Role of Ti3AlC2 MAX phase on characteristics of in-situ synthesized TiAl intermetallics. Part IV: mechanical properties

Maryam Akhlaghi; Esmaeil Salahi; Seyed Ali Tayebifard; Gert Schmidt

doi:10.53063/synsint.2022.22103

Maryam Akhlaghi ¹
Esmaeil Salahi ²
Seyed Ali Tayebifard ¹
Gert Schmidt ³

¹ Semiconductors Department, Materials and Energy Research Center (MERC), Karaj, Iran
² Ceramics Department, Materials and Energy Research Center (MERC), Karaj, Iran
³ Faculty of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering, TU Bergakademie, Freiberg, Germany

https://doi.org/10.53063/synsint.2022.22103

Abstract

In this study, the 4^th part of a series of publications on the sintering and characterization of TiAl-Ti₃AlC₂ composite materials, the mechanical properties were measured and discussed. For this purpose, different contents of synthesized Ti₃AlC₂ reinforcement (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 wt%) were added to metallic Ti and Al powders, then ball-milled and manufactured by spark plasma sintering (SPS) for 420 s at 900 °C under 40 MPa. Flexural strength, fracture toughness and Vickers hardness were measured by 3-point technique, SENB method, and indentation technique, respectively. Increasing the Ti₃AlC₂ content resulted in improvement of the mechanical properties, so that TiAl-25 wt% Ti₃AlC₂ composite showed the best flexural strength and Vickers hardness (270 MPa and 4.11 GPa, respectively). Increasing amount of Ti₃AlC additive had no significant effect on fracture toughness. Densification improvement, in-situ formation of Ti₂AlC, and limitation of grain growth were recognized as the reasons of mechanical properties enhancement. In contrast, further addition of Ti₃AlC₂ (30 wt%) decreased the mechanical properties due to the reduction of density and formation of more Ti₂AlC agglomerates in grain boundaries.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Keywords: SPS, TiAl-Ti3AlC2, Flexural strength, Hardness, Fracture toughness

References

[1] H.P. Lim, W.Y.H. Liew, G.J.H. Melvin, Z.-T. Jiang, A Short Review on the Phase Structures, Oxidation Kinetics, and Mechanical Properties of Complex Ti-Al Alloys, Materials (Basel). 14 (2021) 1677. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14071677.

[2] H. Huang, H. Ding, X. Xu, R. Chen, J. Guo, H. Fu, Phase transformation and microstructure evolution of a beta-solidified gamma-TiAl alloy, J. Alloys Compd. 860 (2021) 158082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2020.158082.

[3] Y. Jiang, Y. He, H. Gao, Recent progress in porous intermetallics: Synthesis mechanism, pore structure, and material properties, J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 74 (2021) 89–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmst.2020.10.007.

[4] Z. Trzaska, G. Bonnefont, G. Fantozzi, J.-P. Monchoux, Comparison of densification kinetics of a TiAl powder by spark plasma sintering and hot pressing, Acta Mater. 135 (2017) 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2017.06.004.

[5] G.H. Cao, A.M. Russell, C.-G. Oertel, W. Skrotzki, Microstructural evolution of TiAl-based alloys deformed by high-pressure torsion, Acta Mater. 98 (2015) 103–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2015.07.012.

[6] C.Y. Teng, N. Zhou, Y. Wang, D.S. Xu, A. Du, et al., Phase-field simulation of twin boundary fractions in fully lamellar TiAl alloys, Acta Mater. 60 (2012) 6372–6381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2012.08.016.

[7] J. Shen, L. Hu, L. Zhang, W. Liu, A. Fang, Y. Sun, Synthesis of TiAl/Nb composites with concurrently enhanced strength and plasticity by powder metallurgy, Mater. Sci. Eng. A. 795 (2020) 139997. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2020.139997.

[8] Y. Garip, Investigation of isothermal oxidation performance of TiAl alloys sintered by different processing methods, Intermetallics. 127 (2020) 106985. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intermet.2020.106985.

[9] L. Xiang, F. Wang, J. Zhu, X. Wang, Mechanical properties and microstructure of Al2O3/TiAl in situ composites doped with Cr2O3, Mater. Sci. Eng. A. 528 (2011) 3337–3341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2011.01.006.

[10] H.P. Qu, P. Li, S.Q. Zhang, A. Li, H.M. Wang, The effects of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical property of laser melting deposition γ-TiAl intermetallic alloys, Mater. Des. 31 (2010) 2201–2210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2009.10.045.

[11] H. Clemens, A. Bartels, S. Bystrzanowski, H. Chladil, H. Leitner, et al., Grain refinement in γ-TiAl-based alloys by solid state phase transformations, Intermetallics. 14 (2006) 1380–1385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intermet.2005.11.015.

[12] S. Shu, B. Xing, F. Qiu, S. Jin, Q. Jiang, Comparative study of the compression properties of TiAl matrix composites reinforced with nano-TiB2 and nano-Ti5Si3 particles, Mater. Sci. Eng. A. 560 (2013) 596–600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2012.10.001.

[13] D. Zhu, L. Liu, D. Dong, X. Wang, Y. Liu, et al., Microstructure and compression behavior of in-situ synthesized Ti2AlC reinforced Ti-48Al-2Cr alloy with carbon nanotubes addition, J. Alloys Compd. 862 (2021) 158646. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.158646.

[14] S. Haji Amiri, M. Ghassemi Kakroudi, T. Rabizadeh, M. Shahedi Asl, Characterization of hot-pressed Ti3SiC2–SiC composites, Int. J. Refract. Met. Hard Mater. 90 (2020) 105232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2020.105232.

[15] J. Lyu, E.B. Kashkarov, N. Travitzky, M.S. Syrtanov, A.M. Lider, Sintering of MAX-phase materials by spark plasma and other methods, J. Mater. Sci. 56 (2021) 1980–2015. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-05359-y.

[16] S.H. Amiri, M.G. Kakroudi, N.P. Vafa, M.S. Asl, Synthesis and Sintering of Ti3SiC2–SiC Composites through Reactive Hot-Pressing of TiC and Si Precursors, Silicon. 14 (2022) 4227–4235. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-021-01207-z.

[17] S. Haji Amiri, N. Pourmohammadie Vafa, Microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti3SiC2 MAX phases sintered by hot pressing, Synth. Sinter. 1 (2021) 216–222. https://doi.org/10.53063/synsint.2021.1472.

[18] C.-h. Yang, F. Wang, T.-t. Ai, J.-f. Zhu, Microstructure and mechanical properties of in situ TiAl/Ti2AlC composites prepared by reactive hot pressing, Ceram. Int. 40 (2014) 8165–8171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2014.01.012.

[19] B. Mei, Y. Miyamoto, Investigation of TiAl/Ti2AlC composites prepared by spark plasma sintering, Mater. Chem. Phys. 75 (2002) 291–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0254-0584(02)00078-0.

[20] F. Yang, F.T. Kong, Y.Y. Chen, S.L. Xiao, Effect of spark plasma sintering temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a Ti2AlC/TiAl composite, J. Alloys Compd. 496 (2010) 462–466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2010.02.077.

[21] T.A. Otitoju, P.U. Okoye, G. Chen, Y. Li, M.O. Okoye, S. Li, Advanced ceramic components: Materials, fabrication, and applications, J. Ind. Eng. Chem. 85 (2020) 34–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiec.2020.02.002.

[22] J. Venezuela, M.S. Dargusch, The influence of alloying and fabrication techniques on the mechanical properties, biodegradability and biocompatibility of zinc: A comprehensive review, Acta Biomater. 87 (2019) 1–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2019.01.035.

[23] N.F. Mogale, W.R. Matizamhuka, Spark Plasma Sintering of Titanium Aluminides: A Progress Review on Processing, Structure-Property Relations, Alloy Development and Challenges, Metals (Basel). 10 (2020) 1080. https://doi.org/10.3390/met10081080.

[24] L. Čelko, M. Menelaou, M. Casas-Luna, M. Horynová, T. Musálek,et al., Spark Plasma Extrusion and the Thermal Barrier Concept, Metall. Mater. Trans. B. 50 (2019) 656–665. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-018-1493-3.

[25] M. Akhlaghi, E. Salahi, S.A. Tayebifard, G. Schmidt, Role of Ti3AlC2 MAX phase on characteristics of in-situ synthesized TiAl intermetallics. Part I: sintering and densification, Synth. Sinter. 1 (2021) 169–175. https://doi.org/10.53063/synsint.2021.1347.

[26] M. Akhlaghi, E. Salahi, S.A. Tayebifard, G. Schmidt, Role of Ti3AlC2 MAX phase on characteristics of in-situ synthesized TiAl intermetallics. Part II: Phase evolution, Synth. Sinter. 1 (2021) 211–216. https://doi.org/10.53063/synsint.2021.1453.

[27] M. Akhlaghi, E. Salahi, S.A. Tayebifard, G. Schmidt, Role of Ti3AlC2 MAX phase on characteristics of in-situ synthesized TiAl intermetallics. Part III: microstructure, Synth. Sinter. 2 (2022) 20–25. https://doi.org/10.53063/synsint.2022.2182.

[28] M. Akhlaghi, S.A. Tayebifard, E. Salahi, M. Shahedi Asl, G. Schmidt, Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of Ti3AlC2 MAX phase from mechanically-activated Ti/Al/graphite powder mixture, Ceram. Int. 44 (2018) 9671–9678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2018.02.195.

[29] Y. Liu, W. Zhang, Y. Peng, G. Fan, B. Liu, Effects of TiAl Alloy as a Binder on Cubic Boron Nitride Composites, Materials (Basel). 14 (2021) 6335. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14216335.

[30] L. Rangaraj, V. Kashimatt, Pooja, B. Suresha, Reaction, densification and mechanical properties of Ti 2 AlC x ceramics at low applied pressure and temperature, Int. J. Appl. Ceram. Technol. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1111/ijac.14064.

[31] J. Wang, N. Zhao, P. Nash, E. Liu, C. He, et al., In situ synthesis of Ti2AlC–Al2O3/TiAl composite by vacuum sintering mechanically alloyed TiAl powder coated with CNTs, J. Alloys Compd. 578 (2013) 481–487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.06.109.

[32] M. Liu, J. Chen, H. Cui, X. Sun, S. Liu, M. Xie, Ag/Ti3AlC2 composites with high hardness, high strength and high conductivity, Mater. Lett. 213 (2018) 269–273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2017.11.038.

[33] Y. Wang, M. Yao, Z. Hu, H. Li, J.-H. Ouyang, et al., Microstructure and mechanical properties of TiB2-40 wt% TiC composites: Effects of adding a low-temperature hold prior to sintering at high temperatures, Ceram. Int. 44 (2018) 23297–23300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2018.09.048.

[34] C.L. Yeh, C.Y. Ke, Y.C. Chen, In situ formation of TiB2/TiC and TiB2/TiN reinforced NiAl by self-propagating combustion synthesis, Vacuum. 151 (2018) 185–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vacuum.2018.02.024.

[35] Z. Aygüzer Yaşar, A.M. Celik, R.A. Haber, Improving fracture toughness of B4C – SiC composites by TiB2 addition, Int. J. Refract. Met. Hard Mater. 108 (2022) 105930. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2022.105930.

[36] Y. Liu, Z. Li, Y. Peng, Y. Huang, Z. Huang, D. Zhang, Effect of sintering temperature and TiB2 content on the grain size of B4C-TiB2 composites, Mater. Today Commun. 23 (2020) 100875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2019.100875.

View more references