A realistic approach for qualification of PM applications in the aerospace industry

This chapter provides a brief discussion of the evolution of titanium powder metallurgy technology and its intended use in aerospace applications, which are among the most demanding uses of structural materials. Insights into some of the pitfalls that have been encountered along the way are also presented. Included is a brief discussion of powder production technology including prealloyed powder and unalloyed Ti particulate. Prealloyed powders are primarily made by hydride-dehydride, plasma rotating electrode process (PREP), and gas atomization methods. It also provides a brief oversight on the current status of the principal PM near-net-shape making methods, including, for the press and sinter approach, cold isostatic pressing and sintering and die pressing and sintering, with or without hot isostatic pressing (HIP). Fabrication of titanium components using prealloyed powder for demanding applications via multiple additive manufacturing (or 3-D printing) processes and HIP near-net shapes produced from molds are also discussed. An emphasis of this chapter is a discussion of some of the considerations that must be taken into account to obtain qualification to manufacture components for manned aerospace vehicles.