Effect of TiCp volume fraction and WCp addition on the mechanical properties of TiCp/Cr8Mo2VSi composites

Abstract

Abstract Titanium carbide particles (TiCp) is one of the most commonly used ceramic particles in ceramic- particle-reinforced metal matrix composites. The study prepared TiCp/Cr8Mo2VSi composites using the squeeze casting technique and investigated the effects of different TiCp volume fractions on the mechanical properties, including bending strength and impact toughness. Additionally, the study added tungsten carbide particles (WCp) powder to the preform to examine its effect on the mechanical properties of the composites. The study found that as the volume fraction of TiCp increased, the bending strength of the composites decreased gradually. The highest bending strength of 642.7 MPa was observed at 35% volume fraction. The impact toughness showed a small change, approximately 1.7 J cm−2. Upon the addition of WCp powder (with a mass fraction of 5.0 wt% and TiCp volume fraction of 50%), the bending strength and impact toughness of the composites were 375.2 MPa and 2.1 J cm−2, respectively. Compared to the composites without WCp powder (105.4 MPa, 1.7 J cm−2), the addition of WCp powder resulted in a 256.0% increase in bending strength and a 23.5% increase in impact toughness.