Research on the anti-ablation performance of TiC particle reinforced aluminum matrix composite coating

Abstract

During the electromagnetic rail launching process, the severe ablation of the armature caused by the arc can easily lead to launch failure. Therefore, it is necessary to study methods of enhancing the anti-ablation property of the armature. One effective method is to prepare metal-ceramic composite coating on the surface of aluminium alloy armature. This paper conducts molecular dynamics simulation on the ablation protection effect of TiC particle reinforced aluminum matrix composite coatings on the aluminum armature substrate. By applying a surface Gaussian heat source to simulate the arc ablation effect, the micro-enhancement mechanism of TiC particles is analyzed through the depth of ablation craters, material mass loss, and the evolution of TiC particle morphology. The results show that the degree of material ablation intensifies with the increase of arc discharge power. The composite coating helps to improve the anti-ablation performance of the armature, and the anti-ablation performance first increases and then decreases with the increase of TiC mass fraction. The results can provide a theoretical foundation and technical support for optimizing design of anti-ablation performance of armature materials.