摘要 |
A method of producing high purity, low oxygen content titanium powder utilizes a hydrided titanium powder crushed to desired percentage of particles of not more than a desired size. These hydrided particles are dehydrided by a slow heating process under partial vacuum to draw the hydrogen out of the particles with a minimum of sintering of the particles. The hydrided particles may be initially heated relatively rapidly, over a period of between about two hours and six hours to a temperature of between about 450° C. and 500° C. and then slowly over a period of four to five days to a temperature of between 650° C. and 700° C., all under a partial vacuum, until the hydrogen content of the powder reaches a desired value. The now dehydrided titanium powder is cooled, again crushed if and as necessary to break up any sintered particles, screened, and packaged. The method of the invention minimizes the sintering of the particles during the dehydriding process.
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