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Stereolithography has been used to create ceramic parts with complex geometry that is difficult to achieve with conventional fabrication techniques. This study used stereolithography to print silica honeycomb structures with a commercial Formlabs Form2 printer. The printed samples were sintered at different temperatures, and the print shape was retained up to 1300°C, but significant distortion from partial melting occurred at 1400°C. Higher sintering temperatures lead to more shrinkage, but it is non‐uniform among directions, with the open cell plane shrinking more than the dense plane of the sample. As expected, the density of samples also increases with the sintering temperature. At higher sintering temperatures, there is an increase in cristobalite and a decrease in quartz, tridymite, and amorphous silica. Regarding mechanical properties, the out‐of‐plane compressive strength is approximately one order of magnitude higher than the in‐plane compressive strength. When compressed along the out‐of‐plane direction, the samples sintered at lower temperatures surprisingly exhibit higher strength, which is explained by the micro‐cracking mechanism. As expected, the samples sintered at higher temperatures display higher strength when compressed along the in‐plane direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing has shown to be a promising method for reducing the cost and increasing the complexity of titanium components, with the majority of research focusing on beam-based methods (i.e. powder bed fusion and directed energy deposition). However, these processes produce highly complex thermal histories, which can result in highly anisotropic and otherwise undesirable microstructures and mechanical properties. In an effort to mitigate these challenges, the use of hydrogen as a temporary alloying element has been identified as a promising method to prevent unfavorable microstructures and isotropy in AM Ti-6Al-4V. Herein, the powder metallurgy process known as Hydrogen Sintering Phase Transformation (HSPT) used in conjunction with a solid state AM method known as fused filament fabrication (FFF) is discussed.

Ultrafine-grained tungsten shows strong potential for ballistic applications because of its increased strength, and higher propensity for strain localization compared with coarse-grained materials. However, tungsten typically exhibits poor ductility at room temperature and fractures by a brittle intergranular mechanism. This study evaluates the effects of boron as a sintering aid and grain-boundary strengthening additive for ultrafine-grained tungsten prepared by powder metallurgical methods. While boron did not improve the sinterability of nanocrystalline tungsten in this study, low concentrations of boron delivered a notable increase in strength, accompanied with a transition from intergranular to transgranular fracture. These significant changes in fracture behavior show promise for improving the low-temperature ductility of tungsten; however, the corresponding improvements to plastic strain to failure were less significant than anticipated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powder metallurgy (PM) of titanium is a potentially cost-effective alternative to conventional wrought titanium. This article examines both traditional and emerging technologies, including the production of powder, and the sintering, microstructure, and mechanical properties of PM Ti. The production methods of powder are classified into two categories: (1) powder that is produced as the product of extractive metallurgy processes, and (2) powder that is made from Ti sponge, ingot, mill products, or scrap. A new hydrogen-assisted magnesium reduction (HAMR) process is also discussed. The mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V produced using various PM processes are analyzed based on their dependence on unique microstructural features, oxygen content, porosity, and grain size. In particular, the fatigue properties of PM Ti-6Al-4V are examined as functions of microstructure. A hydrogen-enabled approach for microstructural engineering that can be used to produce PM Ti with wrought-like microstructure and properties is also presented. Abbreviations: AM: additive manufacturing; ARC: Albany Research Center; BE: blended elemental; BUS: broken-up structure; CCGA: close-coupled gas atomisation; CHIP: CIP-sinter-HIP; CIP: cold isostatic pressing; CP-Ti: commercially pure Ti; DRTS: direct reduction of Ti-slag; CSIR: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (South Africa); CSIRO: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (Australia); EIGA: electrode induction gas atomisation; EMR: electronically mediated reduction; FFC: Fray, Farthing, and Chen; GA: gas atomisation; GIF: gaseous isostatic forging; GSD: granulation-sintering-deoxygenation; HAMR: hydrogen-assisted magnesium reduction; HDH: hydride-dehydride; HIP: hot isostatic pressing; HSPT: hydrogen sintering and phase transformation; MA: master alloy; MER: Materials & Electrochemical Research Corporation (US); MHR: metal hydride reduction; MIM: metal injection molding; OM: optical microscope; OS: Ono and Suzuki; PA: pre-alloyed; P/C: performance to cost ratio; PIF: pneumatic isostatic forging; PM: powder metallurgy; PREP: plasma rotating electrode process; PP: post-processing; PS: press and sinter; QIT: Quebec Iron & Titane, Inc. (Canada); SEM: scanning electron microscope; SPS: spark plasma sintering; SOM: solid oxide membrane; THP: thermohydrogen processing; TMP: thermomechanical processing; UFG: ultrafine grain; UGS: upgraded titanium slag; UTS: ultimate tensile strength; USTB: University of Science and Technology Beijing (China); VA: vacuum atomisation; VHP: vacuum hot pressing; WP: wrought process; YS: yield strength [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powder metallurgical (PM) processing is an extremely attractive near-net-shape (NNS) alternative to conventional melt and wrought processes for producing titanium alloys, as it has the potential to reduce cost greatly. Nevertheless, PM titanium has traditionally been plagued with undesirable microstructures and inferior mechanical properties, unless energyintensive sintering or postprocessing methods are utilized. Recent work at the University of Utah and the United States Army Research Laboratory on the Hydrogen Sintering and Phase Transformation (HSPT) process has produced Ti-6Al-4V with a range of wrought-like microstructures and mechanical properties, including fatigue performance. This was achieved using a low-energy press-and-sinter process and simple pressureless heat treatments without any mechanical working, which would otherwise sacrifice the NNS capability of PM. As such, this process is a promising development for truly low-cost and NNS PM processing of titanium alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]