Synthesis of Ni3Al composites reinforced by TiC, WC, ZrC, NbC, TaC - carbide particles
Andrzej Janas, Andrzej Kolbus, Ewa Olejnik
Quarterly No. 2, 2011 pages 114-119
DOI:
keywords: composite “in situ”, intermetallic phase, SHSB Process, exothermic reaction, metal carbides of TiC, WC, ZrC, NbC, TaC
abstract Metal matrix composites (MMCs) dispersion hardened with particles are a product of modern and advanced technology. The functional properties of these materials depend on the type, size and volume fraction of the particles of the reinforcing phase, on the type of matrix, and on the method of fabrication. This study describes composite materials based on nickel aluminide Ni3Al reinforced with ceramic particles of the carbides of metals such as W, Ti, Nb, Zr, and Ta, fabricated by the “in situ” SHSB method patented by the Faculty of Foundry Engineering, AGH University of Science and Technology. The most serious drawbacks of the commonly applied “ex situ” methods are microporosity, gravity segregation, and poor wettability of the particles by the liquid metal matrix. All these drawbacks can be avoided when the "in situ" method is applied. In this paper, the selected method was the “in situ” synthesis of the carbides of titanium, tungsten, zirconium, niobium and tantalum by a spontaneous exothermic reaction taking place in an Ni3Al alloy melt. The selection of the intermetallic compound Ni3Al as the composite matrix was dictated, among others, by its ability to become plastic, and by its high resistance to oxidation in a wide range of temperatures, combined with the high resistance to creep and tribological wear. The particles of TiC, WC, ZrC, NbC, and TaC were selected as the reinforcement of the composites. The techniques used in the investigation microstructures of the experimental materials included scanning microscopy and X-ray microanalysis.