Strong and ductile titanium–oxygen–iron alloys by additive manufacturing

Tingting Song, Zibin Chen, Xiangyuan Cui, Shenglu Lu, Hansheng Chen, Hao Wang, Tony Dong, Bailiang Qin, Kang Cheung Chan, Milan Brandt, Xiaozhou Liao, Simon P. Ringer () and Ma Qian ()
Additional contact information
Tingting Song: RMIT University
Zibin Chen: The University of Sydney
Xiangyuan Cui: The University of Sydney
Shenglu Lu: RMIT University
Hansheng Chen: The University of Sydney
Hao Wang: The University of Sydney
Tony Dong: Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence
Bailiang Qin: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Kang Cheung Chan: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Milan Brandt: RMIT University
Xiaozhou Liao: The University of Sydney
Simon P. Ringer: The University of Sydney
Ma Qian: RMIT University

Nature, 2023, vol. 618, issue 7963, 63-68

Abstract: Abstract Titanium alloys are advanced lightweight materials, indispensable for many critical applications1,2. The mainstay of the titanium industry is the α–β titanium alloys, which are formulated through alloying additions that stabilize the α and β phases3–5. Our work focuses on harnessing two of the most powerful stabilizing elements and strengtheners for α–β titanium alloys, oxygen and iron1–5, which are readily abundant. However, the embrittling effect of oxygen6,7, described colloquially as ‘the kryptonite to titanium’8, and the microsegregation of iron9 have hindered their combination for the development of strong and ductile α–β titanium–oxygen–iron alloys. Here we integrate alloy design with additive manufacturing (AM) process design to demonstrate a series of titanium–oxygen–iron compositions that exhibit outstanding tensile properties. We explain the atomic-scale origins of these properties using various characterization techniques. The abundance of oxygen and iron and the process simplicity for net-shape or near-net-shape manufacturing by AM make these α–β titanium–oxygen–iron alloys attractive for a diverse range of applications. Furthermore, they offer promise for industrial-scale use of off-grade sponge titanium or sponge titanium–oxygen–iron10,11, an industrial waste product at present. The economic and environmental potential to reduce the carbon footprint of the energy-intensive sponge titanium production12 is substantial.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05952-6

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