TiB whiskers reinforced high temperature titanium Ti60 alloy composites with novel network microstructure

TiB whiskers reinforced high temperature titanium Ti60 alloy (TiBw/Ti60) composites with a novel network microstructure have been successfully fabricated by the system of large spherical Ti60 powders and fine TiB2 powders. The results show that the minimum temperature fabricating the composites by reaction hot pressing (RHP) is established to be 1300 degrees C due to usage of high temperature titanium Ti60 alloy. The TiB whiskers are in situ synthesized around large Ti60 matrix particles and then formed a novel three-dimensional (3D) network microstructure. The tensile strength of 8 vol.% TiBw/Ti60 composites with a network microstructure is increased by 61.1%, 57.4% and 45.5% compared with that of the monolithic Ti60 alloy at 600 degrees C, 700 degrees C and 800 degrees C, respectively. The superior improvement can be mainly attributed to the network microstructure, grain refinement and usage of large spherical Ti60 powders. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.