Induction sintering of Ti-Nb-X (Co or Ni): microstructural evolution and mechanical properties

• Grant number: 24/22665-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Juliano Soyama
• Grantee: Leonardo Picanço Peixoto de Abreu
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica (FEM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/18293-8 - Titanium alloys: phase transformations and additive manufacturing applied to obtaining functionally graded materials, AP.TEM

Abstract

Powder metallurgy is a well-established manufacturing technique for ferrous materials and Cu alloys, however its application is still very restricted for the cases of difficult-to-process materials such as Ti alloys. Consequently, there is a great opportunity for developing powder metallurgy processed Ti alloys to enable their wider application. Induction sintering leads to rapid consolidation of parts under controlled atmosphere, consequently it is an interesting process to avoid contamination by intersticial elements in Ti alloys. Due to the typically metastable nature of the sintered microstructures and also the presence of residual porosity, it is extremely important to map the microstructure-property relationship. Therefore, this project aims to carry out induction sintering of titanium alloys of the Ti-Nb system, with different Nb contents (20-40% by weight) to create distinct degrees of heterogeneity. The choice of Ti-Nb alloys as an object of study originates from their applicability in the aerospace and biomedical sectors. The objective, therefore, is to produce Ti alloys with different Nb contents via induction sintering to produce microstructural heterogeneities. In this way, investigate and understand the influence of microstructure and porosity on mechanical properties. (AU)