Abstrakt
A composite material was prepared using spark plasma sintering (SPS) from powder Al6061 aluminium alloy (matrix) and Ti Grade 2 and Ti-6Al-4V wires (reinforcement). This study focuses on a general assessment of the process feasibility and on the characterization of the interfaces between the matrix and the reinforcement.
The SPS was performed at a relatively high temperature of 560 °C and under low pressure to minimize the deformation of the reinforcement. The interfaces were investigated by scanning electron microscopy including energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS).
It was found that the surface region of Ti Grade 2 is enriched by Al and Si and Ti-Si intermetallic phase is formed at the contact of the reinforcement and the matrix. The Ti-6Al-4V wire retained its initial extrusion microstructure, but the surface diffusion layer was not formed.
This suppressed the growth of the Ti-Si boundary phase and caused the separation of the reinforcement and the matrix after cooling in the SPS furnace.