Low-cost Ti powders for additive manufacturing treated by fluidized bed

Fluidized bed was used to treat low-cost hydride-dehydride Ti powders. Properties and microstructures of powders were investigated in terms of surface morphology, particle size distribution, flowability, interstitial content and surface oxidation behavior. The results showed the modified morphology and particle size distribution benefit its flowability after treating. The mechanisms of flowability improvement and oxidation behavior are also discussed. The powder flowability is improved to 35.2 ± 0.3 s/50 g, while its oxygen increment is negligible for the Ti powders after treating at 450 °C for 10 min. This study offers a cost-effective process to produce Ti powders for potential use in additive manufacturing. [Display omitted] •A novel technique to produce low-cost Ti powders for additive manufacturing.•Low-cost Ti powder source is used as the raw material in this process.•The improved powder flowability by this means is comparable with atomized powders.•The as-treated Ti powders meets the standard of ASTM B265 Grade 4.