K. Dring, R. Bhagat, R. Dashwood, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; M. Jackson, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

Summary:

Ti-W, Ti-Mo, Timetal LCB, and Ti-10-2-3 were produced via electrochemical reduction of sintered mixed oxide preforms in a pre-electrolyzed, molten calcium chloride electrolyte at 900 to 1000ºC. Electrolysis voltages of 2.0 to 3.2V were applied for times ranging from 6 to 24 hours across a graphite anode and Grade 2 commercial purity (CP) titanium cathodic current collector, which supported the ceramic precursors. Fully reduced beta titanium alloys exhibiting a slow-cooled equilibrium structure with fine prior beta grain size and compositional uniformity were produced. Extensive densification of the reduced material was also observed. The material particle morphology, size and chemistry were characterized before and after reduction using a field emission gun scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM) with backscattered electron imaging (BSEI) and X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (X-EDS).