Abstract
In-situ synthesis, microstructure, and mechanical properties of four TiB2-Reinforced Fe-Cr-Mn-Al Steel Matrix Composites have been researched in this work. The microstructure and phases of the prepared specimens have been characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction technique, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The sintered specimens consisted of Fe2AlCr, CrFeB-type boride, and TiB2. The mechanical properties, such as hardness and compression strength at room temperature (RT) and at elevated temperatures (600 °C and 800 °C) have been evaluated. The compressive strength and Vickers hardness of the sintered specimens increase with the volume fraction of TiB2 in the matrix, which are all much higher than those of the ex-situ TiB2/Fe-15Cr-20Mn-8Al composites and the reported TiB2/Fe-Cr composites with the same volume fraction of TiB2. The highest Vickers hardness and compressive strength at room temperature are 1213 ± 35 HV and 3500 ± 20 MPa, respectively. As the testing temperature increases to 600 °C, or even 800 °C, these composites still show relatively high compressive strength. Precipitation strengthening of CrFeB and in-situ synthesis of TiB2 as well as nanocrystalline microstructure produced by the combination of mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering (SPS) can account for the high Vickers hardness and compressive strength.
Highlights
The ever-growing demand for lightweight materials represents one main challenge for structural materials design in current transportation systems and machine parts
Kulikowski et al [9] showed that additions of TiB2 resulted in reduced density, increased stiffness and specific stiffness in the composite compared with the matrix when studying mechanical properties of TiB2 reinforced Fe and 316 L stainless steel composites
Commercial Cr, Fe, Mn, Al, Ti, and B were exactly weighed and physically mixed according to the designed nominal compositions of 15, 10, 25, and 30 vol.%TiB2-reinforced Fe-15Cr-10Mn-5Al steel matrix composites using a Turbula Mixer
Summary
The ever-growing demand for lightweight materials represents one main challenge for structural materials design in current transportation systems and machine parts. Kulikowski et al [9] showed that additions of TiB2 resulted in reduced density, increased stiffness and specific stiffness in the composite compared with the matrix when studying mechanical properties of TiB2 reinforced Fe and 316 L stainless steel composites. In-situ process is advantageous because the chemical reaction to form the dispersed ceramic phase occurs between elements of their compounds, resulting that the new-formed particles are located in the metal matrix and the interfaces have higher interfacial strength, better improved wettability, and more excellent particle-size distribution due to its clean, non-oxidized particle-matrix. Mn and Al contents and processing route different from our previous studies are used in this work, aiming to fabricate TiB2-reinforced Fe-Cr-Mn-Al matrix composite with better mechanical properties
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