High volume fraction TiC x/Al composites with good comprehensive performance fabricated by combustion synthesis and hot press consolidation

Abstract

In situ high volume fraction (50–70 vol.%) TiC x /Al composites were successfully fabricated by combustion synthesis and hot press consolidation in an Al–Ti–C system. Microstructure characterization of the TiC x /Al composites shows relatively uniform distribution of the TiC x particles with the particle size in the range of about 1–5 μm. All of the yield strength ( σ 0.2), hardness and abrasive wear resistance of the TiC x /Al composites increase with the increase in the TiC x content, and the σ UCS firstly increases and then decreases. The σ 0.2, σ UCS, fracture strain ( ɛ f) and hardness of the 70 vol.% TiC x /Al composite are 576 MPa, 744 MPa, 3.09% and 253.5 ± 6 Hv, respectively. The abrasive wear resistance of the 70 vol.% TiC x /Al composite is about 4 times higher than that of the cast hypereutectic Al–Si alloy when the applied load is no more than 25 N and the Al 2O 3 abrasive particle size is no more than 20 μm.