Spark Plasma Sintering and Characterization of Al-TiB₂ Composites

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).

Keywords

• aluminum alloy
• metal matrix composites (MMCs)
• Al-6061TiB₂
• spark plasma sintering
• characterization
• microstructure