Microstructure and tensile properties of in situ synthesized nano-sized TiCx/2009Al composites

• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2015.04.033
• Publication Date: 2015-04-22T06:30:57Z
• Authors: Lei Wang; Feng Qiu; Jingyuan Liu; Huiyuan Wang; Jinguo Wang; Lin Zhu; Qichuan Jiang
• Keywords: 0205 materials engineering; 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology

Abstract Nano-sized TiC x /2009Al composites with 10–30 vol.% TiC x were fabricated via combustion synthesis combined with vacuum hot pressing followed by hot extrusion. The composites were investigated and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The sizes of the synthesized nano-sized TiC x particles increased with increasing TiC x content. After hot extrusion, the nano-sized TiC x particles become more uniformly distributed in the 2009Al matrix. Tensile testing showed that, with increasing TiC x content, the fracture strain ( e f ) of nano-sized TiC x /2009Al composites decreased at both room temperature and 493 K, while the yield strength ( σ 0.2 ) and tensile strength ( σ b ) increased first and then decreased. In contrast to the 2009Al processed by powder metallurgy, the tensile strength of the present 20 vol.% TiC x /2009Al composites increased ∼15.3% at room temperature, and ∼41.3% at 493 K, respectively.