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On the Strengthening Mechanisms and Interfacial Characteristics of TiB2/Hypoeutectic Al-Si Ceramic Composites

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Abstract

xTiB2/Al-9Si composites were fabricated in this study using the mixed salt reaction method. With increasing TiB2 particle content, the size of the primary α-Al grains decreased correspondingly. The best refinement of the primary α-Al grains was achieved with the addition of 4 wt.% TiB2 particles, which resulted in the highest yield and tensile strength (172.3 and 255.3 MPa, respectively) and an elongation of 1.6%. In order to explore the TiB2(\(\overline{1 } 1 0 0\))/α-Al(\(\overline{1} \overline{1} 1\)) interfacial structure and to understand the potential of the heterogeneous nucleation of α-Al grains on TiB2 particles, the ideal work of adhesion (Wad), electronic structure and bonding properties of the TiB2(\(\overline{1} 1 0 0\))/α-Al(\(\overline{1} \overline{1} 1\)) interface were investigated utilizing density functional theory-based first-principles calculations. The calculation results demonstrated that the stacking model with a B-terminated interface had a relaxed interfacial distance of 2.093 Å, the work of adhesion of 1.24 J/m2 and the interfacial energy of 0.09 J/m2, thereby revealing the stability of this model. The calculated electron bonding indicated that strong and stable Al-B covalent bonds were generated at the interface, revealing the ability of α-Al grains to heterogeneously nucleate on TiB2 grains and the positive contribution of TiB2 particles to the grain refinement and strengthening mechanism of the Al-Si alloys. This study provides references for the in-depth study of ceramic particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composites.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge funding for this research from National Natural Science Foundation of China (52065032), Key Research and Development Project of Yunnan Province and International Science and Technology Cooperation Project (202103AF140004), Basic research project of Yunnan Province (202101AT070123), Science Foundation of Kunming University of Science and Technology (202202AG050011-2), Ten Thousand Talent Program of Yunnan Province (YNWR-QNBJ-2019-106). This work was also supported by the National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Metal Solidification Forming and Equipment Technology, and Analytic and Testing Research Centre of Yunnan, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Material Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, People’s Republic of China

    Lu Li, Xingguo Zhang, Rongfeng Zhou & Yehua Jiang

  2. Research Center for Analysis and Measurement, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, People’s Republic of China

    Lu Li

  3. City College, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650051, People’s Republic of China

    Zhentao Yuan & Xiao Wang

  4. Joint Laboratory of Key Technologies for Titanium Forming, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, People’s Republic of China

    Lu Li, Zhentao Yuan & Xiao Wang

  5. The National Engineering Laboratory for Vacuum Metallurgy, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, People’s Republic of China

    Baoqiang Xu & Bin Yang

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  1. Lu Li
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Li, L., Zhang, X., Xu, B. et al. On the Strengthening Mechanisms and Interfacial Characteristics of TiB2/Hypoeutectic Al-Si Ceramic Composites. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 33, 2623–2634 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-023-08162-3

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