This chapter describes the basic steps in the production of titanium ingots and their subsequent conversion to standards product forms. It explains how titanium ore is reduced to a spongy residue, then granularized, compacted, and melted (along with alloying additions) to form an ingot, which may be remelted several times to achieve the necessary properties. It also discusses the cause of defects and ingot imperfections and the benefits of billet reduction and grain-refinement processes.

Engineered geometry and its microstructures impact casting performance. This chapter describes three interdependent disciplines that are needed to achieve product performance and cost targets, namely engineered geometry; target microstructure and chemistry; and optimum process for high integrity.

Increasing growth of high-pressure cold spraying applications on the industrial scale have forced global powder producers to face this challenge and develop specific powders for cold spray applications. This chapter provides information on the properties, classification, characteristics, manufacturing, and procedures for packaging of powders specific to cold spray applications.

This article describes in more detail the fundamental building-block level, atomic, then expands to a discussion of molecular considerations, intermolecular structures, and finally supermolecular issues. An explanation of important thermal, mechanical, and physical properties of engineering plastics and commodity plastics follows, and the final section briefly outlines the most common plastics manufacturing processes.

This article discusses the general purpose of alloying and identifies some of the material properties and behaviors that can be improved by adding various elements to the base metal. It explains how alloying can make metals stronger and more resistant to corrosion and wear as well as easier to cast, weld, form, and machine. It also discusses some of the alloying techniques that have been developed to address problems stemming from dissimilarities between the base metal and alloying or inoculate material.

This article addresses some established protocols in characterizing thermoplastics, whether they are homogeneous resins, alloyed or blended compositions, or highly modified thermoplastic composites. It begins with a description of various approaches used for the determination of molecular weight (MW) by viscosity measurements. This is followed by a discussion of the use of cone and plate and parallel plate geometries in determining the viscoelastic properties of a polymer melt. Details on some of the chromatographic techniques that allow determination of MW and MW distribution of polymers are then provided. The article concludes with information on three distinctive, but complementary operations of thermoanalytical techniques, namely differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and thermomechanical testing.

This chapter discusses the compositions, properties, and applications of nonferrous metals, including zirconium, hafnium, beryllium, lead, tin, gold, silver, and platinum group metals. It also addresses fusible alloys and provides melting temperatures for several compositions.

Casting is the most economical processing route for producing titanium parts, and unlike most metals, the properties of cast titanium are on par with those of wrought. This chapter covers titanium melting and casting practices -- including vacuum arc remelting, consumable electrode arc melting, electron beam hearth melting, rammed graphite mold casting, sand casting, investment casting, hot isostatic pressing, weld repair, and heat treatment -- along with related equipment, process challenges, and achievable properties and microstructures. It also explains how titanium parts are produced from powders and how the different methods compare with each other and with conventional production techniques. The methods covered include powder injection molding, spray forming, additive manufacturing, blended elemental processing, and rapid solidification.

This chapter presents an overview and survey of solder alloy systems. Extensive reference is made to phase diagrams and their interpretation. The chapter describes the effect of metallic impurities on different solders. The chapter concludes with a review of the key characteristics of eutectic alloys and of the factors most effective at depressing the melting point of solders by eutectic alloying.

Plastic gears are continuing to displace metal gears in applications ranging from automotive components to office automation equipment. This chapter discusses the characteristics, classification, advantages, and disadvantages of plastics for gear applications. It provides a comparison between the properties of metals and plastics for designing gears. The chapter reviews some of the commonly used plastic materials for gear applications including thermoplastic and thermoset gear materials. The chapter also describes the processes involved in plastic gear manufacturing.

Stainless steel powders are usually made by water or gas atomization. This chapter describes both processes and the properties and characteristics of the powders they produce. It also discusses secondary processes, including drying, screening, annealing, and lubricating, and the effects of iron contamination on corrosion resistance.

Beryllium, despite its relatively simple atomic structure, possesses a wide range of useful engineering properties. It has the highest strength-to-weight ratio and modulus of elasticity among structural metals and is an important alloy addition in copper, nickel, and aluminum alloys. It also has excellent thermal properties, low atomic mass, a small x-ray absorption cross section, and a large neutron scattering cross section. This brief introductory chapter provides an overview of the unique qualities of beryllium along with typical applications and uses.

To ensure the proper application of plastics, one must keep in mind three factors that determine the appropriate end-use: material selection, processing, and design. This article begins by providing information on various factors pertinent to the anticipated use conditions of the article to be designed. This is followed by a discussion on several stages necessary to define the geometry of plastic parts. Details on the strength of and cost estimation for plastic parts are then provided. The article ends with a section providing information on the structure, properties, processing, and end-use applications of plastics.

This chapter presents an overview of families of brazing alloys that one is likely to encounter in a manufacturing environment. It discusses the metallurgical aspects of brazing and includes a survey of brazing alloy systems. A discussion of deleterious and beneficial impurities is provided with examples. The chapter also describes the application of phase diagrams to brazing.

This chapter discusses the processes, procedures, and equipment used in the production of iron, steel, aluminum, and titanium alloys. It describes the design and operation of melting and refining furnaces, including blast furnaces, basic oxygen and electric arc furnaces, vacuum induction melting furnaces, and electroslag and vacuum arc remelting furnaces. It also covers casting, rolling, and annealing procedures and describes the basic steps in aluminum and titanium production.

The metallurgy of aluminum and its alloys offers a range of opportunities for employing heat treatments to obtain desirable combinations of mechanical and physical properties such that castings meet defined temper requirements. This chapter discusses the processes involved in solution heat treatment, quenching, precipitation hardening, and annealing of aluminum alloys. The effects of these processes on dimensional stability and residual stresses are also discussed. Troubleshooting and diagnosis of heat treating problems are covered in the concluding section of the chapter.

This chapter provides an overview of beryllium casting practices and the challenges involved. It discusses the stages of solidification, the effect of cooling rate, the difficulty of heat removal, and the potential for hot cracking. It describes common melting techniques, including vacuum induction melting, vacuum arc melting, and electron beam melting, and some of the ways they have been used to cast beryllium alloys. The chapter also includes information on metal purification and grain refinement procedures.

In castings, microstructural features are products of metal chemistry and solidification conditions. The microstructural features, excluding defects, that most strongly affect the mechanical properties or aluminum castings are size, form, and distribution of intermetallic phases; dendrite arm spacing; grain size and shape; and eutectic modification and primary phase refinement. This chapter discusses the effects of these microstructural features on properties and methods for controlling them. The chapter concludes with a detailed examination of the refinement of hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloys.