Nano TiC-Graphene-Cu composites fabrication by a modified ball-milling method followed by reactive sintering: Effects of reinforcements content on microstructure,consolidation, and mechanical properties

A two-step mechanical milling followed by a reactive sintering process was used to synthesize Nano TiC-Graphene-Cu composites from a mixture of Cu, Ti, and Graphene (GN) powders in four different compositions, and effects of reinforcements content on the microstructure and mechanical properties were studied. The results showed that a part of GN reacted with Ti atoms in the matrix, leading to the successful formation of hybrid nanocomposites. Uniform distribution of in-situ TiC with nanometer size and unreacted GN in the nanostructured Cu (Ti) solid solution were obtained. Addition of high percentage of the reinforcements led to an increase in the porosity and microhardness, coarsening of TiC nanoparticles, and decreasing the grain size of the matrix after sintering. The simultaneous presence of GN and TiC nanoparticles in the Cu matrix improved the hardness and wear resistance and reduced the friction coefficient by self-lubricating behavior. The nanocomposite with the nominal composition of Ti-40 vol % TiC showed the highest wear resistance and the lowest friction coefficient.     

Microstructures and properties of nickel-titanium carbide composites fabricated by laser cladding

In this work, Ni/TiC composites were synthesized by the laser cladding technique (LCT). A scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), microhardness meter, electrochemical workstation, and friction and wear tester examined the microstructure, surface morphology, phase structure, microhardness, wear, and corrosion resistances of the Ni/TiC composites. These results indicated the Ni/40TiC composite contained finer equiaxed crystals than the Ni and Ni/20TiC composites. In addition, numerous TiC particles in the Ni/40TiC composite impeded growth of the nickel crystals, which resulted in the fine microstructure of the Ni/40TiC composite. The Ni, Ni/20TiC, and Ni/40TiC composites exhibited face-centered cubic (f c c) lattices. The average microhardness values of the Ni/20TiC and Ni/40TiC composites were approximately 748 HV and 851 HV, respectively. The Ni/40TiC composite had the lowest friction coefficient (0.43) among all three coatings, and only some shallow scratches appeared on the surface of the Ni/40TiC composite. The corrosion potential (E) of Ni/40TiC exceeded the Ni/20TiC composite, and both were larger than the Ni composite, which indicated the Ni/40TiC composite had outstanding corrosion resistance and the Ni composite had poor corrosion resistance. The corrosion current densities (i) of Ni, Ni/20TiC, and Ni/40TiC composites were 5.912, 4.405, and 3.248 μA/cm², respectively.     

Developing high-performance laminated Cu/TiC composites through melt infiltration of Ni-doped freeze-cast preforms

Nacre-inspired laminated composites have been proven to possess a unique combination of strength and toughness. In this study, we fabricated nacre-mimetic Cu/TiC composites via unidirectional freezing of aqueous TiC slurries containing different amounts of NiO additives, followed by ice sublimation, carbothermal reduction of NiO to Ni during sintering and then gas-pressure infiltration of the Cu melt. The introduction of Ni greatly facilitated the densification of ceramic lamellae and enhanced the interfacial bonding between Cu and TiC. The resultant composites displayed outstanding damage tolerance and anisotropic electrical conductivities. Specifically, for an ～31?vol% TiC–Cu composite containing 24?wt% Ni in the ceramic lamellae (based on the TiC content), a fracture toughness (K_Jc) of 72.5?±?1.0?MPa·m^1/2, work of fracture of 53.4?±?3.5?kJ/m², bending strength of 725?±?11?MPa and longitudinal electrical conductivity of 22.7?MS/m (～60% of the Cu matrix) were achieved, which were approx. 81%, 536%, 122% and 97% higher than those of the Ni-free composite, respectively. Noticeable toughening was demonstrated to be a consequence of multiple cracking, plastic deformation and uncracked-ligament bridging of the metal layers, as well as crack deflection and blunting. On the other hand, significant strengthening resulted from tailoring the microstructures in the ceramic layers and at the Cu/TiC interface as a result of Ni doping. We believe that the facile strategy adopted herein provides an effective way to solve the problems of wetting and bonding related to metal infiltration and can be readily extended to the preparation of other nacre-inspired metal?ceramic composites.     

石墨烯增强钛基复合材料制备工艺与性能研究

以多层石墨烯为增强体,通过熔炼锻造(MF)和粉末冶金(PM) 2种工艺分别制备出规格为Φ10 mm的石墨烯增强钛基复合材料棒材。石墨烯在凝固过程中以TiC枝晶形态析出,变形后呈细小颗粒,其中Ti和C原子比约为2∶1。石墨烯和球形钛粉经过机械合金化和变形加工,在基体中反应形成薄片层。MF工艺对应的棒材拉伸强度可达476 MPa,延伸率保持在28%; PM工艺对应的棒材拉伸强度可达487 MPa,延伸率保持在30%。PM工艺可形成尺寸较小的薄片状石墨烯增强体,强化作用提升,同时塑性没有显著下降。     

卷取温度对超低碳T-3CA第二相析出的影响

 为研究卷取温度对超低碳T-3 CA中第二相粒子析出行为的影响，采用金相、TEM等检测手段，分析了580、630、680 ℃ 3个典型卷取温度下超低碳T 3 CA中第二相粒子的析出特性，结果发现卷取温度越高，热轧形成的TiC粒子尺寸越粗大，分布越稀疏。结合相关动力学计算分析了卷取温度对TiC粒子沉淀析出时临界晶核尺寸、相对形核率、相对沉淀析出时间的影响。结果表明，随着卷取温度由580提高到680 ℃，TiC粒子沉淀析出时临界晶核尺寸增大约1.0 nm，相对形核率降低约1.0个数量级，相对沉淀析出孕育时间增大约0.8个数量级。     

Optimization of C/TiCx duplex diffusion barrier coatings for SiCf/Ti composites based on interfacial structure evolution exploration

Introducing a carbon single coating is a popular method used to protect SiC_f/Ti composites from severe interface reactions. However, carbon coatings lose their protective effect on SiC fibres at high temperature, even after a short period time. As such, given the strong demand for high temperature applications in aeronautics and astronautics a more coating which is more effective at high temperatures is desirable. In order to improve the high temperature interfacial stability of SiC_f/Ti composites, a C/TiC_x duplex coating system with different C contents in TiC_x was introduced to explore the protection of fibres at 1200?°C for 1?h. The results show that the C/quasi-stoichiometric TiC coating system protects the SiC fibres most effectively. Based on insights from the evolution of the interface structure, TiC_x has been identified as an interfacial reaction product from the C single coating, exhibiting a gradient in C content and grain size, which is different from a deposited TiC layer with a well-distributed composition and structure. The different coating structure gives rise to different ability to resist C diffusion at high temperatures, in which poor resistance ability appears in TiC_x interfacial reaction layer coming from C single coating due to short-circuit diffusion in C-rich fine-grained TiC layer and fast intracrystalline diffusion trigged by amounts of vacancies in sub-stoichiometric coarse-grained TiC layer. Therefore, C/quasi-stoichiometric TiC duplex coatings with a thick, coarse-grained quasi-stoichiometric TiC layer could effectively inhibit C diffusion by comparison to C single coatings, and is more effective than C/rich-carbon TiC duplex coatings due to the existence of short-circuit diffusion in the latter. As such, C/quasi-stoichiometric TiC duplex coatings appear to be an optimal diffusion barrier for SiC_f/Ti composites at high temperature.     

Deformation and fracture mechanisms of in situ synthesized TiC reinforced TC4 matrix composites produced by selective laser melting

In this study, TiC/TC4 composites were fabricated using selective laser melting (SLM), and the deformation mechanism and fracture characteristics of the composites with nano-sized TiC particles formed in situ were studied. The experimental results showed that the rapid melting and solidification characteristics of SLM and the Marangoni effect of the liquid pool promoted a considerably homogeneous dispersion of the in situ-formed nanoscale-TiC reinforcement in the TiC/TC4 composites. In particular, an enhanced compressive strength of 1490.2 MPa and a considerable fracture elongation of 21.5% were simultaneously achieved for the TiC/TC4 composites, which could be attributed to the load transfer effect and the formation of denser and more uniformly distributed dimples. Combined with the finite element (FE) analysis, the uneven stress distribution in the shear band of the TiC/TC4 composites led to the fracture. Further, the fracture surface analysis showed that the in situ nanoscale TiC reinforcement promoted the fracture of microbubbles from the α/β interface with the concentrated distribution of the V element to the interface between TiC and the Ti matrix because of the load transfer, which promoted the uniform distribution of the V element in the dimple.     

Solid-state joining of SiC using a thin Ti3AlC2, TiC,or Ti filler

SiC monoliths containing 5 wt.% Al₂O₃-Y₂O₃ additive were joined using a thin Ti₃AlC_2, TiC, or Ti filler. After joining at 1900 °C for 5 h under 3.5 MPa, the joint properties were compared in terms of the microstructure, phase evolution, joining strength, and possible elimination of the joining layer. Although all samples showed a sound joint, the microstructure differed according to the filler. SiC joined with Ti₃AlC₂ filler showed an indistinguishable joining interface due to the filler decomposition followed by solid-state diffusion into the SiC base, whereas TiC filler remained at the interface without showing decomposition or diffusion. In contrast, the Ti filler showed a possible elimination of the joining layer because of the diffusion of Ti and the formation of TiC. The mean joining strengths for the Ti₃AlC₂, TiC, and Ti fillers were 300, 234, and 248 MPa, respectively, which were comparable to that of the base SiC material (250 MPa).     

Beneficial role of carbon black on the properties of TiC ceramics

This investigation aimed to study the influence of carbon black on the qualifications of TiC-based materials. For this objective, two samples, namely monolithic TiC and TiC-5 wt% carbon black were sintered by spark plasma sintering (SPS) method at 1900 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were used to characterize the as-sintered samples. Introducing carbon black enhanced the relative density of TiC significantly, reaching a near fully dense substance. Phase analysis and microstructural studies manifested the formation of non-stoichiometric TiC_x in both ceramics. Although the introduction of carbonaceous additive considerably increased the thermal conductivity and flexural strength of TiC, standing at 25.1 W/mK and 658 MPa, respectively, its influence on the Vickers hardness was trivial (both ~ 3200 HV_0.1 kg). Finally, the composite specimen presented a lower coefficient of friction (~ 0.31) on average compared to the undoped TiC (~ 0.34).     

时效处理对高频感应熔覆TiC/Ni复合涂层的组织及性能影响

为了改善抽油杆材料的表面性能,采用高频感应熔覆技术在其表面制备了TiC/Ni复合涂层。采用光学显微镜、扫描电镜(SEM)、能谱仪(EDS)、X射线衍射仪(XRD)等研究了涂层经固溶及不同时间时效处理后的显微组织及物相组成,并利用显微硬度计及摩擦磨损实验测试了时效后涂层的性能变化。结果表明:经固溶时效后的涂层并未出现明显缺陷,涂层主要以γ-Ni固溶体、Ni的化合物、CrB、碳化物以及δ相等硬质颗粒组成;时效后涂层的最大硬度达到928.2 HV0.2,相比时效前提高了4%,最低磨损量为48.9 mg,比基材减少了62%,在时效4 h后,涂层的综合性能最好。