Titanium-base powders and process for production of the same

• US 6,168,644 B1
• Filed: 04/02/1998
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TOHO Titanium Company Limited (ENEOS Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TOHO Titanium Company Limited (ENEOS Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sugawara, Satoshi, Fukasawa, Eiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, NGOCLAN THI
• Application Number:
  US09/029,752
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 752/55, 753/43, 753/52, 753/69, 753/63, 756/12, 423/645
• US Class Current: 75/343
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 9/023 Hydrogen absorption
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 6/02 Hydrides of transition elements; Addition complexes thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 34/1286 using hydrogen containing agents, e.g. H2, CaH2, hydrocarbons

Abstract

Titanium hydride powder with a maximum particle diameter of substantially 150 μm or less, the powder with particle diameters of 10 μm or less being 8% or less by weight, which is produced via step for embrittling a titanium and titanium alloy by hydrogenation, and titanium powder with a maximum particle diameter of which is 150 μm or less, the powder with particle diameters of 10 μm or less being 5% or less by weight. In the powder the oxygen content and the chlorine content are reduced, and the flowability and compactibility are excellent. This powder is particularly suitable for a raw material to produce a sintered titanium or titanium alloy product by the powder metallurgy.

Claims

1. A titanium hydride powder and titanium hydride alloy powder characterized with a maximum particle diameter of substantially 150 μ

m or less, the powder comprising particle diameters of 10 μ

m or less being 8% or less by weight, the oxygen content being 0.15% or less by weight, and the chlorine content being 0.06% or less by weight.

2. A titanium hydride powder and titanium hydride alloy powder according to claim 1, wherein the powder comprising particle diameters of 10 μ

m or less is 5% or less by weight.

3. A titanium hydride powder and titanium hydride alloy powder according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen content is 3.5 to 4.5% by weight.

4. A process for producing the titanium powder and titanium alloy powder, comprising the steps of

(a) preparing the titanium hydride powder or titanium hydride alloy powder with a maximum particle diameter of 150 μ

m or less and the powder comprising particle diameters of 10 μ

m or less being 8% or less by weight, the oxygen content thereof being 0.15% or less by weight, and the chlorine content thereofbeing 0.06% or less by weight;

(b) dehydrogenating the lumps of the titanium hydride or the titanium hydride alloy at a temperature of 500 to 900°

C. in vacuum, crushing the lumps, and then controlling the particle size thereof;

(c) obtaining the titanium powder or the titanium alloy powder with a maximum particle diameter of 150 μ

m or less and the ratio of the powder with particle diameters of 10 μ

m or less being 5% or less by weight.

5. A process for manufacturing the titanium powder and the titanium alloy powder according to claim 4, wherein the oxygen content of the powder is 0.15% or less by weight.