Homogeneous titanium tungsten alloys produced by powder metal technology

Abstract

The present disclosure is related to homogeneous alloys comprising titanium and 9% to less than 20% by weight of tungsten, wherein the alloy has a yield strength of at least 120,000 psi and ductility of least 20% elongation; and with further alloying an ultimate tensile strength of at least 200,000 psi and useful ductility of at least 2% elongation; and with the addition of ceramic particulate reinforcements can exhibit an ultimate tensile strength of at least 180,000 psi. Products and metal matrix composites comprising such homogeneous alloys are also disclosed. The metal matrix composites further comprise a discontinuous reinforcement chosen from TiC, TiB 2 , or TiB, particles or combinations of such particles. Method of making such alloys and composites as well as products made from such alloys and composites are also disclosed.

1 . An alloy comprising titanium and 9% to less than 20% by weight of tungsten, said alloy having a yield strength of at least 120,000 psi and a ductility of at least 20% elongation.  
   
   
       2 . The alloy of  claim 1 , comprising 10% to 19% by weight tungsten and the balance, with incidental impurities, of titanium.  
   
   
       3 . A product comprising a titanium material, said titanium material comprising 9% to less than 20% by weight of tungsten, and having a yield strength of at least 120,000 psi and a ductility of at least 20% elongation.  
   
   
       4 . An alloy comprising titanium and 9% to less than 20% by weight of tungsten, 4 to 6% Al and 3 to 4% V having an ultimate tensile strength of at least 200,000 psi and a ductility up to 10% elongation.  
   
   
       5 . A product comprising titanium and 9% to less than 20% by weight of tungsten, 4 to 6% Al and 3 to 4% V having an ultimate tensile strength of at least 200,000 psi and a ductility up to 10% elongation.  
   
   
       6 . A metal matrix composite comprising titanium, 9% to less than 20% by weight of tungsten, 4 to 6% Al and 3 to 4% V and 4 to 12% of a discontinuous reinforcement chosen from TiC, TiB 2 , or TiB, particles or combinations of such particles, with an ultimate tensile strength of at least 180,000 psi.  
   
   
       7 . The product of  claim 3  wherein said product is a medical device chosen from orthopedic, dental, and intravascular devices.  
   
   
       8 . The product of  claim 7 , wherein said orthopedic devices are chosen from knee, hip, and spinal implants, said intravascular devices are chosen from stents, catheters, and embolic filters, and said dental device is an orthodontic implant.  
   
   
       9 . The product of  claim 3 , wherein said product is an automotive component chosen from valves, connecting rods, piston pins and spring retainers.  
   
   
       10 . The product of  claim 3 , wherein said product is a military vehicle component chosen from tank track, suspension, and undercarriage parts.  
   
   
       11 . The product of  claim 3 , wherein said product is a tool or die material for metal casting chosen from shot sleeves, plungers and dies.  
   
   
       12 . The product of  claim 3 , wherein said product is an aircraft component chosen from a turbine rotor, and a leading edge of a helicopter rotor blade.  
   
   
       13 . The product of  claim 3 , wherein said product is a starting stock chosen from an ingot or billet for subsequent processing, said subsequent processing comprising one or more processes chosen from casting, forging, machining, and extrusion.  
   
   
       14 . The product of  claim 3 , wherein said product is a sputtering target.  
   
   
       15 . The product of  claim 5 , wherein said product comprises at least part of: 
 a medical device chosen from orthopedic, dental, and intravascular devices,    an automotive component chosen from valves, connecting rods, piston pins and spring retainers,    a military vehicle component chosen from tank track, suspension, and undercarriage parts,    a tool or die material for metal forming chosen from shot sleeves, plungers and dies,    an aircraft component chosen from a turbine rotor,    a leading edge of a helicopter rotor blade,    a sputtering target, or    a billet for subsequent casting, forging or extrusion.    
   
   
       16 . A product comprising a metal matrix composite comprising titanium, 9% to less than 20% by weight of tungsten, 4 to 6% Al and 3 to 4% V and 4 to 12% of a discontinuous reinforcement chosen from TiC, TiB 2 , or TiB, particles or combinations of such particles, with an ultimate tensile strength of at least 180,000 psi.  
   
   
       17 . The product of  claim 16 , wherein said product comprises at least part of: 
 a medical device chosen from orthopedic, dental, and intravascular devices,    an automotive component chosen from valves, connecting rods, piston pins and spring retainers,    a military vehicle component chosen from tank track, suspension, and undercarriage parts,    a tool or die material for metal forming chosen from shot sleeves, plungers and dies,    an aircraft component chosen from a turbine rotor,    a leading edge of a helicopter rotor blade,    a sputtering target, or    a billet for subsequent casting, forging or extrusion.    
   
   
       18 . A powder metallurgy method of producing tungsten comprising titanium material, said method comprising: 
 blending a titanium containing powder with a tungsten containing powder to form a blended powder, said blended powder comprising tungsten powder in an amount ranging from 9% to less than 20% by weight of said titanium material;    compacting the blended powder;    consolidating the compacted and blended powder to at least 95% density by one or more processes chosen from pressing, sintering and hot isostatic pressing;    hot working the material by a process selected from forging, rolling, extruding and spin forming; and    heat treating the hot worked material under conditions appropriate to form a tungsten containing titanium material having a yield strength of at least 120,000 psi and a ductility of at least 20% elongation.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said heat treating of the hot worked material comprises heating at 1450° F. for 4 hours to develop a yield strength of at least 120,000 psi and a ductility of at least 20% elongation.  
   
   
       20 . A powder metallurgy method of producing a tungsten comprising titanium material, said method comprising: 
 blending a titanium containing powder with a tungsten, Al and V containing powders to form a blended powder, said blended powder comprising 9 to less than 20% by weight of tungsten, 4 to 6% Al and 3 to 4% V;    compacting the blended powder;    consolidating the compacted and blended powder to at least 95% density by one or more processes chosen from pressing, sintering and hot isostatic pressing;    hot working the material by a process selected from forging, rolling, extruding and spin forming; and    heat treating the hot worked material under conditions sufficient to form a tungsten containing titanium material having an ultimate tensile strength of at least 200,000 psi and a ductility up to 10% elongation.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said heat treating of the hot worked material comprises heating at 2100° F. for 24 hours to develop an ultimate tensile strength of at least 200,000 psi and having a ductility ranging from 3%-6% elongation.  
   
   
       22 . A powder metallurgy method of producing a tungsten containing titanium material, said method comprising: 
 blending a titanium containing powder with a tungsten, Al, V and ceramic powders to form a blended powder, said blended powder comprising tungsten powder in an amount ranging from 9 to less than 20% by weight of tungsten, 4 to 6% Al and 3 to 4% V and 4 to 12% of a discontinuous reinforcement chosen from TiC, or TiB 2 , or TiB particles or combinations of such particles.    compacting the blended powder;    consolidating the compacted and blended powder to at least 95% density by one or more processes chosen from pressing, sintering and hot isostatic pressing;    hot working the material by a process selected from forging, rolling, extruding and spin forming, and    heat treating the hot worked material under conditions sufficient to form a tungsten containing titanium material having an ultimate tensile strength of at least 180,000 psi.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said heat treating of the hot worked material comprises heating at 1450° F. for 4 hours cooling and then heating at 950° F. for 4 hours to develop an ultimate tensile strength of at least 180,000 psi.