Synthesis of TiAl-Based Intermetallic Compound by Electro-Pressure Sintering

Elemental powder metallurgy is an efficient processing technique to synthesize intermetallics of high melting points. TiAl-based intermetallic compound was produced by electro-pressure sintering (EPS) consolidation techniques. Through a balanced control of the heating scheme, sintering temperature and pressure, near full density state of TiAl-based intermetallic compound was obtained, in which a high hardness and absence of porosity, respectively, were realized. An optimum condition of EPS was determined to be 980°C/90MPa/120s. Aided by interstitial carbon atoms, the intermetallic compound showed attractive compressive strength at room temperature. The roles of carbon atoms were refinement of the lamellar microstructure and precipitation hardening as effective in the hot extruded materials.