Microstructure and mechanical properties of an Al–TiC metal matrix composite obtained by reactive synthesis Part A Applied science and manufacturing

A metal matrix composite has been obtained by a novel synthesis route, reacting Al3Ti and graphite at 1000°C for about 1min after ball-milling and compaction. The resulting composite is made of an aluminium matrix reinforced by nanometer sized TiC particles (average diameter 70nm). The average TiC/Al ratio is 34.6wt.% (22.3vol.%). The microstructure consists of an intimate mixture of two domains, an unreinforced domain made of the Al solid solution with a low TiC reinforcement content, and a reinforced domain. This composite exhibits uncommon mechanical properties with regard to previous micrometer sized Al–TiC composites and to its high reinforcement volume fraction, with a Young’s modulus of ∼110GPa, an ultimate tensile strength of about 500MPa and a maximum elongation of 6%.