Machining of titanium metal matrix composites: a short review

Titanium matrix composites (TiMCs) exhibit superior mechanical properties (e.g., high-temperature strength, good wear-resistance performance, excellent corrosion-resistance ability), presenting an extensive application in aerospace, weaponry, and automobile fields. However, achieving high-precision and high-quality machining presents tremendous challenges due to superhard ceramic particles, whiskers and fibers reinforced phases. In this short review, the current research status and progress of TiMCs machining technologies are summarized from the perspectives of traditional cutting, composite energy field machining, forging machining, and additive manufacturing. Furthermore, the influences of different machining technologies on TiMCs are explained at the removal mechanism level. Ultimately, the future development trends of TiMCs machining technologies are briefly summarized and discussed.