TiO 2 ceramic particles-reinforced aluminum matrix composite prepared by conventional,microwave,and spark plasma sintering

Abstract

Aluminum-10 wt% TiO₂ metal matrix composites were fabricated with conventional, microwave, and spark plasma sintering processes. Aluminum and nano-sized TiO₂ powders were mixed using a high-energy mixer, and the sintering process was done at 450℃ by spark plasma sintering and 600℃ under both microwave and conventional heating. The results showed microwave sintering led to form Al₃Ti intermetallic compounds with flaky shape, while in the conventional heating at the same sintering temperature, Al₃Ti was formed and confirmed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope investigations. Moreover, the nano-sized TiO₂ particles as reinforcement with no additional phase were obtained by spark plasma sintering at the lowest sintering temperature. The maximum bending strength of 254 ± 12 MPa and Vickers hardness of 235 ± 13 were measured for samples sintered in microwave as a consequence of Al₃Ti formation. The SEM and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses showed uniform distribution of Al₃Ti particles in the microstructure of microwave sintered samples and nonuniform distribution of agglomerated Al₃Ti particles and porosities in samples sintered by spark plasma sintering and conventional heating.

Keywords

Aluminum titanium dioxide metal matrix composite sintering

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