Crucible Materials Corporation

United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

Crucible Corporation

Charles F Yolton

Francis H Froes

John H Moll

Daniel Eylon

Thomas Lizzi

Walter T Haswell, Jr

Thomas S Cloran

Thomas W Sloan

A method for atomizing a titanium-based material to particulates in a controlled atmosphere. In the method, titanium is skull melted in a crucible. The molten titanium-based material is transferred to a heated tundish. The molten titanium-based material may be stabilized in the heated tundish and then formed into a free-falling stream. The free-falling stream of the molten titanium-based material is impinged with an inert gas jet to atomize the molten titanium-based material. The method also includes cooling the atomized titanium-based material, and collecting the cooled atomized titanium-based material.

Method for atomizing a titanium-based material

Titanium is induction melted to produce a molten mass thereof and a water-cooled crucible having a nonoxidizing atmosphere and a bottom opening. The current to the coil used for induction melting is adjusted to produce a levitation effect on the molten mass in the crucible to prevent the molten mass from flowing out of the bottom opening. The molten mass is also maintained out-of-contact with the crucible by providing a solidified layer of titanium between the molten mass and the crucible. After production of the molten mass of titanium, the current to the induction coil is reduced to reduce the levitation effect and allow the molten mass to flow out of the bottom opening of the crucible as a free-falling stream of molten titanium. This stream is struck with an inert gas jet to atomize molten titanium to form spherical particles. Spherical particles are cooled to solidify them and are then collected. The free-falling stream from the crucible may be directed to a tundish from which the molten mass flows through a nozzle for atomization. The titanium may be melted to form the molten mass outside the crucible with a molten mass then being introduced to the crucible.

Method for producing titanium particles

A system and method for atomizing a titanium-based material to particulates in a controlled atmosphere. The system includes a crucible for skull melting a titanium-based material. The molten titanium-based material is transferred to a tundish for receiving the molten titanium-based material. The tundish has a bottom portion with an aperture formed therein and is heated. A molten metal nozzle for forming the molten titanium-based material into a free-falling stream exiting from the tundish is provided, the molten metal nozzle being coaxially aligned with the aperture of the tundish. A baffle may be disposed in the tundish for stabilizing the free-falling stream of the molten titanium-based material. The molten titanium-based material is atomized by impinging the free-falling stream of the molten titanium-based material with an inert gas jet issuing from a gas nozzle. The system also includes a device for cooling the atomized titanium-based material, and a device for collecting the cooled atomized titanium-based material. In the method, titanium is skull melted in a crucible. The molten titanium-based material is transferred to a heated tundish. The molten titanium-based material may be stabilized in the heated tundish and then formed into a free-falling stream. The free-falling stream of the molten titanium-based material is impinged with an inert gas jet to atomize the molten titanium-based material. The method also includes cooling the atomized titanium-based material, and collecting the cooled atomized titanium-based material.

System and method for atomizing a titanium-based material

A method for improving the microstructure of wrought titanium alloy material which comprises the steps of hydrogenating the material at a temperature near or above the titanium-hydrogen eutectoid of 815.degree. C. (about 780.degree. to 1020.degree. C.) to a hydrogen level of about 0.50 to 1.50 weight percent, cooling the thus-hydrogenated material to room temperature, heating the thus-cooled, hydrogenated material to a temperature of about 650.degree. to 750.degree. C., applying a vacuum to dehydrogenate the material and cooling the dehydrogenated material to room temperature at a controlled rate.

Method for improving the microstructure of titanium alloy wrought

A method for improving the microstructure of cast titanium alloy articles which comprises the steps of hydrogenating the cast article at a temperature near or above the titanium-hydrogen eutectoid of 815.degree. C. (of about 780.degree. to 1020.degree. C.) to a hydrogen level of about 0.50 to 1.50 weight percent, cooling the thus-hydrogenated article to room temperature at a controlled rate, heating the thus-cooled, hydrogenated article to a temperature of about 650.degree. to 750.degree. C., applying a vacuum to dehydrogenate the article, and cooling the thus-dehydrogenated article at a controlled rate.

Method for developing ultrafine microstructures in titanium alloy

A method for producing high speed, tool and die steel articles from prealloyed powders. The method comprises placing particles of a prealloyed steel composition from which the article is to be made in a deformable container, heating the container and particles and then passing the heated container through a forging box having a plurality of hammers evenly spaced around the container and adapted to extend and retract radially to impart a radial forging action to the container. The forging action is of a magnitude and duration to compact the particles to an essentially fully dense article. Preferably, there are four hammers arranged in two pairs with the hammer of each pair being opposed and adapted to extend and retract in unison.

Method for compacting alloy powder

A method for producing titanium particles suitable for powder metallurgy applications by atomizing a free-falling stream of molten titanium. Prior to atomization the molten titanium is maintained in a crucible lined with a solidified layer of titanium which separates the molten mass of titanium from the crucible interior to protect it against contamination. The bottom of the crucible has a nozzle through which the titanium passes to form the free-falling stream. The nozzle may be likewise lined with a layer of solidified titanium which maintains the molten titanium passing through the nozzle out of contact with the nozzle material further protecting the titanium from contamination. The free-falling stream is contacted by an inert gas jet to atomize the stream into spherical particles, which are solidified and collected.

Method for atomizing titanium

A method for producing atomized metal particles, particularly of titanium-base alloys and superalloys, that are free from contamination by foreign material; this is achieved by providing a rod of the metal to be atomized and contacting an end portion of the rod with a plasma arc gas jet which simultaneously melts and atomizes the metal from the rod to form the atomized particles and preventing contamination of the particles.

Method for the plasma-arc production of metal powder

This is a powder metallurgy method for producing fully dense compacted articles from powder charges of hydride-forming alloys, preferably titanium base alloys. The powder is hydrided, sealed in a collapsible container, heated to an elevated temperature and then hot compacted to produce a substantially fully dense article, which is then dehydrided, reheated and again compacted to remove any voids formed during dehydriding. The final article is characterized by relatively fine grain size and excellent formability.

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Coraopolis, PA, United States of America

Charles F Yolton