Promotion of C diffusion to prepare a high-strength wear-resistant Ti alloy

Despite its excellent strengthening abilities, incorporation of C into most non-ferrous metals is limited by its solubility. In this study, C diffusion in pure Ti powders was promoted in a quantifiable amount using a combined technique of spark plasma sintering and powder metallurgy to synthesize a bulk Ti alloy. The sintered Ti was free from elements toxic to the human body and showed excellent strength, ductility, and wear resistance, which well exceeded those of the commercial Ti–6Al–4V alloy counterpart. Here, we report on the physics underlying the alloy design, its synthesis, resultant properties, and possible applications. [Display omitted]