Spark plasma sintering of near net shape titanium aluminide: A review

In order to satisfy the compromise between ductility and strength of titanium aluminide and still maintain structural integrity, powder metallurgy processes (P/M) are preferred worldwide over conventional industrial fabrication methods. Amongst several P/M technologies, SPS technology has great potential for fabrication of near net shape structural materials with controlled microstructural features providing improved product quality and increased design freedom. Owing to these capabilities of SPS, the tool is a viable option to produce components requiring little machining, thus reducing the manufacturing costs and increasing the material yield. Complex material components fabricated from this powder metallurgy technology could have less scrap production and drastically decreased scrap generation otherwise inevitable with ingot metallurgy processes. Therefore, the SPS technology has great potential to advance from being a basic research tool to a globalized industrial tool for developing materials with intricate shapes and advanced properties.