In-situ intermetallic matrix composites fabricated by MA-PDS process

In-situ intermetallic matrix composites were fabricated by the MA-PDS process. The matrix was Fe-28 at.%Al and in-situ reinforcements were TiC and TiB/sub 2/. Mechanical alloying was carried out using a vibratory mill. For the TiC reinforced composites, milling time was systematically changed from 1 to 400 hours to observe the effect of milling parameters. For the TiB/sub 2/ reinforced composites, volume fraction of reinforcements was systematically changed from 0 to 25 at.%. Mechanically alloyed powders were sintered in the plasma discharge sintering system. Fe/sub 3/Al matrix and in-situ reinforcements, TiC and TiB particles, were successfully synthesized by in-situ process using MA-PDS.