Nhk Spring Co., Ltd.

Nhk Spring R & D Center Inc.

Hideo Shingu

Kohei Taguchi

Michihiko Ayada

An article essentially consisting of one or more of Ti-Al intermetallic compounds is fabricated so as to have a volume ratio of voids of 0.2 to 3.5% and a maximum size of voids less than 50 .mu.m, by preparing a mixture of materials selected from a group consisting of Ti, Ti alloys, Al, Al alloys, and Ti-Al compounds, having a composition suitable for forming a desired Ti-Al intermetallic compound, and heating the mixture so that the mixture may be sintered. Typically, the temperature and pressure for the heating or sintering process, and the particle size of the material are appropriately selected so that a desired porosity and a desired range of void sizes may be obtained. The mechanical strength of the article according to the present invention is not only improved (as compared to the conventional Ti-Al intermetallic compounds) but is highly predictable, or, in other words, highly reliable. The fabrication costs can be reduced because the fabrication process involves only relatively low temperatures when simultaneously pressing and heating the article being formed. Furthermore, during the process of fabrication, such an article may have a highly favorable workability (as compared to the prior art) so that a final shape can be given to the article without involving any undue difficulty.

Article made of a Ti-Al intermetallic compound

An article essentially consisting of one or more of Ti--Al intermetallic compounds is fabricated so as to have a volume ratio of voids no more than 3.5%, by preparing a mixture of materials selected from a group consisting of Ti, Ti alloys, Al, Al alloys, and Ti--Al compounds, having a composition suitable for forming a desired Ti--Al intermetallic compound, and heating said mixture so that said mixture may be sintered. Typically, the temperature and pressure for the heating or sintering process is appropriately selected so that the desired porosity may be obtained. The mechanical strength of an article according to the present invention is not only improved but is highly predictable, or, in other word, highly reliable. The fabrication costs can be reduced because the fabrication process involves only relatively low temperatures when pressing and heating the work at the same time. Furthermore, during the process of fabrication, the article may demonstrate a highly favorable workability so that the final shape can be given to the work without involving any undue difficulty.

Article made of a Ti-Al intermetallic compound, and method for

An article essentially consisting of one or more of Ti-Al intermetallic compounds is fabricated so as to have a volume ratio of voids no more than 3.5%, by preparing a mixture of materials selected from a group consisting of Ti, Ti alloys, Al, Al alloys, and Ti-Al compounds, having a composition suitable for forming a desired Ti-Al intermetallic compound, and heating said mixture so that said mixture may be sintered. Typically, the temperature and pressure for the heating or sintering process is appropriately selected so that the desired porosity may be obtained. The mechanical strength of an article according to the present invention is not only improved but is highly predictable, or, in other word, highly reliable. The fabrication costs can be reduced because the fabrication process involves only relatively low temperatures when pressing and heating the work at the same time. Furthermore, during the process of fabrication, the article may demonstrate a highly favorable workability so that the final shape can be given to the work without involving any undue difficulty.

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Kyoto-fu, Japan

Hideo Shingu