INVESTIGATION OF NI3AL-MATRIX COMPOSITES STRENGTHENED BY TIC

In this paper, the possibilities of preparing TiC-reinforced Ni3Al-mat rix composites by SM (self-propagating high temperature synthesis and melting process) were examined. Two kinds of composites, namely, comme rcial TiC-reinforcement and synthesized TiC-reinforcement Ni3Al-matrix composites, were fabricated. The effects of particle size of the comm ercial TiC on the mechanical properties of the Ni3Al-Matrix composites were studied. The results show that the mechanical properties of the composites decrease with increasing particle size of the commercial Ti C. The microstructures of 35 wt. % TiC + 65 wt. % Ni3Al composites pro duced by SM technology from the four elements Ti, C, Ni, and Al were e xamined. The results show that in these composites, the particle size of TiC synthesized in situ is fine and that the materials have conside rable high-temperature bending strength and fracture toughness.