Mechanical and microstructure characterization of aluminium-copper (Al-Cu) reinforced with in situ titanium diboride (TiB2)

• Main Authors: Ramli, Rosmamuhamadani, Sulaiman, Shamsuddin, Hanim, Mohamed Ariff Azmah, Ismail, Mohd Idris Shah, Talari, Mahesh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Trans Tech Publications 2016
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54766/1/Mechanical%20and%20microstructure%20characterization%20of%20aluminium-copper%20%28Al-Cu%29%20reinforced%20with%20in%20situ%20titanium%20diboride%20%28TiB2%29.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54766/; https://www.scientific.net/KEM.673.117

Aluminium based in-situ metal matrix composites (MMCs) have better properties and performance when compared to ex-situ MMCs. In this research, aluminium-copper (Al-Cu) alloy was reinforced with 1 to 6wt.% titanium diboride (TiB2). Al-MMCs has been fabricated with salt route reaction process at 800 °C via potassium hexafluorotitanate (K2TiF6) and potassium tetrafluoroborate (KBF4) salts. Al-Cu composites reinforced with 1,2, 3 and 6wt.% TiB2 then will be characterized their mechanical properties and microstructure. From results obtained, increased TiB2 contents will increased the value of tensile and hardness properties of Al-Cu alloy. The composites synthesized using in-situ techniques exhibit the presence a uniform distribution of reinforcement that tends to be fine and associated with a clean interface with the metallic matrix. In order to achieve a good mechanical and wear properties it is important to control Al3Ti phase formation during the synthesis of in situ Al-Cu/TiB2 composites.