Method of modifying thermal and electrical properties of multi-component titanium alloys
A method of increasing the thermal conductivity and decreasing the electrical resistivity of a titanium alloy. Boron is introduced into the titanium alloy to produce TiB precipitates. The TiB precipitates are then aligned in a direction of metal flow by hot metalworking.
1 . A method of increasing thermal conductivity and decreasing electrical resistivity of a titanium alloy comprising:
introducing boron into the titanium alloy to produce TiB precipitates, and
aligning the TiB precipitates in a direction of metal flow by hot metalworking.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the TiB precipitates are produced by casting, cast-and-wrought processing, or powder metallurgy techniques.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the hot metalworking is forging, rolling or extrusion.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the titanium alloy is a multi-component material such as Ti-6Al-4V or Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the boron is approximately 0.01% to 18.4% by weight of the titanium alloy.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the boron is added to a molten titanium alloy, and the resulting liquid melt is inert gas atomized to produce a titanium alloy powder containing needle shaped TiB precipitates distributed uniformly and in random orientations.
7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the titanium alloy powder is consolidated by hot isostatic pressing.
8 . The method of claim 3 wherein the hot metalworking is forging of a powder compact at a temperature of approximately 1750-2000° F. and a ram speed of approximately 40 inch./min.
9 . The method of claim 3 wherein the hot metalworking is extrusion processing of a powder compact at a temperature of approximately 2000° F. and a ram speed of approximately 100 inch./min.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein there is no degradation of the ductility or fatigue of the titanium alloy.