Titanium Alloy Composition Using Low-Grade Sponge Impurities

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost of titanium alloys is largely due to expensive blend components, and the use of low-grade titanium sponge, such as TG-Tv, is limited by its high impurity content, which affects the mechanical properties and processability of titanium alloys, leading to insufficient application flexibility and low ductility.

Innovation Solution

A titanium alloy composition with a balanced ratio of iron, oxygen, nitrogen, chromium, nickel, carbon, and silicon, utilizing the inherent impurities in low-grade sponge as alloying elements, with specific strength equivalents calculated to achieve predictable mechanical properties, including percentage elongation and tensile strength, allowing for stable and cost-effective production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If low-grade titanium sponge (TG-Tv) is used to reduce production costs, then production cost decreases, but mechanical properties and processability deteriorate due to high impurity content

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction costVSAvoidmechanical properties

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful effect of impurities (O, N, C, Fe, Si) in low-grade titanium sponge into a beneficial alloying mechanism. By deliberately adding these elements within controlled ranges and using strength equivalents to predict mechanical properties, the impurities become intentional alloying components that strengthen the titanium alloy while maintaining ductility, thus resolving the contradiction between cost reduction and mechanical property deterioration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameter perspective by introducing strength equivalents (Q for tensile strength and P for elongation) that combine multiple impurity elements into unified predictive parameters. This allows controlled use of low-grade sponge with variable impurity content while ensuring predictable mechanical properties, enabling cost reduction without sacrificing performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If low-grade titanium sponge is used to reduce production costs, then production cost decreases, but application flexibility is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction costVSAvoidapplication flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces comprehensive parameter ranges for all alloying elements (Al: 2.0-6.0%, Fe: 0.5-4.0%, Si: 0.05-0.5%, Ni: 0.05-1.0%, Cr: 0.05-1.0%, N: 0.02-0.2%, O: 0.05-0.5%, C: 0.02-0.1%) that enable production of titanium alloys suitable for various applications including welded assemblies, flat rolled products, and structural components, thus restoring application flexibility while using low-grade sponge

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

By converting impurities into beneficial alloying elements with controlled ranges, the invention enables low-grade sponge to produce alloys with predictable properties suitable for diverse applications, thereby resolving the limitation on application flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of manufacture

If low-grade titanium sponge is used to reduce production costs, then production cost decreases, but ductility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction costVSAvoidductility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces parameter P (elongation equivalent) defined by formula P = Cr/0.8 + Fe/0.7 + Ni that predicts ductility based on alloy composition. By controlling this parameter within specific ranges and combining it with strength equivalent Q, the invention ensures predictable ductility even when using low-grade sponge with variable impurity content, thus resolving the contradiction between cost reduction and ductility loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful effect of impurities on ductility into a beneficial predictive mechanism by incorporating Fe, Ni, and Cr into the elongation equivalent formula P. These same elements that cause embrittlement when uncontrolled become predictive parameters for maintaining ductility when properly balanced with other alloying elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP3196321B1Economically alloyed titanium alloy with predictable properties

Publication Date: 2019.11.06 OTKRYTOE AKTSIONERNOE OBSHCHESTVO KORPORATSIJA VSMPO AVISMA

AI summary

This invention relates to non-ferrous metallurgy, namely to the development of titanium alloys, which, due to their advantageous properties, can be used not only for traditional applications, e.g. defense industry, but also for civil applications. The alloy consists of 0.1 to 3.0 Al, 0.3 to 3.0 Fe, 0.1 to 1.0 Cr, 0.05 to 1.0 Ni, 0.02 to 0.3 Si, 0.02 to 0.2 N, 0.05 to 0.5 O, 0.02 to 0.1 C, and balance Ti. A technical result is a competitive titanium alloy with the guaranteed stable predictable properties which is made using low-grade titanium sponge. The result is achieved with the help of alloying elements which consist of impurities as part of low-grade sponge and separately introduced alloy additions. This titanium-base alloy is characterized by the lower costs as compared with the existing commercial alloys, with the alloy composition selected based on the required physical, mechanical and processing properties. 1 claim, 11 tables.