This paper studies the impact of the mass fraction of NiTi-TiB2 particles obtained by the method of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) on the phase composition, structure, and mechanical properties of composites made by direct laser deposition from an Inconel 625-NiTiz-TiB2 powder mixture. Composites were obtained from a powder mixture with the mass fraction of particles at 5-10 wt%, and they consisted of an Inconel 625 metal matrix wherein ceramic inclusions of titanium diboride TiB2 were distributed. Increasing the mass fraction of SHS-produced NiTi particles from 30 to 95 wt% led to the emergence of a NiTi intermetallide phase in the matrix material as well as an increase in the average TiB2 particle size and formation of their agglomerates. In addition, an increase in the microhardness of the materials was observed. The graph of tensile strength of Inconel 625-NiTi-TiB2 samples has a parabolic shape with a maximum at 1000 MPa (when the mass fraction of SHS-produced NiTi-TiB2 particles is at 30 wt%). A further increase in the mass fraction of NiTi-TiB2 led to a decrease in the tensile strength down to 400 MPa. Here the deformation of samples decreases linearly as the ratio of composite particles in the initial mixture increases. From a comparative analysis of the results obtained, the optimal mass fraction of composite NiTi-TiB2 particles in the Inconel 625-NiTi-TiB2 powder mixture was found to be 5 wt%.
Keywords: ceramic particles; composite materials; direct laser deposition; hardness; mechanical strength; phase composition; structure; titanium diboride.