Suitability of nickel as alloying element in titanium sintered in solid state

The suitability of nickel as an alloying element in titanium alloys produced using the blended elemental powder metallurgy approach has been explored. Nickel initially accelerates sintering, providing greater densification at lower temperature than observed for unalloyed titanium. However, it provides only a minor improvement in the density achieved after long sintering times or at high solid state sintering temperatures. Swelling is observed under liquid phase sintering conditions. The highest density was achieved by sintering at just below the solidus temperature. Nickel also accelerates the Ostwald ripening of the pore structure and the conversion of open porosity into closed porosity.