Casting titanium in permanent mold

The Gravity permanent mold casting method is used in casting titanium to eliminate the brittle surface layer while still offering near-net-shape, fine microstructure, elimination of inclusions, enhanced mechanical properties and cost benefits. The properties produced through permanent mold must be evaluated and compared to the properties of titanium processed with the traditional techniques, before it can be used in production. The optical micrographs of the casting defects showed the typical Widmanstaten structure of the alpha and beta phases, similar to what is found with metal powder injection molding (MPIM). The automotive industry, with its regulatory support, years of ongoing research on potential applications and the need to provide added value in a competitive environment, is best positioned to work toward development of cost-effective technologies for the production of titanium alloy components.