Fabrication of bionic composite material using self-propagating high-temperature synthesis in the Cu–Ti–B4C system during steel casting

Enlightened by the nacreous layer of shell, this study successfully fabricated the bionic composite material using self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) reaction in the 40 wt.% Cu–Ti–B4C system during manganese steel casting. The phase constituents, microstructures and wear resistance of the bionic composite material were investigated. The results show that bionic composite material was alternant combination of manganese steel matrix and unit region in a relatively large dimension. Excellent metallurgy bonding between the unit region and steel matrix in the bionic composite material was presented. The results analyzed with X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveal the existence of TiC, TiB2, Cu and austenite without any intermediate phases in the unit region. Due to sufficient infiltration of the melted steel, the unit region had the fewest macro-pores and blowholes. This indicates that the near fully dense bionic composite material can be fabricated. The wear tests show that the wear resistance of the bionic composite material fabricated was better than that of the pure manganese steel.