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2645948 
Journal Article 
EFFECT OF CARRIER-GAS SELECTION ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF COLD-SPRAYED TANTALUM 
Trexler, M; Carter, R; Helfritch, D; Champagne, V 
2011 
47 
5 
48-52 
WOS:000295501900008 
Cold spray has been shown to be a viable approach for the consolidation of tantalum powder for structural components that exhibit excellent tensile properties with limited post-processing. It is a novel process used to consolidate metal powders to which ceramic particulates may be added to form both thin coatings and large bulk materials. Cold spray relies on the extensive plastic deformation that occurs when small particles entrained in a supersonic gas stream impact upon a substrate. Carrier-gas selection (nitrogen or helium) can significantly affect the properties of the consolidated materials due to the varying particle velocities that can be achieved. These effects were investigated for tantalum using metallographic techniques, density. measurements, and tensile tests. It is demonstrated that tantalum powder can be consolidated to full density. by cold spraying using helium or nitrogen as the carrier gas. Optimization of the spraying conditions for nitrogen results in consolidated bulk tantalum exhibiting properties comparable with those of tantalum, sprayed with helium, with attendant cost savings.