Fabrication of TiB₂-Al1050 Composites with Improved Microstructural and Mechanical Properties by a Liquid Pressing...

This study was conducted on titanium diboride (TiB₂) reinforced Al metal matrix composites (MMCs) with improved properties using a TiB₂ and aluminum (Al) 1050 alloy. Al composites reinforced with fine TiB₂ at volume ratios of more than 60% were successfully fabricated via the liquid pressing infiltration (LPI) process, which can be used to apply gas pressure at a high temperature. The microstructure of the TiB₂-Al composite fabricated at 1000 °C with pressurization of 10 bar for 1 h showed that molten Al effectively infiltrated into the high volume-fraction TiB₂ preform due to the improved wettability and external gas pressurization. In addition, the interface of TiB₂ and Al not only had no cracks or pores but also had no brittle intermetallic compounds. In conclusion, TiB₂-Al composite, which has a sound microstructure without defects, has improved mechanical properties, such as hardness and strength, due to effective load transfer from the Al matrix to the fine TiB₂ reinforcement.