Preparation and mechanical properties of Fe3Al(Ti)/TiC composites

Near fully dense Fe3Al(10Ti)/TiC composites were synthesized by MA and hot-pressing sintering methods. Based on the Orowan strengthening effect offered by the nano-TiC particles, higher three-point bending strength and hardness values, 1310 MPa and 90 HRA, were achieved in Fe3Al(10Ti)/40 vol%TiC composite. The addition of Ti favored the improvement of hardness and room temperature bending strength of composites by the ordering strengthening effect and solid solution hardening effect. The microstructures of as-synthesized composites were investigated by XRD, SEM and TEM. Fe3Al particles had equiaxed morphology. TiC particles with grain size ranging from 50 to 200 nm were homogeneously dispersed in Fe3Al matrix. The larger TiC particles with sub-micrometer were mainly located at grain boundaries and the smaller ones were within matrix grains.