Interface tensile and fracture behavior of the Ti/Al3Ti Metal-Intermetallic Laminate (MIL) composite under quasi-static and high strain rates

A novel specimen was designed to study the interface tensile behavior and fracture mechanism of the Al3Ti Metal-Intermetallic Laminate (MIL) composite under quasi-static and high strain rates. The experimental results indicated that the interface tensile strength of the Ti/Al3Ti MIL composite increases with increasing strain rate. The fracture mechanisms of the Ti/Al3Ti MIL composite are different under quasi-static (similar to 0.001/s) and high strain (similar to 300/s) rates. Generally, fracture only occurs in the interface under quasi-static tensile condition, while the fracture is also found in Al3Ti layer apart from the interface under high strain rate. The quasi-cleavage features are visible in the interface surface of Ti layer in both quasi-static and high strain rates. Moreover, large dimples are found in the fracture surface under high strain rate, and the tearing ridges are more than that under quasi-static strain rate. The brittle Al3Ti layers show an intergranular fracture behavior, along with minor transgranular fractures and secondary micro crack formed in the grain boundary. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.