Titanium Ti64ELI powder is an important engineering material used in various industries due to its unique properties and characteristics. This article provides a comprehensive technical overview of Titanium Ti64ELI powder covering its composition, properties, applications, specifications, pricing, advantages, and limitations.
Overview of Titanium Ti64ELI Powder
Titanium Ti64ELI powder, also known as Titanium 6Al-4V ELI powder, is a titanium alloy containing aluminum and vanadium as alloying elements. It has excellent strength-to-weight ratio, fatigue resistance, fracture toughness, and corrosion resistance. Ti64ELI powder is the extra-low interstitial variant of Ti64 with lower levels of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and iron.
Ti64ELI is used for additive manufacturing, metal injection molding, hot and cold isostatic pressing, and other powder metallurgy processes. It can be 3D printed into fully dense, complex parts with fine microstructures and mechanical properties comparable to wrought Ti64 products. Ti64ELI’s combination of light weight, strength, and corrosion resistance make it suitable for aerospace, medical, dental, sporting goods, automotive, and marine applications.
Some key features of Titanium Ti64ELI powder include:
- Excellent biocompatibility and osseointegration
- Ability to 3D print intricate geometries not possible with casting/machining
- Consistent composition and microstructure in 3D printed parts
- Good fatigue strength and fracture toughness
- Lower interstitial elements than Ti64 for superior ductility
- Compatibility with hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and heat treatments
- Conformance to ASTM standards for chemistry and particle size
Composition of Titanium Ti64ELI Powder
The typical chemical composition of titanium Ti64ELI powder is:
| Element | Weight % |
|---|---|
| Titanium (Ti) | Balance |
| Aluminum (Al) | 5.5-6.75% |
| Vanadium (V) | 3.5-4.5% |
| Oxygen (O) | ≤ 0.13% |
| Nitrogen (N) | ≤ 0.05% |
| Carbon (C) | ≤ 0.08% |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤ 0.25% |
The key alloying elements are aluminum and vanadium. Aluminum increases strength and decreases density. Vanadium improves strength and ductility. The low interstitial elements oxygen, nitrogen and carbon in Ti64ELI give it better ductility compared to Ti64.
Properties of Titanium Ti64ELI Powder
Titanium Ti64ELI powder has the following properties:
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 4.43 g/cm3 |
| Melting Point | 1604-1660°C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 6.7 W/m-K |
| Electrical Resistivity | 170 μΩ-cm |
| Young’s Modulus | 114 GPa |
| Tensile Strength | 895-930 MPa |
| Yield Strength | 825-875 MPa |
| Elongation | 10-15% |
| Poisson’s Ratio | 0.32-0.34 |
| Fatigue Strength | 400 MPa |
Key highlights:
- Low density compared to steels
- Retains strength and toughness at cryogenic temperatures
- Stronger than commercially pure titanium
- Lower ductility than wrought Ti64 but sufficient for most applications
- Excellent corrosion resistance due to stable protective oxide layer
Applications of Titanium Ti64ELI Powder
Titanium Ti64ELI powder is used to manufacture parts for the following applications:
Aerospace: Engine components, airframes, turbines, fasteners, gears, hydraulic systems
Medical and Dental: Orthopedic implants, prosthetics, surgical instruments, dental implants
Automotive: Valves, connecting rods, racing car components
Marine: Propellers, pumps, shafts, pipes, fittings
Chemical: Heat exchangers, valves, pipes for handling corrosive chemicals
Sporting Goods: Golf clubs, bicycle frames, tennis rackets, lacrosse sticks
Additive Manufacturing: 3D printed parts for aerospace, automotive, and medical sectors
Ti64ELI is preferred over Ti64 in AM due to lower interstitial elements that cause embrittlement in 3D printed Ti64 parts. It also has high biocompatibility for medical implants.
Specifications of Titanium Ti64ELI Powder
Titanium Ti64ELI powder is available in the following specifications:
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Particle Sizes | 15-45 microns |
| Production Method | Gas atomization |
| Particle Shape | Spherical |
| Size Distribution | D10: 20 microns, D50: 35 microns, D90: 40 microns |
| Apparent Density | ~2.2 g/cc |
| Tap Density | ~3.2 g/cc |
| Flowability | Excellent |
| Standards | ASTM B348 Grade 23 |
Larger particle sizes of 63-106 microns can be custom produced based on application requirements. Finer particle sizes are available for metal injection molding feedstock.
Suppliers and Pricing of Titanium Ti64ELI Powder
Some of the major suppliers and pricing details for titanium Ti64ELI powder include:
| Supplier | Prices |
|---|---|
| AP&C | $88/kg for orders >1000 kg |
| Arcam AB | $75/kg for orders >500 kg |
| TLS Technik | €100/kg for orders >100 kg |
| LPW Technology | £70-90/kg for orders >100 kg |
| CNPC Powder | $80-100/kg for >100 kg |
Prices vary from $70-100 per kg based on order quantity, particle size distribution, and location. Small quantity and research samples can cost over $500/kg.
Comparison Between Titanium Ti64 and Ti64ELI Powders
Here is a comparison between Ti64ELI and Ti64 titanium alloys:
| Parameter | Ti64ELI | Ti64 |
|---|---|---|
| Interstitial O, C, N | Lower | Higher |
| Ductility | Higher | Lower |
| Toughness | Better | Poor |
| Weldability | Excellent | Moderate |
| Corrosion Resistance | Comparable | Comparable |
| Strength | Comparable | Comparable |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| AM suitability | Excellent | Moderate |
Advantages of Ti64ELI over Ti64:
- Better ductility and fracture toughness
- Lower tendency to crack during additive manufacturing
- Can be heat treated to higher strength levels
- More resistant to hydrogen absorption and embrittlement
Limitations of Ti64ELI vs Ti64:
- Higher cost due to raw material purity and processing
- Not recommended for high temperature applications over 300°C
- Less alloy development data available compared to Ti64
Pros and Cons of Titanium Ti64ELI Powder
Advantages:
- Excellent strength-to-weight ratio
- Bio-inertness allows use for medical implants
- Withstands sterilization and autoclaving
- Resists corrosion in harsh environments
- Compatible with traditional and additive processes
- Heat treatable to tailor properties
- Can be plated for aesthetics and bonding
Disadvantages:
- More expensive than stainless steels and aluminum alloys
- Lower stiffness than steel, prone to springback
- Poor shear strength compared to steels
- Titanium dust poses fire hazard
- Difficult to machine due to low thermal conductivity
- Susceptible to galling and seizing during machining
- Surface treatments mandatory for adhesive bonding
- Requires inert gas shielding during AM and welding
FAQs
Q: What is the difference between Ti64ELI and Ti64?
A: Ti64ELI has lower interstitial oxygen, nitrogen and carbon compared to Ti64. This gives Ti64ELI better ductility and fracture toughness.
Q: What are the applications of Ti64ELI powder?
A: Key applications are aerospace components, medical implants, automotive parts, and 3D printing. It is widely used in industries where high strength, low weight and corrosion resistance are required.
Q: What particle size is used for AM?
A: Particle sizes of 15-45 microns are recommended for powder bed fusion AM processes like selective laser melting (SLM) and electron beam melting (EBM).
Q: What are the advantages of Ti64ELI over stainless steel?
A: Ti64ELI has higher strength-to-weight ratio, better corrosion resistance, and superior biocompatibility compared to stainless steels. However, Ti64ELI is also more expensive.
Q: What post-processing is required on Ti64ELI AM parts?
A: AM parts may need hot isostatic pressing (HIP), heat treatments, and machining to achieve the required dimensions, surface finish, and material properties.
Q: Can Ti64ELI parts be welded for repair or joining?
A: Yes, Ti64ELI has excellent weldability. Laser welding, electron beam welding, and arc welding can be used to weld Ti64ELI parts. Proper shielding is necessary to prevent oxidation.
Conclusion
In summary, titanium Ti64ELI powder offers an excellent combination of high strength, low weight, corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, processability, and heat treatability. Its applications span aerospace, medical, automotive, chemical, and consumer sectors. With additive manufacturing, complex Ti64ELI parts can be 3D printed directly from CAD data for on-demand production of lightweight structural components. However, Ti64ELI is costlier than Ti64 and challenging to machine. Overall, Ti64ELI presents capabilities beyond the limits of conventional titanium alloys.