Package Melting Method of Titanium Alloy Scraps

Abstract

Concerning the product cost, the use of recycled scraps for the production of ingots of titanium alloys is of great importance. Thus, the authors have developed a new melting technique, called the package melting method, for titanium alloy scraps. The process is summarized as follows. At first, massive scraps, chips and turnings are packed together into the gutter regardless the size and type of scraps. Secondary, the gutter is set horizontally into vacuum furnace, melted with plasma electron beam or electron beam and cast into ingot continuously.
Experiments carried out on Ti-6Al-4V alloy scraps result in the following conclusions.
(1) Ingots obtained by this method have good surface quality and no shrinkage porosity and segregation.
(2) Since the ingot has good workability with only a single melt, secondary melting is not necessary.
(3) The bars produced from recycled scrap have mechanical properties equivalent to those of the bars from sponge.
(4) Owing to the simple processing steps and high scrap ratio, this method has cost advantages over other melting method.