Enhanced high-temperature compressive strength of TiC reinforced stainless steel matrix composites fabricated by liquid pressing infiltration process

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2020-03, Vol.817, p.152714, Article 152714
• Main Authors: Cho, Seungchan, Lee, Yeong-Hwan, Ko, Sungmin, Park, Hyeonjae, Lee, Donghyun, Shin, Sangmin, Jo, Ilguk, Kim, Yangdo, Lee, Sang-Bok, Lee, Sang-Kwan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Compressive strength; High temperature environments; High-temperature compressive strength; Infiltration; Metal matrix composites; Metal matrix composites (MMCs); Pressing; Stainless steel; Stainless steels; Temperature; Titanium carbide; Titanium carbide (TiC)
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.152714

High-temperature compressive strengths of titanium carbide (TiC) reinforced stainless steel composites fabricated by liquid pressing infiltration process were investigated at various temperatures. Effect of TiC on compressive strength of SUS431 was found to increase with increasing testing temperature. TiC reinforcement successfully suppressed softening of SUS431 matrix, resulting in about 5 times higher strength than that of SUS431 at 1050 °C. The novel SUS431 composites reinforced with uniformly dispersed, high volume fraction TiC show great promise for applications in high-temperature environments. •Fabrication of lightweight, high strength TiC–SUS431 composites using a novel infiltration process.•Improvements in high-temperature compressive strengths of about 2.6–5.1 times compared to those of the SUS431 alloy.•TiC cleavage fracture with no interfacial debonding between TiC and the steel matrix.•Increased ductility of the composite at about 1050 °C.•54% higher compressive strength than that of Rene95 superalloy at 1050 °C.