Production and characterization of Al2O3 and CeO2-reinforced titanium matrix hybrid composites

Abstract

Titanium matrix composites (TMCs) offer exceptional properties like high specific modulus, high specific strength, resistance to high temperatures and wear, and the potential to reduce weight. So, TMCs find uses in several industries, including automotive, maritime, aerospace, biomedical, petrochemical, structural, chemical, and advanced military sectors. In the present study, Al2O3 and CeO2-reinforced TMCs were prepared via the powder metallurgy (P/M) method and microstructural, mechanical and tribological features were investigated. An Al2O3 (5 wt.%) and CeO2 (1, 2 and 3 wt.%) were reinforced into the TMCs via mechanical alloying (MA) for 5 h in a high-energy ball mill. The mechanically alloyed (MA'ed) powders were compacted via hydraulic press under uniaxial pressure of 450 MPa. The compacted samples were sintered at 1200 degrees C for 2 h in an argon atmosphere. By adding CeO2, the hardness, relative density and shrinkage were reduced, but the wear resistance and compressive strength were increased.