Titanium Particulate Metal Matrix Composites - Reinforcement, Production Methods, and Mechanical Properties

Titanium metal matrix composites (MMCs) offer potential advantages for structural applications, where they combine the high strength, high temperature capability, and oxidation resistance of titanium with an increase in stiffness provided by the ceramic reinforcement. They have the advantage of being isotropic in behaviour, cheaper to manufacture and more amenable to subsequent 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 expansion coefficients. The methods used to produce these Ti–TiB MMCs, such as arc melting, gas atomization, rapid solidification, and powder blending have been assessed and the benefits these composites offer over conventional titanium alloys including increased stiffness, good creep performance, fatigue resistance, and wear resistance are highlighted.