Titanium nitride strengthened alloys

A titanium containing stainless steel or a nickel base alloy containing titanium and chromium is atomised in a nitrogen atmosphere and the nitrided product blended with the same alloy atomised in argon, in proportions to give an overall nitrogen content equal to that required for stoichiometric titanium nitride in the blend. The blended powder is then homogenised at a temperature at which nitrides of iron and/or chromium dissociate and the free nitrogen reacts with titanium in the argon-atomised powder to produce a powder which can be formed into artifacts, by hot isostatic pressing e.g. for nuclear reactors, of titanium nitride strengthened alloy. (author)