Description
Abstract: The titanium alloy reinforced titanium nitride nanocomposites were prepared through powder metallurgy via spark plasma sintering. Ti–6Al–4V with nano-sized TiN composites was sintered and characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffractometry techniques and Vickers microhardness tester (Future-Tech FM 800). The effects of the titanium nitride content on the microstructure, microhardness and fracture behaviour of the composites were investigated. Results show that an increase in sintering temperature significantly influences the relative densities from 97.53 to 99.89% and microhardness of the composites from 389 to 493 HV0.1. The microstructural studies as well revealed transformation from lamellar α/β phases in Ti–6Al–4V to duplex (bimodal) structures as a result of TiN addition. Sintered composite held for 30 min has the highest microhardness values influenced primarily by the presence of the Ti2N phase, while fracture morphology of the sintered alloys shows a transgranular pattern with fine dimples features which present a good cohesion and strength of the grain.
Authors: Oluwasegun Eso Falodun, Mosima Edith Maja, Babatunde Abiodun Obadele, Samuel Ranti Oke, Oladeji Oluremi Ige, and Peter Apata Olubambi
Keywords: Spark Plasma Sintering, Nanosized TiN, Titanium, Microhardness, Densification