Abstract: A light weight softball bat having a hitting surface made of a titanium material is provided. The bat according to the invention has improved strength and durability, and a lively hitting surface.

Abstract: A consumable billet for melting and casting a metal matrix composite component is made of a consolidated powder metal matrix composite having a titanium or titanium alloy matrix reinforced with particles. The preferred billet is a blended and sintered powder metal composite billet incorporating titanium carbide or titanium boride into a Ti--6Al--4V alloy.

Abstract: A titanium-based microcomposite material includes first and second constituents. The first constituent is titanium or a titanium-based alloy. The second constituent is about 1% to about 50% by volume titanium aluminide. The microstructure of the microcomposite material includes smaller portions of titanium aluminide uniformly distributed among larger portions of titanium or a titanium-based alloy. The microcomposite material has improved elevated temperature properties and an increased strength-to-weight ratio.

Abstract: Impact resistant clad composite armor and method for forming such armor. The impact resistant clad composite armor includes a ceramic core, and a layer of metal surrounding the ceramic material and bonded to the ceramic core. The metal layer is formed by cold isostatically pressing powder metal surrounding the ceramic core to a high initial density followed by vacuum sintering. The composite armor may be hot isostatically pressed to densify the powder metal to approximately 99% full density.

Abstract: A titanium-based metal matrix microcomposite material. About 1% to about 25% by weight TiB.sub.2 is substantially uniformly incorporated in a titanium-based alloy matrix. The microcomposite material is formed by sintering at a temperature selected to preclude diffusion of TiB.sub.2 into the matrix. The microcomposite material may be used in a process for cladding a macrocomposite structure.

Abstract: A titanium-based metal matrix microcomposite material. About 1% to about 25% by weight TiB.sub.2 is substantially uniformly incorporated in a titanium-based alloy matrix. The microcomposite material is formed by sintering at a temperature selected to preclude diffusion of TiB.sub.2 into the matrix. The microcomposite material may be used in a process for cladding a macrocomposite structure.

Abstract: A poppet valve having a valve stem of titanium alloy strengthened by the inclusion of a compound containing titanium such as TiC, TiB or TiB.sub.2. The valve stem is joined to a valve head formed from a powder of a titanium alloy, preferably of the same composition as the alloy of the stem. The head and the stem are joined by cold compaction followed by vacuum sintering and a high temperature compaction.

Abstract: A microcomposite material having a matrix of a titanium-base alloy, the material further including about 10-80% by weight TiC substantially uniformly dispersed in the matrix. Several methods of cladding a macrocomposite structure including pressing quantities of a matrix material and a microcomposite material composed of the matrix material and a compatible stiffener material into layers to form a multi-layered compact and sintering the multi-layered compact to form an integral metallurgical bond between the layers of the compact with diffusion but essentially no composition gradient between the layers. A multi-layered macrocomposite article composed of an alloy layer of a matrix material and a layer of a microcomposite material composed of the matrix material and a compatible stiffener material bonded together at the interface region between the layers, the interface region being essentially free of a composition gradient.