Production and Characterization of Titanium Matrix Composites by VHP Route

Discontinuous particulate reinforced metal matrix composites (MMC)’s due to their low cost, ease of manufacturing and relatively good isotropic mechanical properties, form one of the major and important applicative class of composite materials. Titanium being one among the matrix materials (other important ones including Al, Mg, Cu and their alloys) widens its scope of usage due to its high strength to weight ratio, high stiffness, good corrosion resistance and high creep resistance. In the present work discontinuously reinforced titanium matrix composites (TMCs) were synthesized by using CP Ti powder (13μm) and B4C powder of varying particle sizes (165μm, 49μm, 8μm) through powder metallurgy. The blended powder were consolidated by VHP at 1000 ̊C for 1hr. XRD analysis was carried out to conform the extent of the reaction and the types of phases present. Microstructural analyses were carried out. The strength of the composites were evaluated by the three point bend test. The test revealed that the composites have high flexural strength with respect to unreinforced titanium. The fractography of the bend tested samples was carried out using SEM which revealed a mixed mode of fracture for the composites