Influence of sintering time on mechanical properties of Ti-6A14V compacts by metal injection molding

Ti-6Al-4V compacts were fabricated by metal injection molding (MIM). Influence of vacuum sintering time on mechanical properties of the sintered compacts at 1260 degrees C were investigated. The experimental results show that the compacts sintered at 1 260 degrees C for 3 hours similar to 6 hours, which was made from hydrogenation-dehydrogenation(HDH) powder(average particles size is 45 mu m), had a relative density of 95.6%similar to 96.7%, ultimate tensile strength (648 MPa similar to 686 MPa) and 0.2% yield strength (526 MPa similar to 615 MPa) but a lower elongation (< 4%) and that the compacts sintered at 1 260 degrees C for 2 hours-6 hours, which was made from 90wt% gas-atomized powder(average particles size is 32.5 mu m) and 10 wt% HDH powder, had higher relative density (> 95%),ultimate tensile strength (800 MPa similar to 848 MPa), 0.2% yield strength (712 MPa similar to 762 MPa) and high elongation (7.4%similar to 9.5%). The mechanical properties of mixed powder specimens were nearly equivalent to the ASTM for the PM compacts.