Provided is a fluid-cooled contact tip assembly that can be used in methods and systems for manufacturing objects by solid freeform fabrication, especially titanium and titanium alloy objects, where the deposition rate is increased by increasing the flow rate of electric charge through the metal wire.

A suppressor having a body and a first connector half coupled to the body, wherein the first connector half includes a first component that includes at least one channel and a first surface; and wherein the body provides a second surface, wherein a gap between the first surface and the second surface defines at least one track; wherein the gun includes a second connector half comprising at least one protrusion, wherein the protrusion and channel have corresponding shapes that allow the protrusion to be inserted through the channel and into alignment with the track, wherein the first component may be rotated with respect to the protrusion and the body to bring the protrusion out of alignment with the channel so that the first and second surfaces clamp the protrusion to thereby secure the first connector half and second connector half with respect to each other.

A method of titanium rod additive manufacturing may comprise: mixing a plurality of powdered metals comprising titanium, iron, vanadium, and aluminum to produce a powder blend; isostatic pressing the powder blend to form a billet having a cross-sectional profile; cutting the billet to form a rod feedstock having the first cross-sectional profile; loading the rod feedstock into an additive manufacturing machine configured to deposit the rod feedstock; and producing a metallic component from the rod feedstock.

A method of forming a rod feedstock for titanium stir friction welding additive manufacturing may comprise: mixing a plurality of powdered metals comprising titanium, iron, vanadium, and aluminum to produce a powder blend; at least one of die pressing the powder blend to form a die pressed powder or continuously powder rolling the powder blend to form a die pressed powder; and sintering the powder blend to form a rod feedstock having a cross-sectional profile.

An active brazing material for the energy-efficient production of active-brazed connections that consists of layer sequences arranged on top of one another, the layer sequences of which consist of layers arranged on top of on another, the layer sequences of which each comprise at least one layer of brazing material, wherein the layers of brazing material of each layer sequence each contain at least one component of a base active braze and, in conjunction with each other, contain all components of the base active braze, the layer sequences of which each comprise at least one first reaction layer consisting of a first reactant to which at least one second reaction layer is directly adjacent in the active brazing material and consists of a second reactant that exothermally reacts with the first reactant, wherein an enthalpy of formation of the exothermic reaction of the reactants is greater than or equal to 45 kJ/mol—in particular, greater than or equal to 50 kJ/mol.

A process for additive manufacture of an article including conjoined first and second metals, wherein the first metal includes one of steel and titanium and the second metal includes another of the steel and the titanium. The process comprises arranging an interface layer of a third metal on a substrate of the first metal, wherein the third metal is capable of forming an alloy with the first metal and capable of forming an alloy with the second metal. The process further comprises supplying a consumable form of the second metal to a locus of the interface layer and heating the locus of the interface layer in an non-reactive environment. In this process, the heating fuses the consumable form of the second metal to render a fused form of the second metal and joins the fused form of the second metal to the interface layer.

New alpha-beta titanium alloys are disclosed. The new alloys generally include 7.0-11.0 wt. % Al, and 1.0-4.0 wt. % Mo, wherein Al:Mo, by weight, is from 2.0:1-11.0:1, the balance being titanium, any optional incidental elements, and unavoidable impurities. The new alloys may realize an improved combination of properties as compared to conventional titanium alloys.

The present disclosure relates to new materials comprising Al, Ti, and Zr. The new materials may realize a single phase field of a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) solid solution structure immediately below the solidus temperature of the material. The new materials may include at least one precipitate phase and have a solvus temperature of at least 1240° C. The new materials may include 29.0-42.4 wt. % Al, 41.2-59.9 wt. % Ti, and 10.3-24.1 wt. % Zr. In one embodiment, the precipitate is selected from the group consisting of the L1.sub.0 phase, the Al.sub.2Zr phase, and combinations thereof. The new alloys may realize improved high temperature properties.

An electrode (10) is presented including a sheath (14) formed of a ductile material, an outer coating (16) including a flux material, and a core (12) including at least one of flux material and alloying material. The ductile material may be an extrudable subset of elements of a desired superalloy material and the alloying material may include elements that complement the ductile material to form a desired superalloy material when the electrode is melted. The outer coating may be formed of a flexible bonding material or it may be segmented (18, 20) to facilitate bending the electrode onto a spool. Any hygroscopic material of the electrode may be included in the core to protect it from exposure to atmospheric moisture.

Wires for use in electron beam or plasma arc additive manufacturing of titanium alloys are disclosed. The wires have a first portion comprising a first material, and a second portion comprising a second material. The combination of the first and second materials results in a titanium alloy product of the appropriate composition.