Mechanical and microstructural properties of TiC particle-reinforced titanium matrix composite

Samples TiC particle (TiCp) reinforced titanium matrix composite containing 10 vol pct of TiC fabricated by pre-treatment melt process (PTMP) have been tested in quasi-static and dynamic tension at different strain rates from 10^-4 to 10³/s, and the mechanical properties have been compared with those of the unreinforced titanium matrix alloy. It has been found that under dynamic loadings, both the titanium matrix alloy and the TiCp/Ti composite demonstrate some strain-rate sensitivity. The tensile strength and the fracture strain increase with increasing strain rate. The damage mechanisms are different for the titanium matrix alloy and the TiCp/Ti composite, as demonstrated by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation of fracture surfaces for both the matrix and the composite. The tensile-tested titanium matrix alloy shows dimpled fracture, while the tensile-tested TiCp/Ti composite exhibits cleavage failure followed by the ductile fracture of the titanium matrix alloy.