Recycling of Titanium Chips for Hardfacing

Titanium element is a noble metal and owns excellent biomechanical properties. The necessity for utilization dental implants fabricated with titanium alloys have caused an increased in generation of residue as a result of fabricating processes. Aiming to reduce the environmental impact, alternative solutions for reutilization of these residues have been studied. Titanium carbide (TiC) has high hardness and can be applied as coating reinforcement against wear. In this work, chips of titanium cast were processed and used in the fabrication of experimental hardfacing consumables. Coatings were produced in cast steel specimens using the GTAW process. The microstructures were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The mechanical behavior of the coatings was analyzed by a dynamic ultra-micro hardness tester. The microstructure of the welding metal was composed of particles non-prismatic and high hardness surrounded by a ferritic matrix. The measures made by electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) showed difference of the concentration of titanium trough the particle, where larger contents of titanium were found, and the matrix. The crystallographic analyses reinforced the formation of titanium carbides embedded in a ferrite matrix into welding metal.

Hardfacing; GTAW; Chips recycling; Titanium carbide; Microstructure characterization