Modulating Electrical Properties of Ti64/B₄C Composite Materials via Laser Direct Manufacturing with Varying B₄C...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Electromagnetics

Background:

• Tailoring electrical properties of composite materials is crucial for advanced applications like electromagnetic shielding and absorption.
• Titanium alloy (Ti64) composites with Boron Carbide (B4C) offer potential for enhanced electromagnetic performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the electromagnetic properties of Ti64/B4C composites fabricated via Laser Direct Manufacturing (LDM).
• To understand how varying B4C content influences dielectric and magnetic properties for electromagnetic applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of coaxial Ti64/B4C composite samples using LDM with varying TiB and TiC ratios and thicknesses (0.5-3.5 mm).
• Electrical characterization including dielectric and magnetic permeability, impedance, and reflectance measurements from 2 to 18 GHz.

Main Results:

• TiC addition to Ti64 resulted in low reflectivity (-40 dB) between 7-14 GHz due to strong dielectric polarization.
• TiB addition demonstrated effective electromagnetic absorption (reflectivity below -10 dB) from 8.5-11.5 GHz.
• Lower B4C content enhanced electronic polarization and dielectric coefficient; higher content favored ionic polarization, decreasing the dielectric coefficient.

Conclusions:

• Adjusting B4C content in Ti64/B4C composites allows for effective modulation of electrical properties.
• These findings suggest a strategic approach for designing materials with specific electromagnetic functions, such as shielding and absorption.