Formation of equiaxed alpha and titanium nitride precipitates in spark plasma sintered TiB/Ti–6Al–4V composites

Spark plasma sintered TiB/Ti–6Al–4V composites have been characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). As-SPS processed composites exhibit a more refined distribution of equiaxed α precipitates as compared to arc-melted composites containing similar volume fraction of TiB precipitates. Additionally, SPS processed composites also show a highly refined distribution of TiN precipitates, as revealed by TEM studies.

► TiB/Ti–6Al–4V processed using SPS and arc-melting.
► SPS-larger volume of fine scale equiaxed α.
► TiB-nucleation site for α.
► SPS-homogeneous TiB distribution.
► Fine scale TiN-speculated to improve strength.