Papers by Author: Xing Hong Zhang

Abstract: The influence of hot pressing temperature and SiC content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of ZrB2-SiC ceramics was investigated. ZrB2 containing 20 volume percent SiC were prepared by hot pressing at 1850, 1900 and 1950°C for 60 min. Fully dense ceramic was obtained after hot pressing at temperature of 1950°C. In addition, the materials with SiC content of 0, 10vol.%, 15 vol.%, 20 vol.% and 30 vol.% hot pressed at 1950°C were also investigated. Results showed that the grain size of the ZrB2 significantly reduced on adding 10vol.% SiC and then decreased slightly with further increasing SiC content, whereas the grain size of SiC exhibited a opposite trend. The flexural strength of ZrB2-SiC ceramics remarkedly increased on adding 10vol.% SiC due to the significant decrease of ZrB2 particle size and then slightly increased with increasing SiC content up to 20vol.%. However, further increasing SiC content led to a reduction of the flexural strength.

Abstract: HfB2-HfC-SiC ultrahigh temperature ceramics (UHTCs) were prepared and characterized in this paper. It is showed that the densities of the HfB2-HfC-SiC reach 98.5% of the theory density. The room temperature compressive properties of the HfB2-HfC-SiC are good, while those at high temperature decrease rapidly. The volume expansion ratio monotonously increases (up to 2.35% at 2300°C) with increasing temperature. Furthermore, with increasing temperature, the average linear expansion coefficient hardly changes, while the instant linear expansion coefficient decreases first, and followed by an increase. The minimum value of the instant linear expansion coefficient is 5.65×10-6/K at 900°C and that of the mean linear expansion coefficient is 7.39×10-6/K at 1340°C. HfB2-HfC-SiC were burned with the plasma arc heater. After 8-second ablation, part of the SiC particles melted and spurted from the composites, and holes appeared.

Abstract: The reaction process and kinetics of Al-TiO2-C-Ti-Fe system were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscope (SEM). In order to obtain the information of reaction process for complicated system, the reaction characteristics of Al-TiO2, Al-TiO2-C and Al-TiO2-C-Ti systems are explored firstly. The results show that the reaction process varies with temperature in Al-TiO2-C-Ti-Fe system. At the lower temperature, the dominating reaction in Al-TiO2-C-Ti-Fe system is that between Al and Ti, Al and Fe, and so TiAlx, FeAlx, and Ti2Fe intermetallic compounds form. With the temperature increasing, the intermetallic compounds are decomposed. Then the decomposed Ti and Al react with C and TiO2 respectively and the stable TiC, Al2O3 and Fe three phases form in the final product.

Abstract: TiB2-Cu-Ni cermet composite was fabricated by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis combined with Pseudo Hot Isostatic Pressing. The microstructure of the composite is fine and uniform. The thermal shock resistance and ablation behavior of the TiB2-Cu-Ni composite was investigated by heating it for twenty seconds using a plasma torch arc heater. Fatal breakup took place in the monolithic TiB2 ceramic once the plasma arc flow faced the surface of the ceramic. Only a small crack was found on the ablation surface of the TiB2-Cu-Ni composite. The thermal stress fracture resistance parameter, R, and the critical energy release rate GIC of TiB2-Cu-Ni composite are at the same order with that of the W/Cu alloy. It showed that the properties of thermal shock resistance and the ablation of the composite are good. The fraction of mass loss of the homogeneous composite was 2.32 %, which was similar to that of traditional W/Cu alloy. The volatilization of the metal binder and mechanical erosion was the main mechanisms of the ablation.

Abstract: The TiB2-40Cu-8Ni composite prepared by combustion synthesis is investigated. Both 2D digital radiography (DR) and 3D computed tomography (CT) are used to test the specimens nondestructively. The result shows that ceramic phase aggregation is the main defect. Then the mechanical properties of samples are assessed by means of three-point-bend test. It appears that mechanical properties are related with the distribution of TiB2 phase and Cu phase. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) is also used to observe the crack growth of the bending test sample.

Abstract: Titanium diboride nanoparticles reinforced copper matrix composite by combustion synthesis technology from titanium, boron and copper powders without other activated methods. Thermodynamics of the system was calculated theoretically. It was found that TiB2 was stable phase in the composite and TiCu interphase compound can convert into stable phase. The phases of the synthesized product were identified using X-ray diffraction and the results showed that only TiB2 and Cu phases, no other phases existed in the product. It is consistent with the calculated result of thermodynamics. SEM microstructural characterization showed that a homogenous distribution of the titanium diboride nanoparticles in the copper matrix.

Abstract: Porous TiB2 ceramics with a three-dimensional interconnected skeleton were fabricated by high temperature pressureless sintering from fine TiB2 powders. The microstructure of the porous TiB2 ceramic was characterized by the enhanced neck growth between the initially touching particles. This neck growth was ascribed to the selective heating of TiB2 particles with different dimension. The porous structure prepared by the high-temperature sintering exhibited higher bending strength and fracture toughness in the present experiment. The improved mechanical properties of the sintered composites were attributable to the enhanced neck growth by surface diffusion.

Abstract: Large-scale (Ti,Cr)B2-Cu composite from Ti, Cr, B and Cu powders was produced by combining combustion synthesis with Pseudo Hot Isostatic Pressing. The diameter of the synthesized product is 240 millimeter. The product was identified using X-ray diffraction and the result showed that only (Ti,Cr)B2 and Cu phases, without other phases, existed in the product. The analysis of the microstructure indicated that the skeletal structure had been formed in the (Ti,Cr)B2 solid solution phase. Fine (Ti,Cr)B2 reinforcement grew in near equivalent axis-like shape and some sintering neckings were found between the solid solution phases. The relative density of the synthesized product was 93.6% because the skeletal structure baffled the densification of the composite. The bending strength and fracture toughness of the product were 476 MPa and 6.8 MPa·m1/2 respectively.

Abstract: TiB2-Cu matrix composites from titanium, boron and copper powders were in-situ fabricated by exothermic reaction. The effect of the applied pressure on the mechanical properties of the composite was investigated. The results showed that when the applied pressure increasing, the relative density, bending strength, fracture toughness and hardness of the composites were on the increase due to the formation of fine microstructure and the improvement of densification with the pressure increasing. The high pressure is beneficial to the better mechanical properties.

Abstract: TiB2 -Cu cermet with the relative density of 92% was produced from titanium, boron and copper powders by combustion synthesis and subsequently pseudo hot isostatic pressing. To improve its mechanical and thermal physical properties, the two-time hot pressing sintering test was carried out at 1050°, 1090° and 1150°C respectively. The deformation behavior and variation of micro- structure and mechanical properties were investigated in detail. The results showed that the relative density and the flexural strength increase remarkably after two-time hot pressing. The relative density reaches 605.5MPa and the flexural strength reaches 96% when the two-time pressing temperature is at 1090°C, and the values increase 12% and 6% compared to that before two-time pressing.