There is an insatiable demand for high temperature, light weight, strong and ductile materials in heat engine and structural applications. Intermetallics such as titanium aluminide offer a significant opportunity for improved high temperature properties over current state-of-the-art nickel base superalloys and titanium alloys. However, titanium aluminide base materials with substantially improved ductility, strength, oxidation and creep resistance have not been fully developed. Grain refining, micro- and macroalloying and reinforcing of titanium aluminide intermetallics are innovative approaches to improve the high temperature properties of titanium aluminide. This program will utilize a rf thermal plasma technique to synthesize ultrafine and ultrapure titanium aluminide powders. The production mechanism is aluminum reduction of titanium tetrachloride in an argon high temperature plasma. Micro- and macroalloying of titanium aluminide will also be carried out in the plasma reactor simultaneously with the synthesis of titanium aluminide powders. Reinforced titanium aluminide composites will also be investigated. A titanium aluminide base alloy and composite with improved ductility and high temperature properties will result from this program.
