Effect of Sintering Temperatures, Reinforcement Size on Mechanical Properties and Fortification Mechanisms on the Particle Size Distribution of B4C, SiC and ZrO2 in Titanium Metal Matrix Composites

Birhane Assefa Gemeda; Devendra Kumar Sinha; Gyanendra Kumar Singh; Abdulaziz H Alghtani; Vineet Tirth; Ali Algahtani; Getinet Asrat Mengesha; Gulam Mohammed Sayeed Ahmed; Nazia Hossain

doi:10.3390/ma15165525

Effect of Sintering Temperatures, Reinforcement Size on Mechanical Properties and Fortification Mechanisms on the Particle Size Distribution of B₄C, SiC and ZrO₂ in Titanium Metal Matrix Composites

Materials (Basel). 2022 Aug 12;15(16):5525. doi: 10.3390/ma15165525.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Program of Mechanical Design and Manufacturing Engineering, School of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Adama Science and Technology University, Adama 1888, Ethiopia.
² Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Asir, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, Guraiger, P.O.Box 9004, Abha 61413, Asir, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Adama Science and Technology University, Adama 1888, Ethiopia.
⁶ Center of Excellence (COE) for Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, Program of Mechanical Design and Manufacturing Engineering, School of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Adama Science and Technology University, Adama 1888, Ethiopia.
⁷ School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia.

Abstract

Titanium metal matrix composites/TMMCs are reinforced ceramic reinforcements that have been developed and used in the automotive, biological, implants, and aerospace fields. At high temperatures, TMMCs can provide up to 50% weight reduction compared to monolithic super alloys while maintaining comparable quality or state of strength. The objective of this research was the analysis and evaluation of the effect/influence of different sintering temperatures, reinforcement size dependence of mechanical properties, and fortification mechanisms on the particle size distribution of B₄C, SiC, and ZrO₂ reinforced TMMCs that were produced and fabricated by powder metallurgy/PM. SEM, XRD, a Rockwell hardness tester, and the Archimedes principle were used in this analysis. The composites' hardness, approximation, tensile, yielding, and ultimate strength were all increased. As the composite was reinforced with low-density ceramics material and particles, its density decreased. The volume and void content in all the synthesized specimens is below 1%; this is the result of good sample densification, mechanical properties and uniform distribution of the reinforced particle samples; 5% B₄C, 12.5% SiC, 7.5% ZrO₂, 75% Ti develop higher mechanical properties, such as higher hardness, approximation tensile, yielding, and ultimate strength and low porosity.

Keywords: B4C; SiC; ZrO2; particulates reinforcements; titanium matrix composites.

Grants and funding

(R.G.P-2/140/43). and (TURSP-2020/349),/The authors also extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through General Research Program under grant number (R.G.P-2/140/43). The research was supported by the Taif University Resea