Fabrication of promising material 'titanium aluminide': methods and issues (a status report)

Various methods such as selective laser melting, electron beam melting, casting, friction deposition and friction stir processing are used to produce materials required by different industries. For example, low weight and high strength material is required to be produced to meet the ever increasing demand raised by fast growing aero industries. But the materials produced by these processes are found to lack in ductility and also residual and thermal stresses are formed during these processes that could adversely alter the mechanical properties of the material. Present scenario demands for the development of an eco-friendly method to produce durable materials possessing better mechanical properties. This paper presents a review on various best possible methods to produce high strength to weight ratio Ti-Al alloys. Further, it also compares the conventional and novel alloy making processes and their limitations and also explores the possibilities of making the hybrid process to get desired results. The paper can help the researchers to use the suggested hybrid processes so as to minimize the individual process limitations leading to an improved and efficient process. (paper)