High volume fraction TiCx/Al composites with good comprehensive performance fabricated by combustion synthesis and hot press consolidation

In-situ high volume fraction (50-70 vol%) TiCx/Al composites were fabricated by combustion synthesis and hot press consolidation in an Al-Ti-C system. Microstructure characterisation of the TiCx/Al composites shows relatively uniform distribution of the TiCx particles with the particle size in the range of about 1-5 micron. All of the yield strength, hardness and abrasive wear resistance of the TiCx/Al composites increase with increasing TiCx content, and the compressive strength firstly increases and then decreases. The yield strength, compressive strength, fracture strain and hardness of the 70 vol% TiCx/Al composite are 576 MPa, 744 MPa, 3.09% and 253.5 plus or minus 6 Hv, respectively. The abrasive wear resistance of the 70 vol% TiCx/Al composite is about 4 times higher than that of the cast hypereutectic Al-Si alloy when the applied load is no more than 25 N and the Al2O3 abrasive particle size is no more than 20 micron.