Spark Plasma Sintering and Characterization of Al-TiB2 Composites

A Raja Annamalai,Shashank Acharya,Anup Khisti,Muthe Srikanth,Chun-Ping Jen,A Muthuchamy,Dinesh K Agrawal

doi:10.3390/met10091110

Abstract

In this study, Al-TiB2 compacts fabricated by spark plasma sintering methods at different temperatures were characterized for densification, microstructural development, and mechanical properties. Sintering parameters used were temperatures of 500 °C and 550 °C under the pressure of 30 MPa. A very dense microstructure with uniform phase distribution and porosity was produced in the sample sintered at 550 °C with 2.5 wt% TiB2. The same sample exhibited excellent hardness value, and a high-tensile strength attributed to full metallurgical bonding, presence of sub-micron sized grains, and their uniform distribution. These results show that the TiB2 addition enhanced the composite’s hardness, sintered density, and tensile strength. In all the sintered samples, the fractographs revealed a mixed-mode fracture (ductile and brittle).

Highlights

In the past few decades, metal matrix composites (MMCs) have been extensively used in aviation and automobile industries and defense sectors due to their high toughness, excellent specific strength, and elastic modulus [1]
Sintered Samples concentration of TiB2 in the Al-6061 matrix is increased, the sintered density increases, and it is Figure 2 lists the sintered density of Al-TiB composites at 500 ◦ C and 550 ◦ C
The sintered density of the Al-6061 alloy was observed to be 85.12% at 500 ◦ C, concentration up to 10% reduced the density to 92.2%

Summary

Introduction

In the past few decades, metal matrix composites (MMCs) have been extensively used in aviation and automobile industries and defense sectors due to their high toughness, excellent specific strength, and elastic modulus [1]. Its excellent corrosion resistance makes it an appropriate material for marine structural applications [5]. Various causes such as thermal expansion difference, even distribution of reinforcements, and fabrication conditions that distress the mechanical properties have been examined previously [6,7,8]. Ceramic particles have high strength, hardness, low thermal expansion, and high chemical resistance.

Methods

Results

Conclusion