Comparison of microstructure, toughness, mechanical properties and work hardening of titanium/TiO2 and titanium/SiC composites manufactured by accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process

Abstract In this study, the effects of TiO 2 ceramic nanoparticles and SiC microparticles on the microstructure, mechanical properties and toughness of titanium/TiO 2 nanocomposite and titanium/SiC composite were investigated. To achieve this goal, TiO 2 and SiC ceramic particles were incorporated as the reinforcement in titanium through the ARB (accumulative roll bonding) process. By adding SiC ceramic particles, the mechanical properties of the composite and the nanocomposite were enhanced, while their toughness was decreased, as compared to TiO 2 nanoparticles. After applying 8 cycles of the ARB process, UTS in Ti/5 vol% SiC composite reached to about 1200 (MPa), as compared to that in Ti/0.5 wt% TiO 2 nanocomposite, which was about 1100 (MPa). Furthermore, toughness in the Ti/5 vol% SiC composite and the Ti/0.5 wt% TiO 2 nanocomposite was 60 and 29 J/m 3 , respectively. Finally, SEM and TEM images showed SiC microparticles clustering in Ti/SiC composite samples and a suitable distribution of TiO 2 nanoparticles in the Ti/TiO 2 nanocomposite. By adding TiO 2 nanoparticles, mechanical properties and work hardening coefficient were found to be increased, as compared to those of the monolithic samples. TiO 2 nanoparticles, after being distributed in the titanium matrix through the ARB process, caused pin dislocations. As clearly shown in TEM images, dislocation tangles around TiO 2 nanoparticles acted as the main mechanism improving the work hardening coefficient.