Microstructural, interfacial, and frictional properties of TixCy /Ni composites

This study examines the variation of Ti_xC_y/Ni composite properties during the polishing process using molecular dynamics simulation. Various material parameters and testing conditions, including abrasion depth, abrasion velocity, reinforcement particle derivatives, and reinforcement particle size, are examined, revealing both advantageous and disadvantageous impacts on feedstock characteristics such as supply force, friction coefficient, dislocation distribution, von Mises stress, and displacement vector. The findings indicate that increasing the velocity of the abrasive ball reduces the friction coefficient up to a certain threshold, beyond which it no longer improves and instead increases the density of dislocation distribution within the structure. Strong covalent bonding of TiC aids in reducing the friction coefficient and absorbing the force transmitted from the Ni matrix. Changes in the TiC reinforcement particle radius had minimal impact on polishing and normal force, as larger particles exhibited elastic deformation. However, TiC particles with 12 Å and 15 Å radii formed locked dislocations, significantly hardening the TiC/Ni matrix. This research offers key insights for optimizing TiC/Ni friction characteristics of composites and machining parameters for high-value product fabrication.