| 摘要 |
A first method of processing a metal workpiece comprises adding or removing solute from the workpiece and then homogenizing. A second method processing a metal workpiece by adding or removing solute therefrom comprises exposing a portion of the workpiece to a vapour which comprises a chemical reactant which has a different level of reactivity to the solute than the metal and further comprises a flux for facilitating removal of a product of a reaction between the chemical reactant and the metal. A third method of processing a metal workpiece comprises forming said workpiece with an open porosity, adding or removing solute from the workpiece and then consolidating said object. The alloy may comprise one or more of titanium, vanadium, zirconium, molybdenum and/or niobium, e.g. Ti-6Al-4V and the solute may be one of oxygen, carbon, hydrogen or nitrogen. Also claimed are apparatus for performing the above methods. |
