Improved Properties of Light Alloys (Ti-, Ti-Alloys, Mg-) Using near-Nano and Nano-Based Materials In Spark Plasma Sintering

Near-nano and nano-grained light alloys (Ti, Ti-Alloys) show considerable potential for applications in the biomedical industry.  A study is proposed to investigate the increase in mechanical properties produced by cryomilling and consolidating near-nano and nano-grained materials.   Near-nano and nanocrystalline powders of commercially pure titanium, Ti-6-4, and Cp Ti blended with aluminum and vanadium, will be produced from cryomilling operations conducted in liquid nitrogen and/or argon.  Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) will be performed to consolidate the cryomilled materials, and mechanical and metallurgical testing will be performed.    The microstructure analysis of the commercially pure titanium, Ti-6-4, and Cp Ti blended with aluminum and vanadium powders will be performed before and after the cryomilling operation.  The microstructures of consolidated forms of these materials will also be investigated.  The mechanical properties will be investigated of the commercially pure titanium, Ti-6-4, and Cp Ti blended with aluminum and vanadium, produced from cryomilling and SPS consolidation process.  These properties will be compared to the properties of similar pure metals and alloys produced using conventional processing.  Initial testing indicates a significant increase in the mechanical properties of these near-nano and nano-crystalline materials.  Several select specimens will also undergo secondary processing (e.g., cold heading, extrusion) to investigate further improvements in properties.