Continuous extrusion of a commercially pure titanium powder via the Conform process

It is shown for the first time that cold commercially pure titanium powder can be extruded through a standard Conform machine into fully dense wire with a fine recrystallised microstructure. The grain size has been shown to decrease with increasing wheel speed with an associated increase in tensile strength. The macrostructure of the wire extrudate exhibits a characteristic flow pattern with several regions defined by differences in average grain size and distribution. Finite-element modelling of the process shows the formation of the characteristic macrostructure from powder fed Conform. The process is continuous, utilises standard equipment and does not require powder preheating or inert gas shrouding providing a footing for a true cost reduction in long-section titanium mill product.