OPTIMIZATION OF POWDER METALLURGY (P/M) ROUTE FOR FABRICATION OF METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES REINFORCED BY ULTRA HIGH TEMPERATURE CERAMICS

摘要

Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) have attracted much attention due to their capabilities to offer a various range of mechanical and physical properties. These advantages have made MMCs competitive candidates for wear-resistant and high temperature applications in aerospace and automotive industries. In the present work, Iron-based matrix (Fe) has been reinforced with Titanium Diboride (TiB_2) ceramic particles. TiB2 ceramic particles are expected to be a suitable reinforcement for iron and steel matrix composites due to their high thermal stability at very high temperatures, high modulus of elasticity, good wettability, low density and relatively strong bonding between matrix and reinforcement. Vickers micro hardness test was performed on MMC samples at different stages of fabrication process to develop a comparative scheme for a cost-effective optimized route to fabricate Fe-TiB2 via powder metallurgy process.