Processing and Characterization of β Titanium Alloy Composite Using Power Metallurgy Approach

Abstract

The β titanium alloy matrix composite was made from a mixture of elemental metal powders, including boron carbide. During the high-temperature sintering process, in situ synthesis took place as a result of the TiB and TiC reinforcing phases formed. The identification of these phases was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and microstructural analyses. The presence of unreacted B4C particles and the surrounding reaction layers allowed for the evaluation of diffusion kinetics of alloying elements using SEM and EDS analyses. The direction of diffusion of the alloying elements in the multicomponent titanium alloy and their influence on the in situ synthesis reaction taking place were determined. In addition, the relationship between the microstructural components, strengthening phases, and hardness was also determined. It was shown that in situ reinforcement of titanium alloy produced from a mixture of elemental powders with complex chemical composition is possible under the proposed conditions. Thus, it has been demonstrated that sufficiently high temperature and adequate holding time allows one to understand the kinetics of the synthesis of the strengthening phases, which have been shown to be controlled by the concentrations of alloying elements.