Mechanical Properties of Titanium Diboride Particles Reinforced Aluminum Alloy Matrix Composites: A Comprehensive Review

Aluminum alloys with silicon, magnesium, and copper were extensively used alloying elements in various applications because of their excellent properties. In recent decades, aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) are an advanced engineering material widely utilized in diverse engineering applications, including aircraft, automobile, marine, and shipbuilding, owing to their low density, lightweight, good stiffness, superior strength, and good tribological properties. Aluminum is abundant and its use is as vast as the ocean. It is also the most used matrix material in the composite arena. Therefore, incorporating a ceramic particle into a relatively soft aluminum matrix improves hardness, strength, stiffness, creep, fatigue, and wear properties instead of the conventional materials. This article is an assay to review and spotlight some recent works on the mechanical behaviors of aluminum-based titanium diboride reinforced metal matrix composite. This review article concentrates on the mechanical properties and the fabrication processes of Al-TiB2 composites to provide a valuable reference to nurture future research precisely.

Synthesis of titanium carbide and titanium diboride for metal processing and ceramics production

Introduction. Titanium carbide and diboride are characterized by high values of hardness, chemical inertness and for this reason are widely used in modern technology. This paper provides information on the synthesis of titanium carbide and diboride by carbothermal and carbide-boron methods, respectively, on the use of titanium carbide as an abrasive and in the manufacture of tungsten-free hard alloys, carbide steels, wear-resistant coatings, as well as titanium diboride in the production of cutting tools and ceramics based on boron carbide The aim of this work is to study the processes of synthesis of highly dispersed powders of titanium carbide and diboride, which are promising for the manufacture of cutting tools, wear-resistant coatings, abrasives and ceramics. Research methods. Titanium oxide TiO2, nanofibrous carbon (NFC), and highly dispersed boron carbide were used as reagents for the synthesis of titanium carbide and diboride. Experiments to obtain titanium carbide were carried out in a resistance furnace, and titanium diboride in an induction furnace. X-ray studies of the phase composition of titanium carbide and diboride samples were carried out on an ARL X-TRA diffractometer (Thermo Electron SA). The determination of the content of titanium and impurities in the samples of titanium carbide and diboride was carried out by the X-ray spectral fluorescence method on an ARL-Advant'x analyzer. The total carbon content in the titanium carbide samples was determined on an S-144 device from LECO. The content of boron and other elements for titanium diboride samples was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP AES) on an IRIS Advantage spectrometer (Thermo Jarrell Ash Corporation). The surface morphology and particle sizes of the samples were studied using a Carl Zeiss Sigma scanning electron microscope (Carl Zeiss). The determination of the particle/aggregate size distribution was performed on a MicroSizer 201 laser analyzer (BA Instruments). Results. The paper proposes technological processes for obtaining highly dispersed powders of titanium carbide and diboride. The optimum synthesis temperature for titanium carbide is 2,000…2,100 oC, and for titanium diboride 1,600…1,700 oC. The content of the basic substance is at the level of 97.5…98.0 wt. %. Discussion. A possible mechanism for the formation of titanium carbide and diboride is proposed, which consists in the transfer of vapors of titanium oxides to the surface of solid carbon (synthesis of titanium carbide) and vapors of boron and titanium oxides to the surface of solid carbon (synthesis of titanium diboride). Due to the high purity and dispersion values, the resulting titanium carbide powder can be used as an abrasive material and for the manufacture of tungsten-free hard alloys, carbide steels, wear-resistant coatings, and titanium diboride powder can be used for the preparation of cutting tools and ceramics based on boron carbide.

Analyzing the Cooling Rate and Its Effect on Distribution of Pattern and Size of the Titanium Diboride Particles Formed

In this work, we synthesize Al/TiB2 metal matrix composites (MMC) based on the effect of cooling rate in the melt while pouring into the permanent mold condition. The objective of this paper is to achieve the desired distribution pattern and increased TiB2 particles’ size in the Al/TiB2 MMC ingot. Two halide salts, viz., potassium hexafluorotitanate (K2TiF6) and potassium tetrafluoroborate (KBF4), are procured and measured. The two salts were mixed with the aluminium melt in the crucible, and it is stirred manually with help of a graphite rod. Because of the exothermic reaction, the melt reacts very quickly and that is what dropped the salts slowly. The salt particles were synthesized because of the exothermic reaction, and it will allow the particles to grow. The size and distribution of particles differ at different place in the MMC. An FEA tool ProCAST was used to analyze the cooling rate of the melt, and SEM is used to study the microstructure of the ingot at different places. The microstructures helped to identify the size of reinforcement in the MMC. The TiB2 particles are distributed more at this location at 810°C, and the TiB2 particles formed various clusters in this zone as 70%–80%. Also, the tribological characteristics are analyzed with the help of the results.

Preparation by SHS-extrusion method of compact ceramic materials based on the Ti‒B system, modified with nanosized Si3N4 particles

Compact ceramic materials based on the Ti‒B system modified with 5 wt. % of nanosized Si3N4 particles. The results of studies of the structure, phase composition, and physical and mechanical characteristics of the materials obtained are presented. It is shown that the addition of Si3N4 promotes the formation of new phases, in particular, titanium diboride and nitride in the final product. It was found that the introduction of modifying nanosized Si3N4 particles into the initial charge leads to an increase in hardness and microhardness by 15‒20 %, as well as to an increase in crack resistance by 1,5 times in comparison with unmodified samples.