Enhanced Homogenization of Vanadium in Spark Plasma Sintering of Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al Alloy from Titanium and V-Fe-Al Master Alloy Powder Blends

Strong and ductile powder metallurgy (PM) Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al alloy has been fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) of titanium and V-Fe-Al master alloy powder blends at 1100°C for 30 min under 30 MPa. The homogenization of vanadium, which dictates the realization of a uniform microstructure of the Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al alloy, was markedly accelerated by SPS. The mechanism is attributed to the intensive Joule heating effect produced by the direct current passing through the electric conducting powder blends, rather than through spark plasma discharge, because homogenization occurred mainly after near full identification had been achieved. The chemical and microstructural homogeneity ensured the achievement of excellent tensile properties of PM Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al in the as-sintered state, with tensile strength > 1250 MPa and elongation > 10%.