Effects of Zr Addition on Microstructure and Properties of TiC/Ti6Al4V Composites

In-situ TiC/Ti6Al4V composites were prepared by a melting-casting method and the effects of Zr addition on the microstructure, compression property and abrasive property of the TiC/Ti6Al4V composites were studied. The results show that when the Zr addition content is in the range of I %-4% (mass fraction, similarly hereinafter), the morphology of the primary TiC in the composites is dendrite, with the petal-shape, piece-shape or palpus-shape eutectic TiC around the primary TiC. The average size of the primary TiC decreases, the amount of eutectic TiC increases and the abrasive property and compression property increase gradually with increasing Zr content. When the Zr content is 6%-10%, the primary TiC becomes developed again, and the abrasive property and compression property decrease with the increasing of Zr content. The compression strength of the composites is up to the peak value when the Zr content is 4%.