Microstructural characterization and mechanical properties of(TiC+TiB)/TA15 composites prepared by an in-situ synthesis method

Titanium matrix composites reinforced with ceramic particles are considered a promising engineering material due to their combination of high specific strength,low density,and high modulus.In this study,the TA15-based composites reinforced with a volume fraction of 10% to 25%(TiB+TiC)were prepared using powder metallurgy and casting technique.Microstructural characterization and phase constitution were examined using optical microscopy(OM),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),and X-ray diffraction(XRD).In addition,the microhardness,room temperature(RT)and high temperature(HT)tensile properties of the composites were evaluated.Results revealed that the reinforcements are distributed uniformly even in the composites with a high volume of TiB and TiC.However,as the volume fraction exceeds 15%,TiB and TiC particles become coarsening and exhibit rod-like and dendritic-like morphology.Microhardness increases gradually from 321.2 HV for the base alloy to a maximum of 473.3 HV as the reinforcement increases to 25vol.%.Tensile test results indicate that a reinforcement volume fraction above 20% is beneficial for enhancing tensile strength and yield strength at high temperatures,but it has an adverse effect on room temperature elongation.Conversely,if the reinforcement volume fraction is below 20%,it can improve high-temperature elongation when the temperature exceeds 600℃.

In-situ homogeneous synthesis of carbon nanotubes on aluminum matrix and properties of their composites

Using nickel catalyst supported on aluminum powders, carbon nanotubes （CNTs） were successfully synthesized in aluminum powders by in-situ chemical vapor deposition at 650 ℃. Structural characterization revealed that the as-grown CNTs possessed higher graphitization degree and straight graphite shell. By this approach, more homogeneous dispersion of CNTs in aluminum powders was achieved compared with the traditional mechanical mixture methods. Using the in-situ synthesized CNTs/Al composite powders and powder metallurgy process, CNTs/Al bulk composites were prepared. Performance testing showed that the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of the composites were improved obviously, which was attributed to the superior dispersion of CNTs in aluminum matrix and the strong interfacial bonding between CNTs and matrix.

In-situ synthesis of Al_3Ti particles reinforced Al-based composite coating

Using titanium wires （99.5%, 200 μm in diameter） as a reactive source, an Al-based composite coating reinforced by titanium tri-aluminide （A13Ti） particles was fabricated by infiltration plus in-situ methods. According to the differential thermal analysis （DTA） curve, the reactive temperature between Ti wires and A1 matrix can be determined at 890 ℃. The obtained composite coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, and microhardness and wear test. The experimental results show that when holding period is 20 min at 890℃, the titanium wires react completely to in-situ synthesize Al3Ti particles, which presents blocky and strip-like states. The microhardness of in-situ synthesized Al3Ti particles is about 4.5 times that of the Al-matrix. Under the condition of dry sliding at 10 N load, compared with the unreinforced Al matrix, the composite coating fabricated with 20 min offers unique wear resistance behavior, and its wear mechanism is that the adhesive wear and abrasive wear coexist.

Study of the Performance and Microstructure of CeB_6/B_4C Ceramic Composite via in-situ Synthesis

CeB6/B4C ceramic composite was fabricated by hot-pressed sintering via in-situ synthesis reaction among B4C, CeOand C. The effects of CeB6 content on the performance and microstructure of CeB6/B4C composites were investigated. As the content of CeB6 was 2.42%, the microhardness of CeB6/B4C composite reached the maximum of 40.64 GPa, which was higher than that of monolithic B4C by 52.5%. As the content of CeB6 was 4.89%, the flexibility strength and the fracture toughness of CeB6/B4C composite reached the peak values of 346.7 MPa and 5.95 MPa·m1/2 respectively, which were higher than those of monolithic B4C by 17.96% and 61.7% respectively. The integrated mechanical property of CeB6/B4C ceramic composite with the 4.89% CeB6 content is optimal. It was also found that as in-situ synthesis of CeB6, the crystal grain growth was inhibited, and crystallite arrangement was so compact that the pores gradually reduced. The main fracture mode of CeB6/B4C ceramic composite was intercrystalline rupture, while the transcrystalline rupture was minor.

Synthesis of Ti_3SiC_2/TiB_2 Composite by In-situ Hot Pressing (HP) Method

Ti3SiC2/TiB2 composite was successfully obtained by hot pressing Ti/TiC/Si/B4C power mixtures.Volume fraction of TiB2 in Ti3SiC2/TiB2 composite can not exceed 10%.Incorporation of excessive TiB2 will affect the reactions process.TiC and Ti5Si3 were two important intermediate phases during the whole reactions.The microstructure characteristics of the Ti3SiC2/TiB2 composites were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and transmission electron microscopy （TEM）.The experimental results show that the grains of Ti3SiC2/TiB2 composite are structured in a layered form,and the formation of TiB2 particles as reinforcements with elongated or equiaxed shape distributes in Ti3SiC2 matrix.

In-Situ Synthesis and Characteristics of TiC-Fe Cermet Graded Composite Coating on a Steel Substrate

By means of an inherent elevated-temperature of poured liquid steel,a Ti-C-30wt%Fe preform,which was pre-placed in a mould cavity,was directly ignited and a combustion synthesis reaction took place.As a result,a TiC-Fe cermet coating with a thickness of about 10mm was simultaneously synthesized on the solidified steel matrix.The synthesized coating exhibits a feature of graded composite structure,in which both the amount and size of TiC particles decrease gradually with an increasing distance from the furface of the coating.Moreover,by a proper casting technique,the pores formed during the combustion synthesis of the preform could be centrally distributed in 2-3mm in outer layer of the coating.When this outer porous layer was worn off,the rest coating with a thickness of about 8mm possesses a dense structure and a high abrasive wear resistance.

Center Distance and Pouring Temperature on in-situ Synthesis of WC_P/Fe Composite Coating

Tungsten carbide （WC） particles can be in-situ synthesized through the reaction between tungsten wires and molten of gray cast iron. The different composite coatings were obtained by adjusting the pouring temperature and the center distance of tungsten wires, and were comparatively observed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and two-body abrasive wear tests. The results show that the intensities of the WC peaks increase by the increasing pouring temperature, and firstly become strong and then weak by the increasing center distance. In case of the pouring temperature 1 400 ℃ and the center distance 0.5mm, the formed WC particles present quadrilateral and triangle-structure and are homogenously distributed in the matrix. The wear rate of the composite coatings for stable center distance gradually increases by increasing the loads, however, at a constant pouring temperature, it firstly decreases from 5.91 to 2.97 mg/cm2·h, and slightly increases to 3.98 mg/cm2·h by increasing the center distance.

In-Situ Synthesis of AlN Powders and Composite AlN Powders with Yttrium Addition

Using Al Mg and Al Mg Y alloys as raw materials and nitrogen as gas reactants, AlN powders and composite AlN powders by in situ synthesis method were prepared. AlN lumps prepared by the nitriding of Al Mg and Al Mg Y alloys have porous microstructure, which is favorable for pulverization. They have high purity, containing 1.23%(mass fraction) oxygen impurity, and consisted of AlN single phase. The average particle size of AlN powders is 6.78 μm. Composite AlN powders consist of AlN phases and rare earth oxide Y 2O 3 phase. The distribution of particle size of AlN powders shows two peaks. In view of packing factor, AlN powders with such size distribution can easily be sintered to high density.

Machinability Study of Al-5Cu-TiB₂In-situ Metal Matrix Composites Fabricated by Flux-assisted Synthesis

In-situ composites are multiphase materials where the reinforcing phase is synthesized by a chemical reaction. The reinforcement generated by this route is very small in size and homogeneously distributed in the matrix. Adoption of the engineering application of this material requires a systematic study of machinability characteristics. This work is an attempt to understand the machinability behavior of the Al-5Cu-TiB2 in-situ metal matrix composites fabricated by Flux-assisted Synthesis. The focus of this study is to investigate the effect of the cutting speed and feed rate on flank wear, cutting force, and surface roughness. The contribution of this paper is to study the influence of in-situ-formed TiB2 reinforcement on the machinability of Al-5Cu alloy. It was found that the increase in cutting speed increased the flank wear, reduced the cutting force, and minimized the surface roughness. Increase in the feed rate increased the flank wear, cutting force, and surface roughness. A higher reinforcement ratio increased the tool wear, reduced the cutting force, and increased the surface roughness. These findings can provide suitable machining parameters in turning of Al-5Cu-TiB2 in-situ metal matrix composites.

Microstructure and evolution of(TiB_2+Al_2O_3)/NiAl composites prepared by self-propagation high-temperature synthesis

（TiB2＋Al2O3）/NiAl composites were synthesized by self-propagation high-temperature synthesis, and their phase compositions, microstructures and evolution modes were studied. The microstructures and shapes vary with the TiB2＋Al2O3 content in the NiAl matrix. TiB2 particles take a great variety of elementary shapes such as white bars, plates, herringbones, regular cubes and cuboids. These results outline a strategy of self-assembly processes in real time to build diversified microstructures. Some TiB2 grains in sizes of 2-5μm are embeded in Al2O3 clusters, while a small number of TiB2 particles disperse in the NiAl matrix. It is believed that the higher the TiB2＋Al2O3 content is, the more the regular shapes and homogeneous distributions of TiB2 and Al2O3 will be present in the NiAl matrix.

Effect of CuO particle size on synthesis temperature and microstructure of Al_2O_(3p)-Al composites from Al-CuO system

Al2O3p-Al composites were synthesized using an in-situ reaction in the 80%Al-20%CuO （mass fraction） system. The effects of the CuO particle size on the synthesis temperature and microstructure of the composites were investigated by various methods. The results indicate that the CuO particle size has a significant effect on the temperature at which the complete reaction in the Al-CuO system occurs：the temperature is 200 ℃ lower in the Al-CuO system containing CuO particles with sizes less than 6μm than that containing CuO particles with sizes less than 100μm. The interfacial bonding between Al2O3 particles and Al is not complete when the temperature is below a critical value. The morphology of the Al2O3 particles varies from ribbon-like shape to near spherical shape when the temperature is above a critical value. These two critical temperatures are affected by the particle size of CuO, and the critical temperature of the sample containing CuO particles with sizes less than 6μm is 100 ℃ lower than that of the sample containing CuO particles with sizes less than 100μm.

In-situ additive manufacturing of high strength yet ductility titanium composites with gradient layered structure using N_(2)

It has always been challenging work to reconcile the contradiction between the strength and plasticity of titanium materials.Laser powder bed fusion(LPBF) is a convenient method to fabricate innovative composites including those inspired by gradient layered materials.In this work,we used LPBF to selectively prepare Ti N/Ti gradient layered structure(GLSTi)composites by using different N_(2)–Ar ratios during the LPBF process.We systematically investigated the mechanisms of in-situ synthesis Ti N,high strength and ductility of GLSTi composites using microscopic analysis,TEM characterization,and tensile testing with digital image correlation.Besides,a digital correspondence was established between the N_(2) concentration and the volume fraction of LPBF in-situ synthesized Ti N.Our results show that the GLSTi composites exhibit superior mechanical properties compared to pure titanium fabricated by LPBF under pure Ar.Specifically,the tensile strength of GLSTi was more than 1.5times higher than that of LPBF-formed pure titanium,reaching up to 1100 MPa,while maintaining a high elongation at fracture of 17%.GLSTi breaks the bottleneck of high strength but low ductility exhibited by conventional nanoceramic particle-strengthened titanium matrix composites,and the hetero-deformation induced strengthening effect formed by the Ti N/Ti layered structure explained its strength-plasticity balanced principle.The microhardness exhibits a jagged variation of the relatively low hardness of 245 HV0.2 for the pure titanium layer and a high hardness of 408 HV0.2 for the N_(2) in-situ synthesis layer.Our study provides a new concept for the structure-performance digital customization of 3D-printed Ti-based composites.

Synthesis,characterization and catalytic properties of Y-β zeolite composites

Y-β zeolite composites were hydrotherrnally synthesized by using high silica Y zeolite as the precursor and characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption, SEM and IR spectra of pyridine. The result showed that the N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm of the zeolite composites had a distinct hysteresis loop, and the SEM result showed that the zeolite composites had a different morphology from Y, β and the corresponding physical zeolite mixture. The acid catalytic performance of the zeolite composite catalysts was investigated in the hydrocracking and hydroisomerization of n-octane, and the results showed that the composite materials exhibited an excellent hydrocracking activity and good hydroisomerization performance. The yield of i-C4 over the zeolite composite catalyst was 4.45% higher than that on the corresponding zeolite mixture in the n-octane hydrocracking process at 553 K. The isomerization ability of n-octane over the composite catalyst was 3.6 fold that of the corresponding mixture at 503 K.

Higher alcohol synthesis over Cu-Fe composite oxides with high selectivity to C_(2+)OH

Cu-Fe composite oxides were prepared by co-precipitation method and tested for higher alcohol synthesis from syngas. The selectivity to C2＋OH and C6＋OH in alcohol distribution was very high while the methane product fraction in hydrocarbon distribution was rather low, demonstrating a promising potential in higher alcohols synthesis from syngas. The distribution of alcohols and hydrocarbons approximately obeyed Anderson-Schulz-Flory distribution with similar chain growth probability, indicating alcohols and hydrocarbons derived from the same intermediates. The effects of Cu/Fe molar ratio, reaction temperature and gas hourly space velocity （GHSV） on catalytic performance were studied in detail. The sample with a Cu/Fe molar ratio of 10/1 exhibited the best catalytic performance. Higher reaction temperature accelerated water-gas-shift reaction and led to lower total alcohols selectivity. GHSV showed great effect on catalytic performance and higher GHSV increased the total alcohol selectivity, indicating there existed visible dehydration reaction of alcohol into hydrocarbon.

Bonding characteristics of the Al_2O_3-metal composite coating fabricated onto carbon steel by combustion synthesis

The fabrication of an alumina-metal composite coating onto a carbon steel substrate by using a self-propagating high-temperature synthesis technique was demonstrated. The effects of the type and thickness of the pre-coated layer on the binding structure and surface qual- ity of the coating were systematically investigated. The macrostructure, phase composition, and bonding interface between the coating and the substrate were investigated by scanning electronic microscopy （SEM）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry （EDS）. The diffraction patterns indicated that the coating essentially consisted of α-Al2O3, Fe（Cr）, and FeO-Al2O3. With an increase in the thickness of the pre-coated working layer, the coating became more smooth and compact. The transition layer played an important role in enhancing the binding between the coating and the substmte. When the pre-coated working layer was 10 mm and the pre-coated transition layer was 1 ram, a compact structure and metallurgical bonding with the substrate were obtained. Thermal shock test results indicated that the ceramic coating exhibited good thermal shock resistance when the sample was rapidly quenched from 800℃ to room temperature by plunging into water.

Preparation of WC/CoCrFeNiAl0.2 high-entropy-alloy composites by high-gravity combustion synthesis

The WC/CoCrFeNiAl0.2 high-entropy alloy(HEA)composites were prepared through high-gravity combustion synthesis.The preparation method is presented below.First,using a designed suitable multiphase thermite system,the molten CoCrFeNiAl0.2 HEA was fabricated using low-cost metal oxides.The molten HEA was subsequently infiltrated into the WC layer to fabricate WC/CoCrFeNiAl0.2 composites in a highgravity field.The porosity of the WC/CoCrFeNiAl0.2 composites was down-regulated,and their compressive yield strength was up-regulated when the high-gravity field was increased from 600g to 1500g because this infiltration process of a HEA melt into the WC layer is driven by centrifugal force.The WC particles in the composites exhibited a gradient distribution along the direction of the centrifugal force,which was attributed to the combined action of the high-gravity field and the temperature gradient field.The Vickers hardness of the sample was down-regulated from 9.53 to 7.41 GPa along the direction of the centrifugal force.

Effects of synthesis temperature and raw materials composition on preparation of β-Sialon based composites from fly ash

β-Sialon based composites were successfully prepared from fly ash and carbon black under nitrogen atmosphere by carbothermal reduction-nitridation process. Effects of heating temperature and raw materials composition on synthesis process were investigated, and the formation process of the composites was also discussed. The phase composition and microstructure of the composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electronic microscopy. The results show that increasing heating temperature or mass ratio of carbon black to fly ash can promote the formation of β-Sialon. The β-Sialon based composites can be synthesized at 1723 K for 6 h while heating the sample with mass ratio of carbon black to fly ash of 0.56. The as-received β-Sialon in the composites exists as granular with an average particle size of 2-3 μm. The preparation process of β-Sialon based composites includes the formation of O′-Sialon, X-Sialon and β-Sialon as well as the conversion processes of O′-Sialon and X-Sialon to β-Sialon.

Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of TiC-TiB_2-Cu Composites

TiC-TiB2-Cu composites were produced by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis combined with pseudo hot isostatic pressing using Ti, B4C and Cu powders. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. The X-ray diffraction （XRD） and scanning electron microscopy （SEM） results showed that the final products were only TiC, TiB2 and Cu phases. The clubbed TiB2 grains and spheroidal or irregular TiC grains were found in the microstructure of synthesized products. The reaction temperature and grain size of TiB2 and TiC particles decreased with increasing Cu content. The introduction of Cu into the composites resulted in a drastic increase in the relative density and flexual strength, and the maximum values were obtained with the addition of 20 wt pct, while the fracture toughness was the best when Cu content was 40 wt pct.

Hydrothermal synthesis of spindle-like Li_2FeSiO_4-C composite as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

In this paper,we report on the preparation of Li2FeSiO4,sintered Li2FeSiO4,and Li2FeSiO4-C composite with spindle-like morphologies and their application as cathode materials of lithium-ion batteries.Spindle-like Li2FeSi04 was synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method with（NH4）2Fe（SO4）2 as the iron source.The spindle-like Li2FeSiO4 was sintered at 600 ℃ for 6 h in Ar atmosphere.Li2FeSiO4-C composite was obtained by the hydrothermal treatment of spindle-like Li2FeSiO4 in glucose solution at 190 ℃ for 3 h.Electrochemical measurements show that after carbon coating,the electrode performances such as discharge capacity and high-rate capability are greatly enhanced.In particular.Li2FeSiO4-C with carbon content of 7.21 wt%delivers the discharge capacities of 160.9 mAh·g-1 at room temperature and 213 mAh·g-1 at45℃（0.1 C）,revealing the potential application in lithium-ion batteries.

Synthesis of zinc oxide–montmorillonite composite and its effect on the removal of aqueous lead ions

Lead adsorption of zinc oxide-coated ACOR montmorillonite was investigated in batches and under reducing conditions at ambient temperature. The presence of zinc oxide coating significantly enhanced the adsorption of Pb^(2+) ions by ACOR montmorillonite. Characterization of adsorbents involved the use of X-ray diffraction, sodium saturation techniques, coulter laser analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and electron dispersive spectroscopy.Synthesis involved the trimetric process, activation of the ACOR montmorillonite and reacting of the same with zinc nitrate to produce a zinc oxide composite solid at 450 °C.The reaction mechanism indicated less than one proton coefficient, and higher mass transfer rates, when compared with bare montmorillonite. Intraparticle diffusion was higher than the value recorded for the bare montmorillonite. Reactions based on initial Pb^(2+) concentration indicated that coated montmorillonite gradually became saturated as the concentration was increased. Reactions based on solid concentration demonstrated a complex change in the capacity of adsorption over different Pb^(2+) concentrations(10–40 mg L^(-1)) and solid concentrations(2–10 g L^(-1)). The specific surface area reduction, particle size increase, mineral aggregation, and concentration gradient effect controlled the complex changes in adsorption.