Effect of Sintering Temperatures, Reinforcement Size on Mechanical Properties and Fortification Mechanisms on the Particle Size Distribution of B₄C, SiC and ZrO₂ in Titanium Metal Matrix Composites

Abstract

Titanium metal matrix composites/TMMCs are reinforced ceramic reinforcements that have been developed and used in the automotive, biological, implants, and aerospace fields. At high temperatures, TMMCs can provide up to 50% weight reduction compared to monolithic super alloys while maintaining comparable quality or state of strength. The objective of this research was the analysis and evaluation of the effect/influence of different sintering temperatures, reinforcement size dependence of mechanical properties, and fortification mechanisms on the particle size distribution of B4C, SiC, and ZrO2 reinforced TMMCs that were produced and fabricated by powder metallurgy/PM. SEM, XRD, a Rockwell hardness tester, and the Archimedes principle were used in this analysis. The composites’ hardness, approximation, tensile, yielding, and ultimate strength were all increased. As the composite was reinforced with low-density ceramics material and particles, its density decreased. The volume and void content in all the synthesized specimens is below 1%; this is the result of good sample densification, mechanical properties and uniform distribution of the reinforced particle samples; 5% B4C, 12.5% SiC, 7.5% ZrO2, 75% Ti develop higher mechanical properties, such as higher hardness, approximation tensile, yielding, and ultimate strength and low porosity.

Keywords

• titanium matrix composites
• particulates reinforcements
• B₄C
• SiC
• ZrO₂