Fabrication and characterization of Ti6Al4V/TiB2–TiC composites by powder metallurgy method

Abstract

Titanium matrix (Ti6Al4V) composites reinforced with TiB2 and TiC were produced through powder metallurgy method. The effect of addition of both TiB2 and TiC with different contents (2.5 wt%, 5.0 wt% and 7.5 wt%) on the density, microstructure and hardness properties of titanium matrix was investigated. The size distributions of the matrix alloy and reinforcement particles were measured by particle size analyzer. Microhardness of the sintered composites was evaluated using Vickers’s hardness tester with a normal load of 3 N and a dwell time of 10 s. Ti6Al4V alloy and Ti6Al4V/TiB2–TiC composites were characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) equipped with energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The addition of TiB2 and TiC particles enriches the properties of Ti6Al4V alloy. The sintered Ti6Al4V/TiB2–TiC composite features a dense and pore-free microstructure with varying TiB2 and TiC particle distribution in the metal matrix. The results of this study show that the development of new phases plays a significant role in the properties of these composite materials.