Titanium particulate metal matrix composites - Reinforcement, production methods, and mechanical properties

Titanium metal matrix composites (MMCs) offer potential advantages for stru ctural applications, where they combine the high strength, high temperature capability, and oxidation resistance of titanium with an increase in stiff ness provided by the ceramic reinforcement. They have the advantage of bein g isotropic in behaviour, cheaper to manufacture and more amenable to subse quent processing and component forming operations. Of potential reinforcing phases for titanium, including TiB, TiB2, SiC, Al2O3, and TiC, TiB offers the best balance of stiffness, stability, and similarity of thermal expansi on coefficients. The methods used to produce these Ti-TiB MMCs, such as arc melting, gas atomization, rapid solidification, and powder blending have b een assessed and the benefits these composites offer over conventional tita nium alloys including increased stiffness, good creep performance, fatigue resistance, and wear resistance are highlighted.