Abstract
In-situ TiB whisker-reinforced Ti–6Al–4V (TC4) titanium matrix composites (TiBw/TC4) with quasi-continuous networks were successfully fabricated by vacuum hot-pressing sintering. The effects of the hot-hydrostatic canned extrusion on stock utilization, microstructure and mechanical properties of the TiBw/TC4 composites were investigated. It was satisfactory that the utilization of composites could be obviously improved by canned extrusion compared to that extruded without canned extrusion. The microstructure results showed that after canned extrusion the grain was refined and the TiB whiskers were distributed from a random array state to a state in which the whiskers were distributed along the extrusion direction. The properties testing results revealed that the tensile strength, the hardness and the ductility of the composites all significantly improved after extrusion due to the grain refinement and orientation of the TiB whisker caused by extrusion. Tensile fracture results showed that when the TiB whiskers were randomly distributed only part of them played a role in strengthening the matrix during the deformation process (as-sintered composites), while when the TiB whiskers were oriented all whiskers could strengthen the matrix during the tensile testing process (as-extruded composites).
Highlights
Titanium matrix composites (TMCs) possess the advantages of titanium alloys such as high specific strength, good weldability and excellent corrosion resistance [1,2,3,4,5] but can address the shortcomings of titanium alloys such as not performing well in higher temperature and abrasion resistance [6]
In-situ synthesized TiB whiskers have been considered as almost the best reinforcement due to their excellent thermodynamic stability and similar coefficient of thermal expansion to the titanium matrix [6,11,12]
In-situ TiB whisker-reinforced TMCs fabricated by powder metallurgy (PM) methods have become more attractive due to the intrinsic advantages of PM methods such as low waste of raw material, composition homogenization and near-net forming [8,13,14]
Summary
In-situ TiB whisker-reinforced TMCs fabricated by powder metallurgy (PM) methods have become more attractive due to the intrinsic advantages of PM methods such as low waste of raw material, composition homogenization and near-net forming [8,13,14]. Materials 2017, 10, 1227 deformation limit, large deformation resistance and being easy-to-crack at room temperature [16,17]. It is difficult for the hot working of TMCs because of the high deformation temperature and large flow stress. The can could be used as a suitable lubricant during the extrusion process to solve the problem of the large deformation resistance of titanium alloy. It is significant for the promotion of mass production of titanium alloys/TMCs bars
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