This article discusses the main technologies for processing titanium-containing raw materials, the advantages, and disadvantages of various technological solutions. The analysis of the literature revealed that the traditional methods for the production of titanium products are mainly focused on the use of ilmenite concentrates. In connection with the depletion of ilmenite deposits, in the near future, there will inevitably be a need for a switch to the use of complex ores – titanomagnetite. Obtaining titanium dioxide (TiO₂) from titanomagnetite raw materials with a high content of impurity components requires an individual approach for each specific deposit. The possibility of further improving the development of a technological process for low-temperature (1000–1200 °C) processing of titanomagnetite concentrates via the production of pure TiO₂ is proposed.

The three primary steps in the production of tungsten carbide WC and titanium carbide TiC powders are the preparation of the green mixture, carbidization by furnace annealing, and ball milling of the annealed products. This work performed a comprehensive parametric investigation of these three steps. The impact of several factors was examined including the carbon precursor, the mass and diameter of the milling bodies (balls), the milling time and speed, the temperature and length of the annealing process, the height of the powder in the furnace boats, and the rate at which the furnace boats move. Regression models for every stage of the process were verified by 10-fold validation and used to optimize the synthesis sequence, resulting in high-quality WC and TiC with a grain size below 2 microns and a content of free carbon below 0.1%. Additionally, solid solution (W,Ti)C was fabricated by mechanochemical synthesis from the elemental mixtures; however, further modification of this technique is necessary because of the observed relatively high concentration of residual free carbon (0.2–0.8%) and contamination by Fe.

This study investigates the effect of zirconium on the superplastic properties of titanium alloys at various temperatures and strain rates. It has been established that zirconium significantly influences the strain rate sensitivity coefficient (m), mechanical stability, and plasticity. At elevated temperatures, zirconium-containing alloys exhibit a stable m-value within a specific strain rate range, followed by a sharp decline. In contrast, zirconium-free alloys show a gradual decrease in m as the strain rate increases. The optimal temperature-strain rate conditions for superplastic deformation depend on zirconium content. Alloys with lower zirconium concentrations demonstrate high plasticity at moderate temperatures and intermediate strain rates, whereas alloys with higher zirconium content require lower strain rates to achieve uniform deformation. Beyond a certain threshold, an increase in zirconium content results in reduced plasticity and strain localization. Additionally, zirconium increases flow stress, while higher temperatures contribute to its reduction; however, this is accompanied by grain coarsening, which negatively affects mechanical properties. Microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy revealed that after superplastic deformation, all investigated alloys develop a fine-grained structure consisting of equiaxed α- and β-grains. The average grain size increases compared to the initial state, indicating dynamic recovery and recrystallization processes. The results confirm the feasibility of using these titanium alloys in superplastic forming technologies. The identified correlations provide a basis for optimizing thermomechanical processing parameters to achieve a balance between high plasticity and mechanical stability, which is crucial for industrial applications.

A combined CALPHAD-guided thermodynamic and experimental approach was employed to investigate the influence of boron on phase evolution and microstructural development in the Fe–Ni–Cr–Cu–Si–B–C alloy system. Thermodynamic calculations were performed using Thermo-Calc (FE13-2025b) and the TTFe thermodynamic database. Vertical phase-diagram sections and response surface analysis were used to evaluate phase stability over the temperature range of 400–1500 °C and to identify temperature–composition domains favorable for the formation of strengthening phases. The calculations predicted complex multiphase equilibrium behavior involving boride-, carbide-, and silicide-containing phases. Within the investigated composition range, approximately 4 wt.% B provided a favorable balance between the metallic matrix and strengthening phases, while 638 °C corresponded to a thermodynamically favorable equilibrium phase constitution. Response surface analysis further demonstrated that temperature governs phase evolution, whereas boron primarily controls phase redistribution. The optimized alloy composition was characterized experimentally using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wavelength dispersion spectroscopy (WDS), elemental mapping, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The experimentally observed heterogeneous multiphase microstructure showed good agreement with the CALPHAD-predicted phase evolution at a qualitative level, demonstrating the usefulness of thermodynamic modeling for guiding alloy design. The proposed CALPHAD-guided workflow integrates thermodynamic modeling with targeted experimental characterization and provides a transferable framework for the accelerated design and optimization of complex Fe-based multicomponent alloys.

This study provides a thermodynamic analysis of phase equilibria and compound stability in the W–Ti–C–Co system using ab initio modeling, the Materials Project database, and HSC Chemistry 6. The focus is on identifying stable and metastable phases relevant to composite materials based on refractory metals and carbon with cobalt and titanium as alloying elements. Calculations yielded a list of characteristic phases, quaternary and ternary phase diagrams (Ti–W–C, Co–Ti–C, Co–W–C), Ellingham-type stability diagrams, and interfacial reaction maps. Mechanical properties were assessed via bulk and shear moduli, showing WC as the hardest and TiCo as the most ductile phase. The study predicts the likely formation of ternary carbides (W–Co, W–Ti), which strongly influence material properties. Fourteen interfacial reactions were identified, including carbide and intermetallic formation. Ellingham analysis showed Co2C is unstable above ~400°C, and Co7W6 is unfavorable at all temperatures, while WC remains stable up to ~1400°C, beyond which W2C dominates. These results deepen the understanding of phase behavior in multicomponent metal – carbon systems and support the development of thermally stable, mechanically optimized materials.