A hot-pressing aided exothermic synthesis (HPES) technique to fabricat
e NiAl matrix composites containing 0 and 20 vol. % TiB2 particles was
developed. The conversion of mixtures of elements to the product was
complete after processing, and TiB2 particles in the matrix were unifo
rmly dispersed. The microstructure and interfaces were very thermally
stable. The interfaces between NiAl and TiB2 were atomically flat, sha
rp, and generally free from interfacial phases. In some cases, however
, thin amorphous layers existed at NiAl/TiB2 interfaces. At least thre
e kinds of orientation relationships between TiB2 and NiAl were observ
ed. The compressive yield strengths at room temperature and at 1000 de
grees C of the composite were approximately three times as strong as t
hose of the unreinforced NiAl. The tensile yield strength at 980 degre
es C of the composite was about three times stronger than that of NiAl
. The ambient fracture toughness of the composite was slightly greater
than that of the monolithic NiAl.