Mechanical properties of high performance lightweight steels

The incorporation of low density, high modulus ceramic particles into a ste el matrix is a potential route to improve the mechanical performance of ste els. A powder metallurgy, mechanical blending route has been adopted to pro duce a homogeneous distribution of TiB2 particles in both pure Fe and 316L stainless steel matrices, This approach gave large increases in both the st atic and fatigue strength with increasing TIB2 volume fractions, in compari son with the matrix material. Additions of TiB2 also resulted in reduced de nsity and increased stiffness in the composite or lightweight steel materia ls, giving a specific stiffness increase of 52% with a fraction of 30 vol.- %TiB2 in Fe, compared with the matrix. MST/4564.