Porosity Control in Ti-13Nb-13Zr Alloy Produced by Powder Metallurgy

Titanium and titanium alloys are excellent candidates for aerospace and surgical implants applications owing to their high strength to weight ratio and good corrosion resistance. Among the titanium alloys recently developed, Ti-13Nb-13Zr is distinguished for presenting low modulus of elasticity, high mechanical resistance and superior biocompatibility, suitable for springs, bellows, surgical implants and aerospace parts with high resistance to shock and explosion damage. The alloys processing by powder metallurgy eases the obtainment of parts with complex geometry and near-net shape. In this work, results of the porosity control in the Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy produced by powder metallurgy are presented. The samples were characterized for phase composition, microstructure and microhardness by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Vickers indentation, respectively. It was shown that the porosity level depends on the compaction pressures, sintering temperatures and holding times.