SBIR Phase I: Novel Material Systems for Rapid Prototyping Titanium and Titanium Alloys

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将开发新型材料系统，用于功能合格的全致密钛和钛合金形状的快速原型制作。使用三模态钝化粉末和聚合物的独特混合物，直接金属加工（DMF）工艺可以在选择性激光烧结（SLS）粉末床中获得非常高的堆积密度。采用超固相烧结，可以提供均匀的收缩率和完全致密的烧结件。这种方法使高强度反应材料（如钛及其合金）的直接原型制作成为可能。潜在地，该技术可以扩展到其他类型的反应材料系统和合金。第一阶段将尝试在这些组件中实现可重复的基线钛和合金性能。据估计，钛及其合金的固体自由成形制造技术每年在医疗、体育、高尔夫俱乐部和自行车部件中具有10 - 20亿美元的市场，用于改善结构完整性原型。预计这种快速成型技术将在钛以及其他活性金属和合金中得到广泛的应用。

9860948 This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop novel material systems for rapid prototyping of fully dense titanium and titanium alloy shapes that are functionally qualified. Using a unique blend of tri-modal passivated powders and polymer, the Direct Metal Fabrication (DMF) process can obtain a very high packing density in a Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) powder bed. With supersolidus liquid phase sintering, the process can provide uniform shrinkage and a fully dense sintered part. This approach makes possible the direct prototyping of high strength reactive materials such as titanium and its alloys. Potentially, the technology may be extended to other types of reactive material systems and alloys. Phase I will attempt to achieve reproducible baseline titanium and alloy properties in such components. A solid free form fabrication technique for titanium and its alloys has an estimated market of $ 1-2 billion dollars per year in the medical, sporting, golf clubs, and bicycle components for use as improved structural integrity prototypes. It is anticipated that this rapid prototyping technology will have extensive other applications in titanium as well as other reactive metals and alloys.