This study involved the preparation and characterization of in situ (TiC-TiB2)/Al-4.7Cu-0.32Mg-0.44Si composites with excellent mechanical and abrasive wear properties. The composites were synthesized in an Al-Ti-B4C system by combining combustion reaction synthesis with hot-pressed sintering and hot extrusion. The in situ TiB2 and TiC particles were of multi-scaled sizes ranging from 20 nm to 1.3 μm. The TiB2 and TiC particles effectively increased the yield strength (σ0.2), ultimate tensile strength (σUTS), hardness (HV), and abrasive wear resistance of the composites. The 40 wt.% (TiC-TiB2)/Al-4.7Cu-0.32Mg-0.44Si composite exhibited the highest σ0.2 (569 MPa), σUTS (704 MPa) and hardness (286 HV), which were 74%, 51% and 110% higher than those of the matrix alloy, respectively. Compared with the matrix alloy, the abrasive wear resistance of the 40 wt.% (TiC-TiB2)/Al-4.7Cu-0.32Mg-0.44Si composite was increased by 4.17 times under an applied load of 5 N and Al2O3 abrasive particle size of 13 µm. Micro-ploughing and micro-cutting were the main abrasive wear mechanisms for the Al-Cu-Mg-Si alloy and the composites.
Keywords: Al-Cu-Mg-Si composites; abrasive wear properties; in situ multi-sized TiC-TiB2.