Ultrafast densification and microstructure evolution of in situ Ti/TiB metal matrix composite obtained by PPS approach

The newly methods of material production based on electrical pulse utilised for metal matrix composites preparation, interest and attracts due to possibilities of sintering of a wide range of materials to high densities in a short time period at relatively low temperatures. Advantages of this approach allow avoiding the grain growth and lead to more precise control of final material properties also by the starting precursor choice. Morphology, grain size and purity of precursor, connected with it physical properties and chemical composition that is next submitted to the process parameters could reveal subtle dependence in microstructure and densification mechanism in obtained composite sinters. Ultrafast electric pulse consolidation allows to obtained the in situ Ti/TiB metal matrix composites due to reaction mechanism kinetics, focusing however on heating rate and energy availability. Specific heating conditions for Pulse Plasma Sintering process used to consolidate the precursor material with a high-current pulse approach correlate with final obtained properties.