Plasma arc melting of a 80 wt % tantalum-20 wt % titanium alloy

An alloy of 80wt% tantalum-20wt% titanium is being considered for use in an oxidizing and highly corrosive liquid metal application. The high melting point of the alloy, 2400 C, and other physical properties narrowed the possible melting techniques. Previous melting experience with these materials by electron beam resulted in extensive vaporization of the titanium during the melt and poor chemical homogeneity. A technique has been developed using plasma arc melting to melt refractory alloys with very dissimilar densities and vapor pressures. The 80Ta--20Ti alloy falls into this category with the density of tantalum 16.5 g/cc and that of titanium 4.5 g/cc. The melting of these materials is further complicated by the high melting point of tantalum( 3020 C) and the relatively low boiling point of titanium( 3287 C). The plasma arc melting technique described results in good chemical homogeneity with ingot size quantities of material.