The effects of thermal deformation temperatures on microstructure and mechanical properties of TiBw/Ti60 composites synthesized by SPS

In this work, 1vol.%, 3vol.% and 5vol.% TiBw/Ti60 composites were fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 1150 °C with Ti60 powder and B powder. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that micro-nano enhancement TiBw can be obtained by SPS and the network structure were formed in the 3vol.% TiBw/Ti60 composites. The tensile properties of composites with different volume fraction at 600 °C show that 3vol.% TiBw/Ti60 composites have optimum comprehensive mechanical properties. The microstructure of thermal deformation of the 3vol.% TiBw/Ti60 composites shows that the matrix grains recrystallized at 1050 °C and the grains were refined. The tensile strength and elongation of the composites increased at first and then decreased with the increase of thermal deformation temperature. Highest values for flexural strength (∼752 MPa) and elongation (∼7.03%) were attained at 1050 °C, respectively. The strengthening mechanism can be mainly attributed to the directional arrangement of reinforcements and the grain refinement of the matrix.