallic particles to produce a cast ingot, without any further addition of a metallic alloying element to the initial metallic particles;
converting the cast ingot into a billet; and
fabricating the gas turbine engine disk article from the billet.