Mechanistic studies in combustion synthesis of NiAl–TiB2 composites: Effects of gravity

Abstract

Combustion synthesis (CS) of NiAl-based materials reinforced by TiB2 particles was investigated under both terrestrial and microgravity conditions. The synthesized metal matrix composites (MMC) are characterized by very fine (<1 μm) reinforced particulates, which have strong bonding along their entire surface with matrix (NiAl) and are distributed uniformly in it. It was found that microgravity leads to a decrease in the average TiB2 particle size, while higher volume fraction of NiAl component in the material leads to the formation of coarser reinforced particulates. The mechanism of structure formation of different MMCs during CS was identified by using the quenching technique. For example, it was shown that TiB2 grains appear due to crystallization from the complex (Ni–Al–Ti–B) liquid solution formed in the combustion front. An overall decrease of microstructural transformation rates was observed under microgravity.