Formation and wear behaviors of in-situ Al3Ti/Al composites using aluminum and titanium fibers under electromagnetic induction heating

Abstract

Under various electromagnetic induction heating powers, different Al3Ti/Al composites were fabricated by in-situ synthesis method from aluminum and titanium fibers. Microstructures and particles distribution of the composites were examined by XRD, SEM and EDS. The results show that no other intermetallic compounds beside Al3Ti can be in-situ synthesized. Around the titanium fibers, the reaction zones and diffusion zones can be obviously found. Due to the stirring of the electromagnetic function, the formation of the micro-cracks inside the reaction zone was conducive to the peeling off of the Al3Ti particles, and ensures the continuous reaction between liquid aluminum and titanium fibers, as well as the diffusion of Al3Ti particles. At the same time, there were secondary splits of Al3Ti particles located in diffusion zones. Two-body abrasion test shows that with the increase of induction heating power, the wear rates of the composites reduced and the number of grooves decreased.