Development of TiB and nanocrystalline Ti-reinforced novel hybrid Ti nanocomposite produced by powder metallurgy

• Published in: Journal of materials science 2022-02, Vol.57 (6), p.4130-4144
• Main Authors: Angel, D. A., Mikó, T., Kristály, F., Benke, M., Gácsi, Z.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Classical Mechanics; Composites & Nanocomposites; Compressive strength; Crystallography and Scattering Methods; Hardness; Hybrid composites; Materials Science; Nanocomposites; Nanocrystals; Polymer Sciences; Powder metallurgy; Sintering (powder metallurgy); Solid Mechanics; Thermal decomposition; Titanium diboride; Transformations; Vacuum sintering; Whisker composites; Whiskers (metals); X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-021-06833-x

Titanium monoboride (TiB) whisker-reinforced titanium (Ti) matrix composites were produced by powder metallurgy, through vacuum sintering. TiB is formed by thermal decomposition of TiB 2 precursor. In addition, a new hybrid composite was developed by admixing nanograined and nanocrystalline (more important) Ti to enhance the transformation mechanism of TiB 2 to TiB phase. The morphology and particle size of the initial powders, mixtures and the microstructure of the composites have been studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The phase analysis and transformation monitoring were performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The sintered composites were also subjected to compressive strength and hardness measurements. According to XRD results, through the addition of nanocrystalline Ti, a probable enhancement of the TiB 2  → TiB transformation occurred producing more TiB whiskers in the hybrid composites. All samples of the hybrid composites exhibited improved yield strength (1365 MPa) and hardness (358 HV) compared to the non-hybrid ones 927 MPa and 254 HV, respectively. Graphical abstract