Fabrication and mechanical properties of in-situ synthesized (TiB+TiC)/Ti-6242 metal matrix composites

Particulate reinforced titanium matrix composites were manufactured by a novel cost-effective in-situ technique, based on a conventional ingot metallurgy route for titanium alloys, the self-consumable Vacuum Arc Remelting (VAR) process. The reinforcing particulates arc, DB and TiC which are in-situ synthesized in a titanium alloy via the addition of B4C powders. The in-situ formed particulates are fine and uniformly distributed in the titanium matrix. TiB is whisker-like and DC is nearly spherical. Mechanical properties of the in-situ composites are considerably improved, compared with the titanium alloy counterpart both at room and high temperatures.