Wear Mechanism of in-situ Ti-Based Composites Reinforced with TiB Whisker

Combined SHS with investment casting, in-situ TiB whisker-reinforced titanium matrix composites are fabricated. The phase composition and microstructure of the composites are studied by XRD and SEM. And based on the morphologies of wear surface and debris and the microstructure of cross section, the wear mechanism is probed. And wear resisting property of this composites is tested by pin-on disc mode. Results show that TiB whiskers are distributed uniformly in the matrix. They are fine and in high aspect ratio. The titanium matrix composites have much better wear resistance than the matrix alloy, which is attributed to the strengthening effect and the load-carrying capacity of the TiB whiskers.