PREPARING DAMAGE-TOLERANT TITANIUM-MATRIX COMPOSITES

In-situ TiB-reinforced titanium alloy composites have been produced by both rapid solidification and ingot metallurgy techniques. The reinfo rcements have been shown to result in strength and modulus improvement s, improved fracture toughness, increased fatigue endurance limit, and better fatigue crack growth and creep resistance than conventional mo nolithic titanium alloys. In addition to improved mechanical propertie s, in-situ composite structures and components with complex shapes can be fabricated using conventional ingot metallurgy, near-net shape for ming techniques.