Mechanical properties and microstructure of Ti-6Al-4V compacts by metal injection molding

Ti-6Al-4V compacts were fabricated by metal injection molding(MIM). Influence of vacuum sintering time on mechanical properties and microstructure of the sintered compacts at 1 260 ℃ were investigated. The experimental results show that the compacts sintered at 1 260 ℃ for 36 h, which was made from hydrogenation-dehydrogenation(HDH) powder(average particles size is 45 μm), have a relative density of 95.6% 96.7%, ultimate tensile strength of 648686MPa and 0.2% yield strength of 526615MPa; but a lower elongation(<4%) and that the compacts sintered at 1 260 ℃ for 26 h, which was made from 90% gas-atomized powder(average particles size is 32.5 μm) and 10% HDH powder, have higher relative density(>95%), ultimate tensile strength of 800848MPa, 0.2% yield strength of 712762MPa and high elongation (7.4%9.5%). When the sintering time is increased, porosity decreases and microstructure of sintered products changes from equiaxed to typical Widmanstatten, the average sizes of prior β grains, α colonies and α phase thickness in the β grains increase accordingly. After HIP treatment, pores obviously become less, microstructure of alloy is refined and mechanical properties are greatly improved.