Extrusion is a way to produce near net shape components from CP grade titanium
powders of optimum density with minimum porosity and acceptable mechanical properties.
Chemically pure, hydride/dehydride titanium powders were cold pre-compacted and extruded at
850oC under an argon atmosphere. The extrusion stress required was ~450MPa. To characterize
the extrusions, the porosity distribution, qualitative microstructure and tensile properties were
evaluated and compared with conventional extruded wrought titanium. Extrusion occurred after
the green billets were upset to ~100% of theoretical density and adequate lubrication was applied to
the die. The resultant product was 100% dense with a narrow band of surface porosity and
exhibited an equiaxed microstructure of similar magnitude to the starting material. The tensile
properties of the bars were observed to be significantly superior to conventionally extruded CP
titanium bar products, a result associated with the much finer average grain size. Outcomes from
this study have assisted in the identification of a number of key characteristics important to the
extrusion of titanium from pre-compacted CP titanium powders, allowing the elimination of
canning and hot isostatic pressing (HIPping) of billets prior to extrusion as per conventional PM
processes.
