Abstract: A nanostructured monolithic titanium boride (TiB) material and methods of forming such a material are disclosed and described. This material has a room-temperature four-point flexural strength about three times that of commercially available titanium diboride (TiB2). The achievement of nanostructured internal microstructural arrangement having a network of interconnected titanium monoboride whiskers affords a very high strength to this material above some of the best ceramic materials available in the market. The material contains a small amount of titanium and a densifier, but it is largely made of TiB phase with substantially no TiB2. The nanostructured monolithic titanium boride material can be formed by high temperature processing of a powder precursor having carefully selected weight and size distributions of titanium powder, titanium diboride powder, and densifier powder.

Abstract: A nanostructured monolithic titanium boride (TiB) material and methods of forming such a material are disclosed and described. This material has a room-temperature four-point flexural strength about three times that of commercially available titanium diboride (TiB2). The achievement of nanostructured internal microstructural arrangement having a network of interconnected titanium monoboride whiskers affords a very high strength to this material above some of the best ceramic materials available in the market. The material contains a small amount of titanium, but it is largely made of TiB phase with substantially no TiB2. The nanostructured monolithic titanium boride material can be formed by high temperature processing of a powder precursor having carefully selected weight and size distributions of titanium and titanium diboride powders. Potential applications of this material can include wear resistant components such as die inserts for extrusion dies, nozzles, armor, electrodes for metal refining etc.

Abstract: A borided titanium article can include a titanium mass having titanium monoboride whiskers infiltrating inward from a surface of the titanium mass to form an integral surface hardened region. The titanium mass can be almost any titanium based metal or alloy such as high purity titanium, commercial grade titanium, ?-titanium alloy, ?+? titanium alloy, ?-titanium alloy, titanium composite, and combinations thereof. Borided titanium articles can be formed by methods which include providing a titanium mass, contacting a surface of the titanium mass with a boron source medium, and heating the titanium mass and boron source medium to a temperature from about 700° C. to about 1600° C. The boron source medium can include a boron source and an activator selected to provide growth of titanium monoboride whiskers. The boron source medium can be provided as a solid particulate mixture, liquid mixture, or as a gaseous mixture.