Fabrication & Microstructure of TiB2+TiC Duplex Particulates Reinforced Carbon Steel Matrix Surface Composite
This paper presents a novel fabrication process that combines SHS with V-EPC (vacuum expandable pattern casting) and microstructural features of TiB2+TiC duplex particulates reinforced surface composite with carbon steel matrix. Macro structural observation shows that the surface composite is dense and there are no obvious defects. Microstructural investigation demonstrates that the composite from surface to core is consisted of three different layers, i.e., the top surface compound layer, the interim transitional layer and the bottom carbon steel matrix. A large amount of fine TiB2 and TiC duplex particles are evenly distributed in the composite matrix, while the concentration are significantly decreased and non-uniform distribution increased for these particles in the interim layer.